Donna Bradley of Dumfries, Scotland didn't start out in life to be a candymaker, though her grandfather was. She chose a career in nursing, and not just ordinary nursing. Until four years ago, Bradley worked as a forensic psychiatric nurse caring for a murder's row of clients, murderer's and rapists with severe mental disorders.
Unfortunately, depending on your perspective perhaps, she had to leave that work for health reasons. Bradley suffers from Crohn's disease. In her early 30s, Bradley was faced with a dilemma - what to do with the rest of her life?
A sweeties recipe book, a Christmas gift from her sister, provided the answer and 18 months ago Wee Sweetie Confectionery Creations was born. Working from her kitchen at home, Bradley now has a worldwide clientele, thanks to the magic of social media, especially Twitter.
Hers is primarily a mail-order business, though if you're lucky enough to be in Scotland, you will find her and her Mum (more on that in the podcast) at a sprinkling of local markets. Likewise, she began business as a bespoke sweetie maker - creating custom sweets for weddings, graduations, corporate affairs and the like. But thanks in large part to her following on Twitter, she now also offers a monthly menu of selected sweets, but in limited quantities. As Bradley says - "when they're gone, they're gone."
Bradley's wee sweeties are 100% natural and 100% handmade. She prides herself on using all natural ingredients and sourced, whenever possible, within mere miles of her home in Dumfries, the southwest of Scotland. Her company is also very green - environmentally conscious.
If you've a sweet tooth - or want to WOW your clients at an upcoming social or corporate event, custom sweeties from Wee Sweeties Confectionery Creations might be just the thing!
In addition to the website and Facebook pages noted below, you can reach Donna Bradley on Twitter via @wee_sweetie.
•Wee Sweetie Confectionery Creations
•Barscobecastle.com - Bradley's peanut butter supplier and maker of other nutty butters
•Dumfries and Galloway - a visitor's guide.
•Fair Trade - an overview of the program worldwide
As a concerned citizen, former journalist Ruth Watson has launched the social media campaign #KeepScotlandTheBrand to protect the identity of Scottish produce and products in this time of #Brexit