Medina, OH (February 11, 2010) -- A picturesque sleepy little town in Southern Maine is an ideal location for a quaint, Victorian style house that serves as a specialty gift store. Nestled in tiny Ogunquit, Maine, a seaside town of 1200 full time residents and thousands of yearly vacationers, this specialty gift store -- lovingly called Spoiled Rotten -- is not only a local favorite, but also a ‘must’ for out-of-towners on every trip. Spoiled Rotten sells a variety of gourmet foods, books, stationary, toiletries, apparel and a large selection of home fragrance products from Root Candles.
As one of Root Candles leading retailers in the country, Spoiled Rotten has been honored by Root Candles with the “Legacy Elite Retailer” designation. A Root retailer can earn this award based on a combination of sales volume, merchandising practices, and superior customer service.
Owners Michael Fogarty and Toby Seavey opened Spoiled Rotten on July 2, 1999, after purchasing the historic house just one month prior. Both Michael and Toby had left their jobs to pursue their dream of owning and running a specialty gift store. And both knew that this little corner of Maine was the only spot they wanted the store to be located. “We always knew we wanted to do something in the retail/sales arena, especially in Ogunquit. It’s a charming location, by the sea, with wonderful people and fun activities. Plus, it’s a location where we had vacationed for many years and really felt part of the community,” says Toby.
When it came time to choose which company would supply the candles for the specialty store, Toby and Michael knew exactly which candle company would have a prominent display in their store. “I had become a fan of Root Candles quite a few years back and I was extremely impressed with the quality of their products. No other candle on the market burns like a Root Candle. Once we opened Spoiled Rotten, I knew immediately that Root Candles were going to be our candle of choice. We didn’t want to carry a candle brand that you could buy at any big box retailer, or something you could find at several stores at the mall. We wanted a candle that was superior and we found it in Root Candles. It’s a terrific product and a great fit for our customers here in Maine,” Toby said.
“The shop has been very well received. After our first season in business, we slightly redesigned the store layout and product selection, including an expanded Root Candle section. Our store quickly became a visitor’s favorite Ogunquit destination,” added Michael. Spoiled Rotten has continued to grow and expand. In 2010, the gift shop, located on the first floor of the house, will expand upwards – taking over the 2nd floor of the house – giving them more space for beautiful merchandise.
“A large part of our success is due to Root Candles. The company has been in business for 140 years – they’ve really perfected the art of candle making. The quality of their product speaks for itself. We are proud to sell and recommend their candles to our customers, knowing it’s a candle that is not going to fail. Plus, they have wonderful smelling fragrances,” says Toby.
Japanese Cedarwood, Sampaquita, and Tangerine Lemongrass are the most popular Root Candle fragrances sold at Spoiled Rotten. Customers also love several specialty candles made exclusively for Spoiled Rotten by Root that are available on a limited basis.
The demand for Root Candles has increased each year. “Our customers come in asking for Root Candles. Their products have become so popular at our store that we took one whole room in the store and dedicated that space to just Root Candles,” said Michael. In 2009 they added the new Legacy by Root Reed Diffusers to their product mix and this year they will start to sell the innovative Legacy by Root fragranced tassels.
Toby also mentioned that one team member is always dedicated to the “candle room” holding ‘sniff and smell’ parties where staff members open up a variety of Root Queen Bee jars so customers can smell the fragrances, pass them to their friends and discuss among themselves which fragrances they like the best. “It’s a great opportunity for us to engage conversation with our customer and to educate them on proper candle burning. It’s a lot of fun and our customers get a big kick out of smelling all the wonderful Root fragrances,” added Toby.
“Also, a uniqueness with Root is our ability to offer our customers a variety of ways to keep the same Root scent flowing from room to room. Root offers additional fragranced products such as reed diffusers in the same candle fragrance to keep one smell enhancing your entire house,” added Toby. Reed diffusers can also be purchased at Spoiled Rotten.
And the feeling is mutual. As one of Root Candles premier retail accounts, Spoiled Rotten has been given the honor of being a “Legacy Elite Retailer.” This designation is based on a combination of sales volume, merchandising practices, and superior customer service. Legacy stands for “Legacy by Root” which is a line of products introduced in 2009. It’s a collection of exquisite candles, decorative reed diffusers and innovative fragrance tassels named for founding father Amos Ives (A.I.) Root as a tribute to his legacy.
“Our partnership with Spoiled Rotten has been incredible. Since they opened in 1999, we’ve been lucky enough to be their main supplier for candles,” said Brad Root, President of Root Candles. “We don’t think of them as just another retailer who sells our product. They are our partners. We work very closely with Toby and Michael to make sure they have products from us that will bring customers back to their store again and again.
“Another benefit is that Toby and Michael provide customer feedback to us – what candles their customers like, or don’t like, or what new fragrances they would like to see introduced,” said Root. “The staff does a wonderful job educating and selling Root Candles. It’s an honor to have them recognized as an elite Root store. And considering their retail store is seasonal, open only 8-9 months out of the year, they really do sell a lot of our product in a short period of time,” added Root. “We’re very proud of the product we have on the market today. And our customers have been a testimonial to that, especially those that shop at Spoiled Rotten. This relationship with Spoiled Rotten is a very special one for Root Candles. It is one that has flourished for more than ten years and one that we want to continue building for many years to come,” added Root.
Since 1869, Root Candles of Medina, Ohio, has been an industry-leading, family-owned company renowned for their candles and the highest standards of quality. Now in its fifth generation, the Root family continues to extol the virtues of honesty, integrity, and diligent craftsmanship. These qualities were exemplified by Root Candles founding father Amos Ives (A.I.) Root. His tradition of excellence, along with a genuine commitment to customer satisfaction and service, defines and fuels Root’s strong brand loyalty today. Root Candles are still handcrafted in the same factory A.I. Root built back in 1869. Root, the best candle in America.
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