Growing up in Northampton, the Chronicle & Echo was part of the everyday rhythm of life. It would land on the doorstep like clockwork, a familiar marker of what mattered in the town.
I never imagined I would appear in it, let alone twice.
At school, those pages seemed reserved for a very specific kind of achievement. The athletes breaking records at an early age. The ones whose names were spoken with certainty about futures in the Olympics or the NBA. Not someone building a business from the ground up through fragrance, memory and experience.
And yet, here we are. Through candles.
My first feature was a founder interview exploring the evolution of Reverie: the mindset behind building it, and the inspiration that shaped it. In many ways, it forced me to reflect on something I had quietly overlooked: the founder behind the brand.
I have spent so much time elevating Reverie that I neglected to properly step into my own personal narrative. So when questions turned directly towards me, I realised I wasn’t as prepared as I thought. Despite that, I know my business studies teacher, Mr Chapman, wherever he is now, would be proud.
One of the key reflections from that piece was simple but grounding: Reverie is something truly unique within Northampton. It offers people an experience they haven’t encountered before, and it is only continuing to grow into itself.
As I shared in the interview:
“Anyone who knows me knows I’m a dreamer. I dream big and knew this was the youngest I’d be without responsibilities. Reaching for the stars is part of my personality.”
The second feature came from a very different place.
It asked more difficult questions, the kind that strip away optimism and require honesty about the reality of building an independent business. Around the same time, Northampton, like many towns, was seeing a wave of independent closures. The conversation shifted towards what Reverie adds to the town, and what its absence might mean.
It was a moment that forced reflection.
Not just on challenges, but on responsibility to boost awareness and visibility, and ultimately survive.
But perspective has a way of reframing even the hardest conversations. That article also revealed something I had not fully acknowledged: my own resilience as a founder. My ambition. My persistence. My ability to continue building even when the conditions are uncertain. My faith in God.
When asked what Northampton stands to lose if Reverie were to close, I shared:
“I always describe it as a scent exploration and experience. The sense of smell is the clearest pathway to memory. When you smell the fragrances I’ve curated for the first time, you are transported to positive daydreams. If we were to close down, Northampton would lose elevated scent exploration. I try to give that luxury experience and usually that operates on a sense of exclusivity, but we welcome all. There's a sense of community.”
And on how people can support small businesses like mine:
“Word of mouth,” I said. “I don’t think anyone realises how powerful leaving a comment can be. It costs absolutely nothing to mention a small business, and we forget this counts in the real world too – not just on social media. It can go so far and you don’t know who’s looking for that missing puzzle piece. People complain that Abington Street has been quiet, but shed light on the independent brands that are still there and could fill that street one day. Focus on what Northampton does have to offer rather than what it doesn’t.”
Being featured twice in a publication I grew up reading felt surreal in the most grounding way.
Thank you to Katie Wheatley for telling the story.
You can read both features here:
https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/business/meet-the-founder-of-this-nationally-growing-luxury-candle-brand-established-in-northampton-6025490
https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/business/we-mean-business-focus-on-what-northampton-does-have-to-offer-rather-than-what-it-doesnt-8500165
And as always, dream big.