What is #buylessbuybetterbuyhandmade and why am I so proud to be part of it?

This Black Friday, more than ever, I want to explain why I think it's so important to rethink how we spend at Christmas.

Did you know that while there are around 300,000 small creative businesses in the UK, 134 crafts are on the endangered list compiled by Heritage Crafts?

Since the red list was last updated in 2021, the cost-of-living crisis, soaring fuel costs and a reduced market following Brexit have compounded the pressure on makers, and increasing numbers are now reporting that they are worried for the future of their businesses.

The #buylessbuybetterbuyhandmade campaign encourages us to rethink how we shop this Christmas to help support small independent businesses and reduce our environmental impact at the same time.

I'm proud to support this campaign and grateful that so many of my customers recognise the value of gifting something so heartfelt and personal.

How you can Join this National Campaign for Craft

This Christmas, the craft sector has come together to launch a national campaign, designed to support makers across the UK by encouraging all of us to Buy Less, Buy Better, Buy Handmade. It is led by Folksy, Heritage Crafts, CRAFT Festival, Find a Maker, Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair and Crafts Council, the campaign is supported by craft advocates Jay Blades, Keith Brymer Jones and Sue Pryke.

If you're reading this, then I'm sure you don't need me to tell you that filling your baskets with piles of mass-produced presents doesn't guarantee a wonderful Christmas, but I'd like to reiterate the message anyway how gifting one really well-crafted, unique gift that is handmade with passion can be so much more heartfelt.

Joining Forces to Save Our Industry

The craft sector is full of creative people doing inspiring things, but they are far too often drowned out by big businesses with big budgets and lots of commercial clout. By joining this movement, I want to help raise awareness of the impact the craft community has and to demonstrate the value and importance of 'community over competition'. Thank you for taking the time to read this and to show your support by shopping small. Whilst you're here, why not take a peek at my gift ideas?