Cara Mackay was still in primary school when she learned an important lesson about sexism.
She, her sister and best friend were barred from their local Scout group – just for being girls.
The unfortunate experience spurred Cara on to prove she was a match for any male counterpart.
It also reinforced just how much her father John Mackay, co-founder of luxury Perthshire shed manufacturer Gillies and Mackay, had her back.
John had been one of the Errol Scout leaders but immediately resigned when Cara was told she was no longer welcome.
Struggles taking over Gillies and Mackay
Cara, 36, now managing director of Gillies and Mackay, found herself in a similar situation two decades later when she took over the family business.
She now has the full support of her award-winning team.
However, back in 2017, there was disquiet about her assuming the role and her dad was forced to issue an ultimatum.
Mother-of-four Cara spoke to The Courier about the recent garden room boom and growing Gillies and Mackay’ annual turnover to more than £2 million.
She also shared how she has become a successful businesswoman in a traditionally male-dominated sector – notably, not taking criticism to heart.
Cara, who went viral on social media and was banned from LinkedIn in 2017 for a swear-filled rant about working from home with kids, prides herself on speaking her mind.
‘I like the shock factor of being a female woodcutter’
She said: “I have learned over the years that not everyone has to like me.
“No-one in the business works harder than I do and I am respected for that – but being liked, particularly in management, isn’t something you can dwell on.
“As soon as my mindset changed, I found I was able to focus more clearly on what I could do to improve the business.
“Even now, there are times when people are surprised that a woman is leading a woodcutting and manufacturing firm and comments can be misogynistic – but I quite like the shock factor.”
Recalling the two defining moments in her life when being female appeared to work against her, she said: “Knowing my dad had my back made such a difference.
“It was a very difficult time as I transitioned to being in charge of Gillies and Mackay.
“It wasn’t just because I was a woman, as change can be hard for people to accept, but it was definitely a factor.
“My dad called the entire team together and said that I was now their boss and they had two choices – either accept me or walk out the door.”
Always one of the lads
She continued: “The first time he did something similar was when I was in the local Cubs and my dad was a Scout leader.
“We preferred the activities they boys were doing and fitted in fine but the other Scout leaders took a dislike to the fact girls were joining and organised a vote, which went against us.
“My dad promptly told them that if they didn’t want us girls, they couldn’t have him.
“I have brothers and have always had guy friends who have seen me as just as capable.”
Growing up at Each Inchmichael Farm by Errol, Cara describes her “wonderful” childhood as “like the book Swallows and Amazons”.
She was happiest outdoors and helped her father in the woodshed from an early age, paid a “penny a length” for pinning timber.
By 14, she was working as a woodcutter and labourer in the family business, with her own saw, work station and schedule.
Why Cara rebelled in class
School, however, was not something she enjoyed, and she left Perth High School at 16.
She explained: “I was dyslexic and didn’t get the support I needed.
“I struggled with school and didn’t like the way I was treated as a lesser person because the education system wasn’t a good fit for me.
“This meant I rebelled and played up in class.
“I was happiest doing labour intensive woodcutting work on the farm.
“I would listen to punk rock music on my minidisc player while I worked – it was a peak time in terms of my happiness.”
Cara joined the business full-time after leaving school and worked her way up through the ranks.
She later returned to studies, completing a distance learning business degree at Robert Gordon University while raising her small children to “get some gravitas”.
Founded by her horticulturalist dad John Mackay and lumberjack uncle Grant Gillies in 1989, Cara describes Gillies and Mackay as “bootstrap start-up”.
The business grew slowly as the years progressed but when Cara took over in 2017, she was determined to make some changes.
Aware of a disconnect between the workshop, delivery and office staff, she implemented a new communication strategy.
‘You don’t need to be liked by everyone’
She credits second husband Chris Marr, who was just a friend at the time, with giving her the confidence to push through teething issues.
She said: “The transition was painful and almost broke me – there were points I thought I couldn’t do it and was formulating an exit strategy.
“But I really wanted to make it work for my dad and Grant.
“I met my now husband Chris through content marketing and he told me something crucial – you don’t have to be everyone’s friend.
“From then on, it was all about what was in the best interest of the business.”
Cara started a gratitude circle, where all staff were encouraged to say something positive about their day, and also implemented weekly 1-1s with her employees.
She now describes her team of 20 – which has doubled since she took over – as “phenomenal”.
Hiring “non-academic” individuals and “giving them a chance” is something Cara feels strongly about.
“Because we are a bespoke company with our own technique, you learn the skills on the job and don’t need initial experience,” she said.
“For me, it’s about hard work and resilience.
“I don’t need my team to have grades, I need them to care about what they do.
“I like to give people a chance who might not be given a chance by others.”
Garden room boom when Covid-19 hit
When Covid-19 hit the UK in 2020 and lockdown restrictions were imposed, Cara was uncertain how the business would fare.
However, Gillied and Mackay experienced “exponential growth” as customers sought to create extra work and living spaces in their gardens and had cash to spare.
She said: “our sales boomed by 300% in 2020, it was huge.
“We were taking orders even though we were shut and in one week we processed 150 orders.
“We had to expand to meet the demand – more staff, new machinery and a specification overhaul.”
The firm now offers what it promises are some of the best, premium handmade sheds, garden rooms, summerhouses, garages and workshops in the country.
Future of Gillies and Mackay
Gillies and Mackay, named the country’s best family legacy business last year, has recently been awarded a £200,000 loan from the Royal Bank of Scotland to further its expansion plans.
Cara hopes to branch out into new markets in Edinburgh, Glasgow and the north of England.
For Cara, passing the “legacy firm” onto the next generation is her key driving force.
She added: “Everyone in the family collectively wants the business to do well. It’s a bloodline lifeline for us all that had been built from the ground up.
“I want to leave the firm in the best financial position I can for the next generation.
“I see myself as a trustee being entrusted with the future of Gillies and Mackay.”
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