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Change of direction grows creativity
Inspired by her surroundings in the Isle of Skye, Izzy Cunningham has developed Scribe & Grow which sells a range of plantable cards and candles - zero waste gifts packed with bee-friendly wildflower seeds.
Following a year of mentoring through the IMPACT30 programme, her business ideas are blooming and she's prepared the ground for a range of new ideas to grow her business.
Originally from just outside Elgin, her career has taken some twists and turns to bring her back to the Highlands and Islands.
An events management graduate, Izzy worked in London on the 2012 Olympics, and with Burberry on fashion events. In an active move to reduce her stress levels she left London for Edinburgh. Two kids later the young family moved to Skye to be close to family, and to enjoy all the benefits of island life.
The COVID-19 lockdown brought Izzy's marketing and creative skills to the fore. She set up a website GoodieBoss selling Scottish-made gifts, in part to help local businesses who were missing the tourist trade. She started making some products herself and her plantable cards proved so popular she decided they needed their own platform. Following a branding brainstorm with her sister - Scribe & Grow was born.
The support and networking in IMPACT30 is something you can’t buy. It’s really, really useful.Izzy Cunningham, founder, Scribe & Grow
IMPACT30
As Scribe & Grow's sales took off, one of Izzy's friends - a former IMPACT30 participant - told her about the programme. Designed to provide business mentoring and support for young entrepreneurs it was the perfect next step.
She started a year long connection with her IMPACT30 mentor Don. Izzy says the regular support was invaluable in terms of building her confidence, allowing her to sense check her ideas, and prioritising her plans.
“Don always said to me 'You can do this',’” says Izzy. “One time we met up in Edinburgh, and he said, ‘Have you been into John Lewis to ask how you get your product in there?’ I replied that you can’t just walk in!”
But Izzy left that meeting and did just that, asking to speak to the manager. She discovered there were pop-up shop opportunities. Izzy did her first one in March 2022, and it was so successful that she’s been asked to return in the run-up to Christmas.
What's next?
Izzy is planning more products, like kids planting kits and cards they can colour in. She’s also interested in using different types of paper – she’s found one made of recycled denim and another made from recycled coffee waste.
She chooses the environmentally friendly route wherever possible, saying, “I think there are little things we can all do to help.” Izzy plans to increase sales and get these products into garden centres.
There are new products on the horizon too. Many people come to Skye to swim in the sea - and Izzy sees a great opportunity to create Skye bath salts. Using salt harvested on the island mixed with Epsom salts and essential oils, she thinks people will enjoy taking a bit of the Skye seaside home with them.
Izzy says this is just the beginning of her entrepreneurial journey. Cards, candles, bath salts – anything could be next. “This is how my brain seems to work,” says Izzy. “I see an opportunity and think, ‘Why is nobody doing this?’”
How we can help you
If you've been inspired by Izzy's story here are some of our services that could help your journey.