Feeling good about Christmas shopping

I don’t know about you but I’m beginning to get excited about Christmas, and to start thinking about present-shopping. Christmas shopping these days can be quick and easy to do – go online to Amazon, click and just wait for your post. But does it make you feel good? Wouldn’t it be great to support local retailers or independent businesses? The ones who are trying to pave their own way, who are giving life to our High Streets, and who are employing our friends, family and neighbours.

With that in mind I have put together a selection of independent retailers who would love your support this festive season. If we all bought just one present from an independent this year, imagine the massive difference it would make…..

Name of company: Lola and Me
Online business or local retailer: Online business
WebsiteLola and Me
Where/how to buy: On their website

About the company
Lola and Me is run by designer Heidi Louise Griffiths, who loves to explore vibrant prints and colours in her range of handmade (in the UK) women’s fashion accessories. The essence of the brand is to encourage women to be bold and bright and have fun with fashion, colour and clashing patterns!

Highlighted products for Christmas:
They have lots of lovely products (I am a big fan and you can see me modelling one here) but here are two favourites:

Georgie Clutch from Lola and Me l www.FranglaiseMummy.com l French and English Parenting and Lifestyle Ramblings

Georgie Clutch

Sofia Clutch in Blue from Lola and Me l www.FranglaiseMummy.com l French and English Parenting and Lifestyle Ramblings

Sofia Clutch in Blue

Name of company: Blue Ticking
Online business or local retailer: Online business
Website: Blue Ticking
Where/how to buy: On the website (they accept Etsy gift cards)

About the company
The concept is simple; they create brilliant spaces for kids by producing fabulously fun and unique goods. Their range combines both vintage and new pieces to ensure your child’s space is an extension of your beautiful home. Blue Ticking is a family run business run by Helen and John Shaw, based in the glorious Surrey Hills. When they are not trawling through fabulous antique fairs, or conjuring up new goods in their barn, they are out and about exploring with their two children.

Blue Ticking drawers l Feeling good about Christmas shopping l www.FranglaiseMummy.com l French and English Parenting and Lifestyle Ramblings

Highlighted products for Christmas:
There are a couple of great products from Blue Ticking that you might like for this Christmas –  Wooden Blue Storage Drawer on Wheels and their A4 Blackboard.

Name of Company: The Homemade Hütte
Online business or local retailer: Online business which also offers local collection (Kingston-upon-Thames area)
Website: Clarina’s Contemplations
Where/how to buy: leave a message on their Facebook page: The Homemade Hutte

About the company
The Homemade Hütte is a small online business that specialises in handmaking pretty things!  Everything that mother-of-two Claire makes or sells is inspired by Scandinavian design. She believes no-one quite does interior design like the Scandinavians… those little touches that turn a house into a home.

Highlighted products for Christmas:

Fabric Notice Boards
£10.00 each + P&P
Handmade fabric notice board, 30cm x 40cm. Ricrac ribbon and matching buttons. Each noticeboard is unique. (Can be made to order). Larger boards are available for £18 + P&P upon request.

Fabric noticeboards from The Homemade Hutte l www.FranglaiseMummy.com l French and English Parenting and Lifestyle Ramblings

Fabric noticeboards

Small Children’s Aprons
£6.00 each + P&P
Suitable for children aged 1-5. Available in “Farmyard” or “Dusky Pink Swallow”
Cotton. Machine washable at 40 degrees. Other materials available upon request.

Children's aprons from The Homemade Hutte l www.FranglaiseMummy.com l French and English Parenting and Lifestyle Ramblings

Children’s aprons

Name of company: Love Amber x – Baltic Amber and Baby Teething Products
Online business or local retailer: Online business
Websitewww.loveamberx.co.uk
Where/how to buy: On the website

About the company
Love Amber x sells Baltic amber children’s jewellery, adult jewellery and teething gifts. Marie, the mum behind Love Amber x, was not a great believer in the influence of amber until she witnessed it for herself. All the baby products were used for her son Eddie or, in the case of some of the newer items, they are ones that she wished she had known about sooner. Her aim is to give mums a little help through the first 3 years and beyond of their child’s life.

Highlighted products for Christmas:

As well as selling several amber products for teething babies, you can find amber jewellery for adults too. Or their sleepytot comforters make great stocking fillers.

Amber anklets from Love Amber x l www.FranglaiseMummy.com l French and English Parenting and Lifestyle Ramblings

Amber anklets

Name of company: Espresso Mushroom Company
Online business or local retailer: Online business, based on the borders of South Downs National Park just outside Brighton.
Website: www.espressomushroom.co.uk
Where/how to buy: www.espressomushroom.co.uk/shop

About the company
Espresso Mushroom Company is a trio made up of coffee-drinking, food-loving brothers Alex and Robbie, and their friend Jon, who bring you the ultimate in fresh, home-grown and sustainable produce. On a plate!

Their Kitchen Gardens allow you to grow your own Oyster mushrooms on upcycled coffee grounds and watch their progress every day from your home.

Highlighted products for Christmas:
Their most popular products are the Kitchen Garden grow your own mushroom kits, which make great Christmas presents for the foodies in your life.

Hot pinks mushrooms from Espresso Mushroom company l www.FranglaiseMummy.com l French and English Parenting and Lifestyle Ramblings

Hot pinks mushrooms

Pearl oyster mushrooms from Espresso Mushroom Company l www.FranglaiseMummy.com l French and English Parenting and Lifestyle Ramblings

Pearl oyster mushrooms

Name of company: Scrapbookerry
Online business or local retailer: Online business
Website: www.scrapbookerry.com
Where/how to buy: On the website, or via the Facebook page, or via Twitter

About the company
Scrapbookerry is run by Kerry, a WAHM mum to two boys, who manages Scrapbookerry from home. Scrapbookerry is your first stop for beautiful keepsakes made with style. See your memories come to life with their unique journal jars, mini albums and scrapbooks. Each one is a gift your loved ones will treasure forever.

Highlighted products for Christmas:
They have two Christmas specific albums – the Accordion Envelope Album:

Envelope album from Scrapbookerry l www.FranglaiseMummy.com l French and English Parenting and Lifestyle Ramblings

Envelope album

and Accordion Tag Album:

Tag album from Scrapbookerry l www.FranglaiseMummy.com l French and English Parenting and Lifestyle Ramblings

Tag album

There is also a specific Christmas section in their shop.

Name of company: The Victorian Kitchen
Online business or local retailer: Neither (see below)
Websitewww.thevictoriankitchen.com
Where/how to buy: Based in Devon, they sell via stockists across the company, find one close to you here. They also sell at shows, find out which shows here.

About the company
The Victorian Kitchen is owned by a husband and wife team, they are a small artisan company specialising in preserves (jam & chutney). Although they are based in Devon, they sell their range at Craft Shows and supply some shops and garden centres. They will be in Sussex, Surrey and Bath at shows before Christmas.

I am lucky enough to have been given some of their products in the past, and they are just incredible! They have to be tried to be believed.

Highlighted products for Christmas:
Their gift boxes are very popular at this time of year as they make an ideal present.

The Victorian Kitchen with Penelope Keith l www.FranglaiseMummy.com l French and English Parenting and Lifestyle Ramblings

The Victorian Kitchen with Penelope Keith

Name of company: Cute As A Button
Online business or local retailer: Online business that caters mostly to their local market at the moment.
Website: Cute as a Button Facebook page
Where/how to buy: Place your order through their Facebook page (above)

About the company
Two friends make up Cute as a Button, Catherine and Claire. Their business formed, and has subsequently expanded, fairly organically. They aim to offer unique but simply beautiful products.

They have two main product streams: sewing based and jewellery.  Sewing products include baby blankets, taggy blankets and taggy toys.  Jewellery products are earrings (wooden button studs) and hemp charm bracelets.

Highlighted products for Christmas:
For Christmas, they have expanded their button earrings and bracelets to be Christmas-themed, and also offer cards, tags and button Christmas tree decorations!

Cute as a button Christmas products l www.FranglaiseMummy.com l French and English Parenting and Lifestyle Ramblings

Cute as a button Christmas products

Name of company: The Little Geekery Company
Online business or local retailer: Online business
Websitewww.littlegeekery.com
Where/how to buy: http://www.littlegeekery.com/products

About the company
The Little Geekery Company is an alternative children’s clothing boutique with a geeky twist. They sell both new and pre-loved clothes for ages 0-4 years. All of their new items are handmade in the UK by parents. The Little Geekery Company is run by Hannah Harding, a creative, (soon-to-be) Yorkshire-based Mama to one hilarious, fiery toddler! She was inspired to start TLGC after discovering a lack of variety in girls’ clothes on the High Street. Not a huge fan of pink, she found herself frequently shopping in the “boys” section. After chatting to other parents, she found that many also felt the same way and so The Little Geekery Company was born! Who says dinosaurs are just for boys?

Highlighted products with photos:
These chevron leggings are handmade in Yorkshire by a very talented Mama. They’re made of organic cotton, so they’re super soft and are perfect for Christmas.

These flying pug and aztec turtle jumpers are really cosy, and are bang on trend at the moment! Ideal if you’re looking for a quirky jumper for your Little Person.
French pug Jumper from The Little Geekery Company l www.FranglaiseMummy.com l French and English Parenting and Lifestyle Ramblings

French pug Jumper

Name of company: Poppy England
Online business or local retailer: Online business with stockists all over, find your nearest one here
Website: www.poppyengland.com
Where/how to buy:  In addition to the above they are running their first ever pop up shop where all the dresses for girls and women are available to buy.
Pop Up Shop is at: 20 Cheshire Street, Shoreditch, London, E2 6EH

About the company:
Poppy was founded in 1980 by Stephanie and Michael Richardson. It started off as a company that sold decor and bedding. The company quickly expanded into creating children’s clothing and in 2006 Bryony (their daughter) took over the company.

Bryony wanted to create a product that would mean more to the wearer than being “just another piece of clothing”. A Poppy dress is a truly special piece of clothing made to last and in 2010; by popular demand, Poppy launched its womenswear line.

I first saw Poppy England petticoats on the lovely Ali, from Kids Chaos, and L fell in love with them too, so for her early birthday/Christmas present she recently got given a Poppy England petticoat which is just gorgeous! I cannot recommend these enough, fantastic quality as well as looking great.

Girl in Poppy England petticoat l www.FranglaiseMummy.com l French and English Parenting and Lifestyle Ramblings

L in her beautiful Poppy England petticoat

Highlighted products for Christmas:
They have lots of new little gifts for stocking fillers such as their sausage dog and horse toys, made from their snowstorm fabric. Their Aunt Eva red dress is perfect for Christmas as well.

Aunt Eva red dress from Poppy England l www.FranglaiseMummy.com l French and English Parenting and Lifestyle Ramblings

Aunt Eva red dress

Name of company: gNappies
Online business or local retailer: Online busines
Websitewww.gNappies.com
Where/how to buy: On the website (above)

About the company
One day over breakfast, Jason and Kim Graham-Nye found out that conventional disposable nappies are the third largest contributors to landfills in the world. And yet only five percent of the population uses them. On top of that a single disposable nappy can take up to 500 years to biodegrade in the landfill.

That got the Graham-Nyes thinking, since they were about to have a baby themselves, and they brought gNappies to the UK. gNappies are cloth nappies with cute and colourful washable outers, and compostable disposable liners. With a recent Junior Design Gold Award for best eco-nappy under their belt, they have gone from strength to strength redefining the disposable, and now have a small family-flexible-working team here in the UK.

Highlighted products for Christmas:
Check out the incredibly cute new Limited Edition good tidings gPants:

Good Tidings gNappies l www.FranglaiseMummy.com l French and English Parenting and Lifestyle Ramblings

Good Tidings gNappies

Name of company: Pop Goes Your Name
Online business or local retailer: Based in St Albans, Hertfordshire and retailing online
Websitewww.popgoesyourname.co.uk
Where/how to buy: On the website (above)

About the company
Pop Goes Your Name is the brainchild of husband and wife team Richard and Lucy Patterson, both musicians and music teachers.  They first began recording  personalised songs for their son Noah.  They soon realised what a lifesaver  these songs were for car journeys, bath times and bedtime. Due to their son’s positive  reaction and numerous requests from friends for their own bespoke songs, the  business grew.  They now have a portfolio of over 800 popular children’s names,  so you can choose the perfect gift from their alphabetical store list.  The  songs cover a wide range of genres from fun farmyard songs, right through to catchy pop and even rock.

Highlighted products for Christmas:
The personalised CDs make perfect gifts for children this Christmas, giving  hours of entertainment and enjoyment to pre-school children as they recognise  their names in these upbeat and catchy songs.

Pop goes your name CD l www.FranglaiseMummy.com l French and English Parenting and Lifestyle Ramblings

Pop goes your name CD

Name of company: The Sticker Club
Online business or local retailer: Based in London and retailing online
Website: http://thestickerclub.com
Where/how to buy: On their website (above) or via Not On The High Street

About the company
Founded this autumn by dads Henry Bennett and Paul Loram. Despite careers in the  tech industry, they wanted to create a product for children that encouraged  more  traditional ‘unplugged’ play.  Using up-and-coming commissioned designers, these  edgy and funky stickers encourage imaginative and creative play, and can be used  for anything from creating original collage artwork, to pimping scooters and  pencil cases.  The subscription service delivers a pack of around 40  stickers each week and combines every child’s love of two things – receiving  personal mail through the post and stickers. At just £1.99 per week, there are  various subscription durations available, offering a great alternative gift choice that children will love to keep on receiving long after Christmas.

Highlighted products for Christmas:
The gift subscription packs make ideal Christmas gifts and the party pack  options available on Not On The High Street offer personalised packs which are perfect  for party bags or end of term class gifts.

The Sticker Club l www.FranglaiseMummy.com l French and English Parenting and Lifestyle Ramblings

The Sticker Club – a selection

Name of company: Pinter and Martin
Online business or local retailer: Online business
Websitewww.pinterandmartin.com
Where/how to buy: Get the best deals direct from the publishers’ website (above), as they offer a long running 20% off the cover price. But books are also available from good local bookshops, go to Hive to find your local bookshop. People are also welcome to drop into the office, which is close to Brixton in London.

About the company
The company was set up by a husband and wife team.  Mainly to publish their own works during the days when it was not so easy to do, and also to republish important antenatal and other texts that had gone out of print.  The ethos behind the company is to mainly publish pregnancy, birth, parenting, psychology and health books or books that they strongly feel need to be published.  It is run on ethical lines with no promotion of breast milk alternatives and all books are grounded in evidence.  The company is growing day by day and now has 4 more staff working for it part time – mainly working mums.  Books include Jack Newman’s guide to breastfeeding, The womanly art of breastfeeding by La Leche League and Irrationality – the enemy within by Stuart Sutherland.  It has an exciting list of books ready for publication next year as well.

Highlighted products for Christmas:
One lovely gift book they have this year is The lovely book for wonderful women. It is a fantastic pick me up book to give to your favourite female friends, sister or even your mother.  Full of really nice ideas to make your day a happier one and also those of others.

The Lovely Book for Wonderful Women by Pinter and Martin publishers l www.FranglaiseMummy.com l French and English Parenting and Lifestyle Ramblings

The Lovely Book for Wonderful Women by Pinter and Martin publishers

Name of company: My 1st Years
Online business or local retailer: Online business
Websitewww.my1styears.com
Where/how to buy: Selfridges & Not On The High Street

About the company
The company was founded in January 2010 by friends Daniel Price and Jonny Sitton. It all started with ‘my first shoe’ – a personalised shoe for a baby gift, and since then the product range has expanded into beautiful personalised baby clothes, teddy bears, toys, blankets and a bed and bath range. My 1st Years aim to deliver unique, personalised and quality gifts to babies across the world. Offering gift inspiration for every special occasion in your little ones’ first years, the product range is fashionable, affordable and one of a kind.

Highlighted products for Christmas:
Their adorable fluffy personalised ivory reindeer robe is one of their absolute must-have items of the festive season, a perfect gift for a little ones’ first Christmas.

Reindeer robe from My 1st Years l www.FranglaiseMummy.com l French and English Parenting and Lifestyle Ramblings

Reindeer robe

Their personalised wooden xylophone is a bright & colourful toy that makes an ideal gift too.

Xylophone and blocks from My 1st Years l www.FranglaiseMummy.com l French and English Parenting and Lifestyle Ramblings

Xylophone and blocks

Name of company: Rock, Paper, Scissors
Online business or local retailer: Local retailer
WebsiteFacebook page only for now
Where/how to buy: You can find them at the l’Arche Craft Workshop at 9 -13 Norwood High Street, London (to the left of St Luke’s Church) from 5-8pm on Wednesday and Thursday evenings and all day Saturday and Sunday Feast Days. Follow them on Facebook and on Twitter at @RPS_SE27 for details of their upcoming launch and future events.

About the company
Rock, Paper, Scissors is an exciting new initiative in West Norwood, London, born out of a collaboration between Lambeth Open Works, the south London creative collective, Makerhood and l’Arche, an inclusive supportive community which has been in the town for the last 30 years.

Highlighted products for Christmas:
From framed prints and greeting cards to candles and wine cozies, from baby bibs and woollen booties to original T-shirts and even vintage curios, Rock, Paper, Scissors is a veritable treasure-trove of bespoke creations from local artists and ideal for finding that elusive gift, or maybe just treating yourself!

Rock, Paper, Scissors launch information l www.FranglaiseMummy.com l French and English Parenting and Lifestyle Ramblings

Rock, Paper, Scissors launch information

And finally two more independents that are well worth a visit too: Belle & Boo where you can find beautiful books, clothes (for kids) and home wares, and The Stripy Company which offers blankets, shawls and accessories for newborns to children.

Hopefully the above has given you some great ideas or inspiration to buy locally/from independents this Christmas. In addition there is a movement to get everyone to shop locally on the 6th December, you can find out more here.

Whilst I’m sure my Christmas shopping will still involve Amazon and big chain stores, the variety of fantastic present opportunities on offer from independents means that I will definitely be picking up some unique gifts too this year.

Disclosure: I have not been paid to write this blog post and I haven’t received products to review in exchange for this post, although I have bought or been given some of the items mentioned. The aim of this blog post is to encourage everyone to think about buying from independents so I’m giving my voice for free.

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9 Responses

  1. Oh wow what an amazing selection! ! Thanks for these, there’s some great ideas here… eek better get shopping before December is upon us! x

  2. Pauline says:

    Some really great ideas in there! I already know who is going to be the recipient of an espresso mushroom package. Thank you!
    Pauline recently posted…Five Minute Friday: StillMy Profile

    • Franglaise Mummy says:

      Ooh, I love that people are getting present ideas from the post – let’s support the independents! x

  3. Cazzou says:

    Finally catching up on my blog reading, what a pleasant surprise to see Pop Goes Your Name in there (Lucy is an “Internet friend” of mine 🙂
    Brilliant selection! One of my close friends is pregnant and I can see myself coming back to this post when she has had the baby to get him/her a beautiful and original present xxx

    • Franglaise Mummy says:

      It’s a small old world, isn’t it? I love the original presents for babies here….just need to find a baby to buy one for now 😉 x

  1. 18/11/2014

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