IT’S BEEN all hands on deck from one family to get a Dunfermline mum’s business off the ground.

Mum-of-four Gail McCathie launched her soy eco-friendly candles in June this year and already she is stocking in several shops and e-commerce platforms in Dunfermline and further afield.

But she couldn’t have done it without a little help from her family, who all chipped in to make Sea Fern Candles a success!

Gail, 54, who works from her kitchen, said: “My husband had a work contract in Ireland so I spent a lot time researching while I was going back and forth.

“I have always loved candles but I’ve found they burn pretty quickly because of the paraffin and give off soot, which is not good for us to have in our homes.

“I spent about a year and a half researching soy wax and making sure everything was plastic-free and sustainable.

“I feel very passionate about it and I think I’ve driven my family mad talking about it all the time!”

Gail started giving her products away to family, friends and neighbours as gifts but found they were coming back for more.

“I was told that people really liked them and if I could make more and that’s when I was encouraged to start selling the candles,” she explained.

“I started selling at the Happy Earth Place in Dunfermline, Craigie Farm, and Wicks & Reeds, who are based in England and sell to customers all over the UK.

“They seem to be doing really well and every day I’m getting orders.

“I’m really quite pleased at how it’s going so far!”

Gail’s twin girls, who go to university, help out when they can with social media, labels and packing.

Her husband has invested in the business and the girlfriend of one of her sons is a photographer who has helped Gail get her website looking great.

Gail added: “I think my husband thought it was an expensive hobby at first!

“There’s been such a positive response so far, especially from the Dunfermline community, who I think are very keen to shop local.

“My daughters and the community have inspired me a lot because they’re passionate about the environment and I wanted to make sure everything was eco-friendly.

“They’ve helped me a lot, especially getting to grips with social media, it’s been a quick learning curve working out all I need to know and I think it’s helped that I feel so passionate about it!

“Over lockdown, candles have become very popular and people are actually making them now so I didn’t know how successful the products would be. But I’m so glad I’ve done it and I’m really enjoying it.

“I’ve not been working for a while now looking after the family so it’s giving my confidence back.

“I really hope I can inspire others to give them the push they need to set up their own businesses, especially those who haven’t been working in a while.”