An islander who started selling homemade gift items at craft fairs has been hailed as a role model for young women in business.
Eilidh Carr of Berneray scooped the "entrepreneur of the year" title at Scotland’s inaugural Young Women in Tourism Awards.
The 26-
Her small shop is jammed packed with locally made crafts, gifts with a Hebridean and nautical theme as well as souvenirs and greeting cards.
The store is not just for tourists as it also stocks products islanders would buy as gifts.
Eilidh harnessed her camera skills as a way to making a living and stay on the island.
She returned home after a period studying and working in Aberdeen but local jobs were scarce.
An idea to sell coaster and mug items, all printed with locally taken images, emerged.
Using her own photography as a source of inspiration, she worked in a cramped shed creating gift products in 2016 to sell at craft fairs and agricultural shows across Uist and Benbecula.
As demand grew, she converted a tiny caravan into a shop.
Soon afterwards, she opened a purpose built timber gift shop, constructed by her father, without any public grants. Half of the stock is produced by herself while also supporting numerous island arts and crafts makers by selling their goods.
Eilidh said: “Business is getting busier every year,” due to the growth in visitors to the island which in turn “allows me to live back at home.”
Judges praised her "ambitious nature.”
They said: “Coralbox is a story of true ambition and love for photography, alongside Eilidh now being able to work and live back where she grew up as a child and give back to the area and visitors.”
Eilidh will now embark on a year’s membership with Entrepreneurial Scotland, helping her to grow and develop her business, as well as enjoying a year’s WIT membership as part of her prize.
The Young Women in Tourism (WIT) Awards was set up to recognise young women with a keen interest and commitment to contributing to Scotland’s tourism sector.
Enterprising islander wins tourism entrepreneur of the year accolade
17 June 2019
