Sebnini, the Family-owned home fragrance company, has been awarded the King’s Award for Enterprise in the International Trade category. This is the most prestigious business award in the UK, and Sebnini is one of the first home fragrance companies to receive it. From selling candles in a one-bedroom flat in South West London to becoming a luxury candle and diffuser specialist supplying customers all over the world, Sebnini’s export growth of over 500% in the past three years has earned them this honour. Despite its significant expansion, the company has remained a family business, with staff at the heart of everything they do.
Key Takeaways:
- Sebnini, a family-owned home fragrance company, has been awarded the King’s Award for Enterprise in the International Trade category. This is the most prestigious business award in the UK.
- The company has grown significantly from its humble beginnings when the founders Gert and Carina Schyberg sold candles to put food on the table of their one-bedroom flat in South West London in 1987.
- Despite significant expansion, Sebnini has remained a family business, with staff at the heart of everything they do.
From Humble Beginnings to International Success
Sebnini, a Surrey-based home fragrance company, has been awarded the King’s Award for Enterprise in the International Trade category. The company’s founders, Gert and Carina Schyberg, started selling candles to put food on the table of their one-bedroom flat in South West London in 1987. From these humble beginnings, the business has grown into a luxury candle and diffuser specialist, supplying customers all over the world.
Despite its significant growth, Sebnini has remained a family business, where staff are at the heart of everything they do. The company’s spectacular export growth of over 500% in the past three years has seen them earn a prestigious King’s Award for Enterprise in the International Trade category. The company is one of the first home fragrance companies to be granted this honour and the first for the new King’s Award.
The Schybergs’ son, Sebastian Schyberg, who is also the International Sales Manager at Sebnini, said: “It really is an incredible achievement for Sebnini to have won this award. I have grown up alongside the business so have seen first-hand the work that has been put in over the years, and I am incredibly excited to see Sebnini only continue to grow and develop in the coming years.”
A Family Business that Values its Staff
Sebnini has always valued its staff, and this ethos has remained central to the company’s success. Celebrating the award, Gert Schyberg, Sebnini’s founder and Managing Director, said: “We are so incredibly honoured, humbled, and excited for our business and staff to receive such a prestigious award in recognition of many years of hard work and achievements. All of the team works so hard to make the business a success, and we couldn’t have achieved this without their endeavours and expertise. It’s a real tribute to them.”
Fellow founder, Carina Schyberg, added: “This really is an amazing achievement for us and the business, and I couldn’t be more delighted to gain such recognition.”
Despite its significant expansion and a burgeoning worldwide reputation, Sebnini has remained a family business where staff are at the heart of everything. The company base is on farmland in Smallfield, Surrey, a couple of miles from Gatwick Airport. The team works in the office right next to the factory, which opened five years ago.
Sebnini’s Philosophy
Sebnini’s philosophy is to make its customers feel special by providing high-quality, luxury products that are handmade in the UK. The company prides itself on its attention to detail and customer service, which has helped it to build a loyal customer base. The Sebnini brand was established in 2001, with the company name a combination of Gert and Carina’s children, son Sebastian, known as Seb, and daughter Selina, who used to call herself Nini.
The King’s Award for Enterprise
For the first time since the awards were established in 1966, they will be presented as The King’s Awards, formerly known as The Queen’s Awards. The awards recognise and encourage the outstanding achievements of UK businesses in the fields of innovation, international trade, sustainable development and promoting opportunity.
Sebnini’s spectacular export growth of over 500% in the past three years has seen it earn a prestigious King’s Award for Enterprise in the International Trade category. The award is valid for five years, and decisions about how to proceed and what it will mean for the business are still being finalised by the team. However, it is sure to make the future smell even sweeter for a British company that has made scented candles and diffusers a worldwide success story.
A Royal Visit
Sebnini is set to be presented with the award at Buckingham Palace and the team is looking forward to welcoming a Royal representative later this Spring, where they will be presented with the Royal flag to fly at Sebnini HQ. “It was such an exciting feeling when the email arrived,” said Gert. “To know that we would be invited to Buckingham Palace after starting this in such a small way over 30 years ago was quite surreal. It’s more than we could ever have imagined when my wife and I were just trying to put food on the table. We couldn’t even tell the staff at first, but it’s great to be able to celebrate this with them.”
Sebnini’s International Success
Sebnini’s international success is an impressive achievement for a small, family-run business that started in a one-bedroom flat. The company’s dedication to creating high-quality, luxury products and its commitment to its staff have been central to its success. The award is a fitting recognition of the hard work and dedication of the team at Sebnini and its founders.
Sebnini’s achievement is an inspiration to other small businesses, showing that with hard work and dedication, it is possible to achieve international success. The company has shown that a family-run business can compete with larger corporations and that a commitment to quality and customer service can help to build a loyal customer base.
The King’s Award for Enterprise is a prestigious accolade, and Sebnini’s win is a testament to the company’s hard work and dedication. It is sure to provide a significant boost to the company’s profile and help it to continue to grow and develop in the coming years.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Sebnini’s win of the King’s Award for Enterprise in the International Trade category is a significant achievement for a family-run home fragrance company. The award is a testament to the company’s commitment to quality and customer service, and its dedication to its staff. Sebnini’s story is an inspiration to other small businesses, showing that with hard work and dedication, it is possible to achieve international success.
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