Christmas is a magical time. A time when loved ones come together, where laughter (and perhaps the odd bicker) and hustle and bustle fill our homes and our hearts.
Fires are lit, food is eaten and gifts are given and received.
Within all this is the opportunity to have a positive impact on the wider world. With a little planning and thinking outside the box you can forget next day deliveries and panic buying, and support businesses that are doing amazing things in the world.
You know that cheesy saying that when you buy from a small business someone does a happy dance? Well, it is actually true, and the positive ripple goes beyond that.
Support Small
By supporting small, ethical businesses you are helping to support creativity, to support workplaces where individuals are cherished. To put money back into local economies and towards thoughtful supply chains.
The challenge of course can be that buying from small, artisan businesses is more expensive. That is because you are paying for true craft, and surely it is nicer to receive one truly beautiful, thoughtful, kind gift than multiple generic ones?
Of course, it can be so hard to know where to look to find presents for the special people in your life, so read on to discover my favourite websites to browse.
My Go to Guide:
Holly & Co – Holly Tucker is the founder of Not On The High Street and the absolutely QUEEN of small businesses. She champions them relentlessly, and show cases the best of the best on this amazing platform. Plus, Holly & Co is B Corp certified.
Buy Women Built – a fabulous platform for finding female owned businesses, that covers everything from food and drink to beauty products and clothes.
Black Owned Businesses – this post on Rayo seems like a good list although I would love to know if there is a directory. If you know of one please let me know!
LGBTQ+ Owned – I found this link which includes some great little busineses, but again, if you know of a better or different website please do get in touch
B Corp Directory - you can search by type of company and/or location to find B Corps to support.
Crowdfarming – for fruit and veg lovers this is an awesome gift. You can sponsor a mango or avocado tree for example, and they will get the produce when it is available. This way the farmer knows they have sold their produce, and the money goes directly to the producer. All the farmers are organic and/or regenerative.
The gift of time
Perhaps the greatest gift of all is that of time, in fact that is what my Daddy has asked for for his 70th birthday next year. Spending time with someone, phones away, is magical, whether you are walking in the country or playing a game of chess. Really, nothing beats it.
The gift of giving
Another option is charitable gifts. This is something my family has done for pretty much ever, and I love to know that someone is benefiting from a gift given in my name. Of course chosing a charity to support can be very personal. Some of my favourites are Toilet Twinning, Water Aid, Care Pack, and Hope4.
Just one new thing...
I know full well how hard it can be to go against the grain, but perhaps this year you can try one new thing - one charity gift maybe or one gift of time - and see how it is received.
I think you will be plesantly surprised, and I would love to hear how it goes,
Laura
p.s. All images are from Unsplash. What amazing photographers there are in this world, I am not one of them!
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