I've been meaning to write this particular blog post for a few weeks (if not months!) now.
I don't understand much about the economy or politics. Genuinely. So when I see these blackboards on High Streets or posts going round on social media, saying how shopping small keeps x amount in the local economy... I literally don't understand how they've worked that out.
According to https://small99.co.uk/, "Roughly 63p of every £1 spent at small or medium-sized businesses stays in the local economy, compared with just 40p at large businesses." I just don't get it. Don't try and explain it to me either, because it'll just go straight over the top.
What I DO understand is my personal economy.
I get a real joy from supporting other small businesses like myself. You'll often see me hunkered in a corner of a Northwich coffee shop, supping away and illustrating like mad.
I can't tell you the last time I was in a Costa, you're more likely to find me in the likes of Abda, Bear, The Ark, Vinnies, Temple, and now a new hide that's recently joined our High Street, Goblin Coffee & Beer.
The small bit of profit I make from designing and selling my wares, I love to give back and support other indies, in whatever form that may be, and I think they do the same.
I recently went on a jewellery workshop ("wait, didn't you do that the other month with The Courtyard Workshop"...yes!) with Speckled Heart Crafts, to make some polymer clay jewellery. It was surprisingly difficult but I'm still chuffed with the results. Anyway...the evening took place above Abda, in New Moon Art Collective. Speckled Heart Crafts will have had to pay a fee to New Moon to hire the space. A bit of the profit Zoe (New Moon) will have made from the evening will have gone to another small, Zoe tells me she often shops at Chapel Gifts on Witton Street. A portion of the small bit of profit Becki will have made from the workshop itself, will have again, gone to another small. Becki tells me she's planning her Christmas gifts with Felicity Designs in Frodsham. This is just one example of many. The main photo I've chosen shows just a few independent purchases I've made over the past few years.
You get the picture. I haven't worded it very well, but what I'm trying to say is that shopping small has a domino effect. Us independents get so much joy when we get an order or a sale, no matter how big or small, and we LOVE to pass that feeling on, by shopping small ourselves.
Where have you shopped small recently? Would you consider shopping small this Christmas?
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