High streets & markets
It’s wonderful to be showcasing the best of our local independent businesses; the ones who have risen from the ashes, and fought hard to help keep our communities ‘home towns’ not ‘clone towns’. These are the founders reimagining the way we shop and bringing us joy again thanks to ‘human’ customer service and imaginative retail theatre. The ones delighting us every time we visit their store or browse their stall because they are daring to do things differently. As long as there is breath in my body, I’ll be supporting them so we don’t lose them. And with businesses as lovely as these, I’m sure you’ll be joining me.
A South London Makers Market
Hosting markets online and in-person, A South London Makers Market curates the coolest collection of small businesses for you to discover all in one place.
Alice in Scandiland
Alice’s Scandinavian inspired homewares and accessories celebrate natural materials and bring a magical Nordic touch to any space.
Artisans and Adventurers
From Zimbabwean beadwork to Indian textiles, 32 artisan groups across nine countries create beautiful, colourful, sustainable products and share them here for you to enjoy.
Be Diddy
Be Diddy pairs unique, vintage children’s clothing with a fun and inclusive space.
Benjamin Pollock’s
Dating back to 1880, Benjamin Pollock’s Toy Shop is a children’s wonderland, creating magic with toy theatres, shadow boxes and puppets.
Berdoulat
Berdoulat showcases the work of local artisans based within an hour’s drive of its 18th century shop space in Bath — a magical space which also houses a cafe serving bread and cakes made on site from local ingredients.
Berylune
A lifestyle shop in Leamington Spa with an ever-changing list of enviable finds, Berylune is a paradise for those who love to discover truly original presents for themselves or others.
Born & Bred
Existing to help local designers and makers thrive, Born & Bred create and curate Irish themed gifts and homeware.
Bramble & Moss
Bramble & Moss’s fragrant floral designs will have you longing for a celebration. As well as having one of the prettiest shopfronts in the UK, their bouquets are stunning and they take great care to use flowers in season.
Buy the Weigh
Encouraging consumers to eliminate single use plastics, Buy the Weigh is a family run shop that offers sustainable, organic and ethical goods.
Colour Makes People Happy
Colour Makes People Happy is a paint shop full of personality. Simon’s signature colours are captured on art but also bring an individual flair to your home’s walls.
Curated Makers
Curated Makers champion local talent in their collaborative pop-ups which disrupt the mainstream physical retail sector for good.
Doe Bakehouse
Flamboyant and OTT in all the best ways, Doe Bakehouse’s delectable doughnut selections are the sweetest treat with stand out style.
Flavour Like Fancy
Flavour Like Fancy is a colourful gift shop celebrating the unapologetic wonders of handmade creations. Their space doubles as a community hub that hosts workshops, makers markets, family friendly events and even the local pub quiz, too.
For the love of the north
Gorgeous goods from artists and designers based in the north east of England are curated by Paul and Lucy to showcase the talent and creativity of the region.
Folk Like These
Folk Like These host workshops and make colourful and creative curated art and craft kits to help everyone discover the artist in them.
Forum Books
Forum Books are a beautiful independent bookshop in a listed chapel, passionately curating an eclectic and original range of books for eager readers.
Glosters Pottery
Glosters create handmade ceramics in the heart of North Wales. Their beautiful designs use stoneware clay and glazes inspired by their local surroundings.
Golden Hare Books
Golden Hare’s charming bookshop is everything you could hope for. With over two thousand books, theirs is a literary labyrinth you’ll love getting lost in.
Good Store Studio
Formed by three fabulous business women, the Good Store Studio is a feast of colour, texture, creativity and collaboration, with their stock sourced from local artisans.
Green Rooms Market
Green Rooms Market is a pop-up houseplant market that transforms high street venues into urban jungle shopping events. It really is a plant lover’s dream.
Harvest Skincare
Organic skincare that is natural, handmade and shuns synthetics, Kate at Harvest Skincare creates products that will nourish your skin whilst taking care of nature, too.
HÔRD
HÔRD handcrafts unique treasures which celebrate the intricacies and dynamics of leather.
HOUSE by Betty
HOUSE by Betty displays a jaw-dropping array of sustainable and unique wares, all of which you’ll want to take home with you or buy for everyone you know.
Hunter Paper Co.
Hunter Paper Co. are a letterpress greetings and stationery brand run by a wife and husband team. They seek out the best and most beautiful stationery from around the world.
Jessie’s Art Shed
Jessie’s Art Shed hosts art lessons, courses and workshops to give those of all ages the space to create regardless of their ability.
La Fauxmagerie
La Fauxmagerie is the UK’s first plant-based cheesemonger. They are beyond talented at making delicious, decadent and inspired plant-based cheeses fit for the finest cheese board in town.
Lifestory
Calling all lovers of Scandinavian design. Susan curates a range of thoughtfully considered products that give any space a Nordic touch.
Little Nell
London Terrariums Studio
London Terrariums is passionate about helping people connect to nature in the city. Their shop doubles up, so as well as being a place to buy hand-crafted terrariums, it’s a workshop space to teach the craft of creating miniature ecosystems via DIY kits.
Luminary Bakery
Created by Alice Williams, this remarkable social enterprise gives women experiencing extreme poverty, disadvantage, and violence, training opportunities, employment and hope. As well as empowering people, they create the most amazing cakes and bakes.
Marby and Elm
Frank and funny, bold and beautiful, these modern letterpress cards, gifts and stationery are carefully made with love, wit and insight. You can even get your own bespoke versions made.
Meticulous Ink
At Meticulous Ink, two original Heidelberg printing presses are used by Athena to create cards, stationery sets and bespoke invitations that are oozing with old-world charm and elegant ink work.
Moo Like A Monkey
With such a cool name, it’s no surprise Moo Like a Monkey is a children’s shop that celebrates your awesome individuality.
MoonKo
A love of all things botanical is at the heart of MoonKo. Ceramics, jewellery and their beloved dried everlasting bouquets, this is a total floral fantasy land.
Niaski
Designed by Nia, Niaski is a feline-focused shop where art obsession meets cat obsession. Cleverly combining cats, art and humour, their products range from greetings cards to pet accessories.
Nicola Rowlands
In her recognisable font and eye-catching illustrations, Nicola Rowlands’ mugs, cushions, stationery and accessories celebrate our joyful idiosyncrasies.
OTHERLETTERS
Debbie and Linda founded OTHERLETTERS to ensure your party ware will be the topic of conversation for being original and beautiful. Beware though, this stylish collection might mean you’re always asked to host…
Other Kids
Other Kids opened in 2017 to provide professional shoe fitting for babies and children. They sell a carefully selected range of high quality, stylish shoes that never compromise on comfort.
Papersmiths
Owner Sidonie sources the cult classics and harder-to-find gems of the stationery world to stock in Papersmiths’ bricks-and-mortar stores in Brighton, Chelsea and King’s Cross.
Pedddle
Pedddle’s founder Nicki makes it super easy for you to find the most buzzing markets full of creative stallholders and local artists, or look up places you’ve discovered to find out more.
Pencil Me In
Pencil in some time to visit Pencil Me In. Their smorgasbord of stationery created by some of the world’s finest designers will have you itching to put pen to paper.
Peonies from Pluto
Peonies from Pluto sell blooms that are out of this world. Alice brings funkiness to floristry, designing bouquets with a magic touch.
Poetry Pharmacy
Your prescription has arrived. With poetry and philosophy to heal and mend, the Poetry Pharmacy is good for the soul and for curing a wide range of emotional ailments.
Present & Correct
Present & Correct is a shop for all those who love to revel in all manner of stationery and office supplies. With a unique and ever changing collection sourced from around the world, the shop is the result of nostalgia, obsession, joy and sharing.
PRICK
PRICK is London’s first boutique dedicated to cacti and succulents. Plant expert Gynelle sources a selection of unique and exotic plants and pots to bring life to your space.
The Pop-Up Club
The best thing about The Pop-Up Club? It’s a wonderful place to find small creative businesses gathered together, and showcasing their designs and crafts in a bright, supportive environment.
PRIOR SHOP
A non-profit retail and community hub in Bristol which showcases the work of over 150 responsible designers, PRIOR makes conscious shopping easy.
Proven Goods Co
Proven Goods Co is a small batch bakery that makes traditional, proven doughnuts from scratch inspired by nostalgic puddings and sweets.
RED Shoes
RED makes bespoke shoes from organic leathers that are designed to fit the natural shape of your feet. With a focus on design that’s made to last a lifetime, every pair is unique, timeless and repairable for years to come.
Revere the Residence
Revere the Residence is a homeware and lifestyle social enterprise shop sharing products made by local independent makers plus creations made in-house by people with learning disabilities.
ROAM by The Drifting Bear Co
If you want to capture a memory of a seaside trip or a romantic proposal, look no further than The Drifting Bear Company. A tree is planted with every product sold and so their personalised prints and gifts are the perfect treasure to mark milestones.
Round Table Books
A bookshop where the inclusion of every reader is at its heart, Round Table Books curates a collection of stories from underrepresented writers and illustrators.
Sancho’s
Bringing artisans who create sustainable fashion, accessories and homewares under one roof, Sancho’s is a treasure trove of products that put ethics and the environment at the forefront.
Sea Whistle
A treasure trove of beautifully made, organic and sustainable children’s toys and clothing, Sea Whistle makes us all wish we were five again.
Self Space
Self Space provide a ‘good conversation’ with a qualified person for those that need them. They are open 7 days a week, with over 65 therapists to choose from.
Shrubs & Dubs
Music and plants? That’s a combination with a lot to love. Cacti and EPs make this unique concept store the coolest heart of the community.
Soul and Flare
Based in Nottingham, Soul and Flare is on a mission to reduce throw-away fashion waste through their commitment of clothing repair, reselling or reworking.
Sourdough Sophia
Sourdough Sophia is a small-batch sourdough bakery and baking school based in North London, specialising in delicious sourdough breads and pastries.
The Botanical Candle Co
Amalia, James and their team make each of their candles from start to finish using 100% soy wax flakes. The business aims to put people before profit and is centred around quality, fairness and transparency.
The Imaginarium
This interiors wonderland is packed full of lovingly-curated, affordable luxuries. From hampers to home scents, it’s a treasure trove fit for the wildest of imaginations.
The Orange Bakery
The Orange Bakery is a father and daughter run business founded as a way of coping through feelings anxiety and depression. Their bakery not only produces unique treats, but is also used as a free outlet to teach and accomodate other aspiring bakers.
Thirty One Leeds Road
Thirty One Leeds is home to Little Beacon, a hand block printing textile and design studio and Community Cutlery, where knives and tools are polished to perfection.
V V Rouleaux
A haberdashery lover’s dream, V V Rouleaux are a ribbons and trimmings retailer who also create bespoke hats, flowers and Christmas decorations.
Yellow Submarine
Yellow Submarine believes people with learning disabilities and autism deserve to live life to the full. People visit their cafe because of the quality of the coffee and food, but leave with a different perception of ‘disability’.
Waffle+Co
Savoury and sweet waffles are served with style from Tori and Ana’s converted horse box (the home of their exceptional mobile catering business).
Wickle
Wickle is a mini department store for families who care about what they buy, why they buy it and how it will last. With a focus on ethics and fairness, they have created a space which is playful yet responsible, and innovative yet traditional.
Little Nell makes affordable jewellery that’s both stylish and high quality, perfect for gifting, She makes it with great care in her studio in Shropshire and every order is packaged by hand.