Support Small Business

Cast Your Vote This Year – Updated 2021

You’ve got a VOTE this Christmas. Do you want to vote for a future that holds just major retailers which funnel our creative industries into just isolated sets of styles and trends or do you want to vote for a future that holds local, small and independent business’ at the heart creating a vibrantly beautiful shopping experience for all tastes and trends?

Many of my friends and friends of your own depend on strong sales during the holidays to operate their wonderful business’. I ask, rather than compete in the usual race to the Christmas discounts that you choose to do things a little different this year and support local, small and independent business’ as much as possible.

I understand many maybe need those strongly discounted prices to deliver a positive moment within their life. Hey, no judgment here but for those of us who can afford it, I’ve provided a great list of local, small and independent businesses below.

Enjoy and let the business’ know I sent you, I won’t receive anything back from them other than a high 5 and a feeling that I’ve made a difference.

Much love and I hope you have a wonderful 2021 Christmas;

Adam. x

 

My Personal Directory

HomeWare & Gifting

Alex Allday Ceramics – Ceramic and surface pattern design
Decorative ceramic wares with intricate surface pattern designs and textures.

Bibelot – Homeware, bags & accessories, toys, gifts, haberdashery & craft workshops
Liz & Sophie’s beautiful 3-floor jam-packed shop in the market town of Leek.

Bear Print Design – wildlife led printmaking and design
Found at the Treacle Market. The haven of small business.

Cup & Cloth – Crafted and collected design-led goods
I’m a Potteries lad, I LOVE ceramics, there, I said it!

Design @44 – A lifestyle products haven
Jade’s shop is hands down mine and Cera’s favorite place to frequent when in Derby city centre. It’s also now at The Trentham Estate!

Era – Eclectic, rustic and artisan furniture
A lovely little furniture store celebrating preloved pieces.

Flying Teaspoons – Quirky animal cards depicting British wildlife beautifully
Laura is an artist and illustrator. She makes quirky and distinctive cards often with local connections.

Freckle & Fern Ceramics – Functional and fun ceramics handmade and fired in Macclesfield
I was introduced to Scarlet and her ceramics and now I’m just in love! Holding back on that first order for sure!

Greetings From Sarah – Personalised Cards and Prints for every occasion
Sarah designed a special Christmas card for me one year. It’s the best we’ve ever had and we had so many lovely comments. She also did a portrait for my wedding.

Homeward Interiors – Good things well made
Placed in the ever wonderful Odeon Antiques Homeward Interiors is a great little gem in Leek market town.

Jane Kent Studio – Hand stitched kindness and positivity
Hand stitched homeware and gifting from rural Staffordshire.

Little Paper Shop Company – Fine paper goods and gifts
Cara and her little paper heaven are just one of the incredible independent businesses’ in Nantwich town.

Macrame Hub – All things, you guessed it… Macrame
Alana makes beautiful macrame pieces and also takes bespoke orders.

Old Man & Magpie – Hand-poured natural soy wax candles made using cruelty-free oils and recycled jars
Jemma and family make the bees bloody knees of candles except no bees wax is used…

Woven Rosa – Sustainably sourced homeware from all over the world
Their stuff is utterly beautiful and you can really tell they care about their impact and their products.

Yellowstone Art Boutique – A boutique showcasing local and not so local incredible crafts
Hannah’s awesome store has now moved online only after shutting its doors this year. Still as great as ever if not better.

 

Food & Drink

Anasma Greek Bakery – A piece of Greece and Cyprus right in the heart of Newcastle-under-Lyme
Mariana is a lovely person and runs a fantastic bakery.

Baileys Kitchen – Homemade, hearty & restaurant quality food in Stoke-on-Trent
Born out of Lockdown this posh takeaway is well worth a visit.

Buzzy Bee Bakery – Freshly baked to order boxes of tastiness
Myself and Cera love to order a box of Brookies from Millie and Lydia. Their Christmas Yule Log collection is just INSANE

Green Grams – A way of living Zero Waste
Brand new opened tale end of 2021 in the heart of Newcastle-Under-Lyme.

The Flintlock at Cheddleton – Local food in the heart of the Staffordshire Moorlands
The brainchild of Insta famous Thom Bateman.

Maple Mollys – Belgian chocolate gifts
Beautiful, unique and tasty chocolate favours and gifts for every occasion.

Miscos Chocolate – Made from sustainably sourced cocoa beans
If you’re looking for a beautiful box of chocolates you really can’t go wrong with Meg & Cisco’s creations. The flavours are just out of this world.

Trentham Bakehouse – Bread, Patisserie, Sandwiches
I often frequent Curtis’ beautifully curated bakery. You won’t anything tastier in the whole of the city.

Staffordshire Gin – Gin distilled right here in Staffordshire
Their Castletown Distillery is hands down the first place I’ll be going for a drink when this storm lifts.

Wnder Chocolate – A modern chocolate company with strong environmental and moral values
Luke’s incredible chocolate really does taste as good as he describes it on the Sauce podcast.

 

Pet

Dougal’s Den – A boutique for your pet
Loads of incredible bits and bobs for your pets at this lovely shop in the market town of Leek.

Handmade Dog – Beautiful handcrafter leads, collars, and bows
Juno is currently styling one of their Harris Tweed collars. It’s beautiful.

Hounds – Dog shop and groomers
Anya’s doggy heaven is the perfect place to have your pooch washed or treated right here in Newcastle-Under-Lyme

 

Health and Wellbeing

Becalmed – Handmade and natural beauty/lifestyle products
Cera swears by this store and we always have to frequent it when visiting the lovely market town of Leek.

Forever Planet – Eco, vegan and plastic-free beauty products
Forget your lynx box set from Tesco, buy some incredibly liberating products to put on your body.

Goap – Goats milk soap
I found these at Rode Hall Farmers Market and love their salt bars.

Wiggly Tin Soap Co – Natural handcrafted soaps and body care
Stay refreshed with these gorgeous hygiene products from Wiggly Tin.

 

Clothing & Jewellery

Bob Jewellery – Drama for your ear places
A jewellery business entirely focused on your ears! Something for Someday and Everyday. Mixed medium adornments.

Eleanor Jewellery Design – Eco Silver Jewellery handmade with love in Manchester
Jewellery with a personal handmade touch from the one and only Eleanor.

Posner & Posner – Hand printer textiles and clothing
Mother and daughter team making beautiful textiles together.

SoSatsuma – An incredible modern knitting clothing brand
Clem’s creations speak for themselves. Made from pure merino wool you won’t find a better way to keep yourself warm this winter.

 

Children

Baby Ballet – Dance classes for 6mths – 6years
Ran by one of my brides Ellie it’s a sure fire way to get your little one moving.

Bizzybods – Quirky children’s boutique
A thoughtful children’s store in Nantwich town centre.

Brambles and Hart – Modern wearables for little adventurers and their mamas.
Recommended by one of my brides. Sells unique crochet knits.

Forged in Fables – Handmade felt decor for kids, cute accessories & cards
Stef designs and makes gorgeous hand crafted felt decor and other bits straight out of her home in Stoke-on-Trent.

Libby Bower Gifts – Colourful handmade gifts from Nantwich town
I’ve brought too many of Libby’s creations to name. Please, please buy all her stock to save me money at least.

Sew What Dad – Handmade girls clothing 0-4 years
A small business started by my best friend who wanted to make his daughter some clothes.

 

 

Other Ways To Support Small Business

Many may have already done their Christmas shopping or don’t intend to spend what they normally do so here are a couple of different ways to support small business by just giving your time.

Write a Google or Facebook Review

As you’ll know. The first thing we do when looking at visiting somewhere new is to hide behind our phones and read a few quick reviews on the establishment. Very often these can be the real change in making us love somewhere or maybe not even try it.

So give up some time today and write a couple of awesome reviews for your own favourite small business’. It really doesn’t take that long, all you need is a Google or Facebook account to start making a difference today and if you don’t have one of them why don’t you just send a nice direct message exclaiming your love for their small business?

Tell Your Friends and Family About Your Favourite Places

Word of mouth in my industry is a game-changer. I only need one person to say… “Yeah that Adam Lowndes he’s a bit tall but he’s an awesome guy and really made that wedding I was at” and I can almost guarantee a booking so have a think of what shout outs you can do for your favourite small business’ on social media or in your private messaging groups.