This is the latest in a regular series of Business Q&A features published weekly. This week, we spoke to Fiona Carr, co-founder of DOME of Harrogate.

Tell us in fewer than 30 words what your firm does.

We are a home fragrance brand and contract manufacturer of essential oil blend-based products, such as candles, diffusers and room sprays.

Our private-label business makes products for national skincare and wellbeing brands, largescale retailers and boutique home fragrance brands, and we export to the USA, Australia, Pakistan and Kuwait.

What does it require to be successful in business?

Good customer service, high-quality production and delivery, and an open-minded approach to new product development work.

What drives you to do what you do every day?

We love the products – that's why Deborah Wilson and I started the business 12 months ago.

Back then it was called the Harrogate Candle Company, but we changed the name to make it snappier and because we're not just about candles.

Our private-label business has grown organically in recent years and is now the greater part of the business. Through it, we now also get involved in helping customers launch their own brands We really enjoy helping them create beautiful products and shape their business.

What has been the toughest issue your company has had to deal with over the last 12 months?

The economic climate over the past couple of years has been hard for everyone. A luxury item such as a candle is not at the top of most people's list of purchases, so we've had to think smart and become more efficient just to come through it.

But we've come out the other side now, and we're having a really great year. We've been involved in a number of mass-manufacturing contracts for national brands, and that's helped shape the business.

It's a challenge arranging our production schedule to meet demand, but that's a great problem to have.

Which other local firms do you most admire and why?

We all want to be a Harrogate Spring Water. We want a distribution network like theirs, and I envy them their manufacturing site and production facility. But we're David to their Goliath – one day we might get there!

Who are the most inspiring local leaders?

I don't know how to answer that. I'll have to think about it!

What could be done locally to boost business?

It might be controversial, but we should change the way you access the town centre. I think the centre should be pedestrianised, so you could have restaurants and bars spilling out right to the edge of the Stray.

We don't really have the weather for that, and I haven't thought through the logistics. The practicalities might be very difficult!

But we do need to pull Harrogate back to being what it used to be: a destination town. Too many shops have closed, and we're losing the heart and soul of the town.

Best and worst things about running a business from Harrogate?

Harrogate is always a desirable place for clients to visit. It's always been a very attractive part of our sales pitch.

The worst thing is the cost of running a business here. The rent and rates make it quite expensive. If we want to expand from our current home in Hammerain House off Leeds Road, it's going to cost us a huge amount more and could mean we have to move out of town to somewhere on the edge or beyond.

What are your business plans for the future?

We want to focus on the expansion of the product range within the Dome of Harrogate brand.

At the same time, we want to acquire more large, mass-manufacturing and boutique clients for the private-label side of the business.

We also need to take on more people before Christmas to help out with sales, manufacturing and packing.

What do you like to do in your time off?

Day to day, I like meeting friends, going to the gym and walking the dog. I also love sailing around the Greek islands and skiing in the Alps.

Best place to eat and drink locally?

La Feria [on Cold Bath Road in Harrogate] is quite relaxed, with nice food and a good ambiance.

The Little Ale House is my favourite place for a drink. It's quite intimate, very friendly, and great value.

If you know someone in business in the Harrogate district and you'd like to suggest them for this feature, drop us a line at contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.