Laura Thomas: Building More Than a Brand

We are delighted to profile one of our EWIL Gala Dinner sponsors, Laura Thomas.

We first met Laura when she settled in Scotland and started to build her wonderful business. Through our alumni and speakers we were pleased to be able to help Laura expand her network in Scotland and build a rapidly expanding and very successful business.

For Laura Thomas, entrepreneurship has never been about chasing rapid growth or following a carefully defined plan. Instead, her journey has been shaped by resilience, adaptability and a commitment to building something authentic that reflects her values and the relationships she has built along the way.

After beginning her career in banking, a move to New Zealand opened the door to a very different path. There, she spent almost a decade buying and selling cafés before identifying a gap in the homeware market and launching the foundations of what would eventually become Laura Thomas Co.

Life, however, took an unexpected turn. Following the breakdown of her relationship, Laura returned to Scotland determined to build a new future for herself and her young family.

“I came back to Scotland with two children, 300 pounds and six suitcases.”

Rather than recreating what she had built overseas, Laura saw the opportunity to create something that reflected her own vision and values. What began with bed linen has since evolved into a lifestyle and wellbeing brand, supplying boutique hotels while continuing to grow a loyal community of customers.

Building Through Adversity

Starting again brought significant challenges. Alongside raising her daughters, Laura was responsible for every aspect of the business, from product development and manufacturing to finance, marketing and customer relationships.

Growing organically meant every decision carried weight. Without external investment, profits were continually reinvested back into the business while cash flow, staffing and production had to be carefully managed.

Every decision required careful consideration, reinforcing the importance of taking a long-term view and building the business sustainably rather than pursuing quick wins.

Looking back, Laura is candid about the reality of balancing entrepreneurship with family life.

“I think there’s always a trade off with anything you do.”

Determined to create a career that worked around her children rather than the other way round, she remained focused on building a business that offered both flexibility and purpose.

Like many entrepreneurs, Laura believes some of the most valuable lessons did not come from immediate success, but from experience, experimentation and the willingness to keep adapting.

“I have failed at a lot of things that have taught me some very valuable lessons.”

The Power of Community

While Laura invested countless hours attending trade fairs in the early years of the business, it wasn’t until later that she recognised the true value of those experiences.

“What I didn’t realise I was doing at the time was creating community.”

When the COVID-19 pandemic changed how businesses connected with customers, those relationships became one of the company’s greatest strengths. The conversations she had invested in over many years had created a loyal community that continued to engage with the brand through social media and online sales.

Looking back, Laura believes that community cannot be built overnight. It develops through consistency, authenticity and taking the time to build genuine relationships. While products may introduce customers to a brand, it is trust and connection that encourage them to stay.

Reflecting on those early years, Laura believes she was building something much greater than a customer base.

“I wasn’t just out there to flog as many candles as I could. I was genuinely interested in the people that I spoke to.”

Many of those people remain customers today, reinforcing her belief that lasting relationships are built through authenticity rather than transactions.

Purpose-Led Growth

As Laura Thomas Co has evolved, so too has Laura’s approach to growth.

For Laura, growth has been about building the right business, rather than simply a bigger one. She has remained focused on building a business that reflects her values, from developing plant-based products to partnering with hospitality businesses that share a similar commitment to quality and wellbeing.

That long-term approach has helped shape a brand that continues to grow through trusted partnerships and customer loyalty rather than short-term gains.

Looking Ahead

Looking ahead, Laura’s focus is on continuing to build on the strong foundations that have been established. Having spent recent years refining processes, strengthening the product range and expanding hospitality partnerships, the next chapter is centred on thoughtful, sustainable growth.

Alongside expanding the business, Laura is passionate about growing her wellness and beauty ranges, continuing to develop products rooted in the same principles that have guided the business from the very beginning.

Looking back, Laura’s journey demonstrates that meaningful businesses are rarely built overnight. Instead, they grow through resilience, thoughtful decision-making and a commitment to building relationships that stand the test of time. From returning to Scotland to rebuild her life with two young children, to establishing a recognised lifestyle brand, her story is one of adaptability, purpose and the determination to keep moving forward.

Executive Women in Leadership Alumni Spotlight Series

This article forms part of our Executive Women in Leadership Alumni Spotlight Series, celebrating the 10th anniversary of the EWLP programme in September 2026, and has been developed collaboratively with the support of Judy Wagner, Director of FWB Ltd and Prof Susan Murphy of The University of Edinburgh Business School, (who co-founded the EWLP), the EWIL Advisory Board, programme contributors, and interview participants.

The EWLP has since evolved into the Executive Leadership Programme (ELP), delivered in partnership with the University of Edinburgh Business School and open to leaders of all genders across the private, public and third sectors.

For more information about joining the 2026 cohort, please contact elp@fwbltd.com.