Shop Small: An Independent Gift Guide
This year, 70% of the gifts I’m giving will be from small, independent shops & makers.
As a small business owner myself, and someone who has grown up in Cornwall where there’s a strong sense of ‘community spirit’ (especially at this time of year), I believe it’s really important to support small and local businesses and crafters/artists/makers when you can.
– FRIENDS AND FAMILY LOOK AWAY NOW –
Without further ado, here’s a list of my favourite independent online shops to buy gifts from (and some that I have already bought from this Christmas!), so you can buy from them too if you want to!
First up, here are my Cornish faves:
Jewel Box Cornwall
I’ve got to know owner, Carrie, fairly well over the past month or so through my Cornish Creatives Facebook group, and I love her jewellery! Particularly these gorgeous starfish & druzy earrings…
Isobel Woodcock Illustration
How adorable are these? Truro-based Isobel’s adorable hand-drawn items are so cute and fun. These would make great gifts!
Wading Bird Designs
Another Truro-based maker, I love the prints from Wading Bird Designs – very summery, which is perfect to add some brightness in the depths of Winter.
Soul and Soap
Yummy! I’ve ordered a couple of these soaps for my 7 year old cousin, and a bath bomb too, because seriously who doesn’t like to smell like cake?
Aerial Cornwall
We all know I’m a big fan of Matt’s photography, and I featured him here on the blog earlier in the year! His calendars for 2016 will make the perfect gift for anyone who loves Cornwall and wants to see the stunning landscapes every day of the year!
If you’re interested in Cornish Etsy shops, I’ve listed several more in this blog post!
Now, onto the other UK Etsy sellers I’m loving at the moment:
Essi Illustration
I love Essi’s bright designs. She sells them in A4 screenprint format, so partnered with a nice frame, could be a super present for lovers of colour!
Caroline Jane Candles
The design of these candles are right up my street, but I love that they are completely vegan as well!
OK Concrete
Okay, they’re not cheap for a gift, but man are they gorgeous 0_0.
Lora Dora
A shop full of gorgeous handmade clutches and iPad cases! I may have bought this for someone for Christmas, and I may now want one for myself…
Not Only Polka Dots
Look, I know I’m not the only one here with an obsession with quirky little notebooks. Bought this too; what you gonna do about it?
I definitely agree with you that it’s really important to support local/small businesses and this gift guide is lovely! I love the bracelets in your Etsy shop. I tried my hand at Etsy for a while but it was really hard and I wasn’t making enough money to justify the cost in the end, but it’s definitely something I’d like to dip into again at a later stage!
Beth | Alphabeth
Thank you Beth!
Yeah, Etsy can be a bit of a struggle. To be honest I only have it so that if I randomly make something I can have somewhere to put it and leave it to see if people want it (rather than make a whole website for it, if you see what I mean). For anyone serious about selling their handmade stuff I wouldn’t really recommend it, but it’s quick and simple for someone who’s just hobbying, like me :) x
I love this. I’ve been doing something similar this year – making a few things, trying to buy local and/or handmade when possible. It’s not always easier when the only thing you brother wants is an Amazon voucher though… but I’m trying to offset that by making him a nice hat to go with it haha! To be honest, I haven’t really looked on Etsy cause it overwhelms me a bit but there’s lots of nice little shops near me and my partner so we have some good options :)
Thanks Elise :) I agree it’s definitely not always easy; I often struggle to find good independent physical shops too, mainly because I’m never out and about in smaller towns. Looking to focus on local grocers and butchers in 2016 though! x
Gorgeous gift ideas! I love the idea of focusing on Independent brands – I’m trying to think more about all my gifts this year and not play too much into the hands of the big corporations! That mug is so cute, I love the cactus notebook, and your jewellery looks beautiful too!
Milli xx
Great idea Milli, good for you! It’s hard sometimes, but it’s great when you find something that’s just right AND it’s from a small shop. Thank you so much! x
Great post Anna, I’m always telling myself I need to support local businesses more! So many amazing ones here I’ve never heard of!
Hannah | Oh January
Thanks Hannah, glad you liked it! :) I could just spend all my money on Etsy tbh.. x
I’ve just moved to Cornwall after 20 years in Australia and so really interested to read your tips. Thank you xx
As an independent small shop myself I always try very hard to buy from the little guy, I shop at Etsy a lot (as well as sell there) and if I like a shop I tend to bookmark their ‘real shop’ if they have one that is outside of Etsy, this is always a good thing to do for Etsy sellers as then any ongoing purchases don’t have Etsy taking a slice of the amount you pay for the item. The more a seller can sell outside of Etsy, the more you are helping them to keep their prices reasonable.