Bethany shares her favourite small businesses she’s been supporting during lockdown!
Whether it’s because the shops have been shut or because you’ve preferred to stay indoors, shopping has been quite different for us all during lockdown. A lot of people decided to use the time they’d usually be going out to redesign the space around them, mainly searching for inspiration online. At the same time, lockdown gave others the time and motivation they needed to pursue their small business dreams. Here are some of my favourite (mainly décor-based) small businesses that I found during lockdown!
This amazing artist has probably been my most visited Instagram page and Etsy shop of all. Katy is incredibly talented and draws digital prints ranging from worldwide destinations to personalised pet portraits. The beautiful colour palettes and attention to detail make her artwork a beautiful addition to any house. Her prints come in A5, A4 and A3 sizes and are super affordable!
Another print company, Sweet Pea Paperie is exactly what it says – sweet! The beautiful prints are vibrant, feminine and are guaranteed to inject colour into any setting. The shop includes categories such as quotes, children’s nursery prints as well as monochrome and personalised prints. Another amazing thing about this small business is that they offer a ‘Fiver Friday’, where a selection of prints is exclusively available for just £5! She also has a sale section starting at only £2 – how could you not?
Moving on slightly from prints, Jade Holly Design is a business I found through Instagram and commissioned to design me my own macrame (a knotted hanging decoration)! Jade has an Etsy page where she lists some pre-made ones, but I messaged her via Instagram and she was super lovely, creating a custom one in my favourite colours! Her Etsy shop also includes prints, tealight holders, stickers, and Halloween themed goodies.
4. Treatbox UK
During lockdown, my boyfriend surprised me with a gorgeous care package from Treatbox. It was full of goodies such as Candy Kitten sweets, a print, a keyring, socks and more, which he had handpicked himself for me on the website. You can choose 5, 7 or 10 items to make up your box out of the huge selection available! They regularly update their selection, but they also have lovely shortbread biscuits, coasters, notepads, face masks and bracelets (amongst many other things)!
This one is a little different to the others, but if you have a dog (or are even just a dog lover!) you will love this small business. I got a puppy during lockdown, and they have catered for both our needs, supplying my dog with beautiful harnesses and me with equally beautiful jumpers! They sell mainly dog accessories, but also mugs, prints, t-shirts and super comfortable jumpers in the cutest designs.