35 Years of Growth and Innovation - Matakana Botanicals
Founded in 1988 by Colyn Devereux, the company was originally known as Les Floralies and offered unique wood shaving potpourris made under Colyn’s house in an old bathtub, which takes pride of place at Matakana Botanicals today.
Not long after, Colyn pioneered the room fragrance market, introducing fragrant candles and expanding into body care products. It was during this period she purchased a small bach at Leigh, which quickly became a creative hub for her family.
Working with the company from Australia since the age of 22, her son Danvers found himself drawn back to the region, and in 2000, purchased the business from his mother. By 2014 the business was rebranded to Matakana Botanicals and had relocated to the stunning site it now occupies.
“Our early days were like an exciting adventure, pioneering a new industry for New Zealand,” reflects Danvers. “Colyn’s outlook was ‘act local, go global,’ and before long, we were attending trade shows abroad and knocking on department store doors, eventually supplying Harrods, Macy’s, Nordstrom, David Jones, and Lane Crawford. We then began supplying Air New Zealand in First and Business Class, even creating a special amenity kit for the Queen when she flew with them! We were then approached by Emirates, marking the beginning of a wonderful 15-year relationship – quite the achievement for a small Kiwi company, rubbing shoulders with Bulgari on a major international airline!”
Grateful for and proud of the special relationships they’ve developed with local retailers, some of which have lasted over 20 years, Danvers also cherishes the connections he has made with local growers and beekeepers who now supply the business and have always inspired him.
One of the company’s biggest challenges – and ultimately, highlights – was purchasing their property in Matakana. Initially an overgrown hoarder’s haven filled with car wrecks and junk, the transformation took over three years to complete and required blood, sweat and tears. Though gruelling, it has become a significant chapter in the colourful 35-year journey of Matakana Botanicals.