More than 30 members of Ballymena Chamber of Commerce were given an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at one of Northern Ireland’s most exciting business success stories during a special visit to The JAQ Group’s rapidly expanding headquarters and manufacturing facilities in Randalstown.
Founded in 2019 by local entrepreneur Connor Martin, The JAQ Group has achieved extraordinary growth in just a few short years, transforming from a start-up fragrance business into a £100 million powerhouse with a global customer base of more than 2.5 million online shoppers.
What began with The Essence Vault, a brand built on delivering high-quality, long-lasting fragrances inspired by leading designer scents at affordable prices, has evolved into a multi-brand e-commerce success story that is now making a major economic impact locally and internationally.
Today, The JAQ Group’s growing portfolio includes The Essence Vault, luxury fragrance brand Thomson Carter and Liquid London, which was named TikTok’s Beauty Brand of the Year in 2024. The company’s expanding product range now spans perfumes, fragrance oils, diffusers, candles and skincare products, all developed and produced from its Ballymena-area base.
Chamber members heard first-hand from Connor Martin about the ambition, resilience and entrepreneurial drive behind the company’s remarkable journey, from identifying a gap in the market to scaling at speed into one of the region’s standout digital retail success stories.
The visit also highlighted the significant investment The JAQ Group continues to make in the local economy. Following sustained demand and rapid expansion, the company recently added to its Craigstown operation in Randalstown with the addition of a major new manufacturing facility to support continued product development, production, packaging and global distribution.
Now employing more than 230 people, The JAQ Group is creating high-quality jobs and long-term career opportunities across manufacturing, logistics, marketing, e-commerce and product development, bringing substantial employment growth and investment to the local area.
Guests were given a guided tour of the facilities, witnessing first-hand the scale, pace and sophistication of the operation as thousands of products are manufactured and shipped to customers around the world every day.
Newly elected Chamber President Peter Houston said:
“The visit to The JAQ Group was incredibly inspiring for all our members. To see a business founded only a few years ago achieve this level of growth is nothing short of phenomenal. Connor’s vision, ambition and determination have created a world-class business right here on our doorstep.
“What stands out most is not only the commercial success of the company, but the positive impact it is having locally through job creation, investment and opportunity. The JAQ Group is proof that global brands can be built from Ballymena, and that is a hugely powerful message for aspiring entrepreneurs and established businesses alike.”
Connor Martin added that The JAQ Group remains focused on ambitious future growth plans as it continues to scale its operations, expand internationally and invest further in innovation, talent and infrastructure in Northern Ireland.
“This visit reinforced Ballymena’s growing reputation as a hub for entrepreneurship, innovation and business excellence, and I believe The JAQ Group serves as an excellent example of what can be achieved through vision, innovation and belief in local people and talent,” said Connor Martin.
“We hope this visit will encourage Chamber members to become ambassadors for our incredible local success story, whether that’s helping spread the word about the exciting career opportunities available within the business or championing our outstanding homegrown brands to customers both locally and beyond.”