Today the Edinburgh Reporter Reward we have for you is a voucher for sweeties at Candersons Sweet Shop on Leith Walk. In fact Candersons have been very generous and have given us two vouchers. One is for 20% off all jarred sweets if you spend £10 or more. The other voucher is for a £10 sweetie basket. Details of how to enter are below.
We asked Debbie who owns the shop to tell us a bit more about herself too.
Who are you, and where did you come from?
My name is Debra Anderson. I am in my 40s, three children in their 20s, met Paul in Edinburgh 30 something years ago, been together ever since. Born in Arbroath, lived and grew up on a farm in Carnoustie. Eventually moved to Edinburgh where my mother’s side of the family lived and mainly my Nana, who lived in Iona Street, Leith.
What do you think are your business strengths and weaknesses?
Wanting to always strive for better, there’s always room for improvement, my head is constantly buzzing with ideas for my business in order to build and offer more. My weakness is finding the time, fitting it all in.
What was the defining moment on your career path that has got you where you are now?
Always wanted to be my own boss, most of my family are the same, self employed and we all support each other.
How do you spend your spare time?
Quite honestly, pardon the pun but….Paul and I are always talking shop….if I ever have the time I do always love to paint on canvas and have always enjoyed Arty Craft stuff.
Do you think you achieve a good work/life balance?
Definitely NO! My business is in its infancy and constantly needs baby sitting, it’s a six day week within the retail industry so lots to do always, my kids are all 20something so no worries about needing baby sitters although a Sunday lunch and a catch up together would be lovely more often.
What makes Edinburgh the best location for you to live and/or work?
Most of my family and friends reside in the capital; I truly adore my wee shop on Leith Walk, I have regular customers which is wonderful, they have shown me support and have made friends along the way. I believe that Leith is growing into a pleasurable shopping area that more and more people and visitors to Edinburgh will begin to realise over next few years.
What is your special area of Edinburgh, or special place in Edinburgh and why?
One special memory stands out considerably, especially since my shop is on Leith Walk, my Nana lived in Iona Street. She would often take my sisters and me shopping and I have strong memories of visiting Trumps Toy Shop on the walk, the Old Cooperative Store on Great Junction Street, Bring & Buy sales at various churches finished off with the swing park on Iona Street.
If you have a mentor then could you tell us who that is and about your relationship.
My partner Paul is my mentor and has been a tower of strength and support since I opened the shop, nothing is too much for him to help me in my new venture.
What benefits does that relationship bring to you and your business?
We assist each other with the daily rituals of being self-employed, I have an awareness of his business and likewise. We enjoy inventing new concepts and trying to better each other.
What are your business goals for the next year?
My Candy Cart is a new addition to the business. It will be available for hire for various events, Weddings, Corporate Events, Birthday Parties. This plus Sweet Trees, Chocolate Fountain hire and more…very much looking forward to working on these different themes.
Describe your typical day for us.
Listening to customers taking a trip down memory lane looking at the shop’s selection of Old Time Sweets probably that they haven’t seen or tasted for years and mostly thought those sweets had gone forever. Also, being able to let the customer experience the typical Weighing out of sweets of what use to be a Quarter of….. back in the day.
Your plan of attack for the next 12 months?
Market the Candy Cart to potential customers, promote my new Sweetie Trees to existing and new customers and focus on the up and coming events of the year – dare I say Christmas and Easter!
How to enter
To recognise our fabulous August visitor numbers we asked some of our contacts to offer our readers something as an Edinburgh Reporter Reward and this is just one in a series of treats for you.
Our unique users in August were over 100,000 which is an amazing number of people – and two and a half times the number of people reading our website in January 2013. Thank you!
Now enter our competition by emailing theedinburghreporter@gmail.com Put Edinburgh Reporter Rewards in the subject line and the answer is Candersons Sweet Shop. Emails must reach us by 29 September 2013 at 5 pm.
Good luck!
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
