Martin Boyle of iCandy
What does it mean to you to be a British brand?
It gives us great pride to be a British based, family brand. For over 82 years we have striven for perfection in every endeavour we have undertaken. Football, golf, cricket, tiddlywinks, croquet, the Spitfire, railways, steam engines, hovercrafts, penicillin, gravity, longitude, the jet engine, the worldwide web, evolution, sticky toffee pudding, the saucy seaside postcard, the stamp – and to that very succinct list of what Britain has given the world we can also very proudly add iCandy. As a company established in London we are inordinately proud of our design and manufacturing pedigree and the creativity that is achieved by living in what is in our opinion the worlds greatest city and country.
What are iCandy renowned for?
The balance of performance, luxury and design is our signature, and we refuse to compromise or accept limitations in our pursuit of perfection. That’s why nothing looks or feels like an iCandy. The iCandy recipe for innovation is simple, exceptional British craftsmanship and no limits.
How did your company begin?
Business at iCandy has always been a family affair, growing up myself and brother Warren (pictured) absorbed manufacturing knowledge from our grandfather Charles, who had founded a fashion company in 1933.
With over 82 years of cutting-edge British design and innovation, we have now created a collection of beautifully formed, luxury nursery goods.
State-of-the-art product innovation and development has allowed us to push the boundaries and cater for parents who want and deserve more. One of our most significant moments to date was the birth of the Apple 2 Pear. As the world’s first single-to-double pushchair in a single footprint it is the cornerstone of our success in the UK, and globally.
Do you now export?
Our growing reputation worldwide allows us to now sell to over 30 countries, ranging from Australia to the Middle East. The ‘iCandy World’ is constantly expanding as demand increases from parents around the globe who want to experience the iCandy edge.
What exciting product launches do you have in store for 2016?
iCandy believes in breaking barriers and never accepting limitations. Firstly, our iconic Peach pushchair is now in its fourth generation, the Peach represents the best of British design and quality engineering. With a class leading 25kg weight limit, one-touch buckle, unique new colourways and a new contemporary Space Grey chassis finish, the Peach remains our most popular model. Anticipation for the collection has been high, and the new Peach has garnered widespread acclaim since its launch late last year. The action packed Peach All-Terrain will also return this year with two brand new sporty colourways, Pace and Eclipse.
Furthermore, we now have our first Newborn Gift Set available to buy, which is crafted by our team of in house British designers. Combining the highest quality materials with contemporary design, we have created a comforting combination of sumptuously soft accessories for your baby whatever the weather.
However, perhaps most exciting of all, is the arrival of the iCandy MiChair which we will be launching in the summer. The iCandy MiChair aims to once more innovate the industry. It is our first interior design product, and as such we hope its sleek design and impressive functionality will impress both lifestyle experts as well as the nursery industry.
That is all I can reveal for now, but keep an eye on all iCandy news as we may have one or two surprises to share as the year progresses. What I can say is that 2016 promises to be an extremely exciting year for all those involved with the iCandy World!