South of Scotland Thistle Awards

It’s hard to believe that our wee sauna business is heading to the South of Scotland Thistle Awards as a finalist.

When Laura first started Cedar Hus and took me on board we never really knew where this little adventure would take us. As far as we know, we were the first mobile sauna business in the Scottish Borders, which meant there wasn’t exactly a handbook for what we were doing. We’ve had to learn as we go, try new things, experiment, and occasionally be met with some raised eyebrows and wonder ourselves “Is this actually going to work?”

And, truthfully, not everything has worked. Some ideas have been a huge success, others… not so much. There have been moments when trying something new has felt pretty disheartening, especially when you’ve poured your time and energy into something and it doesn’t turn out the way you imagined. But we keep trying.

That’s one of the things we love most about Cedar Hus. We’re constantly experimenting, learning and finding new ways to make sauna accessible, welcoming and a little bit different. Sometimes it means coming up with a new type of session, taking the sauna somewhere completely unexpected, collaborating with someone local, or simply trying an idea because we think it might be fun.

And even when things don’t quite go to plan, we’re usually having a good time doing it.

We never expected to be here

Last year, we didn’t enter the South of Scotland Thistle Awards at all. If we’re being completely honest, we didn’t think we’d have much chance of getting anywhere. We’re a small, independent business. There are so many incredible businesses across the South of Scotland, many of which have been established for years, and we were still figuring things out as we went. So when we entered this year and found out that Cedar Hus had become a finalist, it genuinely meant so much to us.

For a small business like ours, recognition like this is HUGE. Laura and I put our heart and soul into Cedar Hus. It’s not just a business we turn up to and run, it’s something we care about deeply. We’ve built it from the ground up, and every new location, collaboration, session and slightly mad idea has been part of figuring out what Cedar Hus can become.

Being recognised alongside so many brilliant businesses from across the Borders and South of Scotland feels special.

A night out of sauna hats

And now, somehow, the awards ceremony is next week! I’m very much looking forward to swapping the usual sauna gear, muddy boots and dryrobe for something a little more glamorous and heading off to celebrate with some of the best businesses in the South of Scotland.

Of course, I’ll have my fingers crossed that we might come home with an award. But honestly, even if we don’t, being a finalist is already something we’re incredibly proud of.

When you start a business based on something as new and unfamiliar as mobile sauna, there’s a lot of trial and error involved. You don’t always know what will work, who will come, where people will want you to go or what the future will look like.

So to look back at where we started and see Cedar Hus recognised at the South of Scotland Thistle Awards feels pretty amazing.

We’ll be there to enjoy the evening, celebrate how far we’ve come, cheer on the other finalists and, hopefully, enjoy a little bit of glamour before we’re back to the sauna logs, cold-water dips and muddy boots.