Why We Choose Small UK Brands
Shopping small is something people are either passionate about or a bit wary of. We wanted to create a space where you can easily find small UK brands that match the criteria of being plastic free. We have worked with many different brands over the years, and what we enjoy most is working with people. Knowing who is making the product, and why it is the way it is, means that we get to offer you a unique insight into what you are buying, rather than just picking something off the shelf in a major chain. People are at the heart of small businesses, and we should let that shine.
The size of the brands we work with varies from a one-person operation to much bigger brands like UpCircle.
Working with Katy directly, pretty much since we started stocking UpCircle, is something that is so special to us. She is always on hand to help with things or answer questions, and when we want to run a specific event, she is ready and raring to go. Their products are amazing as well. Nourishing for the skin, hair and body, and knowing that every product has an upcycled ingredient, means that the skincare that I love, and I’m sure many of us love, is putting good back into the world as well as on our skin. Their ethos and values match a lot of what we do, so continuing to work with them is a no-brainer.
The home fragrance section of our collection deserves all the love, especially when talking about ChilliWinter and The Flora Lab. ChilliWinter is run by Kathy and Dave. In fact, the brand name is a mix of their surnames. When I first met them at a trade show in London, and having chatted with Kathy for the best part of an hour, I knew they were definitely a good fit for us. It also helped that their candles look and smell amazing. I believe that we are now their longest continuous stockist, and that is a badge we wear proudly. All of their candles are poured on the Isle of Wight, and all done by Kathy herself… although Kathy did once tell me that Dave helps stick the wicks in the bottom of the tins. They use sustainable soy wax, and with the colourful packaging, their candles make such a lovely gift!
The Flora Lab is run by an absolute legend: Sophie. I met her at the same trade show where I met Kathy and Dave, and once again we just instantly hit it off. All of her products smell amazing and burn/melt really well (her wax melts are incredible)! She blends different sustainable waxes for each scent, so some have rapeseed and coconut, and some have soy in them. Either way, she makes sure that every blend and every scent work in harmony together; the product doesn’t get released until they do.
My final brand highlight is definitely Studio Boketto. I met Olivia and Micky at the same trade show (although a few years later) where I met Sophie, Kathy and Dave. When Micky handed us a flyer in the shape of a croissant, I knew I had to turn back and have a look at what they had to offer. Trust me, their card selection didn’t disappoint. Micky is the artist, and Olivia makes sure that everything else runs smoothly. We started with just a few Christmas-themed cards, and loved the jokes and puns so much that we very quickly expanded the range. They make all occasions and events funny, light hearted and come plastic free, something that we can definitely resonate with as well!
So why do we choose to stock small UK brands? Because we love it. We love supporting those trying to make a difference or just make an amazing product. We love meeting and working with real people who are as passionate about what they do as we are. We love putting back into the economy so more people have a chance to follow their dreams and make something incredible.