Meet ScotlandShop Founder Anna White

Why Tartan? 

I love colour! Right now I am wearing a bright green jumper and I can't go through to our dispatch and warehouse without falling in love with another tartan I spot on the shelf. Tartan combines so many elements that are important to me; the quality is second to none, all our fabrics are woven in Scotland supporting our rural economies, agriculture and small scale manufacturing, the history behind every sett is intriguing. I love a good story and the colours, threadcount and pattern all have meaning, that is why we have a page devoted to every single tartan on our website, each one is unique and has it's very own history.

What did you do before founding ScotlandShop?

My background is sales and marketing. I studied international Marketing and French at university, jumped around from job to job for several years, learning so much from every employer and without really realising it creating a picture in my head of the culture, values and ethos I would have behind my own company. My parents were self-employed which probably made me less risk averse, and having spent a couple of years with a graphic design agency who also designed websites, and then a few years project managing school and industry initiatives which took me into all the textile mills, I took the plunge to set up ScotlandShop. 

How has ScotlandShop changed through the years?

Quite dramatically, but also not very much. We have gone from me in my bedroom to our sizeable HQ in Duns, 2 shops in Scotland and 1 in America, so in terms of revenue, staff, systems and all that fun stuff we have grown year on year. However our core values, the passion for Scotland, for the fabrics and products we make and the customer experience we deliver, hasn't changed at all.

• Winner: Made in the UK, Sold to the World Awards | Department for International Trade May 2023
• Runner Up: International Entrepreneur of the Year | WeDo Scotland May 2023
• Finalist: International Excellence | Drapers November 2022
• Scottish Export Champion | The Department for International Trade (DIT) November 2022
• Winner: Growth Business of the Year | Women's Enterprise Scotland October 2022
• Finalist: Scottish Borders Business Excellence | Scottish Borders Chamber of Commerce September 2022
• Winner: South of Scotland Regional Director of the Year | Institute of Directors Scotland July 2020

• The Business Spotlight - You can learn any skill with the right attitude | December 2024
• Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce - Business Festival - Keynote - ‘Scaling beyond borders’ | March 2024
• The Washington Tattoo Podcast - Weaving Tapestry and Heritage | September 2023
• Under the Tartan Sky - Your Style: ScotlandShop | January 2021

• Married to the long suffering, Neil, Arable Farmer of the Year 2024, and great at making the tea when I am absent....which is quite often!
• Keen participant of the "Loony Dook" running into the North Sea every New Year's Day to kick off January wide awake.
• Completed Ride Across Britain, The leading Land's End to John O'Groats cycling challenge in 2024 for the My Name'5 Doddie Foundation, wearing Doddie'5 Tartan for all 980 miles!