Natural, Sustainable and Scottish: A Startup Brings Distinctive Scents from Highlands
Nan Zhang
06/05/24
(Image Credit: Candles from the Croft)
When Sandie Gordon started Candles from the Croft, a venture dedicated to crafting hand poured candles and home fragrances, she soon realised her main product line would be derived from her family land. She was not only interested in providing an authentic product from Scotland but also using completely natural materials to convey a point that cannot be overemphasised, “When we expect so much from the land, we need to offer as much back as possible.”
As the name suggests, Candles from the Croft is based on a small croft in the Scottish Highlands and Sandie is the fifth generation to the family croft. When Sandie decided to leave her job as a Project Management Director to be home-based, she delved into market research and discovered a real niche to offer natural products.
The UK is one of the world’s biggest markets for scented candles, and this is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 8.3% from 2024 to 2030.
But the environmental impact of this industry is significant. Research shows that over 35 million candle containers end up in landfill every year and only 8% are recycled. Sandie tells Blether, “I am aiming to grow that 8% in what we offer.”
(Sandie Gordon. Image credit: Sourced)
Along with her products, Sandie is currently busy with her family calving and lambing. Having such a strong agricultural background, she worries, “If we don't put these key points in place at the early stages of business, we’re not going to be in a position to choose what happens with the land in another five generations time.”
This 30-year-old entrepreneur believes that “wee things will add up and essentially make a big change in time.” To combat this pressing issue, she places an emphasis on sustainability in every aspect of her products, from the materials used to make the candles and diffusers, to the biodegradable glues and the stamps using recycled ink.
Sndie creates distinctive scents using natural botanicals of the farmland and wooden wicks to evoke the Scottish Highlands through her hand-poured products.
(Image Credit: Candles from the Croft)
During the past year, Candles from the Croft has gained 25 stores, which is a high number for a small business. Additionally, 15% of its customers are from other countries, and Sandie’s plan for her next step is an international expansion with a shift from B2C (business to consumer) to B2B (business to business).
Another piece of exciting news for her is that she won the Young Entrepreneur Award at the ceremony organised by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) Scotland this March - the first person from the Scottish highlands to achieve this accolade.
It has been widely reported that 90% of all start-ups fail. And a survey published last year shows that fewer people in the Highlands and Islands region now regard entrepreneurship as a good career choice. There are various reasons for this, with financial sustainability being a key issue.
For example, the logistics behind such a venture is a notable problem for entrepreneurs like Sandie in the Highlands: things cost more and take longer. “I heard a statistic that 90% of Scottish small businesses in the Highlands failed within their first year. This was my driving force to succeed. The fact that I didn’t makes me feel quite chuffed. I am very grateful for the support my family has given me throughout,” says Sandie.
Sandie admits this is a stressful route to take, but she thinks that small businesses in Scotland are “in a completely different place” to where they were twenty years ago. She appreciates the support from networks including Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Business Gateway, Internet Chamber of Commerce, and the Royal Bank of Scotland.
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(Sandie won young entrepreneur of the year at Scottish awards. Image credit: Sourced)
“There's a lot more help and support if you look for it and accept it. Don’t think you're going to do it on your own because you just can't,” says Sandie, “I have learnt a lot this year but mainly that it's who and ultimately where that connection can take you.”
No startup is an isolated island and good connections are always valuable to entrepreneurs. But Sandie has found one of the biggest challenges to be how much you as an individual are put at the front of your business, and not to underestimate how much your business will put you in the spotlight. People like to know the business owners as individuals as well as their business ideas.
“You have to be prepared to show yourself as well as your business, this took time for me, and I am still adjusting,” says Sandie.
Networking is her main expectation for the upcoming national UK finals of the 2024 FSB Awards. “I’m so pleased with what we've got so far. I’m just going to enjoy the evening networking with like-minded people,” Sandie smiles and adds, “Obviously if we come home with another award, I’m not going to complain.”
Blether thanks Sandie for taking the time to discuss her entrepreneurial successes, and we wish her luck in the upcoming awards!