Suggestions for online shops to avoid amazon

[TooDamnSarky]

For various (fairly obvious) reasons I'd like to switch my online shopping form automatically going to amazon to using smalller companies.

I thought we could have a thread where we list companies that have given good service and ask for recommendations. Don't mind paying slightly extra if it means benefitting from their expertise in getting good quality stuff.

I recently got some fab garden furniture from:
www.plant-theatre.co.uk/

Currently looking for somewhere for small electricals (eg headphones) and seeds.

DJMusic
Sent DD a lovely zebra wood ukelele from there - great customer service and prices.
Lots of free you-tube tutorials and easy to learn.

I know not exactly an answer to the thread but I needed some fence trellis. Looked at Wickes and that had a 3/4 week lead, B&Q currently sounds a nightmare and a lot of online companies had delivery charges that were more than the product. So I googled and found a local company who were doing non contact collections. Ordered this morning and collection arranged for this afternoon.

There is a lot to be said about thinking outside the box, not just for Amazon but the other immediate go to places.

Bearing mind very few places ship to the channel islands I rely on my prime on amazon as prices locally are far higher than the UK

Any suggestions for somewhere to buy tablecloths?
Thinking bold patterns. My gorgeous Marimekko one is looking tired,

Thank you to whoever suggested Baker Ross preciously in the thread. Some crafty items arrived for my DS today- there's lots in each pack and the prices were great. He's really going to enjoy doing them over the next few weeks.

Does anyone have any recommendations for where I can buy babygrows/sleepsuits for a newborn? Preferably some nice, bright designs?

Thank you in advance!

The best brownies ever. National delivery. www.gowercottagebrownies.co.uk

Hermione
www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk/baby.html not a small cottage industry one but Jojo Are lovely, I always get new baby gifts from there.

@dontcallmelen Thank you for the Louloubella recommendation. I've just received my first order and the products are gorgeous. There are some special offers on at the moment, too. Well worth a look.
www.louloubella.co.uk

Order bottled beer from The Kernel. Why no beer icon MN?

@Bellablahhole brilliant thank you for letting me know, the woman who makes all the soaps etc is a good friend & she works really hard to ensure everything is completely natural & yy the products are gorgeous if you haven’t tried it throughly recommendation the moisturising bar it lasts for ever💐

@ByGrabtharsHammerWhatASavings

I use Barnyarns www.barnyarns.co.uk/en/ ( but they are closed atm.)

or The Sewing Studio www.thesewingstudio.co.uk/sewing-accessories.irc which is open for mail order and is one of my lovely local shops.

or my local shop Truro Fabrics www.trurofabrics.com/ their website is not very good but I found if you ring them they can tell you if they have anything in stock.

Amazon isn’t great but it is held to a lot of scrutiny - ASOS and eBay have very similar warehouse setups, they all want to be amazon so you don’t necessarily know the alternative has better conditions.

@dontcallmelen. The moisturising bar was the first thing I tried when my delivery arrived this morning and it is glorious! Honestly can't fault anything - it's a box of joy

Have just ordered from Louloubella, thanks for the recommendation

Jigsaws, can anyone tell me wheres to buy jigsaws?

www.jigsawsuk.co.uk/products/shop-by-theme/cottages/?filter_pieces=1000-pieces

Barney's Newsbox in Grasmere.

He has thousands in his shop and very helpful over the phone.

www.morganandfrench.com
For personalised jewellery. I've bought a couple of presents recently and they will send it gift boxed straight to the recipient too.

@Bellablahhole haha great minds, tis a indeed a box of joy😍 & the bar is fabulous the fragrance lasts all day.
@Impatientwino 👍🏼

Bunches are brilliant for flower deliveries.

www.bunches.co.uk/?aff=gouk&gclid=Cj0KCQjwy6T1BRDXARIsAIqCTXrDz8UIH9nhYwij_RM_IlcHZyGHiUN8vEoWYkx847wS6Td6IvtD2YsaAt2uEALw_wcB

For an unusual baby present / pick me up for distant grandparents: www.auraskymusic.com/product/babblesong/#anglais

IMSLP for sheet music

Amazon US have fired workers who raised concerns about social distancing in their warehouses: www.theguardian.com/technology/2020/apr/14/amazon-workers-fired-coronavirus-emily-cunningham-maren-costa

@LizzieLoafer thank you so much for the Barney's Newsbox tip for jigsaws - never seen such a comprehensive collection ever. Have ordered and will definitely be using again.

@recklessgran great! I stumbled across them online after trying Amazon unsuccessfully for weeks.

@LizzieLoafer it's an absolute life saver for me. We are shielding our adult daughter who is disabled and loves a jigsaw - like you I've pretty much exhausted Amazon as so few puzzles in stock. It's Barney's for me from now on! Have sent DD4 [junior doc] a beautiful puzzle of Banff - she has been there so I think will love it. I'm sure it will end up in the doctor's mess and hopefully help them relax a bit if they manage to get a break. Thanks once again.

@hermionegrange yy jojomamanbebe for sleepsuits lovely quality & designs just bought some for my new dgd, Next also have some nice ones the multipack are very good value & come in lots of designs & colours wash well.

It's Barney's for me from now on!.
Me too! Can't wait for the next time we visit the Lakes. I am definitely going to call in to the shop for a mooch.
So glad I could help.

Just catching up with this thread. Some fab suggestions!