Candles light fuse of green shop idea
AN eco shop has launched in Milnrow, selling environmentally-friendly products.
The idea came about when a couple began gifting homemade soy candles to friends and family for Christmas around two years ago.
Tarn Replenished began after business partners, Jules Hornbrook, 54, and Karen Bingham, 47, who are engaged, began selling the candles they made themselves after they were a hit with their friends.
They built up a following after selling at craft fairs, and decided to rent a unit to store their stock at Albert Mill, on Newhey Road.
It was then they realised the unit could be turned into a shop, as Albert Mill hosts other small and medium-sized business.
It sells refills for household products such as laundry liquids, bathroom and kitchen cleaners, hair care, hand wash and sanitiser.
Jules, who lives in Milnrow with Karen, said: “We were doing similar things ourselves - going to Plentiful Plastic Free Shop in Ramsbottom and others in Hebden Bridge.
“Everything we have been doing since the candles has been natural, organic and locally sourced.
“We knew people at the mill and it holds about 25 other small businesses.
“We thought it was a good bit of space and we had been driving further afield to get our stuff, which defeated the object.
“I’ve been veggie for 12 years and I’m not a keen driver anyway.”
They opened the first week of lockdown, and covered costs by doing deliveries to the local area, but Jules says business has now “doubled” month after month, since picking up more in May.
He added: “We had built up a following through the candles.
“I think one of the big things that has been important to us has been working hard to source from the UK.
“We source from Lancashire and Yorkshire, our soaps come from Hebden Bridge, our household products from Hull, and there’s a lady in Accrington who makes beauty products. We want to promote other makers and we also sell local artwork and jewellery.
“We’re developing community.”
The name Tarn refers to tarns in the Lake District, mountain pools that naturally replenish when it rains. Each candle blend is named after a Tarn.
The couple are encouraging customers to bring back empty candle tins to be reused. Jules said that since lockdown, people have been shopping more locally.
He said: “Karen has never been keen on waste so we’ve been finding alternatives and in the last five years more shops like ours have come about, from eating to the clothes I buy.
“I was never a keen driving so I tried to cut down on that.
“We have now been able to increase our stock and grow the business.”
Tarn Replenished is open Wednesday to Sunday, from 11 to 4 Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday, and 11 to 5 Friday and Saturday. a