It’s been a long long winter, but it seems we’ve finally made it out to the other side. UK lockdown 3.0 (or was it 4.0) is just about over and we’re celebrating the best way we know how! 

Along with 11 other small businesses, Young Mary’s is heading back to Boxpark Shoreditch for another round of Inspired By Africa. For one month (12 April - 9 May 2021) we’re heading back to London to bring music, vibes, and good times to all you well deserving people. So come and enjoy our unique Pop-Up experience!

And yes, we’re bringing the Afro beats! 

Unit 15
Boxpark Shoreditch 
12 April - 9 May 2021

You can find all the participating brand on Instagram:
@Inspired__by__Africa
​@afi_akos
@african.chica
@blacknificentuk
@jobili_active_wear
@kese_cushions
@leanne_creative
@monas_collection_
@rufinadesigns
@simplygracetots
@shimiroseuk
@itsyoungmarys

While it certainly doesn't feel like it - winter is coming to an end sooner rather than later. As usual, that means it's time for us to say bye to our Winter African Wonders. Lesotho and Madagascar are going away at the end of the month (don't worry, they'll be back when days start getting shorter again). Which means it's time to welcome...

Côte d'ivoire and Tunisia!

Tunisia only launched last year, then the pandemic hit so it still feels quite new and fresh to the Young Mary's collection. I describe it as a 'citrus burst' with notes of grapefruit, orange, lemon and peach. It's a bright and wonderful way to bring in the spring. 

​Côte d'ivoire seems like an old classic now. Sweet, chocolatey and rich! A well deserved indulgence after a pretty rough year. 

Both candles are available now and you'll also be able to get your hands on the few remaining Lesotho and Madagascar candles through the end of the month. 

Till next time :)
-Lola

We made it to 2021! Although it doesn’t seem like much has changed from 2020 I, for one, am grateful and thankful to have made it another year - and still be here going strong! In fact, going a bit manic if I’m honest.

The end of 2020 went crazier than I could have ever imagined which means things are looking pretty bare on the website right now but Sam and I are hard at work restocking as much as we can as quickly as we can. Having him helping out since opening back up from the holidays (a week earlier than expected) has been an absolute God send! #ShoutoutSam

While we’re working hard to get stock back where it should be, don’t forget! If there’s something you can’t find with us online, it might be available at one of our retail partners. Brick and mortar locations in the U.K. are still closed right now but most of them have online websites where you can shop for Young Mary’s goodies and discover some new independent brands to support while you’re at it.

Meanwhile we should be back up and running at full capacity in another two weeks! Until then, I hope you’re all having a lovely start to 2021 and thank you, as always, for being part of the Young Mary’s family and allowing our vision to stay alive.

-Lola :)

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Over the past month the Young Mary's family was able to raise over £230 to donate to equitysport and the amazing work they do in Sub Saharan Africa. 2020 has been a doozy of a year and while this Christmas won't quite be the same (at least in the UK) we hope this helps put some much needed smiles on very deserving faces.

It wouldn't have happened without all of you and we're beyond grateful for the love and support we've been shown this year and the fact we've been able to pass a bit of it on to a really good cause.

We wish everyone near and far a wonderful Christmas 2020 and a blessed start to 2021.

-Lola

Young Mary’s will be closing for the year on 15 December 2020 and reopening 15 January 2021.
Any orders placed in that time will be dispatched on Saturday 16 January 2021. 

For domestic UK orders, you have five more days to order for guaranteed Christmas delivery (order by 10 December) while all international orders are now stopped until the new year. 

And don't forget! We’re still raising money for equitysport. If you haven't seen our posts already,  equitysport is a charity that exists to advance equality, diversity and equal opportunity in and through global sport, with a particular focus on sub-Saharan Africa. Between 15 November and when we close on 15 December, 10% of all Young Mary’s sales will be donated to this amazing organisation to help them carry on their work. 

That's all for now!
​-Lola :)

​What: INSPIRED BY AFRICA Pop Up Shop 
When: 3rd to 6th December 2020
Where: Unit 26, Boxpark Shoreditch, London E1 6GY

See you there!

​It’s our birthday week, and you know what that means? Time to celebrate! And what better way to celebrate than with a sale! The biggest sale we’ve ever had actually.

From now until Black Friday, all Young Mary’s orders will be 50% off! That’s 50% off every single thing we make. Starting 22 November use the code ‘BDAYWEEK’ to celebrate with us!

To make things even sweeter, we’ll still be donating 10% of sales to equitysport till we close for Christmas on 15 December! So you get to help a good cause and grab a Young Mary’s bargain at the same time!

Is there a better way to celebrate turning two?
We're already looking forward to turning 3!

-Lola :)

It's our Birthday month!!

That's right ladies and gentlemen! Young Mary's managed to make it another year, pandemic and all! And we've come up with a pretty special way to celebrate.

​Every year, we like to donate a portion of our income towards a good cause. Last year £1 from each Maputo candle we sold went towards Oxfam's Cyclone appeal to help victims of Cyclone Idai, which hit Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Malawi.

This year we've decided to team up with the brilliant folks at equitysport. equitysport is a charity that exists to advance equality, diversity and equal opportunity in and through global sport, with a particular focus on sub-Saharan Africa. This Pandemic has hit all of us pretty hard, in all types of different ways but sports remain an important part of so many people's lives not to mention a great way to keep our minds and bodies active and healthy.  

Young Mary's will be donating 10% of all sales we make for a month (midnight 15 November until midnight 15 December 2020 BST) to equitysport. To make this even better, Work For Good will be matching our donation up to £500 as part of their #SmallBusinessStar campaign, which we're also really proud to be part of.

We have one more birthday treat up our sleeves, but we'll be sharing that a bit later...
#watchthisspace :)

-Lola

Last week I told you to watch this space, which means time for another drum roll...

Young Mary's has made it to Bristol!

Our candles will now be stocked at Prior Shop in Old Market! Prior is an independent artist co-op shop run by the beautiful Beck Prior. I met Beck last year at Frome Market and let's just say not even a pandemic could keep Young Mary's away!

Prior stocks some really creative/out of the box gems. All meticulously handcrafted and  made responsibly and sustainably. I still have to pinch myself when I think how lucky we are to have shops like this, yet alone the chance to have our candles in them!

So if you find yourself in Bristol, stop by and show Prior Shop some love :)

Find them at: 58 West Street - St Phillips. Bristol BS2 0BL
Open: Wed. & Fri. & Sat: 10am - 6pm; Thur.: 12pm - 8pm; Sun.: 11am - 5pm (Closed Mon and Tues)

Drum roll please...
Young Mary's has a new home! That's right :) we have a new stockist in Cheltenham - Bloom Boutique - at Bloom Studio and Well being.

Bloom Studio and Well being is a well-being community in Cheltenham Town Centre offering 15 classes a week in yoga, meditation, dance, Pilates and more!

The Boutique is open before and after every class and throughout the day during the week. You can also order things online through their website and pick up in person, if you're local to Cheltenham. We're joining a really lovely family of brands, including eco friendly yoga mats and accessories from M Life, high quality active-wear from Jilla Active and positivity only issues from The Happy News.

Can you tell why we're so excited??

Keep your eye on this space as we have more new coming soon...

-Lola