03/12/2016
Today is Small Business Saturday, the day where everyone is encouraged to shop and support local small businesses or small social enterprises. When you shop with these businesses you are not contributing to a quarter of a billion pound profit that you will hear announced on the news and on the radio, you are actually helping a son get his new football boots or a daughter get her first gymnastic outfit, a mum or dad put food on their table or a family pay their bills. You will hear none of this on the news or a radio.
These businesses shareholders are not a fat cat sitting in an office planning their 4th holiday home. Their “shareholders” are their customers and they are the ones they strive to make happy. We have been lucky and have spent a lot of time in the last three months with companies like these, so we are delighted to introduce all of them to you, our followers, as they would all love for you to all be their next happy “shareholder”. If you can use their product or service right away, give them a call. If you can’t just now give them a like and share their page for your friends to see.
Abi McCahill – Adder Business Solutions
With over a decade of experience in Sales, Marketing and Customer Relations and having been employed by large local marketing platforms such as Scottish Provincial Press and having worked for Blue Chip organisations such as Yell and Groupon, Adder has the expertise and knowledge you need to develop your seedling business or to re-evaluate your established business’ behaviours in order to continue to increase your market share.
Alistair Morgan – Viking Mead Ltd
Mead, and alcohol in general, was considered sacred by the Vikings and other ancient cultures. Norse mythology speaks of how the dwarves captured the wisest of all gods, Kvaser, the all-knowing, killed him, and mixed his blood with honey, creating the first mead. Alistair isn’t going to the trouble of capturing a god but he is painstakingly creating an accurate modern day Viking mead called Skald which will be available soon.
Anisha Macdermid – Exclamation Marketing
If your business/organisation requires set up on Social Media, Training, support with Campaigns / Promotions, a revamp of your website or a marketing strategy implemented and you don’t have the budget for an in-house Marketing Consultant – then Anisha could be the answer you are looking for with advice, and a fresh creative approach to achieving results in line with your business requirements.
Amanda Latham – Define Style Consultancy by Amanda Latham
Amanda is a style expert, fully trained with merit by the London College of Style in all aspects of Personal Styling. Her sole aim is to work with you - whether male or female - to produce a more confident and happy self. With Christmas coming, as Amanda says “Stop – It’s Glamour Time”
Andrew Slorance – PhoenixInstinct
Phoenix Instinct doesn’t just create luggage for wheelchair users, they create luggage that removes so much of the anxiety and physical difficulties associated with independent travel as a wheelchair. With unrestricted movement and a patented click and go system Phoenix Instinct has managed to make hands free luggage carrying a simple notion rather than cumbersome chore for wheelchair users.
Barbara Mills – Great Gifts from Small Scotland
Love Not on the High Street but wish it was a little more personal to you? Like Etsy but feel a little disconnected when browsing? What if there was a site where you could find the very best in Scottish crafts, gifts and present ideas all under one roof? Or what if you are a maker of those items and wish you could connect with people looking for the exact thing you are making? The answer to both of these questions is Barbara Mills and Local Caledonia so why not get in touch with her.
Cecillia Gregor – Planit Scotland
From project Management, to event management. From marketing and communications to being your Highland PA. Cecillia and the rest of the Planit team offer pretty much any service that your company could be looking for. With an infectious Go Do attitude, after one meeting with the Planit team you will be ready to take on the world.
Craig Innes – Pixel Spirits
Pixel Spirits is a craft distillery set in the scenic grounds of the Loch Leven Hotel in North Ballachulish, Scottish Highlands. Founded by a husband and wife team, Craig & Noru Innes, this distillery has been self-built from scratch. Pixel Spirits offers tailor made gins for restaurants, bars and other companies who wish to impress their clientele with something completely unique and personal.
Donna Peacock – Highland Cordials
With a passion for all things food and drink, Donna simply adored the sheer volume of ingredients her immediate environment had to offer, not only are the Highlands absolutely gorgeous, but so edible. She wanted to know exactly what went into the cordial she was buying, so she started making it and now has a range of 4 different flavours alongside a number of multi-flavoured crackers.
Glen Tonkin – Toncam Flooring & Interiors
With a wealth of knowledge on floor coverings, Toncam are one of the leading experts in supplying floor coverings. They can already offer a very impressive range of solid and engineered wood flooring. They are also able to offer and supply you all the services, advice and after care products required to keep your floor looking great for its lifetime.
Ian Taylor – Crag 3D
You are about to step into your dream house that you waited all your life for. You open the front door. “noooooo”. Centimetres. You could have sworn those plans were in inches. Everything now looks so tiny and cramped. With Crag 3D this problem will be a thing of the past as they bring your buildings to life with Virtual Reality technology, long before you actually step foot into the building.
Jacqui & Max Waring – Section 51 scotland
Involvement in local issues currently takes a vast amount of time and energy – 2 things in desperately short supply for most of us. Who wants to drag themselves along to a meeting after work knowing they’re likely to be outnumbered on a particular issue and will have to find the energy to more-or-less fight about it with their neighbours? That’s where section 51 and their IRENE platform come in. You will be able to simply log-on, drop a pin in the map, and watch how many people rally to your cause. A pin can be any issue that concerns you – other people show their support by adding their pin to yours
Jamie McGowan – Buth Bheag Candle Co.
Buth Bheag Candle Co. was created by partners Jamie and Deenie McGowan. Candles were one thing that they both immensely enjoyed having in their home but unfortunately there was no one producing any locally. This was viewed as another gap in the market by the entrepreneurial couple and from that ‘Buth Bheag Candle Co’ was created. In its first year the company has gained its very own production unit, various stockists around Scotland, 2 retail outlets and a fan in the mum of a certain number 1 Scottish tennis player.
Jane Duncan Rogers - Conversations Around Dying, Death, Grief, Life and Love
“To be sticking our heads in the sand and finding these topics difficult to mention is complete madness, given we are all going to be affected by them sooner or later. It’s my intention to open up conversations about these topics and bring them out of the closet.” Jane Duncan Rogers can help you and your family talk about the elephant in every room – the death of a loved one. Jane’s unique workbook and coaching can help you prepare for a better end of life for both you and the ones you leave behind.
Jane Garrad – Marketing Argyll.
With the growth of digital there is now the ability to reach more than 3.5 billion internet users on any one day using online Marketing channels. How you do that is changing on a regular basis. No wonder it’s difficult to keep ahead of the curve! Marketing Argyle can help. Not only will they write a creative marketing strategy tailored to your business, but they will also support you with many other areas in your drive for success.
Janis Maclean – Get The Girls Together
Get the Girls Together creates moments to cherish forever. You’ve heard it said that sometimes our best friends are the only therapy we need… At Get The Girls Together, they truly believe that experiences shared with friends and/or family are key to our sense of belonging, feeling content, boosting our happiness and reducing our stress levels. They provide bespoke experiences which combine creativity and wellbeing with learning, fun and adventure. Their aim is to leave you feeling relaxed, reconnected and revitalised!
Joanna Mackenzie – Clean Bees
Clean Bees is a local, reliable and cost effective cleaning company in Caithness and Sutherland. No job too big or too small they provide a professional service tailored to your specific needs.
Julia Macleay – Spirit Journeys Worldwide
Spirit Journeys Worldwide are an ATOL registered travel agent and tour operator based in Inverness who specialise in holidays that restore and cleanse the mind, body and soul.
Kate Stevenson – ARiiS-AR and Wink Marketing
Ariis AR are one of a handful of Augmented Reality companies in the World who have the capability to deliver real results using the exciting new platform, which is already revolutionising how we interact with our physical environment. Ariis AR give their partners the ability to communicate a digital message or experience from any form of printing or physical object to create a meaningful digital experiences that enhances the message they want to communicate.
Kim Siu – Get Rugged
Get Rugged believes that anyone can build their own home they just need a little support and enablement. By providing information, advice and training they believe they can empower anyone to become a self builder. Why not give it a try?
Lee Gilles – IT Central
IT Central offer a wide range of services to home users and small to medium sized businesses. Their senior engineers have each been repairing computers for the best part of 20 years and with this wealth of experience you can be assured that you are in safe hands. Best of all, they won’t use any jargon or geek speak and will explain as much or as little as you like
Lindsey Kelly – ShredXS
ShredXS a Scottish business started by two young keen mountain bikers who couldn’t get mountain biking clothes they liked or that fitted. ShredXS MTB range is for kids who want the same level of quality and design adults get but just for them.
Lisa Macdonald – Haven House Art
Haven House Art is the home of Lisa Macdonald, an artist who found the far north landscape and made it her home in 2011. A recent tenant of the Last house in John o’Groats, Lisa tries to bring the beauty of the world around us into her work whether this be her painting, photography or poems.
Mairi Hawkes – The Oyster Croft
The oyster croft offers tours which give a snapshot of eco friendly oyster crofting. They are also the home of Johnnie Mac’s Artisan Oysters. Oysters in a range of alcoholic jells which are certain to rock your world.
Maggie Craig – Author
Maggie Craig is the acclaimed Scottish writer of the groundbreaking DAMN' REBEL BI***ES: The Women of the '45, its companion volume BARE-ARSED BANDITTI: The Men of the '45, WHEN THE CLYDE RAN RED and several page-turning historical novels. When it comes to romance, intrigue and Jacobites, none can do it better than Maggie Craig
Matt Bird – We Are Gntlmen
We Are Gntlmen sets out on its mission to re-invent the true gentleman. They believe that every man should be honest, kind, well mannered, chivalrous and well dressed. They believe that when you look good, you feel good & when you feel good, you'll do good. Made from luxury cottons and cotton blends, their shirts are styled and fitted to perfection. But it’s more than just a shirt on your back. It's a feeling, a lifestyle. They are Gentlemen.
Megan Macdonald – Sandwick Bay candles
Sandwick Bay Candles are a handcrafted soy candle company based out of Stornoway in the Outer Hebrides.Their candles are made in small batches using 100% natural soy wax, premium fragrances and pure cotton wicks.
Nicky Lewis – Seahorse Shop
Seahorse Shop are a family run business that are a quirky little design brand making lovely things, usually by hand, on the Scottish island of Lismore. From wood to china to cushions and aprons, you are sure to find that perfect (personalised) gift for the one you love.
Pamela Looper – tumetrix
Tumetrix is an easy to use dashboard that utilises all the crucial data and takes the guesswork out of social media for businesses.
Rachel Cox – Nosca (North of Scotland Childcare Association)
The North of Scotland Childcare Association (NOSCA) offers secure childcare provision and exciting play opportunities for children aged 2 to 14 years of age.
Sarah Frame o'Hara – OptoInfo
OptoInfo are an extremely friendly and helpful marketing agency based in the North of Scotland, who work with businesses and organisations to help them create quality content to display on their websites, send in their emails, and post on their social media pages. Why not ask them about their marketing card game.
Steven Rattray – We.Data
We. Data Ltd is a software development company based in Aberdeen. We.data design intelligent systems in sports data capture that meet the needs of sporting stakeholders at all levels.
Tim Hamlet – Hamlet Mountaineering
As a professional outdoorsman with a passion for the mountain environment and a qualified mountain leader and rock climbing guide respectively; you couldn’t be in safer hands than Tim & Laura Hamlet. Hamlet Mountaineering offers a number of activities such as Scrambling, Rock Climbing, Kayaking and canoeing in the North West Highlands.
Tom Tindale – Shieldaig Outdoor Adventures
Shieldaig Outdoor Adventures provides quality outdoor experiences that leave you with lifelong memories. They provided a range of activities on land and water including sea kayaking, canoeing, mountain walking and archery. They also provide an equipment hire service.
Usman Yaseen– Sonik Pocket
Sonik Pocket provides educational online shopping for kids. It does this through its online children’s educational platform paired to a safe-to-use children’s online toy store. The app takes the fear out of children buying online. It’s safe, educational and easy to use and will help tech-savvy parents teach their children the value of money and financial independence. Sonik Pocket’s appeal comes from its fun, interactive and educational online games which together with their real-life chores will unlock pocket money for use in Sonik Pocket’s toy store.
