The final gift guide in our series of favourite small businesses to shop from this festive season. We hope you've enjoyed this just as much as we have, as we've discovered so many amazing smaller businesses to support in such a trying climate. It's so interesting to hear the stories of so many inspiring people who have started their own businesses, around things that they are passionate about. Don't forget to share some love with the businesses that we have shared; even so much as a follow or a share show's support to people who spend their time and energy creating beautiful, thoughtful products.
Authentically You
Authentically You, is a beautiful self care brand that make amazing products, perfect for gifts for those who need to unwind and destress. Everyone loves receiving pamper presents, and Shani, the founder of Authentically You, creates products that are filled with so much love and passion. Right down to the thoughtfulness of her packaging.
I launched Authentically You in Spring 2020 with the intention to encourage others to become their own healers, and give you the tools you need to create a safe space at home to quieten the mind, and work on being the best version of you.Suffering from anxiety and depression after giving birth I found it hard to reach out for support. I was surrounded by family and friends, but felt more alone than ever.
I knew I needed aids to help me, so I created a safe space at home where I could be uninterrupted to journal, meditate, script, listen to sound baths and work with essential oils and salts. Through this I was able to clear my mind and understand the things that were triggering my emotions and began to listened to my inner voice.
Its important to me to mindfully use ingredients that nature has given us. This is why I am committed to providing natural and organic products enriched with botanicals and essential oils to support your physical and emotional wellbeing. Free from synthetic fragrances, artificial colorants, parabens, petrochemicals, phthalates, sulphates, and mineral oils. All products are handmade by me in London in small batches to retain the ingredients' therapeutic properties and freshness.
I love what I do because I enjoy creating environments for spiritual healing and cleansing, and helping others create a safe space in their homes to clear their mind and reconnect with their body.
Shani launched 2 Chrismtas gift sets in early November, both making ideal gifts for the pamper lovers in your life.
Golden Eve which includes: Frankincense Soak; Mrryh Soak; Vanilla + Vetiver Soak in an Authentically You organic drawstring bag.
Blue Moon which includes: Peppermint Soak; Spike Lavender Soak; Eucalyptus Soak; Rosemary Soak in an Authentically You organic drawstring bag.
Authentically You have a discount code AYXMAS which will give customers 10% off on the lead up to Christmas.Find their website here and their instagram here
Rye The Collection
Rye The Collection sell hand tie dyes socks and masks and just about to launch some sweaters.
This Christmas, they are doing a few Christmas bundle boxes that would include a matching sweater mask and socks, and also a sock box of 5 pairs of socks.
I love it because it started off super small and has up scaled massively in such a short amount of time, I love how much confidence our customers have in us to the point of completely leaving it down to us what brands and colours we pick for their purchases!
Rye The Collection have kindly given us 20% off to share with you, INDYBOX20.
Order your pieces via Instagram or Depop (@ryethecollection).
Flexi
Flexi is selection of Skin Tools designed to give you salon quality skin treatments, in the comfort of your own home. Our mission is to help everyone ‘feel great in their own skin’. Flexi Tools use techniques such as facial massage, lymphatic drainage and microneedling to promote collagen production, regenerate skin cell production and reduce pore visibility. Allowing you to achieve glowing, clear and more youthful looking skin!
Their best sellers are the Microneedler and Cleanser.
Flexi was created by Gilly, skin specialist and owner of Angelica Retreat, London’s Advanced Skin and Body Specialist.
After spending her teens and early 20’s struggling with acne prone skin, Gilly embarked on a journey to heal her blemishes; gaining her skincare diploma, studying nutrition and eventually introducing cutting edge skincare technologies into her London based Spa.
Gilly discovered how beautiful skin could be achieved with great skincare techniques.
Use code INDYFLEXI15 for 15% off your order until the 31st December.
Find the Flexi website here and instagram, here.
Pretty Post
Pretty Post was set up to create stationery for stationery addicts. The bestselling and hero product is a year of cards in a box – 20 luxurious multi use foiled cards made for everyone and all occasions. I think my favourite thing on their website has to be the 2021 calendar!
Zoe, the founder of Pretty Post, Formed her brand out of her love for cards, paper goods and all things analogue and snail mail.
I wanted to create tactile things for paper lovers. After years of making beautiful stationery for couples getting married over at The Golden Letter, I desperately wanted to make my love of stationery accessible to everyone.
London born and bred, I'm a mum to a very opinionated 7 year old boy. I set up my first business five years ago, so that I could be at home when he needed me, and show him that being a mother doesn't mean you don't have to leave your passions behind. Quite the opposite, I can mum, run two businesses, have a social life, and sometimes I get to sleep too! (turns out you can't do everything though, you should see the state of my kitchen). I work from my home studio in North London, surrounded by stacks of notebooks, piles of paper, and an ever increasing indoor jungle.
Find the pretty post website here, and their instagram, here.
Glow Homeware
Glow strive for cosiness and produce beautiful candles, which are a perfect gift for anyone! Nothing says Christmas more than a candle! All products are created with the earth in mind. The candles are made with 100% vegan soy wax and fragrance oils, and the packaging and paper goods are all recyclable.
Katy, the founder of Glow, is another example of someone who set up a great business due to Covid!
I've loved candles for as long as I can remember, and during a covid, boredom-inspired online browse, I ordered some cheap wax and wicks, fragrance oils that aren't even supposed to go in candles, and the rest is history! Granted, we now use top of the line soy wax and fragrance oils that have gone through months of testing, but our intention is still the same. Creating cosy, beautiful, and quality products which are earth friendly too!
Sign up to Glow's mailing list to receive 10% off
Find their instagram here and their website here.
Hannah Nolloth
Hannah is an illustrator based in Carmarthen, South Wales. Alongside her freelance illustration work, she produces and sells illustrated paper goods, including greetings cards, stationery, prints and custom gifts.
I’ve been working super hard to put together a collection of unique, illustrated Christmas Cards as well as wrapping paper and gift tags to make sure your gifts are just as good on the outside as they are on the inside!
As for gifting, I have a selection of prints and stationery that would make the perfect gift, including custom pet portraits which are perfect for your animal loving friends and family! I also offer entirely bespoke illustrated prints, so if you have an idea you’d like brought to life make sure to send me a message. I know that this Christmas may not be the way we’d all like, so I have also created some scratch to reveal gift vouchers which are the perfect way to give an I.O.U to those you can’t be with this year. I started my business in January, during my final year of my illustration degree, and since graduating in July I’ve been fortunate enough to continue full time doing something I love. My ultimate goal is to one day own my own brick and mortar gift shop selling my own items alongside other independent artists and creatives.
Shop Hannah's etsy here or find her Instagram, here
Nact Candles
Sarah-Louise from Nackt Candles has a few new candles launching for christmas, some christmas trees, small and large, and a few different pillar candles which are suitable for all year round use.
My business was somewhat of an accident, I really wanted to buy the female form candles, but I could not find them anywhere. So at the start of lockdown when I could not get a job and all my university classes and exams got cancelled I bought all the kit! I made a few candles, posted a few pictures and I had so much interest! I realised the only body shaped candles that were for sale were the "perfect" body shape, that is when I decided to create my own female and male curvy bodies. I love the fact my candles celebrate different body types and I absolutely love the whole process. I created the designs, made my own moulds and then made my candles, with some help from my amazing boyfriend. My dream would be to have a completely sustainable company, running on 100% renewable energy. A few people working alongside me and a huge vegetable garden, where I can hand out fresh fruit and vegetables to the local community.
Find their website here and instagram here.