About Branche d'Olive

At the start of the new Millennium, Jane and Ruth formed a partnership selling French antique and painted furniture, furnishings and lifestyle products.  They travelled to France in empty cars to scour the local markets, only returning home when the cars became too full to sleep in!  On one such trip they found a traditionally made Marseilles soap and added a few bars for decorative effect.  Back in England, the soap sold out within a couple of days.  Soon, ever increasing quantities were being brought over and, at their respective kitchen tables, the wrapping was endless.  Ruth remembers:   "...we attended a local charity fair, taking six boxes of soaps – in sales terms about £500's worth and we sold out in the first hour but, more importantly, we were approached by two shop owners both wanting to be stockists".  

 

It soon became clear that sales of soap were oustripping sales of antique Armoires (the latter not needing to be replaced very often!) and, in September 2002, Branche d'Olive was created to market the soap and the pair embarked on their first trade fair.  Jane recalls: “we had a tiny stand with just two sizes of soap in twelve fragrances packed in every possible colour combination as well as  ... 1000 order forms!   When we returned, three days later we still had 988 unused forms but, crucially, we had 12 orders and a full Contacts Book:  we set to work!".   

 

Now, some ten years later, that original product base has developed into a range of gifts and life style accessories including:  pomanders, room diffusers, candles, bath products, wardrobe fragrances, draining soap dishes, hand towels AND their own exclusive, traditionally made, range of triple-milled, hand-made soap sourced from a small Savonnerie near Marseilles.  Having outgrown their kitchen tables, Jane and Ruth now operate the business from premises near Oxford.  With full time staff, notably Elaine and Claire who have been with them from the beginning, they fulfil orders for 300 stockists nationwide including Liberty, Fortnum & Mason, Blenheim Palace and Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons.  Wonderfully assisted by agents Jon & Marilena from Cosabella, responsibility for trade sales is shared equally and largely generated from Trade Fairs.  In 2012 US distributors, Joe and Monica from the Raquel Group, were appointed and January 2013 saw their first exhibition at New York’s International Gift Fair.  

 

Recent additions to the range include two new Diffuser fragrances, Cloud & Feather,  and two charming scented ceramic cherub medallions which can be hung throughout the house to suffuse mood lifting fragrances. They also make delightful wedding favours. 

 

Twice a year, Charity Weeks are held at the Branche d'Olive warehouse with 10% of all retail sales going to charity.  This year’s Christmas Charity Week resulted in £300 going to Multiple Sclerosis Research.   The dates of the Spring Charity Sale will be announced shortly.

 

Thank you for reading and ...  Happy Shopping!