Growing a Business, Changing a Life: The Journey of Purple Sage Soap Company

When I started Purple Sage Soap Company in 2021, I had no idea how much it would shape not just my career, but my entire life. Back then, it wasn’t even a business in the way it is now—it was an idea, an experiment, and a passion project. I was working full-time, renovating a house, and learning everything I could about making natural, plant-based skincare.

The Early Years: Learning, Juggling, and Building

2021 was all about research, experimentation, and understanding the world of running a business. I had no background in entrepreneurship, but I knew I wanted to create something meaningful.

In 2022, I started putting myself out there—attending fairs, trying to build a website, and figuring out how to make a small business work while still holding down a full-time job and, of course, managing life’s everyday chaos. It was exhausting, and at times, I wondered if I was just chasing a dream that would never quite come together.

2023: A Year of Harsh Realities and Big Decisions

Then 2023 happened, and everything changed. My job had become unbearable—I was undervalued, unsupported, and left questioning why I was giving so much to an organisation that gave nothing back. On top of that, my husband’s health took a serious decline. A cancer diagnosis, a knee replacement, and the harsh reality of watching someone you love struggle made me stop and think: What am I doing?

Why was I pouring my energy into something that didn’t align with my values, when I could be investing in something that mattered? Why was I wasting precious time in an environment that drained me, instead of building something that inspired me?

The answer was clear—it was time to leave.

The Leap into the Unknown: 2024

I owe a huge amount of gratitude to my business advisor from the South of Scotland Enterprise, who presented me with an opportunity that changed my direction. With her guidance, I made the decision that had been building for years: I left my £35,000-a-year job and went all in on Purple Sage Soap Company.

I won’t pretend it was easy. Terrifying, exciting, exhausting, energising—2024 brought every emotion imaginable. I was building a business, supporting my husband through his painful recovery, learning, researching, and trying to find my feet as a full-time entrepreneur.

But something incredible happened.

The Year Everything Fell into Place

2024 became the year that Purple Sage Soap Company truly took off.

• We won multiple business awards.
• I found true friends and invaluable business connections.
• I became part of the Pathways Project, working alongside inspiring coaches.
• I saw my brand grow beyond what I thought was possible.

For the first time, I wasn’t just surviving—I was thriving.

Looking Back to Move Forward

Now, in 2025, my business is growing stronger than ever. There’s still a long road ahead, but I’ve learned something important: I rarely take a step back and acknowledge how far I’ve come.

Entrepreneurs often admire resilience in others, but forget to recognise their own. Looking at where I started and where I am now, I can finally see it—I have built something real. As a family, and as a family business, we’ve faced challenges, but we’ve also built something we are proud of.

My Message to Anyone Thinking of Taking the Leap

If you’re standing at the edge, wondering if you should take the plunge into something new, here’s what I’ve learned:

• Age is just a number—it’s never too late to start.
• Mindsets can be changed—fear doesn’t have to hold you back.
• Hard work can be enjoyable—especially when it’s your passion.
• Friends are invaluable—surround yourself with people who lift you up.
• Networks are the way forward—community and collaboration are everything.
• Businesses supporting businesses is powerful—together, we grow.

Here’s to 2025 and whatever it holds in store. If you’ve been part of my journey, thank you—your support means the world. And if you’re on your own path, know this: you are capable of more than you think.

From my Scottish garden to you… naturally.