Talking Shop: Untangled Yarns

BID for Galashiels’ Retail Resilience Pilot has been supporting local businesses with tailored advice from retail expert Graham Soult, helping them identify practical ways to improve their businesses and build connections with each other. In our Talking Shop series, participants share what they’ve put into practice and the difference it’s making. This time, we hear from Julie from Untangled Yarns.

“The reality is, I had no business experience when I started, so I didn't really know whether I was doing things right or wrong! So when the Retail Resilience Pilot came along, I thought it would be really beneficial to have someone external come in, look at the business and give me a good benchmark of where I was at.

One of the biggest benefits for me, and it doesn't even directly relate to the report, has been getting to know other business owners. Running your own business can be quite isolating. I don't really have friends who run businesses, so when you've had a sleepless night worrying about things, or you've had a couple of quiet days, it's actually really nice to know that other people are going through exactly the same thing. Just being able to talk about that and share experiences has been really valuable.

In terms of the report itself, social media was a big one. I know it's something I need to work on, but trying to get me in front of a camera is another story! It also highlighted that I need to tell people more about what actually goes on in the shop. There's a lot more happening here than just selling wool, and I think people are often surprised when they find out about the hand-dyeing and everything that's going on behind the scenes."

"I also really appreciated how personal the whole experience was. Graham took the time to actually talk to you, understand your business, find out what makes it tick and why you do what you do. It wasn't just generic business advice. It was about your business and what would genuinely help you move forward.

I definitely think the pilot has provided immediate support. Even the timings of the sessions were really well thought out. When you're running your own business, it's not always easy to get away during the day, so having sessions that were accessible made a big difference.

And again, just being in a room with other business owners, hearing that we're all experiencing similar things and knowing that we're all working towards the same goal of making the town better, has been really positive. You come away feeling a bit less on your own and a lot more encouraged.

If someone was thinking about signing up next time, I'd say you just have to do it. It's difficult to explain exactly what you'll get out of it because it's such a personal thing, and every business is different.

It can be quite scary putting yourself out there and having someone analyse your business, but I think you've just got to take that step. The advice is tailored to you, you get a fresh perspective, and you meet people who understand what it's like to run a business.

And, most importantly, Graham said I should keep my sofas, so that was a bonus! They are a no-brainer to me.”