AROUND a third of Scots have considered taking a second job in the past year to supplement income as the cost-of-living crisis continues to bite, new research has found.
The findings emerged from a survey of more than 2,000 people across the UK commissioned by Candle Shack, the UK’s leading supplier of materials, training, and know-how for people who want to start their own candle making business.
Some 30% of Scots respondents to the survey said they either had a second job, or were considering looking at one. Almost half (47%) are actively looking for new ways to supplement their monthly income, with many turning to ‘side hustles’ – to bring in more cash.
The survey, conducted by independent insights agency Opinion Matters, found a significant proportion of Scots respondents have considered selling items online to make money over the past 12 months, with almost half (46%) saying they either have sold, or would consider selling clothes.
Other ‘side hustles’ considered by Scots respondents include stocks and shares trading (30%), house or pet sitting (21%), and setting up an online shop (25%).
Asked about the biggest benefits of taking on a side hustle, 30% of Scots respondents said it creates greater financial breathing room, and 28% believe it’s a chance to earn money from a hobby. More than a third 35% said it provides extra money for ‘treats’.
However, a fifth (20%) of Scots respondents said they didn’t have the time to take on a side hustle, while 16% feared the risk of losing money was too great.
Duncan Maclean, co-founder and CEO at Scottish-founded firm Candle Shack, said the figures were ‘unsurprising’, and that his company has seen a significant rise in people turning to candle making as secondary and primary sources of income.
He said: “The situation may be improving, but factors such as high inflation and the increased cost of living are still causing people to feel the pinch, and many are looking to new ways to bring in additional income.
“Since the end of the pandemic we’ve seen significant growth in the number of people taking up candle making as a business for multiple reasons – either monetising their hobby, or coming into it from something else completely.
“Some see it as a ‘second job’, with the ease of setting up an ecommerce business removing previously held barriers. We’ve even seen people give up primary jobs because of how successful their candle making business is going.
“It’s not just in this country too, we operate in countries across Europe, particularly in The Netherlands and Germany, and we’re seeing the same trends there.”
Founded in 2010, Candle Shack has grown from founders Cheryl and Duncan Maclean’s own side hustle to become one of the UK’s candle making giants, acting as a one-stop shop for aspiring candle entrepreneurs, supporting them with education, technology, and materials.
The firm, whose European operation is based in the Netherlands, works with close to 10,000 customers from side hustlers and regional operators to major international brands.
This article is part of a series of articles being run by Scottish Business News which explore the impact of the cost of living on workers in Scotland. Look out for further features on this in our Business Plus section.
