Simon and Sarah Yearsley purchased the Scottish Deli in Dunkeld and haven’t looked back.
Q. How and why did you start in business?
More than 20 years in the corporate world, ending up as an HR director in a FTSE 100 – until I saw the light.
My wife and I realised we wanted to, and believed we could, do more for ourselves rather than being a cog in a corporate wheel.
We set up our own business, Big Tree Campervans, in 2009 when there were only two other companies renting out campervans, but we had a belief that the sector could grow.
Which, of course, it has done massively.
Q. How did you get to where you are today?
In 2015 we bought The Scottish Deli, really believing it had huge growth potential.
It was a steep learning curve, as although we’ve always been great food lovers, we’d never run a food retail business or restaurant.
It’s now an award-winning deli, cafe, evening restaurant and outside catering business at the heart of the Dunkeld and Birnam community.
Q. Who has helped you along the way?
My wife Sarah has been a rock. Our children have a habit of shining an interesting and valuable light on what we’re doing.
Q. What was your biggest mistake?
Working too hard for too many hours.
Q. What is your greatest achievement to date?
Making the first ascent of 6,365-metre high Himalayan peak Dunlung Khangri in 2013, with Malcolm Bass and Paul Figg.
Q. How has coronavirus impacted your business?
Massively. We completely replanned and had to change from being a speciality food shop, daytime cafe, evening restaurant and outside catering business to just a food shop supplying our local community. Things are picking up now as we move out of lockdown.
We’ve learnt lots over the past four months, including how to feel comfortable making decisions with little or no information, feeling happy to make mistakes, the value of really strong supplier relationships and the importance of loving your customers.
Q. What do you hope to achieve in the future?
I’d hope to improve the balance of family, work and climbing.
Q. Do you want to recruit in the future?
Yes, probably sometime after spring next year.
Q. What is the hardest thing about running your own business?
Everyone always says “switching off” – which is 100% true.
Q. Any advice to wannabe entrepreneurs?
Listen to your customers and get
involved in your local community, tapping into networks through groups like GrowBiz. Put your team before yourself – always – and believe in yourself, but don’t take yourself too seriously.
Q. How do you relax?
Rock climbing and alpinism.
I’ve been climbing all around the world for more than 40 years, with a focus on putting up new climbs and exploring new areas.
