At One.World, everything we do is rooted in family values, a love for timeless design, and a belief that the things we bring into our homes should feel special. Recently, The Simple Things magazine caught up with our Managing Director, Jason Bensohn, to talk about where it all began, what’s changed over the years, and the vision that still guides us today.
How did One.World begin?
“Our story goes back to 1989 when my mum, Kathy, started sourcing candles from Swaziland while living in South Africa,” Jason recalls.
“When my parents moved to the UK, she continued with the Swazi candles, selling at London gift fairs. They became so popular that customers wanted to buy the display pieces too – and that’s when the range began to grow. My dad, Sid, got involved to help build the business, and it slowly evolved into what One.World is today.”
Did you always know you’d join the family business?
“Not at all! My parents never pushed us to get involved. But my brother, Jamie, and I grew up helping out in the warehouse or at trade fairs, and over time the pull of the family business was too strong to resist. We’ve always believed that family-owned businesses are special. However big or small they are, they tend to share core values – and they care that little bit
more.”
How has One.World changed since those early days?
“The product mix has certainly grown – from just candles to furniture, lighting, mirrors, wall art and so much more. The arrival of the internet also transformed the way we connect with suppliers and customers all over the world.
But one thing hasn’t changed: our philosophy. You have to love what you do – and we only sell products that we love and would want in our own homes. That’s why we don’t follow trends for the sake of it. We prefer timeless, statement pieces that grow with a home and may one day be passed down to a loved one. Some of our core range has been with us since the very early years.”
What keeps you passionate about One.World?
“I feel very lucky that my role touches so many areas of the business – from developing pieces and marketing to speaking with clients. But ultimately, it always comes back to the products. That’s what keeps us ticking.”
What are you most proud of?
“Being a family business – and by that I mean not just my parents, brother and I, but also our wider One.World family. Many of our team have been with us since the early days – over 30 years ago – and that loyalty
means the world to us.
We also love that our work goes beyond interiors. For example, we’ve helped fund the planting of over 30,000 trees, which feels like a small but meaningful way to give back.”
And finally, what’s next for One.World?
“We’re launching hundreds of new pieces – I think this is our biggest season launch yet – and we’ve just rolled out our brand new website, which makes exploring our collections easier and more inspiring than ever. We’re so excited to share what’s coming next.”
At One.World, we love what we do – and we do it with people we love. That belief has carried us from a small collection of candles to a much-loved homeware brand, and it’s what will guide us into the future.
The One.World Collection
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