‘Exciting’ Scottish small businesses showcased in top 100

Henry & Co, the Arbroath dog grooming spa, uses its own organic products and “caters to all breeds and styles”, Small Business Saturday noted.

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Among other Scottish businesses highlighted in the SmallBiz100 list are East Nook Studio, a St Andrews business which makes and sells silver jewellery, ceramics and crafts, and teaches people how to make jewellery, and Dunkeld Whisky Box, an independent whisky and craft beer shop with a tasting space.

Also featuring are Sunshine No. 1, an independent art and gift shop in Glasgow selling the products of local artists and makers in store and online, and Gillies and Mackay, a family-run business in Perth which has been crafting sheds for more than 30 years.

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Among other businesses in Scotland on the list are Dovetailed London, an African print clothing brand in Aberfeldy which also offers bespoke tailoring and alteration services, and Oshkana, a candle-maker in Motherwell using soy wax for products in apothecary-style jars.

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And there are three coaching businesses on the Scottish list. These include The Happy Business Company, a Midlothian-based coaching business which aims to help entrepreneurs deal with mental and logistical challenges of running a business, and Kore Transformation, which Small Business Saturday describes as “a leadership coaching business specifically for women who deal with self-doubt in their careers” based at Gullane in East Lothian. Also featuring is Brachan Consultancy, a coaching business in Airdrie which aims to help young people to improve financial literacy and increase aspirations.

Michelle Ovens, director of Small Business Saturday UK, said: “This year’s SmallBiz100 list shows the huge contribution small businesses make to their communities and the wider UK economy.”

Commenting on this vital sector in general, she added: “As they continue to feel the fallout of a challenging few years, small firms still need significant support to get back on their feet.

“Small Business Saturday has always been a powerful way for the public to celebrate and uplift our nation’s small businesses and, in this critical time of opportunity, the campaign’s lasting impact will be essential.”