Page 45 - BusinessWest April 4, 2022
P. 45
Franklin County
Lighting the Way
Yankee Candle and Its Deerfield Village Remain Powerful Draws
Yankee Candle has long been a national and even global powerhouse in the scented-candle business, but the company will always have special appeal in Western Mass., where Michael Kittredge launched it more than a half-century ago. That appeal is partly — perhaps largely — due to Yankee Candle Village, which has become a significant attraction over the years, one that continues to raise the profile of Deerfield and other Franklin County destinations.
YBy Mark Morris
ankee Candle Village may be best-known for its Christmas-themed displays around the holi- days, Wade Bassett sees plenty of promise in the spring as well for a company — and tourist destination — that holds year-round appeal,
especially as COVID-19 numbers continue to trend down- ward.
Bassett is the director of Sales and Operations at the Vil- lage, Yankee Candle’s flagship store located in Deerfield. Addi- tionally, the company maintains a manufacturing facility in Whately, a distribution center in South Deerfield, and its flag- ship store on Route 5. Year-round employment totals nearly 600 people, and as the manufacturing and retail operations get busier for the holidays, the number of employees can
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