A DARWEN interior designer who launched her own brand of candles, melts, diffusers and wellbeing products has forged a successful partnership with one of the North-west’s biggest garden centres.
Allyson Houghton founded her business Allumi two and half years ago as an extension of her work with her company Ideas Interior.
Now, her range of goods in three different fragrances – Purity, Energize and Zen – is proving a popular draw at Bents Garden Centre at Leigh End, Glazebury, which has an annual footfall of more than a million visitors.
Allyson was asked to exhibit her goods at Bents after one of the store’s buyers was in the home of a customer of Allyson’s and smelt a fragrance there.
“She loved it, asked where it was from and then contacted me about having the range on sale in the store,” explained Allyson. “It was an absolute dream come true.”
The result is that the Allumi range has become a firm favourite at Bents and Allyson was able to re-stock her goods for the store’s re-opening after lockdown.
“Although lockdown has been a difficult time for everyone, my business is mainly online and so I’ve been kept busy,” she stated.
Her hand-produced range differs from others because it uses only soy wax made from soy bean oil and is not subject to animal testing. It is alcohol-free, biodegradable and free from pesticides and herbicides.
She also has a range of organic creams, lotions and oils of a similarly pure quality.
“When I started out with Allumi, I wanted to create a natural range that could be used safely at home by anyone with allergies and around children and pets,” said Allyson.
“I’ve extended the range over time and am still adding new products. I’m proud to say that everything in Allumi is British-made.”
During lockdown, Allyson has been extending her community work to the NHS, handing out hand-cream to front-line workers. Her charity activities through Allumi Giving range from helping cancer sufferers with her products to buying a karaoke machine for Alzheimer’s patients.
“I believe in sharing the profits from my business, paying forward, all year round,” she added. I want people to know that when they buy Allumi they are donating to good causes, too.”
