Sharon Burnett has swapped her role a manager with a care firm to run her own ethical arts and crafts business.

And it's definitely a cottage industry. Much of her Langlees home is turned over to the production of her jewellery and bath products.

Sharon (31) was picked as the winner in the Falkirk heat of Make Your Mark and, from next Monday, she will be selling her products from a retail unit in The Mall Howgate.

The two-week free use of the stand will give her the chance to show shoppers what her Silverfish business is all about.

She said: "I was delighted to win and now I'm busy making sure I've got lots of products to put on display. You can hardly move in my kitchen for bath bombs and soap!"

Sharon has been running Silverfish with her partner Kevin Ferguson (37), for a number of years. But everything was put on hold when she discovered she was expecting third child, Brodie, who's now six months.

She added: "We used to go round farmers' markets and craft fairs, but I didn't keep too well during my last pregnancy and hadn't really done very much with the business for about a year.

"However, I was always determined to make a go of it and decided to start things up again when the opportunity to enter this competition came along. It's perfect to have a small unit like this to display my goods and hopefully it will attract a fair bit of interest.

"It also has the added attraction of being indoors – I remember being at a farmers' market in Kilsyth when it was so cold I couldn't feel my fingers or toes! These events are great in the summer when people like to wander about looking at stalls but in winter you can't beat being inside."

As well as making silver jewellery, often with gem stones and crystals, and bath products, Sharon has recently taught herself to crochet to make hats and other items.

Sharon Burnett is raring to go after winning the Make Your Mark competition and with it the chance to sell her goods in The Mall Howgate

"It's amazing what you can learn from a book or the Internet," she said.
Getting ready for two weeks trading in The Mall Howgate, Sharon said her two older children, Cameron (11) and Ciara (10) had been lending a hand, while Kevin makes a lot of the jewellery.

She added: "I'm really quite nervous but looking forward to the experience. I hope people will stop to browse, have a chat and hopefully buy something."

Congratulating her, Suzanne Arkinson, The Mall Howgate's centre manager, said: "Entries to this year's Make Your Mark competition were of the highest standard highlighting, once again, that entrepreneurs in Falkirk really do have retail flair.

''After much debate, the judging panel decided Sharon's hand-made collection of toiletries and jewellery would be the perfect fit for the Mall, as everyone loves to pamper themselves with eco-friendly products and don't cost the earth."

Sharon will represent Falkirk in the final of the Make Your Mark competition, competing against 19 other local winners for the chance to trade rent-free for six months, a place at the Oxford University retail summer school, £500 to buy stock, plus free business banking and advice.

The competition is run in conjunction with Make Your Mark, the national enterprise campaign, and The Royal Bank of Scotland/Natwest.