A Scottish entrepreneur who started making candles as a distraction after a life-changing diagnosis has set out her bright vision to become Central Scotland's market leader.
Karen Graham was leading a full and active life with husband Chris and their two teenage children when she diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis "out of the blue" in June 2022.
The incurable condition affects the brain and spinal cord with some of the most common symptoms including fatigue, blurred vision, numbness, balance issues, muscle cramps, and memory issues.
The illness had a big impact on their family life but the mother-of-two found a therapeutic outlet that they could all get involved in and within six months had turned it into a business that now boasts clients including Stirling Castle.
Having always enjoyed arts and crafts Karen and husband Chris, also 44, started making candles on the kitchen table at their home in Stirling.
Seeing the positive impact it had on the whole family, the couple pondered taking their occasional hobby to the next level.
The couple founded The Stirling Candle Company in January 2023, providing a range of luxury scented candles with names including 'Fresh Start' after sourcing the training and materials they needed just a few miles away in Falkirk-based business Candle Shack.
She says the wholesales business took off "surprisingly quickly" and they now supply to tourist hotspots including the gift shop at the Wallace Monument, which welcomes more than 100,000 tourists each year.
"Chris and I both still work, the children are teenagers and now I am living with MS," she said.
"It’s a lot to take on. But during such a dark time for our family, candle making and then the business has really brought light into our lives.
"At the moment we are still building up the business but eventually we would like our business to be Central Scotland's leading candle and home fragrance supplier. That's our vision.
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"Our products are really high quality, it's not like something you would buy in the supermarket.
"All our ingredients are local and sustainability is a bit thing for us.
"We don't use parabens and everything is environmentally friendly including the glitter, which is biodegradable," added the businesswoman, who works in the NHS, while her husband's background is in IT.
“When I was diagnosed my mental health really took a turn for the worst," she said.
"I felt like I was in a very dark place and I didn't really know what the future held for me.
"Candle making gives me something to work towards and look forward to each day - it gives me a sense of purpose.
"I always say to people the studio we created is my happy place because I go out there and put my tunes on and Chris is at the other side of the table getting everything boxed up."
Initially, doctors suspected Karen's neurological symptoms were labyrinthitis and started treatment, but when her condition didn’t improve she was hospitalised again with a suspected Bell’s Palsy.
"When we got the MS diagnosis it was a lot to process and a massive change for me overnight," she said.
"Some days I wake up and my legs just won’t work, other days I’m extremely tired and it’s affected my balance a lot as well. I can't really walk very far and it can be quite dangerous going out on my own.
"I've just always tried to stay positive.
"Hopefully others see that, when you get a diagnosis like MS, your life has not ended.”
Cheryl Maclean, co-founder of Candle Shack, said: “Karen’s story is an inspiring one.
“Karen and Chris have built an amazing business in a very short space of time, and it's amazing to see something so positive and purposeful emerge from such a difficult situation.
"We support thousands of people from hobbyists to large manufacturers, and it's stories like Karen’s that make it extra special
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