SkyLantern Original

What SkyLantern Original does

SkyLantern Original is a French e-commerce specialty retailer, founded in 2007 in Lille and headquartered at 2 allée de la Haye du Temple within the Euratechnologies tech park in Lomme, France. The company operates as a brand under RUBEE COMPANY and runs skylantern.fr, a direct-to-consumer storefront selling celebration and event decoration. Its core product is the lanterne volante (flying lantern) made from biodegradable, fireproof-treated paper, positioned as its signature SKU and the basis of its claim to be France's #1 brand in wedding decoration, flying lanterns, and outdoor string lights. The catalog extends across luminous decorations (festoon guirlandes up to 50m, LED micro-garlands, Christmas lights, neon signs), paper decorations (Japanese lantern balls, paper flowers, fanions), wedding ceremony accessories, event furniture (folding tables, canopies, hexagonal/rectangular/triangular wedding arches), outdoor solar lighting, balloons, candles, and garden furniture (lounges, parasols, hammocks).

The business model is direct-to-consumer e-commerce with two complementary B2B layers. Consumers transact on skylantern.fr, with pay-as-you-go unit pricing from under €10 (entry lanterns) to several hundred euros (50m professional-grade guirlandes at €389.95) and free relay-point delivery for orders above €89. Professional buyers — event planners, wedding decorators, resellers — are served through a dedicated 'Espace Pro' section with professional pricing on a multi-year contract cadence, supported by named sales contacts (e.g., Mikélo at +33 (0) 3 20 00 26 02, [email protected]). A separate wholesale/reseller distribution stream supplies partner stores and boutiques that resell SkyLantern products through their own retail locations. Marketing relies on a content/blog layer, a weekly newsletter ('Votre dose d'enchantement'), organic social, and earned media in major French outlets (TF1, Le Monde, Capital, RTL, Europe 1, Madame Figaro, Marie Claire, Femme Actuelle, Mariée). Geographic scope is France-only, with 11–50 employees and no disclosed funding, revenue, or external investment.

Name

SkyLantern Original

Legal name

SkyLantern (brand operated by RUBEE COMPANY)

Website

https://skylantern.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SkyLantern Original is a French e-commerce specialty retailer, founded in 2007 and headquartered in Lomme (Lille), that designs and sells flying lanterns, wedding and event decorations, outdoor lighting, and event furniture to individual consumers, event professionals, and reseller boutiques in France.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Event & Wedding Decorations

SIC

Retail-Hobby, Toy & Game Shops (5945)

akta.pro primary industry

Holiday & Decorative String Lighting Retail (CRAIAHAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Balloon Decor & Installations (HSACAOAC), Event Tablescapes & Centerpiece Styling (HSACAOAF), Outdoor Lighting & Landscape Lighting Retail (CRAIAIAJ)

Keywords

• Wedding decorations
• Flying lanterns
• Outdoor string lights
• Event lighting
• Garden furniture

Headquarters

HQ city

Lille

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. E-commerce Direct Sales: Direct-to-consumer online sales through skylantern.fr website. Individual customers purchase decorative items for personal events such as weddings and celebrations.
2. Wholesale/Reseller Distribution: B2B sales to partner stores and resellers who distribute SkyLantern products through their own retail locations. Contact through [email protected] or Mikélo at +33 (0) 3 20 00 26 02.
3. Professional/B2B Sales: Dedicated 'Espace Pro' section for professional customers including event planners, wedding professionals, and businesses requiring bulk decorative items.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

SkyLantern Original designs, sources, and retails a wide range of celestial lanterns, wedding decorations, outdoor lighting, and event furniture products. It operates a French e-commerce storefront (skylantern.fr) selling biodegradable flying lanterns, guirlande guinguette festoon lights, paper lantern balls, wedding ceremony furniture, and decorative accessories. The company also serves professional event decorators and retail resellers through a dedicated 'Espace Pro' B2B channel.

Product overview

SkyLantern Original is a French e-commerce company based in Lille, founded in 2007, that operates as a specialized decoration retailer. The company positions itself as #1 in France for outdoor luminous garlands, flying lanterns, and wedding decorations. The product portfolio centers on celebration and event decoration across multiple categories: (1) Flying Lanterns - their flagship product line including celestial, Thai, Chinese, and special designs; (2) Luminous Decorations - including Guirlande Guinguette (festoon lights), LED garlands, Christmas lights, and neon signs; (3) Paper Decorations - Japanese lantern balls, paper fans, garlands, and paper flowers; (4) Wedding Decorations - table centerpieces, ceremony accessories, themed wedding decor, and candy bar supplies; (5) Event Furniture - folding tables, canopies, wedding arches, and garden furniture; (6) Outdoor Lighting - solar-powered exterior lights and fixtures; (7) Balloons - latex and aluminum options including biodegradable and LED varieties; (8) Candles - LED and decorative candles in multiple styles and colors. The company sells directly to consumers and professionals through its e-commerce platform, with a pro sales team for bulk/contract orders.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Lanterne Volante (Flying Lantern) Flying lanterns made from biodegradable, fireproof-treated paper designed to be released into the sky for weddings and celebrations. Includes celestial, Thai, Chinese, and special-occasion variants, plus packs of multiple lanterns. The flagship and signature product of the brand.
• Guirlande Guinguette (Festoon Lights) Outdoor festoon string lights with E27 socket compatibility, available in 10m, 20m, and 50m lengths with LED filament bulbs, plus professional-grade and solar-powered variants and replacement bulbs.
• Guirlande LED / Guirlande de Noel (LED & Christmas String Lights) LED string lights including micro-LED and photo-LED variants for general decoration, plus Christmas-specific tree lights, outdoor Christmas garlands, and luminous curtains.
• Boule Japonaise (Japanese Paper Lantern Balls) Japanese-style paper lantern balls available in 15/20/25/30cm sizes, including special-occasion Japanese balls, Chinese honeycomb balls, and LED suspended versions for decorative hanging installations.
• Decoration Mariage (Wedding Decorations) Complete range of wedding decorations including ceremony accessories, table centerpieces, place cards, candles, candy bar supplies, and themed accessories for ceremonies and receptions.
• Mobilier de Ceremonie (Event & Ceremony Furniture) Event furniture including folding tables and chairs, canopies (tonnelles), barnums, and wedding arches in hexagonal, rectangular, and triangular shapes.
• Mobilier de Jardin (Garden Furniture) Outdoor garden furniture sets including lounge sets, tables, parasols, sun loungers, hammocks, storage chests, protective covers, and garden trolleys.
• Lampe Solaire Exterieur (Outdoor Solar Lighting) Solar-powered outdoor lighting fixtures including LED spotlights, solar projectors, and exterior lights with motion detectors.
• Decoration Lumineuse (Lighted Decor) Illuminated decoration items including neon signs (symbols and messages), light boxes, illuminated letters, suspended lights, LED lampions, glass cloches with LED, and star/heart luminous shapes.
• Ballons (Balloons) Latex and aluminum balloons, including biodegradable options, giant balloons, balloon arches, and LED balloons for events and celebrations.
• Bougies LED / Bougies de Decoration (LED & Decorative Candles) LED candles and decorative candles including pillar candles, tea lights, taper candles, and chafing-dish candles, available in multiple colors (white, black, pink, blue, green, grey).
• Accessoires Deco (Decor Accessories) Event decor accessories including photobooth props, urns, guest books, decorative letters, curtains, pinatas, dream catchers, confetti, and bubble machines.
• Deco Table (Table Decorations) Table decoration items including chair covers, tablecloths, table runners, centerpieces, and disposable tableware for weddings and events.

Quantifiable outcome

• Safe flying lanterns with no trace left behind due to biodegradable materials
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Partner Retail StorescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNetwork of physical retail stores across France that sell SkyLantern products. Customers can find products in partner locations for in-person purchasing. SkyLantern provides product supply and brand association to these retail partners.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• IKEA: Global home furnishings giant with string lighting, candles, and decorative accessories; price-disruptive incumbent that competes in SkyLantern's outdoor and ambient lighting categories at lower price points.
• Crate & Barrel: Major US/International home furnishings retailer offering decorative lighting, candles, and event-appropriate decor; comparable premium positioning though much broader assortment.
• Maisons du Monde: Major French home furnishings and decor retailer with extensive lighting, garden furniture, and decorative accessories ranges; overlaps with SkyLantern's outdoor lighting and garden furniture categories from a much broader assortment.
• West Elm: Modern home furnishings retailer with lighting, lanterns, and event/wedding-friendly decor; overlaps with SkyLantern's design-led decorative lighting and paper lantern assortments.
• La Redoute: Historic French generalist home and lifestyle retailer with decor, lighting, and garden offerings; provides scale competition for the home decoration portion of SkyLantern's catalog.

Direct peers

• Weddingstar: North American e-commerce retailer of wedding decorations including lanterns, ceremony arches, table decor, and lighting; directly comparable product mix and event-pro target customer to SkyLantern Original.
• Paper Lantern Store: US-based online retailer specializing in paper lanterns, paper lantern balls, and decorative lighting; directly competes in SkyLantern's signature paper lantern / boule japonaise category.
• Lights4fun: UK-based decorative lighting specialist selling festoon/guinguette string lights, fairy lights, and seasonal lighting for homes and events; closest direct peer to SkyLantern's core festoon-and-event-lighting proposition.
• BHLDN (Anthropologie Weddings): Wedding and event decoration retailer offering lanterns, candles, lighting, ceremony furniture, and tablescapes; comparable premium event-decor position and bridal customer base.

Emerging players

• PartyLite: Global home fragrance and LED candle brand with direct-sales/event-party channel; overlaps with SkyLantern's LED candle and event-decoration lines and shares the celebration-use-case positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/skylantern_fr
• Facebookfacebook.com/SkyLantern.FR

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SkyLantern Original