Hello Kimberly! Firstly, how did you find out about the role?

While searching for a graduate role I came across Theresa’s comment on the Facebook Page Girls who Graduate mentioning this role. It sounded like an interesting and unique experience using my degree and a chance to explore a new area, so I went for it.

What were your expectations of island life?

Before applying I had never been to the Outer Hebrides or even north of Edinburgh before so was completely new to me when I stepped off the plane in November. I had no preconceptions of what life would be like but I’ve always enjoyed travelling and exploring a new area.

What do you love about Sandwick Bay Candles?

I love how Sandwick Bay Candles maintains its luxury feel whilst investing in being sustainable. With its many refill options, it’s changed my own consumer habits for the better – I’ve switched to refilling my cleaning products from our station and am more aware of greenwashing. When buying a gift, I now always try to find a similar product from independent businesses both in our store and online.

In my role I love the range of work that I do in a day. Being based in the Sandwick Bay Living shop, I love being able to talk to customers as it gives me a good understanding of what the businesses means to them. I also love working directly with the shop, office, and workshop team towards the overall success of the businesses.

Working within a small business is great as it allows you to see all aspects of the business from the idea stage, the production in the workshop and of course the beautiful end-product on the shop floor or website.

It’s different to working in a larger business and you naturally get more more responsibility and you can see the direct impact of your actions, making you feel like you are here for a reason and not just a cog in the wheel.

What does a day in the life looks like?

In the morning I open the shop and serve our regular coffee drinkers, and then make sure the shop is restocked and looking great. After I come into office and check through emails, make sure invoices are up to date, compile sales report from previous weeks and months and report back to the shop office team. I have a range of projects on the go while popping in and out of the shop floor to help when busy, such as keeping on top of our stock supplies and sourcing exciting new stockists for the shop. No day is quite the same!

What has been your best success?

I really loved the 1^st birthday party of the shop in May. It was a wonderful day celebrating all things small business and really showed me how well I had fitted into the SBC group. There was appearances from lots of lovely loyal customers who helped make the day special and showed just how much the brand means to everyone. Overall, a great success and milestone I was proud to be a part of.

Sandwick Bay Candles is really special, even when out and about on the island if I mention I work at SBC everyone is quick to say: ‘I love that shop and the business ethos’. It’s a great thing to be part of!

What do you enjoy about island life?

The outdoors, whether it’s the many beaches across the island to explore or walks you can do.

The sunsets and sunrises are spectacular, and the sky seems so much more colourful & vast than back home. On a few evenings I have even gone up through the castle grounds and seen the northern lights! That is a unique experience that very few people get to see.

It’s a different pace of life, and everyone is really friendly, kind and welcoming. I have settled in well to the Hebrides despite not having any connections. Everyone is always really enthusiastic about why I’m here and always handing out recommendations so I never run out of things to do.

What is a lesson that you will take with you?

You can never have too many spreadsheets…

All-time favourite fragrance?

There are so many to choose from, but I would have to say Champagne and berries – it’s a really nice classic fragrance that is always a popular gift option and all of our customers love it. I currently have it as a diffuser in my room and it’s beautiful.

From our subscription box fragrances, I really loved Fresh Daffodil in March.

What advice would you give to the next grad?

Be open and say yes to everything! Explore on your weekends and evenings and find your own opportunities.

What’s next?

I’m a keen traveller, so I am hoping to travel around India for ‘gap year 5.0’. After I will use all the practical experience I’ve gained at Sandwick Bay Candles to take on the big city.

A note from Megan:

We are so grateful for the time, energy and enthusiasm that Kimberly has given to Sandwick Bay Candles this year as our Business Graduate and we are excited to welcome a new graduate to this role in November.

We are so thankful for the support from H.I.E to have this opportunity and Kimberly’s efforts in the past year have definitely helped grow the business in an exciting direction.

Read the full job description here.

Applications close on the 31sth of October, 2022 but interviews will be done on a rolling basis, so we encourage early applications.