After four years of early mornings and unpredictable weather of Saturday markets, Shorelines Collection has found a new home.
The local candle making business is now open at their new address, Shop 4, 1 Carlo Drive, and has been quietly operating from the delightful space for six months now.
The new studio is a tranquil, coastal-inspired retail and production space where hand-pour soy candles and diffusers which are made on-site using Australian fragrance oils and natural soy waxes. The store also features unique gift ideas, many of which are unavailable elsewhere in town. Upon entry to the new studio, shoppers are met with an uplifting aroma that inspires the senses and refreshes the soul.
The business was founded by two young sisters who, during COVID-19, decided to try something creative and productive. The girl's mother, Susan Butler, soon got involved and the trio enjoyed many happy times making candles together. This experience inspired Susan to reconnect with her own creative passions and the broader business blossomed from there. They began small, selling at the Lions Airlie Beach Community Markets and building a loyal customer base who kept coming back for their clean-burning candles and signature scents.
Susan has taken over the business as her daughters have taken a step back and she absolutely loves it.
Today, the studio's signature scents include Coconut & Lemongrass, Sea Salt & Driftwood, Kakadu Plum, and Pear & Guava, but there are so much more and they are even open to requests.
Each candle is thoughtfully presented, with embellishments such as shells or flowers to match the fragrance and reflect the coastal aesthetic or the earthy notes.
Shorelines Collection's main focus is on sustainability.
“We can refill most of our vessels, and if people prefer not to, pretty much everything we offer can be reused or repurposed as we primarily use homewares rather than traditional candle jars,” said Susan.
“Instead, we try to use planters, food grade bowls, or other decorative pieces.
“Because of this, most of our products are limited edition too.”
Most eye-catching and notable in the store are the Coco Husk Candles in Coconut & Lemongrass, or Citronella & Lemongrass scents. The Shorelines Collection team gather coconuts from the local area, cut them in half and let their chickens and bush turkeys eat out the flesh. Once they are cleaned and sealed, these husks make unique, lightweight candles, perfect for your own home or as gifts for loved ones.
Coming up next Shorelines Collection are working on introducing candle-making workshops.
“We’ve had some great feedback and will likely launch those after the school holidays," shares Susan.
“People will get to take home something they’ve made and hopefully fall in love with the process.”
Open Monday to Friday from 11am to 3pm or by appointment, the Shorelines Collection is ready to welcome locals and visitors alike.
“So many people tell me they didn’t know we were here,” said Susan.
“Now that we’ve got our website and socials up, it’s time to spread the word and invite people in.”
Shorelines Collection now have a shop address at Shop 4, 1 Carlo Drive. Photo credit: Daniel Heggie