RUTH HOLLY

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GIVE INDEPENDENT AND SHOP SMALL THIS CHRISTMAS

Black Friday, Cyber Monday - Take it back Tuesday!

This time of year is a crazy one for many folk, the pressure to create a perfect ‘all singing all dancing Christmas’ can often force you to make quick, unconscious decisions in attempt to get a ‘good deal’. It’s so easy to get wrapped up in the whirlwind frenzy of consumerism, feeding into our ‘not enough’ human failings, driving us to buy quick, buy more and buy cheap, because “you deserve it!”

No. Think again. What you deserve is far more than that, you deserve peace and joy, the traditional blessing of Christmas.

In this short blog post I hope to make it easier for you to access relevant information on the topic, and to help you make informed, and conscious shopping decisions going forward.

Slow down for just a minute, zone out of the hype, turn off the TV and the radio shouting at you to buy and just find that inner magic inside you, what are you grateful for this season?

What you and your loved one’s really deserve, is a healthy, magical, thoughtful Christmas, one that is considered and curated with attention and care. Find unique products that aren’t seen in every retailer in the UK, uncover unusual hidden gems that make the receiver feel like they have something truly special.

Independent designers and makers put their heart and soul into their goods. We won’t settle until we have created something we are proud of, we don’t just churn things out. We won’t inflate margins in order to make it look like we’re than cutting the costs dramatically, our prices are true and honest all year round. We design to express, and that expression is something you can’t buy anywhere else, guaranteed.

Here are a few links I have found on the topic, that are a joy to read…

The Independent on “How to Shop Better this Christmas”

The Guardian on “How to have a green Christmas”

To find unique gifts and support small, you can use the following website links, my round up of fave goods from these sites are below.

urbanmakers.co.uk

etsy.com

notonthehighstreet.com

folksy.com

pedddle.com

I can’t put it better than 91 magazine, their ethos mirrors mine, this article is well worth a read…

91magazine.co.uk/blog/2019/11/25/slow-living-at-christmas

… and they have great sections dedicated to independents on their blog;

91magazine.co.uk/blog/category/Shopkeeper+Spotlight

91magazine.co.uk/blog/category/Meet+the+Maker

You can also keep an eye on my social media accounts, which will feature markets and fairs I attend all year round.

Wishing you a peaceful and conscious pre-festive period.

Ruth Holly xx