Building Bonnie Glow: How Creativity and Grit Built My Scottish Candle Business

Bonnie Glow maker Emily at her candle stall in the Grassmarket, Edinburgh

Having a wee celebration this evening with my non-alcoholic prosecco! This weekend marks the most sales since I started Bonnie Glow. Grab a cuppa – this may take a while! 

The ADHD Journey

I probably have ADHD – I'm going for a diagnosis in the New Year. Anyone who knows me will know how I flit from thing to thing like a butterfly on speed. I've always struggled with things that the "normals" seem to breeze through: being organised, time management, holding one thought in my head and thinking in a linear fashion. And the forgetfulness is absolutely ridiculous!

This is the tip of the iceberg, but it really is a struggle to constantly compensate for the silly mistakes, not to mention coming across as stupid in tasks that most people don't even have to think about. I actually struggle to put my jacket on when I'm particularly dazed and I'll forget that I still have one arm hanging out, un-jacketed. Absolute scenes! 🙈

The Creative Advantage 

The saving grace is my creativity. I might suck at the normal things, but I can turn my hand to most things creative – like music, performance, and the ideas! So. Many. Ideas! Despite the feeling of anger at never being diagnosed as a child at school, I am actually feeling comfortable in my skin tonight – hence the major overshare 😜

From Idea to Reality: Building Bonnie Glow Candles 

I've created something from scratch and seen it through to production. I branded it myself and have three million more ideas for different Scottish candle scents and names. As much as I have often wished to be one of the normals, tonight I celebrate sucking at the normal stuff and embracing my creativity because finally, something is coming to fruition that makes me money!

And yes, I'm still singing and playing in bands – I need to do that so my soul doesn't die. But candle making marries up the creativity with actually making money, and I see it going from strength to strength every day.

Bonnie Glow handmade candles in rose-gold tins displayed on a wooden shelf

Milestones Worth Celebrating

In my first year of business, I've been stocked in The Bay Tree Company. I have other prestigious businesses showing interest in my brand. The years of compensating and masking have given me the grit to build my business. 

Those years have taught me that whenever something doesn't work out, where the normals are usually likely to give up, I will not hear of it. I simply try a different approach and keep chipping away. Normal I ain't: tenacious I am! 

I never thought I'd say this but my weird brain is finally bringing home the bacon 🥓. And - jacket putting on ability aside - I am no longer jealous of the normals.  9-5 is over rated. Who wants to be normal anyway? 😉

 


Shop Bonnie Glow's Scottish Candles (H2)
Explore our collection of handcrafted Scottish candles and wax melts – each one made with creativity, passion, and a whole lot of Scottish spirit.

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