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Shirlee Yvonne Green – Visionary Woman Founder to Watch — 2026
- Women Story
- Jan 28
- 3 min read
Turning Fragrance into Brand Experience, Sustainably and Soulfully
Category
Corporate Gifting · Artisan Manufacturing · Sustainable Brands · Women-Led Business · Creative Entrepreneurship
Shirlee Yvonne Green
Founder, Starfish Collective
📍 Location: Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia🌐
Website: https://starfishcollective.com.au
“A candle isn’t just a product. It’s a message, a memory, and a moment of connection.”
Why She Matters in 2026
In a world flooded with generic merchandise and throwaway branding, Shirlee Yvonne Green is quietly leading a return to meaningful, sensory-led brand experiences.
Through Starfish Collective, Shirlee has built a purpose-driven creative studio that transforms signature fragrances into non-toxic, hand-poured candles, diffusers, and bespoke corporate gifts—helping brands tell their story through scent, sustainability, and thoughtful design.
Her work sits at the intersection of branding, craftsmanship, and environmental responsibility, redefining how businesses connect with clients, teams, and communities.
Company Overview
Starfish Collective
Founded: 2018
Industry: Branded Corporate Gifting & Artisan Fragrance
Starfish Collective specialises in:
Custom fragrance development
Hand-poured soy candles & diffusers
Private-label and branded corporate gifting
Bespoke packaging and curated gift boxes
Every product is crafted in-house in Queensland, with no minimum order quantities and a deeply personalised process—from scent creation to final packaging.
From Market Stall to Creative Studio
What began as a small coastal market stall in Scarborough evolved into a trusted gifting partner for councils, corporates, and local businesses.
Clients didn’t just want candles.They wanted gifts that felt personal, professional, and memorable.
Shirlee listened—and Starfish Collective found its true calling.
Today, the studio collaborates closely with brands to:
Create signature scents aligned to brand identity
Design custom labels and premium packaging
Deliver gifts that feel intentional, not transactional
What Makes Starfish Collective Different
Signature Scent as Strategy
Each candle or diffuser is built around a fragrance that becomes part of the client’s brand experience.
Sustainability at the Core
Clean-burning, non-toxic ingredients
Eco-friendly production
REFILL NOT LANDFILL philosophy—encouraging reuse of vessels
Human-Centred Craft
Shirlee offers a rare level of personal involvement—meeting clients, guiding scent creation, and ensuring every detail feels right.
Key Achievements & Growth
Despite being self-employed and boutique by design, Shirlee has achieved impressive milestones:
💰 $70K+ gross revenue growth
👩🎨 Employed a senior hairdresser-style creative collaborator (studio expansion phase)
📈 Improved client spend and financial clarity through structured bookkeeping
🏢 Expanded into off-site studio operations
🤝 Built strong repeat corporate and council clients
Awards & Recognition
🏆 Winner – BPW Innovate Her Awards 2025 (Moreton Bay)
🏆 Winner – Moreton Bay Local Business Awards 2024
🏅 Finalist – Moreton Bay Local Business Awards 2025
🏅 Nominee – BNI Most Valuable Player 2024 (BNI Moreton Bay Elevate)
These recognitions reflect not scale—but impact, creativity, and trust.
Customer Love & Community Impact
Clients consistently praise Starfish Collective for:
Speed without compromise
Deep care and personal service
Fragrances that evoke emotion and memory
From City of Moreton Bay to small business owners, Starfish Collective has become synonymous with “gifts that actually mean something.”
Founder Philosophy
Shirlee believes:
Branding should be felt, not just seen
Sustainability should be practical, not performative
Small businesses can create outsized emotional impact
Her work empowers homeowners, brands, and organisations to understand the power of clean fragrance, intentional gifting, and reuse over waste.
Why Shirlee Yvonne Green Is One to Watch
In 2026, brands are searching for authenticity, not noise.
Shirlee Yvonne Green stands out because she:
Builds connection through craftsmanship
Turns sustainability into a lived practice
Helps brands slow down—and be remembered
She isn’t just making candles.She’s creating moments of meaning.
That’s why she earns her place as a Visionary Woman Founder to Watch — 2026.
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