Essence Home Celebrates Small Business Awards Finalist Recognition

We’re delighted to be starting the year by celebrating a brilliant milestone for one of our traders at Lock29.

Essence Home has been named a finalist in the Small Business Awards, marking another standout moment in what has already been an impressive first year in business.

Essence Home has been part of the Lock29 community for almost a year, and in that time has quickly established itself as a much-loved destination for colourful, feel-good home décor and candles. To be shortlisted for a national Small Business Award, alongside already winning awards in 2025, is a huge achievement and a testament to the brand’s creativity, ambition and consistency.

Founder Carey Burden describes the recognition as both humbling and exciting:

“I am absolutely blown away to be a finalist in the SBA Awards. I spent a lot of time submitting my application and it would mean the world if we won at a national level.”

From online launch to physical shop

For Carey, opening a physical shop at Lock29 came at a pivotal moment. Essence Home was just five months into its journey when the opportunity arose to take on a bricks-and-mortar space.

“Having the opportunity to have a physical shop when we were only five months into launching was a real pinch-me moment,” Carey explains.

That early leap into retail has paid off. Essence Home has built a strong base of loyal, returning customers and is regularly compared to well-known lifestyle brands – feedback that has been hugely encouraging for a young independent business.

The power of customer connection

While awards and recognition matter, Carey says the biggest win of being based at Lock29 has been meeting customers face to face and seeing the brand’s reputation travel far beyond Banbury.

From a supplier at Top Drawer hearing a customer say, “I love your candles, I bought one in a shop in Banbury,” to word-of-mouth recommendations reaching Nottingham and the City of London, Essence Home’s physical presence has helped create genuine, organic brand awareness.

“People are talking about our shop in Banbury,” Carey says. “That is just amazing.”

Celebrating independent success

Essence Home’s story is exactly what Lock29 is about: supporting independent businesses, helping them grow visibility, and creating meaningful connections with customers. Seeing traders gain national recognition is something we’re incredibly proud of.

Huge congratulations to Carey and the Essence Home team on becoming finalists in the Small Business Awards. We’ll be cheering you on all the way and can’t wait to see what the next chapter brings.