Last year I made a conscious decision to buy (where possible) all my Christmas gifts only from Independent Shops or Makers and managed to find some real gems. Having been featured ourselves on a couple of Small Business Gift Guides we wanted to pay it forward and shine a little light on some of our favourite independents. So, grab a cuppa and settle in.
Feature Image by Rebecca Strickson
Snowhome
If you live in or near York then Snowhome will need no introduction. Now in it's 16th year of trading it is always a great stop for gifts for those' hard to buy for' people. Selling a fabulous mix of design-led gifts, home accessories, furniture and lighting there is always something unique to find. Owner, Angus is a passionate advocate of small businesses and regularly sources Snow Home's stock from emerging designers and smaller manufacturers which in turn creates a wonderful and interesting shopping experience. Shop in store or online.
Dandelion Paperweight from £29
Create Gift Love
Ok, all of my female friends please skip this section if you don't want to know what I've bought you this year. I discovered Create Gift Love over on Instagram and immediately ordered one of their personalised coin purses for myself. Arriving quickly and beautifully packaged, I just love it. As well as Leather purses they also design and make a brilliant wide range of personalised gifts and accessories. Based in the New Forest, UK I can not recommend them highly enough.
All That Jarz
Another Instagram find, All That Jarz is the perfect example of doing one thing and doing it well. Taking the humble Mason Jar and transforming them with paint and decoupage. Owner Wendy Steedman has made a successful business whilst juggling her two children. So reasonably priced and created with care if you're looking for a little bit different then All That Jarz is definitely worth a look. And if you're based in Surrey and fancy trying your hand at making your own Wendy has recently started decorating workshops. Find her over on Instagram (and by the way her Stories are hilarious).
Magnificent Stanley
I've reached an age where I don't have many little ones in my life to buy presents for BUT if I did then Magnificent Stanley would be top of my list. Designed and made in Lewes, East Sussex owner Becky creates the most adorable tees, sweatshirts and children's accessories using the softest cotton and a wide selection of gorgeous Liberty London fabrics. Her website is a feast of cuteness overload and with lots of personalised items available to order it really is a one stop shop for quality children's wear.
Lola Pearl Vintage
If you have or know someone who has a love of Vintage prettiness then Lola Pearl Vintage is a must. This gorgeous online store offers up a real mix of decorative items, French furniture, textiles and lighting all with a large dose of 1920's Bohemia. There is something for every budget and taste all tastefully curated in what is a riot of French Boudoir Chic.
Alice's Wonders
If you're looking for some fabulous Secret Santa gifts or just a little pressie for yourself then look no further than
Alice's Wonders. With a wide selection of Vintage and contemporary inspired jewellery and accessories at really reasonable prices there is so much to choose from. Our favourites are these cute
velvet pouches which are a perfect stocking filler.
Yoga Rituals
Both Kari and I are both Yoga fans and have learnt that a strong principle of Yoga practice is self-care. For me a long bath every night is a must and
Yoga Rituals is just a dreamy, beautiful brand. From bath salts infused with essential oils to perfectly packaged candles all their products are accompanied with comprehensive guides and information about their benefits and usage. Their Christmas gift boxes are a brilliant choice for the Yoga bunny in your life.
Blossom
It seems that you can't move these days for a new make up launch or the 'next big thing' in the beauty industry but sometimes simple is the best. Mineral make up is by no means a new thing but finding a good quality product often means a high price tag.
Blossom are a brand that produce beautiful high quality mineral make up that doesn't contain harmful chemicals. Their products are gluten free, are suitable for Vegans and for those with various skin conditions including acne, eczema and roseca. All for a realistic price point and beautifully packaged they make a great gift for those make up junkies.
Post Christmas is the time for resolutions of getting fit. We've all done it, sometimes successfully, sometimes by February we've given up. We buy the outfits, the new trainers and if you've ever ventured into buying womens workout clothing you will know that it is a minefield where all products are not created equally.
LaVostra is a one stop for high quality, high performance yet stylish active wear brands that have been previously unavailable in the UK. Visit
LaVostra here.
Ambling Traders
A traditional Christmas gift for all ages is always a good pair of slippers and sales of them must surge at this time of year. If you want to really up the slipper game then go for a pair of traditional Moroccan slippers, they come in so many colours and styles they really are a perfect gift. We found
Ambling Traders online and immediately fell in love with, not just their fab Pom Pom slippers but also their gorgeous homewares and accessories.
Becky Broome
We all have that one friend or relative who is an absolute nightmare to buy for. So what do you get someone who has everything? A personalised cocktail shaker of course!
Becky Broome is a fabulous store with something for everyone. They have so much to choose from for every occasion not just for Christmas all produced with a unique and bespoke quality. Definitely a site to bookmark.
Max Made Me Do It
This for me is one of those shops where you could choose EVERYTHING and be thrilled. Carol is the designer behind
Max Made Me Do It and her whimsical vintage inspired illustrations feature on prints, cards and wrapping paper. Her personalised prints are a perfect gift for any age and if my husband doesn't take the massive hints I'm giving currently him then I will happily buy my own.
Morgan + Wells
Morgan + Wells is a luxury leather goods company based in Yorkshire, they use traditional saddlery and leather working techniques to produce their designs and each piece is created with such visible care and attention. Their Portella limited edition circular bag is just gorgeous and a perfect gift for any discerning handbag lover. Their range is not huge (their men's products are well worth a look) but the quality is definitely there and as all their bags are crafted individually by hand they offer a life time guarantee on their stitching. Visit them here
Image from Morgan + Wells
The Sleepy Girl Store
This is a new store but such a good one. The idea and concept behind The Sleepy Girl Store is a simple one, on their site you will find products, services and items that deprived Women and Girls in the UK truly need. You purchase them through the site and then they distribute them directly to the those in need on your behalf.
You will find all the information on where each item will go within the purchase description. The site is so easy to navigate with no minimum spend and you can choose options from as little as £1.20. So if you want to add an extra little worthwhile gift to those who really need it please do check
The Sleepy Girl Store out.
So that's it and I hope you've found this useful. Maybe I've featured a few fabulous Indies that you already knew about or maybe they will be all new discoveries.To all those fellow independents out there, we salute you and keep on going.
Happy shopping everyone.
Hannah x
