HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2013-11-06, Page 2020 Huron Expositor • Wednesday, November 6, 2013
Dublin Design Inc. continues growth, success
Dublin business Canada -wide
candle distributor
Kristine Jean
QMI Agency
If you want a definition of success - just look at
Dublin Design Inc.
Owners Art and Cindy Larivee, also owners of
Dublin Mercantile on the main street in Dublin,
have seen their business grow considerably over the
last five years.
"We had our home decor store - we've had it for
almost 15 years, it was opened in 2000 and in 2007
Art made a decision to go to the gift show in Atlanta,
Georgia (they had 8800 exhibitors, compared with
1100 here in Toronto)," Cindy explained. "He said if
they find one item that nobody else has that's an
interesting item to sell in our store it makes the trip
worthwhile."
And indeed they did. Looking for a reed diffuser
product, they came across Crossroads Original
Design diffuser reeds.
"As soon as we saw it, I said that's the one - that
will sell in our store," said Larivee, noting that when
they asked what the company's best seller was, they
were given a rather Canadian response.
"Buttered maple syrup, buttered maple syrup,
buttered maple syrup - their top four he said was
buttered maple syrup - that was how much that
scent sold so we took note of the company and
where it was from."
A couple of months later they decided to go
ahead with the purchase of diffuser reeds and
began selling it in their store Dublin Mercantile.
"The product intrigued us - the product is what
sold us on the product," she said. "The reed diffus-
ers were scents like home baking and fruit - most
reed diffuser products are spa inspired like har-
mony, serenity and they're all very botanical. Cross-
roads made their reed diffusers in the same scents
as their candles. The scents were what attracted us
as well as that cute country packaging."
Kristine Jean NI Agency
Art Larivee stands beside a popular candle display at his Dublin Design Inc. business.
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After a very successful first year, sell-
ing $45,000 worth of reed diffuser prod-
uct at the retail level in their store (in
2008), they began selling the Crossroads
candles the same year, and shortly into
their venture, the Crossoads Original
Design approached the Larivee's and
asked if they were interested in selling
the product across Canada. And so they
began wholesaling, while continuing at
the retail level with their store in Dublin
and sold Crossroads candles as well as
other Crossroads Original Design prod-
ucts, as the sole distributor in Canada in
2008.
Sales for the candle took off for a
number of reasons, Larivee noted,
including the very popular scent - but-
tered maple syrup - which now makes
up 50 per cent of sales.
"It sells more than anything else - it's a
scent that appeals to most people," said
Cindy.
"What's more Canadian than maple
syrup?," Art added.
There are also several qualities of the
candles that make them so popular.
"Crossroads (candles) burn really
cleanly, but their price is comparatively
less than most," said Cindy.
"In our store, our philosophy is that
with something consumable, that a cus-
tomer will buy again and again. We want
to have the best price out there because
people in this economy - in any econ-
omy - will drive five miles down the road
to save a dollar."
Their aim is to give potential custom-
ers a wide assortment and selection, the
best price, and a unique and reliable
product.
"We have our own test market - we
didn't just buy Crossroads to sell to a
store, we bought Crossroads and sold it
in our store," she said. "Everything that
we sell we have tried in our store first."
That philosophy and approach to their
business, Dublin Design Inc., has put
them in the top 10 in sales in North
America for Crossroads Original Design
products.
They have a total of 15 employees,
including themselves, and sell Cross-
roads 26 top reed diffusers scents and 60
Crossroads candle scents in their store
and in their wholesale distribution ware-
house, also located in Dublin. From a
dollar standpoint, the wholesale distri-
bution now accounts for 75 per cent of
their business.
The Larivee's said they have had a lot
of support and positive feedback from
customers about both the store and their
product.
"We have great people in Dublin and
the surrounding area," said Cindy. "Our
money is in our product but we've been
very blessed as far as most of the things
that we buy to resell, people have liked."
As with any business, success comes
with a lot of effort and long hours. The
Larivee's credit their dedication, hard
work and perseverance to make their
dream a reality.
"There are times we've walked through
this building and have said I can't believe
this. Considering from where we've
started - we're very lucky," she added.
"It's perfect right now, we have enough
room to work, and we're very successful.
We never pictured this."
Art agreed with his wife.
"This is beyond anything we ever
imagined in 2008, but we're thankful
every day."
For more information on Dublin
Design Inc., visit www.dublindesign.ca.
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