Every week The Press and Journal features a thought-provoking Q&A with a small business owner who makes a difference to their local community. Here we speak to Shelly Robertson, who with her husband Steve overcame challenges to ensure a much-loved butchers remained the lifeblood of the Kemnay economy.
How and why did you start in business?
It’s been a challenging 2.5 years since my husband Steven and I started to run Collie Butchers. The shop has a long history, and for 25 years Steven worked alongside brothers Jim and Graham Collie, and latterly Graham’s wife, Annie. When Graham announced his retirement it seemed like the perfect opportunity for us. Steven could take the next step in his career as a butcher, and I could use my previous management experience to run the business side. It seemed like a logical next step.
How did you get to where you are today?
It’s taken a lot of dedication and hard work. We started our business right at the very beginning of the Covid 19 Pandemic. Actually, the day before we signed all the paperwork, we were advised to walk away because the whole business environment was so uncertain. Obviously, we ignored that advice! We knew we had a great business, and now we’re not only still standing, but we’re stronger than ever.
Who helped you?
Steven learned much of his butchery skills from the Collie Brothers, and their advice has been very important in running the business. Along with our parents, industry bodies like Scottish Craft Butchers and Quality Meat Scotland continue to give us important advice. We’ve been members of the Federation of Small Businesses since we started, and I’m sure their member benefits have saved us quite a bit of money over the last couple of years.
How are you managing rapidly rising costs, and how could the government help?
We’ve started to work more closely with our suppliers to keep costs down, and we advertise special offers in the shop to entice customers in and keep footfall up. We pride ourselves on employing local staff members, and we’re well aware that it’s not only the business that is affected by the rising costs. The government needs to do something quickly, but what they will do or can do remains to be seen.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever had?
Laying a good foundation for your business is very important. I think if you work hard in your first year in business, this will set you up for the future. You also have to be happy to move with the times and be confident in the decisions you make.
What is your biggest mistake?
Like I said, it’s important to work hard in the first year, but my biggest mistake was trying to burn the candle at both ends. It can be difficult, but sometimes you have to force yourself to take time away from the business and just relax.
What is your greatest achievement?
This is a family business, so our greatest achievements are our two daughters, Megan and Hannah, and our grand-daughter, Millie. Working alongside our great staff team, Megan and Hannah really pitched in during Covid. We had to be flexible and change the way we worked depending on the most recent advice, and we couldn’t have gotten through it without all of their support.
What do you still hope to achieve?
We want to build a business that can be passed on down the generations in our family; continuing to provide good quality, local produce to our fantastic local customers.
What do you do to relax?
I like to watch a good film with a glass of red wine, or I take our two Siberian huskies, Sasha and Kira, out for a long walk.
What are you currently reading, listening to or glued to on TV?
Give me a good book any day. Anything with a great story line.
What do you waste your money on?
I probably buy too many sweeties or sweet treats when I go into other shops.
What’s the first thing you do when you get up in the morning?
The first thing Steven does is let the dogs out, while I put the kettle on and have a cup of coffee.
What do you drive and dream of driving?
Currently we have an Audi, but my dream car is anything that doesn’t break down!
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