How to help the small makers and the planet with your gifting this year.
As the temperature dips, the bright lights are cascading down from Jubilee clock tower, and Mariah Carey is playing every other song on the radio; its time to admit that Christmas is indeed on it’s way, and no I’ve not started my shopping yet!
If you’re anything like me, or just looking for the last few extras, let’s delve into my top five finds and also explore why shopping small and local is truly a great thing to do. Not only does it put a huge smile on our faces it’s also a more eco-friendly option and helps to support so many in your local community.
For us here at Harriet’s of Hove supporting small is a big part of what we do, we really utilise our space to showcase wonderful products from local makers and creators in our store. So many of them hand deliver their products personally, really cutting down on those travel miles!
Our luxurious epsom salt bath bombs for example come from The Float spa just a hop skip and a jump away; made on site and full of natural essential oils, really such a treat if you know someone in need of a bit of T.L.C. Each is adorned with flower petals, and with combinations like lavender, rosemary & peppermint essential oils it’s no wonder these bath bombs are so popular! We even offer a CBD Bathbomb which enables the best muscle relaxation.
On the topic of wonderful fragrances, just last week we had a restock of our artisan candles, with a fresh batch of Nirvana. If you’ve not smelt it yet you’re missing out, it is essentially Christmas in a tin! A real product of passion, and it shows, boasting more essential oils than your average mass produced candle; when these are lit the carefully currated fragrances really do fill the room.
There’s also our lovely lady of Perfectly Preserved, who herself brings us jars of jams, marmalades, and chutneys. Using the best quality produce and such creative flair, we receive such treats as Figgy Pudding Chutney, Raspberry and Islay Whisky Jam, Christmas Clementine and so many more. They’re so popular, and make lovely little gifts, one for them and for you? Can you resist a Christmas Berry Jam? A delicious Cranberry Sauce for the big day? Come and peruse the range in-store or order your Perfectly Preserved treats online.
Then there’s Green Kitchen, with their absolutely ace compostable packaging. Their range of quality products includes rashers & rasher bites, seitan steaks, and this time of year the return of the Cosy Pigs! Sage and Sussex Cider sausages wrapped in their rashers, with a maple glaze.
Not only locally producing delicious food, each sale of one of their products goes to support Retreat Animal Sanctuary in Kent, a whopping £1500 raised so far for this cause! With vegan food this good you honestly have to give them a try! Naturally, you do not need to be Vegan to enjoy Green Kitchen’s wonderful plant-based products.
Lastly, let me remind you that you can also pick up some delightfully designed Christmas cards from Harriet’s too!
We’ve got quite the range this year, always a classic are our plantable cards from Loop Loop, each is embedded with a mix of wild flower seeds. We love them, bees love them; everyone’s a winner! At only £4 they make a great greetings card for someone special and also double as a decent gift especially for those tricky to buy for Secret Santa’s.
New to the Christmas scene this year are two entries from the ever creative Sublime Boundary, all their handmade cards are really high quality prints finished on FSC certified card. Both fantastic designs, the only question is are you more team Festive Feline or Christmas Canine?
When you choose to shop small and support local businesses like these ones be reminded that you’re choosing: less travel miles, sustainable practices & packaging, to invest in your local economy; and in that you’re choosing to gift your loved ones something truly special. So thank you & Merry Christmas!
