Supporting small businesses

[IggyAce]

I’m hoping to use a lot more small businesses to buy Christmas gifts online this year instead of the usual big ones.
So thought it would be nice to have a thread to share recommendations.
Here are 3 that I’ve used for gifts in the past and received great products and service from.
Handmade and personalised decorations
www.homespunheath.com/

Wish strings and bracelets
www.wishuponastring.co.uk/

Bath bombs
www.mrssnowballsbb.com/

[LeevieLove88]

Love love love this!

Love these resin trays and other home accessories - www.etsy.com/uk/shop/SoftLinesHomeware

These ceramics are amazing - www.etsy.com/uk/shop/karinfindell

And these shell tree decorations -
www.etsy.com/uk/listing/880819376/sustainable-cockle-shell-tree

[LivingoffCoffee]

Love this thread!

Any recommendations for kitchen/cooking gifts?

[lotusbell]

Beautiful jewellery:
//www.murrayandme.co.uk
Furry animals:
www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Florenceandthefox
Gorgeous candles:
thelittleyorkshirecandlecompany.co.uk/
And
www.thebotanicalcandleco.co.uk/

[TheUnwindingCableCar]

What a good idea!

I got a couple of signs from thatsjustcrate.etsy.com as gifts over lockdown. I got them delivered directly to the recipients with a free gift note too so saved a lot of hassle when we were in full lockdown.

[seriousandloyal]

Great idea for a thread, thank you! I am just place marking for use closer to Christmas time.

[Lockdownhairdontcare]

What a lovely thread.

We have been trying to do this more in recent years but feels even more important at the moment.

Jewellery and Home

personalised art

amazing coffee and treats

Also bags of love on Instagram/fb for personalised items.

[Zaphodsotherhead]

This is brilliant and exactly the sort of thing I need! Not much to add from me, but just dropping a mention for Sloemotion (DD2 used to work for them, which was great at Christmas time. Then she emigrated, the bugger). www.sloemotiondistillery.com/shop-liqueurs/

Anyway. They are great and my contribution to the thread, until I can think of some more!

[SallySolardel]

I bought some of the bath bombs and they're lovely! I bought some with ducks in and got 2 different ducks!

[Orangecake123]

The crayonbox ones are lovely!

I would order but I don't have any young people in my life.

[IggyAce]

Just popped back and will be looking at the recommendations. Especially gin, fudge and tea.

[W00t]

And good to see Turtle Doves linked in here! They sent my friend a gorgeous snood/loop scarf when she was ill from a group of us that pitched in together. They are really fab.

[W00t]

Anyway, my own, non-affiliated suggestions are:
Thirsty meeples, thirstymeeples.co.uk/ the boardgaming cafe in Oxford, who sell board games, and have given me fantastic service several Christmases on the run now.

I have bought DD, MIL, and myself lovely earrings from Wendy Kemp www.wendykempjewellery.co.uk/
in the past.

A link I saw on MN for a social enterprise based in Cambridge- Harry Specters www.harryschocs.co.uk/ which I sent to my brother for his birthday in lockdown.

[W00t]

Yeah, but you can't use MN as advertising for your small business Sarah

[triplechoc]

Great idea for a thread! Reregistered to recommend two businesses local to me, both of which I use regularly.
For candles and wax melts, Harper’s Candles are excellent. They have a wide range of fragrances, offer a personalisation service and also have a subscription option which I haven’t tried but looks like it would be great for a gift.
harperscandles.com/

Coffee - www.theblendingroom.co.uk/ Great coffee, available as beans or ground, also offer a subscription from £7.50 a month/gift subscriptions for 3-6 months.

[AHintOfStyle]

Can I recommend Heather Elder Jewellery, this is her Etsy shop, she also operates via Facebook & Instagram

www.etsy.com/uk/shop/HeatherElderJewels

m.facebook.com/HeatherElderJewellery

She is such a talented silversmith and a very lovely person

[Someaddedsugar]

Can I recommend Crayon Box - the crayon play tubs are lovely!

[zowiewowie]

This is a lovely idea. Is it ok to add my business? I run a non profit org and we have Activity Boxes that we have just started to sell as since Covid we can’t run our usual in person session. Clay pottery, beading, electronic circuits and we sell dr zigs giant bubble kits. //Www.creativeactivelives.org.uk

For every one sold we donate one to a family through our charity partner organisations.

[NoWordForFluffy]

If you like coffee, Neighbourhood Coffee is a great company and are based in Liverpool. I bought the Aeropress from them last year for DH and must've had 12 or so bags of coffee since. He loves all of the ones he's tried (their names are brilliant too!).

[Justonemorecup81]

Might help if I add the website, it's //www.nobleleaf.co.uk

[Justonemorecup81]

This is such a great idea as so many events have been cancelled which many independent companies rely on. Can I be cheeky and add my own business? Noble Leaf - the mindful tea company. We ethically source all tea direct from small tea gardens,l and then hand-pack in the UK using eco packaging. Amazing award winning tea and teaware and I'd be happy to offer you 15% off when you use the code launch18

[CaptainCarp]

I second gundog gin!
I used to work a lot of markets / country shows & they gin is lovely. Brought some for presents before.

www.miamiadesigns.com/
Do some different picture gifts for something a little different.

For those with a sweet tooth either:
www.rubysfudge.co.uk/
www.fudgeheaven.co.uk/shop/

All ran by lovely people who I've met over the years & their products are fantastic.

[elp30]

I have two really good friends that own a fudge company called, UK Fudge Company.

I would love it, and I am sure they would too, if you could consider them for gifts. I know they deliver to all parts of the UK.

www.ukfudgeco.com

Enjoy!

[Babbletalk]

Love the idea of this thread, thank you! I'm going to contribute Hampton Hobbies and Games, a small family run business in Peterborough that sell board games, crafts and jigsaws. I found them to be really good to deal with and ever so helpful.

hamptonhobbiesandgames.co.uk/

[Shufflebumnessie]

I've just ordered a few jewellery bits from Beadazzled. Unfortunately they don't seem to have a website but are on Facebook.
I've ordered some bracelets as a stocking filler for DD and little gifts for her friends. Lots of colours/ designs to choose from, and the owner was very happy to accommodate my requests (plus, reasonably priced - bracelets from £1).