A GLASGOW-based candle company has been chosen from thousands of small businesses to star in a TV advert.
Family-run Shearer Candles will gain nationwide exposure from the Amazon TV ad which highlights the importance of small and medium-sized businesses.
Until recently the 120-year-old company was trading from just one high-street location.
However, since launching its products online, business has grown significantly, and it now employs more than 50 staff and trades from three locations and two seasonal pop-ups.
The advert, which launched this week, highlights how half of everything sold on Amazon comes from small and medium size businesses like Shearer Candles and shows how Amazon helps them reach customers around the world.
“As the UK’s longest-established creator and purveyor of lifestyle candles, everything we do is usually underpinned by long-standing tradition and heritage,” said Stephanie Barnet, of Shearer Candles. “So selling on Amazon has been a whirlwind romance for us. Each month we have seen sales growing from strength to strength; it really has become an integral selling tool and source of revenue for our small family-run business.
“Being asked to star in the commercial was a huge opportunity for us, and we were absolutely delighted to be involved.
“To see our brand brought to life on such a grand scale truly was a career highlight and a very proud moment for the team. The privilege that is nationwide exposure for our brand will undoubtedly add great value to our business.”
The TV advert was launched to coincide with a new consumer shopping experience called Amazon Storefronts, described as a “curation” of the best of British products from across the UK including toys, groceries, electronics and homewares.
Doug Gurr of Amazon’s UK said: “Shearer Candles is a great example of how Amazon can play a vital part in growth strategy, allowing SMEs to reach millions of customers – not just in the UK, but globally.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here