This gift guide is a bit of a mix of things I love, a bit of home stuff, a few pet things, and treats and gifts.
The idea with my gift guides this season is to highlight as many small independent businesses that I admire in one place to inspire you to shop small and vote with your money this festive season. In total there are 9 gift guides and I really hope you enjoy having a look through them and that you find some inspiration and things both for your friends and family and for yourself. I know I've added a lot of new things to my wishlist this year already.
Tag me over on Instagram, @small_business_collaborative, if you decide to pick up anything from any of these wonderful small businesses.
Osime Home
Osime Home is a colourful home and lifestyle brand founded in 2017, by maker and designer June. The brand is inspired by June’s Nigerian heritage, her love for African textiles and colourful prints. Bold and brimming with character.
Osime Home has curated a vibrant collection of high quality limited run cushion covers, storage baskets, eco-friendly face masks and gifts in hand-picked African fabrics. Every design injects colour, style and joy into everyday living.
All of our products are handmade in the UK.
What I love: I love how vibrant and beautiful African textiles are and June has such a beautiful selection and her products would brighten up any home. She also makes face masks if you're after a new one.
Fun fact: Osime, pronounced OH – SI – MEH, is June’s Esan name, which originates from the Esan tribe (Edo, Benin state) in the Southern part of Nigeria. It means ‘This is my own’ and it resonates with June because it’s the greatest connection to her Nigerian heritage and background. For June, Osime is synonymous with her culture and home, with its warmth and vibrancy that always brings her joy. She aims to share this through her products with others.
Price range: £15-50
Follow: @osime_home
Sophie Home
Bold, colourful textiles for your home and family knitted in the softest 100% cotton. The range includes cushions, throws, blankets, toys and re-usable dishcloths.
Sophie buys a blanket for a refugee for every throw or baby blanket I sell.
What I love: I love the colours Sophie uses, they are bold but still soft and all her products are so beautiful. Sophie has also been a guest on my podcast, Let's Talk Shop talking both about Sophie Home and her second business Stand Twelve.
Fun fact: Prior to starting Sophie Home I designed men's socks and pants!
Price range: £14-68
Shop: https://sophiehome.com/
Follow: @sophiehome_london
Lume Lighting
Hello, I’m Jo, the designer-maker behind Lume Lighting. I create handmade lighting including drum, tapered and traditional lampshades, as well as contemporary pendant and fairy lights, all from my studio in Hove. I also provide a bespoke made to order and recovery service, and now offer craft kits so you can make your very own lampshades and fairy lights!
I have been making lampshades for over 6 years and each one is lovingly handmade from my studio in Hove.
What I love: Good lighting makes a home and Jo has so many designs to pick from so you can be sure to find something that fits into your home, and if you still can't find the right thing, Jo also offers a bespoke service.
Fun fact: I have actually been running my own business for 10 years! I used to make homeware and gifts under my own name, however, about 3 years ago I made the leap and decided to focus solely on lighting and rebranded to Lume Lighting!
Price range: £10-110
Follow: @lumelighting
Bright Corner
At Bright Corner, Chloe designs and makes natural sustainable wooden lights and ornaments. Made in the UK from FSC Birch Plywood my products bring a bit of nature indoors. Bright Corner lights are designed to be used with a warm white, low light LED bulb, they create a calm, cosy atmosphere - ideal for an entrance hallway, bedroom/nursery night light or a feature light in that neglected corner of your living room.
Made in UK, sustainable materials.
What I love: These lights brings cosiness to any space. Perfect for creating a "Hygge" space for adults and children alike.
Fun fact: All of my products are designed by me and made in the UK from sustainable sources.
Price range: £12-82
Follow: @brightcornershop
Pippa & Company
Pippa & Company is passionately determined to craft quality, chic beds for your dog, giving them a luxurious, stylish night’s sleep whether they’re settling down in the country or city. Beds & accessories that reflect your personal style, put a smile on your face and a wag in the tail of your deserving dog.
Stocked in luxury retailers such as Fortnum & Mason, Pippa & Company beds, blankets, travel beds & accessories are the ultimate in stylish luxury for the most discerning of dogs & their owners.
Our beds, blankets and accessories are all designed and manufactured in the UK. We use small British businesses in our supply chain, and source our materials from the UK where possible.
What I love: Everything Jennifer creates is super well made and beautiful, Milo would be very lucky if I invested in a Pippa & Company bed for him. One day I may surprise him, it would look fab in my office.
Fun fact: Pippa & Company was set up by mum of 3, Jennifer Taylor, who wanted dog beds and accessories which looked beautiful in the home, but were also practical when living with pets (and children). Everything we make is machine washable!
Price range: £60-475
Follow: @pippaandcompany
Nina D
High-quality homeware products inspired by Nina's Swedish upbringing and family traditions. Meticulously hand-illustrated placemats and coasters, Swedish birchwood serving trays and handmade linen table runners and napkins.
Each design is named after a place or a person close to Nina's heart in Sweden. Artworks are meticulously illustrated by hand featuring a range of bespoke patterns which is layered, creating a two-dimensional effect with depth and texture.
Nina D placemats and coasters are handmade in England. The serving trays are made in Sweden using birch wood veneer and linen are hand-embroidered and produced by a family business in Lithuania with over thirty years of experience.
What I love: Nina really cares about the quality of her products and invests so much time and effort in making sure everything is beautifully packaged so if you're looking for a distance gift, this is the perfect place to buy it from.
Fun fact: I offer FREE bespoke gift-wrapping service. I will handwrite personal messages using my own greeting cards as well as ship orders directly to the lucky person in time for Christmas. Both national and international.
Price range: £6-50
Follow: @illustrationheminspiration
Tilly Wonka
Tilly Wonka designs and creates chocolates inspired by art. Every piece of chocolate is made entirely by hand in Cheshire and Tilly draws inspiration from her Swedish upbringing when developing new flavours. These gem-like chocolates are truly an experience, from the shiny surface to the delicious flavours inside.
Handmade in Cheshire, inspired by art, unique Swedish flavours, Fairtrade and organic ingredients.
What I love: It's chocolate, what's not to love? Plus, everything is so beautiful it feels like a shame to eat it but when you do, each piece is so tasty. The shells on the bon bons are so thin and they are delicious. I can't wait for my advent calendar to arrive. 24 days of bon bon goodness.
Fun fact: Tilly Wonka is run by Matilda, who is - unsurprisingly - a big reader with a love for magical things.
Price range: £3-40
Follow: @tilly_wonka
BOXD
BOXd sells thoughtfully curated gift boxes for teens and tweens.
Every item sold in the online marketplace has been approved by a focus group of kids age 10 to 17. All Letterbox Gifts have free delivery.
What I love: I would not know where to start to buy for kids and teens in this age category, I would worry endlessly about making it too childish and not cool enough so Mads solves this problem and makes your gifting easy.
Fun fact: If you don't have kids in this age range, they can be hard to buy for - we've taken the hassle and struggle out of buying gifts for this hard to please demographic.
Price range: £2-80
Shop: https://shopboxd.co.uk/
Follow: @shopboxd
Wren and Rye
Wren & Rye is small Manchester-based Dog Accessories business creating on-trend fashion accessories for dogs and their pooch parents.
For Christmas, we have launched the Pawble. A twinkly festive take on the classic BowDangle. Who says dog walks can’t be festive? Or that baubles are only for Christmas trees?
All of our products are designed and made in the UK. I strongly believe in British made products. Growing up in the mill towns of East Lancashire, I have always been around craftspeople and British produce, and unfortunately, I have seen our industries decline and the quality of the items in our homes reduce as a result. Equally important is keeping design, manufacture and sale as close together as possible extremely reduces our carbon footprint.
What I love: Your dog needs a Christmas present too, don't forget! Milo loves opening up his gifts and he loves the fuss everyone makes over him when he's looking particularly smart. Wren and Rye products also make excellent gifts for a friend or family members new pooch.
Fun fact: There are actually 3 dogs at Wren & Rye. There is also a Maize. She came along slightly later and isn’t a big fan of the camera, but she is a huge fan of wearing the merch... and eating the treats!
Price range: £6-29
Shop: https://wrenandrye.com/
Follow: @wrenandrye
I would love to hear if you enjoyed having a look through this guide and what small businesses you will support this Christmas. Tag me over on Instagram, @small_business_collaborative, if you decide to pick up anything from any of these wonderful small businesses.