In the newest instalment of our “Meet the Client” series, we are delighted to introduce Fragrances of Ireland and their signature Inis; the Energy of the Sea fragrance and body care collection. Based in Wicklow, Ireland, they have been creating fragrances and personal care products for over 40 years. On this occasion, Sandy Clements, International Marketing Manager, shared her thoughts on the success the company has had capturing the noses of Canadians and their exciting growth plans.
Tell us about your organization and how you’re bringing it to Canada.
Inspired by the beauty and energy of the wild Atlantic coast of Ireland, we create perfume and personal care products that connect people to the sea. We’ve been in the Canadian market for many years now but in January 2023, we started to work with a new sales rep group and brought all of the order processing and customer service back in-house. We’ve seen an increase in sales of 162% this year, so we’re delighted with how the Canadian market is growing.
Why was Canada an ideal place for expansion for your business?
The U.S. is our biggest market, accounting for 80% of the business. We have a 3PL warehouse in Ohio, so with the proximity it made sense to expand to Canada from there.
Since launching in the Canadian market – what have you found most surprising about doing business here versus other markets?
We’ve seen similarities between our customers in other markets so we have been able to approach Canada with the same strategy we’ve applied to other markets – the US, Europe and the UK.
What are your growth plans for Canada in the next few years?
Our goal for the next 2 years is to grow the Canadian market to 10% of our US business. With the response we’ve seen from Canadian consumers, we believe we can get there.
