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| The '''Yankee Candle Company''' is the largest US manufacturer of scented ]. Founded in ], and now located in ] it is one of the largest employers in the ]. | The '''Yankee Candle Company''' is the largest US manufacturer of scented ]. Founded in ], and now located in ] it is one of the largest employers in the ]. | ||
| ==History== | |||
| Yankee Candle Today | |||
| The Company was founded in part by Michael Kittredge, Donald MacIver and Susan Obremski (Kittredge), high school friends, all originally from ], Mass. Michael had made a scented candle as a gift for his mom. When a neighbor expressed interest in purchasing the candle, the company was born. Donald helped fund the start-up business with earnings from his part-time job. Susan contributed her time and ingenuity. Candle production soared after her father devised a "heated room" enabling cost-saving liquid wax deliveries at the first factory site in Holyoke. Susan's invention of a turntable taper wheel allowed production to double, while at the same time decreasing the need for more labor hours. In 1975, Susan managed the first Yankee Candle Shop located where the Village Commons, South Hadley now stands. | |||
| The Yankee Candle Company, Inc. is the nation’s leading designer, manufacturer, wholesaler and retailer of premium scented candles, with the most highly recognized brand of any premium scented candle manufacturer. We have a 36-year history of offering distinctive products and marketing them as affordable luxuries and consumable gifts. Having earned a reputation for superior, long-lasting fragrance quality, Yankee Candle is America’s trusted choice for fragrance. | |||
| Kittredge later studied at ] and was instrumental in establishing that institution's Kittredge Business Center, opened on May 19, 2006. He received an Honorary Doctorate of Public Service from the ] in 2002 for his commitment to the community and the state while at the helm of Yankee Candle. | |||
| After a ] scare in 1993, possibly caused by life-long exposure to scented candle ingredients, he sold the company to New York based ] company ] for $500 million. Forstmann later took the company public. A new CEO named Craig Rydin was hired in 2001. Rydin launched a major advertising campaign and the line was picked by mass retailers ] and ], pushing higher-than-ever sales.<ref>http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2004/1101/172_print.html</ref> Kittredge remains the company's ]. His 198 foot luxury power yacht, purchased in 2001, is named ''Paraffin''. <ref>http://www.slate.com/id/2147788/?nav=tap3</ref> <ref>http://powerandmotoryacht.com/megayachts/1105top100/index6.html</ref> | |||
| Our candle products come in hundreds of fragrances, styles and sizes, including our popular Housewarmer® jar candles, Samplers® votive candles, Tarts® wax potpourri, designer pillars, tapers and scented tea lights. We also have a long history as a product innovator in the premium scented candle category and we are continually expanding our product offerings with new and exciting introductions such as our Home Classics™ and Stripes™ candle lines and, most recently, our new and more fashion-forward YC™ line of premium natural wax blend candles in several unique and distinctive fragrances. Yankee Candle is also a major designer and marketer of candle and home décor accessories, as well as branded non-candle fragranced products such as our Car Jars® auto air fresheners and our Yankee Candle™ Bath line of personal care products. We are also becoming a growing competitor in the home fragrance product category, extending our brand and fragrance expertise into this exciting and growing channel with products such as our new Housewarmer® electric home fragrancer and our Yankee Candle® branded potpourri, room sprays, linen sprays, sachets and other home fragrance offerings. At Yankee Candle, our fragrances and products create home magic. | |||
| The Yankee Candle Company, Inc. is the leading designer, manufacturer, wholesaler and retailer of premium scented candles in the growing giftware industry. Yankee has a 36 year history of offering distinctive products and marketing them as affordable luxuries and consumable gifts. The Company sells its candles through a North American wholesale customer network of approximately 17,250 store locations, a growing base of Company owned and operated retail stores (385 located in 42 states as of July 1, 2006), direct mail catalogs, its Internet website (www.yankeecandle.com), international distributors and to a European wholesale customer network of approximately 2,340 store locations (through its distribution center located in Bristol, England). | |||
| A key contributor to our success has been our vertically integrated business model, which enables us to control most every aspect of our business, from product development to manufacturing to distribution to marketing and sales. This structure allows us to consistently provide high quality and innovative products, deliver them in a timely and efficient manner to customers all over the world and provide excellent customer service. The power of the Yankee Candle® brand and our dedicated and talented employee base truly set us apart from our competitors. | |||
| Founded in 1969, Yankee Candle is headquartered in South Deerfield, Massachusetts and employs approximately 5,500 employees. | |||
| ==Flagship Store== | ==Flagship Store== | ||
Revision as of 21:24, 15 February 2007
The Yankee Candle Company is the largest US manufacturer of scented candles. Founded in South Hadley, Massachusetts, and now located in South Deerfield, Massachusetts it is one of the largest employers in the Pioneer Valley.
History
The Company was founded in part by Michael Kittredge, Donald MacIver and Susan Obremski (Kittredge), high school friends, all originally from South Hadley, Mass. Michael had made a scented candle as a gift for his mom. When a neighbor expressed interest in purchasing the candle, the company was born. Donald helped fund the start-up business with earnings from his part-time job. Susan contributed her time and ingenuity. Candle production soared after her father devised a "heated room" enabling cost-saving liquid wax deliveries at the first factory site in Holyoke. Susan's invention of a turntable taper wheel allowed production to double, while at the same time decreasing the need for more labor hours. In 1975, Susan managed the first Yankee Candle Shop located where the Village Commons, South Hadley now stands.
Kittredge later studied at Holyoke Community College and was instrumental in establishing that institution's Kittredge Business Center, opened on May 19, 2006. He received an Honorary Doctorate of Public Service from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2002 for his commitment to the community and the state while at the helm of Yankee Candle.
After a cancer scare in 1993, possibly caused by life-long exposure to scented candle ingredients, he sold the company to New York based private equity company Forstmann Little for $500 million. Forstmann later took the company public. A new CEO named Craig Rydin was hired in 2001. Rydin launched a major advertising campaign and the line was picked by mass retailers Linens 'n Things and Bed, Bath and Beyond, pushing higher-than-ever sales. Kittredge remains the company's chairman emeritus. His 198 foot luxury power yacht, purchased in 2001, is named Paraffin.
Flagship Store
Yankee Candle's flagship store, off Routes 5 & 10 in South Deerfield, Mass, is New England's second most popular tourist attraction. It features not only a selection of all available Yankee Candles but also kitchen and home accessories, New England crafts, gifts and collectibles, a toy shop, picnic grounds and a "Bavarian Christmas Village" filled with decorated Christmas trees and a toy train that runs through to Santa's Workshop, where animated elves and an 'assembly line' for wooden vehicles surround Santa Claus's desk. Visitors can dip their own candles in a specially equipped area and there is a candle making museum. The shop's award-winning Chandler's Tavern serves American cuisine and fine wines.
References
- http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2004/1101/172_print.html
- http://www.slate.com/id/2147788/?nav=tap3
- http://powerandmotoryacht.com/megayachts/1105top100/index6.html
- http://gonewengland.about.com/cs/macentralsights/a/aayankeecandle.htm
- Kittredge. "Yankee Candle Catalog." Introduction to Yankee Candle. Comp. Susan Kittredge. Holyoke: Marcus Printing, 1975.
- MacIver, Donald. Telephone interview. 10 November 2006.
- A Day of Production at Yankee Candle. Dir. Obremski. Perf. various. 35mm slides. Yankee Candle in-store video monitors, 1975.