As the nights are drawing in and our bellies are being filled with the warm delights of comforting autumnal foods, some of us may be thinking ahead to the festive season and considering starting our Christmas shopping. With the current pandemic that has plagued the world, many businesses are facing financial hardship during these tough times. So this Christmas we would love to spread the small independent business love, in hope that as many people as possible will choose to shop locally and independent, to help the smaller businesses that might not have the funding and support that larger businesses and enterprises may have.
We have put together a list of awesome indie businesses that might need your help this Christmas, a small purchase here and there can really make such a big difference to a small business and it means the world to the hard working faces behind them.
Soaps, Bath Bombs and Personal Pampering
From sustainable handmade soap to plastic free hair care and ethical gift sets, The Natural Spa offers a wide range of eco conscious products for everyone to enjoy. Head over to their website and start filling up those stockings!
The lovely Sue, owner of VOSC is not only a chemistry whiz which shows in her carefully created products, but she also hand crafts beautiful artisan soaps and gifts that are a true work of art. If you're looking to impress this Christmas then have a browse through her website and see what tickles your fancy!
Beautifully designed, everyday alternatives for people who are Conchus about life. This wonderful company creates magical products from 100% natural ingredients and only wraps them in sustainable packaging. Just a quick browse through their website and you can really tell how much they care about the environment and want to make a difference for good, for that we salute you!
Thoughtful Gifts
Beevive have the perfect stocking fillers and gift bundles for the nature warriors of your family. From sustainably packaged bee revival kits which have been seen to rescue many a bee on Instagram, to beautifully designed bee hotels and even adventure backpacks, there are so many earth kind treats available from this wonderful company that you might just end up having to treat yourself too, after all if it weren't for the bees we wouldn't bee here today!
Do you need a new statement piece of jewellery for the festive season? Or perhaps you know someone who would love some quirky hand stamped cutlery for Christmas?! Zoe takes vintage silverware, gives them a new life and handcrafts them into stunningly intricate pieces of art for you to wear as rings, necklaces and so much more. Go and get lost in the beautiful designs Sozo has to offer.
If your a fan of a natural candle that looks sleek in your home (and who isn't?!) then you simply must take a peek at the 'Just Pure Lovely Candle website. From eye catching candles to stunning wax melts, you'll be hard pushed to find someone who wouldn't want one of their sustainably stunning creations as a Christmas present!
From quirky personal cards, to beautifully designed boobie tea towels and mugs, Jess has created a really wonderful collection of unique designs for every occasion. You'll find her latest eco friendly & vegan designs on her Etsy shop.
Fancy some gorgeously scented soy candles and skincare that use only 100% cruelty-free and vegan ingredients, and come in sustainable packaging? Then this fab company has got your back, check out their heavenly scented goods here.
Handmade Contemporary Silver Jewellery, made using Eco Silver. From mystical moonstone rings to textured coin hoops, Susie's stunning pieces add a real elegance to any outfit. Using recycled silver in her work gives a real sustainable edge to these fabulous pieces of art. Find the perfect gift for that special someone here.
Funky headbands and stunning accessories, Free The Authentic have empowering looks to suit any style. Marcia's creations are truly gorgeous and will certainly add that something extra special to your festive outfits. Take a peek at her latest restock here, but be quick they're so popular they sell out almost instantly!
For the Foodies
Are you looking for the tastiest vegan alternatives to meat this Christmas? (or any time of the year for that matter!) then look no further. A quick view of their Instagram page and you'll be left salivating over the stunning photos of all their juicy plant based goodness they have to offer. This lovely family business have also just opened up a plant based Deli in Exeter near our elmkind HQ; if you're local to the area or ever visiting then make sure you pop in for a delicious treat you won't forget.
Peanut butter delivered to your door by push bike? Yes please! Whilst this awesome delivery service only applies to their local Exeter area, fear not you can still get your hands on their yummy peanut butters if you're somewhere else in the UK. Whether you're into traditional peanut butter or fancy trying something new like their deliciously different 'cinnamon raisin' or 'smoked chilli' peanut butter you can find their whole range of yummies here, get ready to pimp up your Christmas day brekkie.
Celebrate the festive season with an eye catching sweet treat that all of the family can enjoy. Yes that's right Gluten Free, Vegan cakes and bakes for your allergy affected friends and family. Tried and tested by yours truly, I can confirm that Kendall's Kitchen founder Charlie, exceeds in producing the tastiest treats that you wouldn't even know are allergy friendly!
A perfect Christmas tipple to add to your special day. Emma pairs energising organic green tea with spring water, refreshing fruits and a unique blend of bacteria and yeast to ferment her probiotic packed delicious drinks. Keep your energy levels up this Christmas, with the natural goodness of this curiously created Kombucha.
Delicious nut butters that go well with just about anything. Mike has created a truly scrumptious range of natural nut butters without a single peanut in sight. He uses unique flavour combinations and culinary wizardry to give a deliciously different experience. Don't just take our word for it check it out for yourself.
High Street Goodness
Where stunning fashion meets sustainable commitments. Sancho's is a real firm favourite of ours, not only because their clothes are absolutely beautiful, but because they are also truly sustainable, from the materials chosen to make their quality pieces, to the ethical suppliers they work with and support, being good for all is at the heart of what they do and we love it. Head over to their online shop for a show stopping Christmas outfit!
This one is a real gem for the Exeter area. The lovely Sarah and her fabulous team run two beautiful 'Nourish Zero Waste' shops in Exeter. One in the idyllic village of Topsham on the outskirts of the city and the other near the city centre on Magdalen Road. From package free rice to sustainable gifts and treats, if you're in the local area make sure you pop in and pick up some ethical gifts for Christmas and spread the eco festive love throughout your friends and family.
Introducing plastic free, zero waste shopping like you've never seen it before. Naomi has turned Gertie (her trusty van) into an ethical refill station on wheels, that travels around bringing sustainability right to your doorstep. Packed with everyday essentials and ethical gift ideas, Naomi has something for everyone. Be sure to support this wonderful journey and see if she will be visiting a town near you!
If you're looking for high quality, locally sourced, organic foods then this store has plenty and so much more. A real high street gem in the heart of Exeter, there is so much to browse through in this wonderous shop, from fresh local fruit and veg, to a vast eye catching range of free from foods. When you're next in the area please do pop on in and support Exeter's oldest community-owned food store.
The latest addition to the Bovey high street, the new and wonderful Bovey Larder offers an array of ethical goodies from dried foods on tap, to jars of beautifully displayed herbs and spices. Don't forget to bring your own containers for maximum sustainability and then come on in and fill them up, they have all you need to make some deliciously festive treats this Christmas!
...and that's a wrap! We hope you've enjoyed browsing some of our favourite businesses, and don't forget that if you can't afford to spend your cash this Christmas you can still support ALL of these amazing businesses by following them on social media, liking their posts or sharing with your friends and family. A simple follow or google review makes more of a difference than you know.
We have so many more amazing online shops, and stockists that we would love for you to check out too as you prep for the festivities, head over to our stockist page where the fun continues.
Please feel free to share this blog so we can spread the word to #shopsmall #shoplocal this Christmas.
Thank you for reading we hope you have enjoyed our latest blog post.
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Stay Kind!
