Being Part of Small Business Saturday 100 was a proud early milestone
Being named in the Small Business Saturday 100 was such a thrill. The campaign celebrates 100 inspiring independent businesses across the UK in the lead-up to Small Business Saturday, held on the first Saturday of December each year and to be chosen was exciting.
Small Business Saturday is one of the most significant annual celebrations of independent enterprise in the UK and being selected from thousands of businesses to represent Scotland, alongside six other brilliant Scottish businesses, was a genuine honour. It was recognition that JustBe Botanicals was doing something that mattered and doing it in a way that resonated beyond the natural beauty world.
Olly Murs, Steve Wright & Chocolate at the Edinburgh Fringe
August in Edinburgh is always electric and 2016 was no exception. After the wonderful whirlwind of the Edinburgh Festival, I was still catching my breath.
A real highlight was sharing JustBe chocolate bars with some very familiar faces, including Olly Murs and the Steve Wright in the Afternoon radio show team. It's always a great excuse for a selfie and a reminder of just how much joy a well-crafted piece of aromatherapy chocolate can bring to a conversation.
The JustBe Loved Edinburgh Festival Award 2016 - Alan Cumming
A particularly highlight that year was presenting the JustBe Loved Edinburgh Festival Award to the brilliant Alan Cumming for his show Sappy Songs as part of the International Festival. Shortlisted entries were HERBERT (the Hendrick's Bus Experience) and The Big Breakfast by Bite-Size Plays - both wonderfully creative shows that captured the spirit of the festival perfectly.
The JustBe Fabulous Tea Competition
In collaboration with White Stuff Edinburgh, we ran the JustBe Fabulous Tea Competition - inviting customers to create their own signature herbal tea blend. The response was wonderful and after a joyful judging day in-store, a winner was crowned.
Congratulations to Chantal Balmer from Glasgow, whose refreshing combination of spearmint, rose and lavender came out on top. It was a blend that captured something genuinely special - light, floral and soothing in equal measure. The winning blend was made available to enjoy in the Meet & Make area of the White Stuff George Street store.
Thank you to everyone who entered and to all who joined us in-store to help judge the final blends.
With gratitude for every celebration, every collaboration and every small business that dares to do something different, Gail