LIGHT THE WAY

Candles to add festive ambience

Auckland candlemaker Downlights has a Christmas wish for shoppers to consider the win-win of social giving this year. Downlights provides much needed work for young adults with Down syndrome or disabilities. The small team hand pours about 1000 fragranced soy wax candles a week. For the social enterprise to continue to thrive this is an important time of year for sales. With a range of attractive gifts, all priced under $50, it is hoping for bumper business.

“We’re hoping that this year end will be good so that we can hire some of the crew full time — as they transition their skills from training roles into the actual workplace and we can become very much a larger social enterprise,” says volunteer marketing manager Elaine Yeoh.

The company was founded in May, 2018, by a father and daughter team, Tony and Emma Sykes. Emma, now 23, and her sister Nicki, 22, who have Down syndrome had struggled to find work after leaving school. Their father decided to do something about it and received support from established candlemaker Illumina which provided expertise and advice. Downlights operates from a workshop in Mission Bay and sells its candles through its own and the Illumina websites. On Sunday, it will have a stand at the General Collective Markets at the Showgrounds, 217 Green Lane West, Epsom. This will include gifts sets, along with its standard range, including full-sized and mini candles in reusable glass containers. Fragrances include Noel, French Pear, Marshmallow and Sweet Pea. Downlightsnz.com.