Who are you?

We are Jonathan Brown and Mhairi Morrison, co-founders of Mobros.

What does your business do?

We manufacture and wholesale handcrafted scented candles in a range of fragrances and containers.

Where are you based?

We currently operate from Mhairi’s parents’ house in Shawlands but we’re actively looking for a workshop in Glasgow.

How did you get started?

Jonathan had a desire to set up his own business and whilst watching an episode of The Apprentice where the challenge was candle making he realised it could be a great opportunity for him and Mhairi to learn new skills and be creative. His mum used to burn candles around the house so he knew the appeal.

We started making candles for friends and family two years ago during the Christmas period and progressed to market fairs before we formally set up the business last year.

We decided it was the right time as we had encouraging feedback from retailers and felt we were in a strong position to make Mobros a success.

What is your background?

Jonathan has always been self-employed working as nightclub DJ.

Mhairi is a law graduate from the University of Strathclyde.

What is your top business tip?

Our top tip is to be prepared to do a lot of the work yourself.

You may not have all the necessary entrepreneurial skills when you start your business but if you are willing to learn and seek support from organisations like Business Gateway, you will pick them up as you go along.

How long has your business been running?

Since September 2015.

Has anyone helped you get started and how? When we decided to set up Mobros we approached Business Gateway Glasgow for support.

Our adviser not only assisted us in putting together a strong, coherent business plan but helped us identify potential funding opportunities through Glasgow City Council and the Prince’s Trust. Also our family have been a great help.

What was your first deal? Our first deal with the TLC pharmacy in Mosspark. After one of our fairs we had some left-over stock and so we decided to go round to the pharmacy to see if they were interested.

They loved our products and were excited to stock candles that were handcrafted locally.

What was your biggest mistake/or what would you do differently?

We originally planned to do the wholesaling ourselves but reality soon kicked in and we realised that beyond Glasgow we didn’t know who to approach. Luckily we were spotted by a sales agency which has now taken us on.

Who was/is your mentor/or inspiration?

Being part of the Prince’s Trust program we were assigned a mentor who we meet with monthly which has helped us focus and prioritise.

Where do you plan your business to be in five years’ time?

Ideally we would like for Mobros to be a prominent Scottish brand with industrial premise and staff.

Useful contacts

Business Gateway Glasgow - www.bgateway.com/glasgow

0141 530 2405

Contact Details

jonathan@Mobros-Candles.co.uk