News

Colonial Candle to open 'hands-on' boutique in S.C.

June 15, 2012

Colonial Candle has chosen Charleston, S.C., as the location for its first boutique. The 3,000-square-foot flagship store is the 103-year-old candle company's first and only boutique. Located in The Shops at Charleston Place, the Colonial Candle boutique joins luxury brands including Godiva, Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Lacoste. The flagship store will feature Colonial Candle's complete line including the brand's signature oval jars in 70 fragrances, tapers in more than 20 colors, a luxury collection and home accessories, according to a company press release.

Scheduled to open in early fall 2012, the Colonial Candle flagship store features a futuristic retail space conceptualized by lifestyle designer Jim Weinberg. The boutique showcases his "whole environment" approach that incorporates branding, lifestyle, product development and interior design, said the senior executive vice president of design for MVP Group International.

"The Colonial Candle flagship store will showcase the brand's rich heritage and trailblazing new products," says Weinberg. "The theme throughout the store interprets Colonial Candle's historic roots for the modern consumer seeking personalized luxury. In this boutique, every guest will have the opportunity to explore their own fragrance identity, creating a home or work environment that captures their moods and memories."

In the new boutique, customers will have the opportunity to join the creative process, experiencing new fragrances in originally designed fragrance rooms and sharing their impressions to influence the direction of current and future fragrances and products. Guests will also be able to collaborate with on-site event planners to choose fragrance themes and products for weddings and special occasions, just as they would select flowers or colors to define a special day. Designed to capture the spirit of Colonial Candle, the flagship store will also feature oval-shaped spaces and displays, evocative of the brand's signature oval jars, said Beth Sturm, Colonial Candle’s director of brand development.

"For the first time, customers will take a hands-on, active role in our candle development process," she said. "We're excited to offer a new way to connect with our valued customers and expand our reach to a broader audience, continuing our founder's mission to make and share the best candles possible."

Read more about store design and layout.