Why Shop with Small businesses this Winter?
If you spend any time with me you will hear all about how we should buy more of our products from local shops and how we should support our local businesses- yes I do bang on about it a lot. I bang on about it a lot because I believe that it's crucial to our well being and to our local economy, as well as the importance of everyone owning unique objects that tell a story.
Straight off the production line
Have you ever been trotting down the high street and seen someone else wearing your favourite H&M scarf/ jacket/ dress and the sinking feeling that comes with it when they pull it off better than you feel like you do? Or gone into someone else's house and they have the same photo frame or ornament that your close friend bought for you for your birthday?
With massive chain stores being on every high street or shopping centre with free parking, the reality is that they are usually more convenient for our busy lives.
But what happens when we venture into the independent shops? Yes sometimes we might feel awkward if the shop is small, or if they can't afford the music licence to play your favourite tunes, but generally the owners have hand picked each item that's for sale. Each item has been carefully selected, carefully priced (usually supports another small business/ maker) and is sometimes even a special one off- no one in the world owns the exact same!
Find a more suited gift
When you shop directly from an independent maker, depending on how flexible the maker is, you might have the ability to work with them to edit parts of your special gift. Many makers work on a commission basis, for example drawing pet portraits or designing a fabric with your favourite colours.. If you see a piece of work by the maker and think 'oh i'd love that in green!' tell them! 9 out of 10 times they will make it for you and I can guarantee it will feel more special to you than just plucking one from the shelf at Asda. Independent shops can offer their expertise in the subject field and recommend items that you might not have thought about, or they can order something in that they wouldn't usually- just for you.
Better quality product, better quality service
Occasionally a maker might be willing to fix any wear and tear issues that you have, sewing buttons back on, sewing a lining back into a jacket, steaming a hat back into shape etc - could you imagine a general high street store doing that for you? There is almost a feeling that high street stores offer a product that is more robust and tested than an independent make. I know that in the past I have bought clothes from big companies with seams not matching, buttons that have fallen off and long lines of overlocking threads not cut off properly, I also know that I didn't complain about it to the big company, I just fixed it myself. The initial product may seem more expensive than the 'throw away' alternative that you can get on the high street but it will certainly last a lot longer.
Copy & Paste highstreets
We all know that we can visit any City in this country and if we walk in circles long enough, we can find a Boots, a Café Nero, a Primark or Subway. Very few independent shops still exist snuggled in between these high street giants, they tend to open up further down the road, out of the way where the rent is affordable. Even nowadays when you visit high streets abroad, they are becoming similar to the British copy and paste job, so called 'brands you can trust.' When I visit somewhere new, I want to buy something made locally that I can cherish and take home with me, something that brings a story and a memory back home.
Support another family
Investing into supporting another family does not have to cost a lot, take a lot of your time or even be that much effort. Simply following them on social media is a great help, the more popular the page, the more people will see what they are working on, eventually more sales will be made and the maker can improve their work. Buying a small item from a small business can be the difference between them paying their rent or not, each sale means an awful lot to a small business- just think how proud you would be if you sold something that you had made by hand. Having a studio amongst other artists means that I have seen many 'I sold something today' dances- they are fantastic to witness and really do change the way you look at the way you buy things.
On a personal note, I could not describe to you the feeling I got when my greengrocer got back from his family holiday, himself and his daughter were telling me about all the fun they'd had and how nice it was to get together. Knowing my weekly shop has contributed to a once in a lifetime experience for them all was fantastic. When you spend your hard earned money with your local shops, it is very likely that they will spend their profits with other local shops, it turns into a cycle that keeps money and jobs in the local area.
Build a Story
As well as buying a product from a small business, you can gain a relationship, a conversation, a story, an experience.. When handing a gift over to your loved one, you can tell them all about how you found their gift, 'we went to this gorgeous little shop in Manchester, the lady in the shop helped me to find the perfect material, in this beautiful red colour. Her little dog was asleep in his basket- never batted an eyelid!..' as apposed to the cheaply mass produced item that you plopped into the trolley with your weekly shop next to the bread and chicken- i'm not judging, a lot of us have been there. There are plenty of monthly and weekly markets and town square events that take part all over the country, you never know what you mind find, it might surprise or inspire you.
No Excuses
With technology developing and becoming more accessible, many small businesses have their own websites, card readers, loyalty cards and mailing lists. Many have access to free parking, wheelchair access and delivery options. Yes you may have to pay a small shipping fee or postage and packaging which you wouldn't have to on Amazon, but no shipping anywhere is free, it's costing someone somewhere along the line! If for some reason you have a less than perfect experience with an independent maker, small business or local shop- tell them in person! The absolute worst thing is to go home, stew on it then take to their website or Tripadvisor, if the person in charge knows about the problem immediately, they can help you out.
I could quite easily carry on the long list in an attempt to try and change your mind to shop locally and at smaller businesses this christmas but I think i've written enough! If you have any stories of things you've bought from independent shops or experiences you've had, please write them in the comments- I'd love to hear them!
Ways to support small businesses:
-Incorporate their business into your weekly or monthly shop- greengrocer, bakery, butcher..
-Follow them on social media, share, comment on and like their posts
-Go to visit makers at trade fairs
-Talk to your friends about them
-Join their mailing list
-Give them feedback about a product or experience
-Chat to them- they are humans!
My Favourite independent shops- Stockport
Marketplace Studios- shopping and creative workshops
Rare Mags- independent magazine shop
Hillgate Cakery- vegan cake shop
Plant Shop Manchester
Cherry Girls Wardrobe - 50's inspired clothing
Stockport Indoor Market
Online marketplaces
Etsy
Not On The High Street
Folksy
Join the campaign!
JustACard
Some makers that I would absolutely recommend! (Instagram accounts)
Milliners: Emma Fozard and Bronwen Simpson
Jewellery makers: Tea Party at the Zoo, Lauren Taylor , Fison Zair
Print Maker: Lydia Mary
Ceramics: Paul Reid and Black Dog Pottery
Straight off the production line
Have you ever been trotting down the high street and seen someone else wearing your favourite H&M scarf/ jacket/ dress and the sinking feeling that comes with it when they pull it off better than you feel like you do? Or gone into someone else's house and they have the same photo frame or ornament that your close friend bought for you for your birthday?
With massive chain stores being on every high street or shopping centre with free parking, the reality is that they are usually more convenient for our busy lives.
But what happens when we venture into the independent shops? Yes sometimes we might feel awkward if the shop is small, or if they can't afford the music licence to play your favourite tunes, but generally the owners have hand picked each item that's for sale. Each item has been carefully selected, carefully priced (usually supports another small business/ maker) and is sometimes even a special one off- no one in the world owns the exact same!
Find a more suited gift
When you shop directly from an independent maker, depending on how flexible the maker is, you might have the ability to work with them to edit parts of your special gift. Many makers work on a commission basis, for example drawing pet portraits or designing a fabric with your favourite colours.. If you see a piece of work by the maker and think 'oh i'd love that in green!' tell them! 9 out of 10 times they will make it for you and I can guarantee it will feel more special to you than just plucking one from the shelf at Asda. Independent shops can offer their expertise in the subject field and recommend items that you might not have thought about, or they can order something in that they wouldn't usually- just for you.
Better quality product, better quality service
Occasionally a maker might be willing to fix any wear and tear issues that you have, sewing buttons back on, sewing a lining back into a jacket, steaming a hat back into shape etc - could you imagine a general high street store doing that for you? There is almost a feeling that high street stores offer a product that is more robust and tested than an independent make. I know that in the past I have bought clothes from big companies with seams not matching, buttons that have fallen off and long lines of overlocking threads not cut off properly, I also know that I didn't complain about it to the big company, I just fixed it myself. The initial product may seem more expensive than the 'throw away' alternative that you can get on the high street but it will certainly last a lot longer.
Copy & Paste highstreets
We all know that we can visit any City in this country and if we walk in circles long enough, we can find a Boots, a Café Nero, a Primark or Subway. Very few independent shops still exist snuggled in between these high street giants, they tend to open up further down the road, out of the way where the rent is affordable. Even nowadays when you visit high streets abroad, they are becoming similar to the British copy and paste job, so called 'brands you can trust.' When I visit somewhere new, I want to buy something made locally that I can cherish and take home with me, something that brings a story and a memory back home.
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| When Oklahoma collaborated with Nonsense Indoor Plants to brighten the front of the shop! |
Support another family
Investing into supporting another family does not have to cost a lot, take a lot of your time or even be that much effort. Simply following them on social media is a great help, the more popular the page, the more people will see what they are working on, eventually more sales will be made and the maker can improve their work. Buying a small item from a small business can be the difference between them paying their rent or not, each sale means an awful lot to a small business- just think how proud you would be if you sold something that you had made by hand. Having a studio amongst other artists means that I have seen many 'I sold something today' dances- they are fantastic to witness and really do change the way you look at the way you buy things.
On a personal note, I could not describe to you the feeling I got when my greengrocer got back from his family holiday, himself and his daughter were telling me about all the fun they'd had and how nice it was to get together. Knowing my weekly shop has contributed to a once in a lifetime experience for them all was fantastic. When you spend your hard earned money with your local shops, it is very likely that they will spend their profits with other local shops, it turns into a cycle that keeps money and jobs in the local area.
Build a Story
As well as buying a product from a small business, you can gain a relationship, a conversation, a story, an experience.. When handing a gift over to your loved one, you can tell them all about how you found their gift, 'we went to this gorgeous little shop in Manchester, the lady in the shop helped me to find the perfect material, in this beautiful red colour. Her little dog was asleep in his basket- never batted an eyelid!..' as apposed to the cheaply mass produced item that you plopped into the trolley with your weekly shop next to the bread and chicken- i'm not judging, a lot of us have been there. There are plenty of monthly and weekly markets and town square events that take part all over the country, you never know what you mind find, it might surprise or inspire you.
No Excuses
With technology developing and becoming more accessible, many small businesses have their own websites, card readers, loyalty cards and mailing lists. Many have access to free parking, wheelchair access and delivery options. Yes you may have to pay a small shipping fee or postage and packaging which you wouldn't have to on Amazon, but no shipping anywhere is free, it's costing someone somewhere along the line! If for some reason you have a less than perfect experience with an independent maker, small business or local shop- tell them in person! The absolute worst thing is to go home, stew on it then take to their website or Tripadvisor, if the person in charge knows about the problem immediately, they can help you out.
I could quite easily carry on the long list in an attempt to try and change your mind to shop locally and at smaller businesses this christmas but I think i've written enough! If you have any stories of things you've bought from independent shops or experiences you've had, please write them in the comments- I'd love to hear them!
Ways to support small businesses:
-Incorporate their business into your weekly or monthly shop- greengrocer, bakery, butcher..
-Follow them on social media, share, comment on and like their posts
-Go to visit makers at trade fairs
-Talk to your friends about them
-Join their mailing list
-Give them feedback about a product or experience
-Chat to them- they are humans!
My Favourite independent shops- Stockport
Marketplace Studios- shopping and creative workshops
Rare Mags- independent magazine shop
Hillgate Cakery- vegan cake shop
Plant Shop Manchester
Cherry Girls Wardrobe - 50's inspired clothing
Stockport Indoor Market
Online marketplaces
Etsy
Not On The High Street
Folksy
Join the campaign!
JustACard
Some makers that I would absolutely recommend! (Instagram accounts)
Milliners: Emma Fozard and Bronwen Simpson
Jewellery makers: Tea Party at the Zoo, Lauren Taylor , Fison Zair
Print Maker: Lydia Mary
Ceramics: Paul Reid and Black Dog Pottery
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