Why Supporting Small Businesses is Still So Important

My small business is very much a part of me and who I am. It is built on the craft of spinning which is something I learnt from my mother and enjoyed as a child. I feel very lucky that I get to use my creativity and a skill that I love so much every day, but this is why it is still so important to support small businesses, as it means so much.

In challenging economic times we all struggle with what to spend our money on and ultimately cut backs have to be made. These decisions are tough to make but this is why I encourage you to make considered purchases when you are able to spend. If you have a budget to spend on a gift for a loved one, think about where that money is going.

For a small business that hand sewn t-shirt or lovingly handmade jewellery you buy in turn helps that small business owner buy something their family needs. Even after many years of running my independent business, I still feel so happy every time I get an order through the website, or I get some lovely comments on social media.

There are even things you can do to support small businesses without spending money

1. Like, comment and share their posts and content on social media. Show your support through engaging with their content. This isn’t necessarily their favourite part of running a small business but is something that they have to do. Some are brilliant at it but for others it can be challenging.

1. Recommend them to friends and family. If you purchased a product that you love from a small business or experienced incredible service, share this with a loved one. Word of mouth is invaluable to a small business and will go a long way.

1. Write them a positive review. This will only take a minute of your time but can make so much difference and helps the small business build trust with their future customers.

1. Sign up to their newsletter. This will help the small business to grow and expand their contacts and you can stay up to date with their latest news.

1. Send them a personal message. If you really like something a small business has done, send them a DM. They will be jumping for joy!

Small businesses are also important for your local economies so purchasing from them online or if you see them stocked in a local independent store is also very important. As a small business owner I also think it is important that we all support each other, so here are some other small businesses that I admire and highly recommend.

Bell and Finn

Bell + Finn was founded as the owner when having her own children, despaired at the lack of plastic-free toys on the market. They are an independent brand that stocks toys that are non plastic; wood, rubber or organic cotton.

Percy and Nell

Percy & Nell is a brand of personalised babywear, children's wear and gifts founded in 2010. All items are designed and personalised to order making special gifts for either your own growing family or for your friends.

Lorna Syson

Lorna is a fantastic independent illustrator and designer who is inspired by British wildlife and animals. She has a beautiful range of homewares and stationery products with uplifting nature inspired patterns.

The Natty

The Natty is a sustainable lifestyle brand with conscious living at its heart. They design and curate clothing, lifestyle products, children’s toys, and accessories. They believe that using organic materials and ethical production chains benefit the planet and our customers.

Boss Babs

Boss Babs was founded in 2017 whilst the owner was on mat leave. Their founding product, The GALphabet, was inspired by their daughter and hopes and dreams for her future. They wanted Nancy to grow up with the same boundless sense of confidence and possibility as any other child, never letting being a girl hold her back. Check out their awesome illustrated flash cards.

I hope these small businesses give you inspiration for gift buying, but also demonstrate how much love and passion goes into these small brands. When you buy from a small business you are not just buying a product, you are supporting someone’s creativity and mission. A lot of these small businesses are also doing amazing work giving back to the community, charity, sustainability and ensuring everyone in their production process is treated fairly.