A home-grown business started in Brecon at the height of the pandemic has won a prestigious trading award.

Blanc Homeware, which is based in Brecon, has been named the Young Market Trader of the Year for South Wales.

The business, which creates hand-poured candles and bespoke homeware, took home the award at the Swansea Regional Final of the National Market Traders Federation (NMTF). The announcement came on Saturday, June 25, when the business was picked as both category and overall winner - out of around 80 entries.

The two young entrepreneurs behind the Blanc Homeware brand are Harry White and James Thomas.

The idea for the business first came about in 2020, after Harry was made redundant during the pandemic.

“I was working in retail before Covid hit,” he explained.

“After I lost my job in April, I thought it was a great opportunity to do something creative.

“I’ve always wanted to be creative in my work so it just made sense.”

Harry began making candles at home, crafting a set of three to sell online. Blanc Homeware was officially launched in December 2020 and made a few sales.

Demand for the candles soon increased, to the extent that James had to lend a helping hand with packaging and sending the parcels.

The duo soon added more products to their brand and James, who has a background in graphic design, made a few prints.

Since then the business has gone from strength to strength, selling from its Etsy site, with Harry and James working collaboratively to ensure each product is designed, created and packaged with individual care and flare.

Blanc Homeware has sold over 30 different candle designs since 2020, as well as unique greetings cards and a variety of home decor pieces.

After the bulk of the lockdowns came to an end, meeting customers in person for the first time was a special moment for the team.

“We absolutely love going to the markets and meeting our customers,” explained James.

“When you buy a candle the first thing you want to do is smell the scent, so going to markets and having these interactions has been amazing.”

Harry and James have been to markets all across the area, including Hay-on-Wye’s Butter Market, as well as markets in Swansea and Cardiff.

Harry White and James Thomas from Blanc Homeware
Harry and James visit markets all around the country with their products (Blanc Homeware)

As well as creating high quality products, the brand has a strong environmentally-friendly ethos.

Harry said: “It’s really important to us that Blanc Homeware is environmentally responsible.

“All of our wax is 100 per cent vegan soy wax with a clean burn.

“Our cards are made from recycled paper and printed using plant-based vegan ink. We use biodegradable cellophane too!”

Harry and James will now take Blanc Homeware to Stratford-upon-Avon for the national National Final over the August bank holiday - where they will be in the running for a nationwide award.

“We definitely didn’t expect it but we were so happy to win the award,” said Harry.

“We’re so incredible grateful for all the support we’ve had so far and want to say a massive thank you to everyone.

“We’re looking forward to going to Stratford and meeting all the excellent traders from around the country.”

The pair are looking forward to building and expanding Blanc Homeware, but want to make sure the brand retains its strong values.

“Our brand ethos is so important so we want to make sure we grow in the right way,” said James.

“The whole experience has given us a whole new outlook on buying products - every sale is so important to an independent business.

“We’re both very conscious about shopping at independent places because we know first-hand the joy the business gets from each and every sale.”

To browse and order products, visit their shop at www.etsy.com/uk/shop/BlancHomeware or take a look at their Instagram page @blanchomeware