If you follow any small businesses on social media, you may have noticed a lot of shouting about Just a Card Indie Week recently – but what exactly is it all about?!
Just a Card is a fabulous campaign focused on encouraging people to support independent makers and artists, and to shop small – you can learn more about it in my previous blog post here. Throughout Indie Week we’re given a series of social media prompts to follow and it’s the ideal opportunity for small businesses to promote their work and share why shopping small is so important. The week culminates in Indie Friday, an independent creative alternative to Black Friday, where we ask shoppers to consider shopping small from independent businesses rather than the massive retail giants – even switching just one purchase to something from a small maker can make a big difference (Holly Tucker talks about this more here in a recent Forbes article)!
So to help you along with some gift and shopping ideas, and in the spirit of today’s Just a Card prompt of celebrating independents, here are a few of my own favourite small businesses below!
- Time Flies for Kids – if you are looking for a gift idea for the children in your life, look no further! TFFK offer children’s activity packs ram packed with games and ideas to keep children from ages 5-14 entertained! Not only are they bags of fun but they are eco friendly, and they also PLANT A TREE for every 10 packs they sell! And if that wasn’t enough, you can also have your pack sent straight to the recipient and include a gift card from yours truly!
- Izzi Rainey – based on a farm in Norfolk, this small textile company makes beautiful stationary and homeware products. Inspired by life on the farm they offer a range of items from mugs to tea towels, hot water bottles to oven gloves – you can literally find a gift for anyone!
- Leona’s Mindful Makers – want to gift a little calm through creativity?! Then this is the place to head to! Leona offers a range of craft kits aimed at helping you take some time out for yourself and practice a little mindfulness! If you are based in the Newcastle area, Leona also runs workshops and craft clubs to help you meet like minded people!
- Helen Chalmers Glass Jewellery – if you are looking for gorgeous yet affordable jewellery, then look no further! Based in Scotland, Helen makes a range of glass earrings, in all kinds of varying colours, meaning you really can get something to go with every outfit! Given my own collection of her earrings is getting slightly out of control, I couldn’t not include her here!
- The British Craft House – and finally, I had to include my fellow makers from TBCH, but with so many wonderful gift ideas and artists to choose from, it’s hard to narrow it down to just one! Some of my own fab purchases (it’s a dangerous place to sell!) have included a unique wood and resin necklace from Bevart designs, intricate silver earrings from the ticketyboo coo, stunning fabric vases from The Fabric Vase Company, delicious baked treats from Short But Sweet and adorable children’s clothes from Happy Hedgehog Designs – take a browse through the site if you dare!
Happy shopping – and please do comment below with any favourite small businesses of your own!
interesting places to visit and are a great way for designers and makers to be able to showcase their work. Our high streets would be a lot more boring without them! So the aim of the Just a Card campaign is to encourage people to support and buy from artists, makers, independent shops and small businesses.
Plus, have you ever noticed how much people appreciate a handmade gift?! They show you’ve taken the time to seek out something you know someone will really love, something that might be really personal and unique – so really, shopping small is a win, win!