Hilltop Horses
Hilltop Horses winner of Caithness Chamber of Commerce’s Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2011 award.
Hilltop Horses Ltd is one of three businesses run by Mairi Anne Cormack from Canisbay. She is part of a new generation of young entrepreneurs shaping the future of the Caithness economy. A business graduate from Robert Gordon University, Mairi Anne spent two years working at Thainstone Mart near Aberdeen before heading north working at Dingwall Mart. A year later she moved back to Caithness where she was employed at Dounreay.
It was while back in her home county that she struck on the idea of going into business for herself. Access to feed and other equestrian products was proving limited so Mairi Anne investigated the local market and began sourcing and then delivering items herself. Clearly there was a strong demand for the delivery services as the fledgling home business turned over a significant amount of feed and products to indicate there was scope to develop.
Over 2009 and 2010 Mairi Anne built up the feed business, Hilltop Horses, and opened a holiday let property, Hilltop Holiday Home. Later in 2010 Hilltop Horses Ltd was formalised and in January 2011 she opened her third business Hilltop Horse and Country shop in Wick selling equestrian equipment, clothing, pet food and other supplies - the perfect accompaniment to the feed delivery service.
Mairi Anne has come a long way in three years and she has stood out as a person with the self determination and drive to make sure her business is successful with customer satisfaction at the heart. In the long term she hopes to develop a tourism related enterprise to add to the Hilltop franchise. These qualities and her long term business plan are a fantastic example of the area’s entrepreneurial culture.
Mairi Anne was awarded The George Bruce Young Entrepreneur 2011 award at the Caithness Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Dinner in September 2011.
