A woman who unexpectedly found herself unemployed has shared how a simple idea at her kitchen table grew into a thriving business that now earns her £5,000 each month.
Izzy Brantingham had been working as a wedding coordinator before losing her job, leaving her without an income and unsure of what to do next.
While struggling to find work in the events industry, the 27 year old decided to get inventive. What began as a creative distraction soon turned into a side hustle that transformed her future.
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Izzy and her dad started experimenting with leftover wine and gin bottles from evenings at home, cutting them down and turning them into stylish candles. At first, they made them as gifts for family and friends, but demand grew quickly.
Before long, the pair launched Bottle Top Candle Co, and it began bringing in thousands every month.
Within six months, the business was generating around £5,000 a month as they shipped out hundreds of handmade candles.
Izzy, who lives in Newcastle, told Hype Daily that one of her most memorable moments was driving to the post office at Christmas with her Mini Cooper completely packed with parcels.
She said that was the moment she realised how big the project had become.
The early stages were far from smooth. Izzy spent countless hours experimenting with wax blends, learning how to safely cut bottles and trying to source materials during lockdown.
Despite the challenges, the pair kept going, and soon Izzy was running a full time business from her kitchen.
December 2022 ended up being her highest earning month, bringing in around £8,000 profit as Christmas orders surged.
Izzy said it felt unbelievable. She never expected to make serious money from the candles and originally saw it as something fun to occupy her during an uncertain time.
Watching the project grow into a profitable business made her realise what can happen when you combine creativity, determination and resourcefulness.
The business became a real family effort. Izzy managed the branding, marketing and customer orders while her dad handled the hands on production work.
They even partnered with nearby restaurants and bars to collect empty bottles and repurpose them into new products.
Izzy saved a large amount of her earnings, later using the money to help buy her first home.
Once lockdown finished and life began to return to normal, she decided to focus on her long term career goals, eventually moving into marketing and PR.
She said the skills she developed while running the candle business helped her discover a passion for communications, storytelling and building a brand.
Although the business had been successful, she felt ready for the next chapter and wanted to apply what she had learned in a new environment.
Izzy is one of many young people across the UK exploring side hustles to earn extra income.
Research from Young Enterprise shows that 82 percent of Gen Z have tried some form of entrepreneurship, from reselling clothes on apps to launching small businesses.
However, many feel that financial pressures and fear of failure make it difficult to fully commit to starting their own ventures.
Now working as a senior account manager at a global agency, Izzy still applies lessons from her candle making days.
She has not ruled out the idea of launching another business in the future and says the experience gave her the confidence to think like an entrepreneur.
She said she is proud of turning a difficult moment into something positive that supported her financially and helped her grow. Building a business from nothing taught her resilience, creativity and the importance of trusting her own abilities.
Izzy also shared her advice for anyone considering starting a side hustle.
She suggests focusing on small details, treating customers well and always going above and beyond because positive word of mouth can be more powerful than any advert.
She also encourages people to ask questions and seek help early on, because good guidance can save a huge amount of time and stress later.
