New owner, new ambitions for Scented by Harry

After 15 years building businesses in the City of Moreton Bay, entrepreneur Jenny Marree is bringing her experience and fresh ambitions to Scented by Harry, with plans to expand the established fragrance brand’s The Candle Lab experiences, online sales and corporate gifting.

As the new owner, Jenny is drawing on the lessons of building a business from scratch and growing it into a sizeable operation with franchisees and agents, while embracing the different challenges that come with taking over an established brand.

Her connection to Scented by Harry, however, began long before the opportunity to purchase it arose.

A customer for about two and a half years, Jenny was already familiar with the products and Candle Lab experience, and still has the first candle she made during one of its classes. When her previous business began winding down in January, the opportunity to take ownership came at just the right time.

“Purchasing Scented by Harry was an easy decision for me. I’d been a customer for about two and a half years, and when the opportunity came up, everything happened very quickly and seamlessly,” Jenny said.

“I’m incredibly grateful to have taken over such a beautiful, established business and to have the opportunity to continue growing it.”

Jenny’s entrepreneurial journey began around 2011, when she established a business that would eventually expand through a network of franchisees and agents. Managing that growth reinforced the importance of organisation, strong systems and creating a business that could operate efficiently, but it also shaped her understanding of what attracts customers in the first place.

“One of the biggest lessons I’ve learnt in business is that people buy with their eyes. Presentation matters, and creating something beautiful is often what draws customers in before they make a purchasing decision,” Jenny said.

“Scented by Harry already had that. It was beautifully presented, elegant and luxurious. My focus is on building on those foundations and taking the experience to another level.”

While Jenny has plenty of experience creating and growing a business, she acknowledges that taking over someone else’s operation has required a different mindset, particularly when it comes to understanding the decisions and vision of its founder.

“When you build a business from scratch, every decision is your own. Taking over an established business is different because you need to understand the thinking behind what’s already been created,” Jenny said.

“It’s certainly had its challenges, but Scented by Harry already had such strong foundations. My role now is to build on what’s working and find opportunities to make each part of the business even better.”

With retail, e-commerce, corporate gifting and The Candle Lab already established, Jenny sees opportunities to strengthen each revenue stream, but it was the potential of The Candle Lab that particularly stood out when she considered purchasing the business.

“The Candle Lab was where I saw the greatest potential. Harry had done a fantastic job establishing it, but I could see there was so much more opportunity to grow,” Jenny said.

“People love experiences, and I want The Candle Lab to be somewhere they can spend quality time with friends and family, create something special and enjoy an experience that’s a little different from going out to dinner.”

Her ambitions also extend beyond the physical store, with plans to strengthen e-commerce and introduce the brand to customers across Australia. Corporate gifting is another area she believes offers considerable potential, particularly through relationships with other businesses in the City of Moreton Bay.

“There’s enormous potential in corporate gifting, particularly for local businesses. I love the idea of businesses supporting another local business for their client thank-you gifts, staff appreciation and special occasions,” Jenny said.

“We also want to grow our online presence so Scented by Harry isn’t just enjoyed locally, but by customers right across Australia.”

With several revenue streams already established, Jenny is now focused on refining each part of the operation and identifying opportunities to expand, including the possibility of eventually moving to larger premises as the Candle Lab develops.

For an entrepreneur accustomed to building businesses from the ground up, Scented by Harry represents a new kind of challenge, combining her experience in business growth with the opportunity to build on a brand she already knew and valued.

This time, rather than starting with a blank canvas, Jenny is focused on taking an established business into its next stage of growth, with ambitions that extend well beyond its current footprint.