This year, we wanted to give a shout out to our wonderful Top of the Woods guests and community who passionately run their own independent, sustainable businesses.
With the non-stop "buy more stuff" promos for Black Friday, we wanted to create an alternative Christmas Gift Guide ready to celebrate Small Business Saturday
From eco soaps to seasonal garlands, from festive kids wear to bags that will get better with age, you’re sure to find a gift idea that will bring a smile to your family and friends' this festive season and support a small family business.
BonBonBon
Perfect for cool kids!
Website: www.bonbonbon.co.uk
Instagram: @bonbonbon_uk
BonBonBon creates sweet kids wear highlighting positive mental health. For Christmas, they have a range of Ho Ho Ho baby grows, t-shirts for kids and more recently adults - all sewn by owner Natalie in her studio (spare room).
Plus they also donate 10% of profits from their kids vibe t-shirts tom Place 2 Be, a charity supporting mental health in schools.
We love Natalie’s sustainable ethos: “Money is so precious to families, so I like to encourage 'buy less, buy better'."
Tilly Two Stitch
For the disco divas in your life!
Instagram: @tillytwostitch
Lucy who runs Tilly Two Stitch has stayed at Top of the Woods many times with family and friends and says it is one of her "happy places."
Her clothes collection is both for adults and kids and she has worked with local designers to create exclusive Tilly Two Stitch designs for her fabrics. I mean what's not to love about disco ball leggings, rockstar harem pants, and dancing pineapple beanies.
All the clothes are handmade by Lucy, made to order and are designed to bring joy through what you wear with 20% of all profit given to @mindcharity
For owner Lucy, "it's incredibly important to use UK-based printers and designers. Supporting other local businesses and the carbon footprint."
Catalog Bookshop
Perfect for the bookworms who want something a little different
Website: www.catalogmanchester.com
Instagram: @catalog_bookshop
Peter is the owner & book loving entrepreneur that runs Catalog and stayed at Top of the Woods a few years back, to celebrate his honeymoon!
Catalog is an online independent bookstore and a mobile bookshop situated outside Manchester University that is all about quality over quantity. When it comes to books he specialises in unusual & quirky books and magazines that can’t be found in mainstream bookshops.
Peter is passionate about being sustainable - "We need to treat the environment with respect and prove that businesses can work for the benefit of society - for all of us. Catalog's business model is circular and sustainable, and we believe in making a positive impact in the world."
Western Sketch
Beautifully illustrated and personalised Christmas cards
Website: www.westernsketch.co.uk
Instagram: @westernsketch
Melissa Western started up Western Sketch a few years back so she could get back to her first love of drawing and illustration. It has now grown into Western Sketch a small greeting card publisher specialising in premium designs and printed from unique hand painted watercolour illustrations she has created
"Every card is printed in the UK on FSC board and recycled envelopes. We are proud to be plastic free and use biodegradable card clasp stickers".
Six Foot and Clean
Natural soaps for your surfers dudes!
Website: www.sixfootandclean.co.uk
Instagram: @sixfootandclean
Next up is Six Foot and Clean, evolved out of love for the surfing lifestyle, travelling and living out of vans.
Their natural soaps, shampoo bars and natural cream deodorants are designed to be practical for travelling and storage, no messy bottles leaking all over your kit. They clean and moisturise your skin gently, even after the hardest of surfs in the saltiest of seas.
Paul Owner & Founder is obviously a lover of nature with sustainability at the heart of his company's ethos - "All our products are a 100% natural and everything we make is plastic free with no waste. All our packaging and tape is paper and totally recyclable, and we donate part of our profit from every order to one tree planted"
Handmade bags by P Kirkwood
For lovers of crafted and natural style
Website: www.pkirkwood.com
Instagram: @pkirkwood
Working in fashion for 25 years, Paula, the founder of P. Kirkwood, always places craftsmanship and an environmental ethos at the centre of her practice. Her online shop is full of beautiful handcrafted sustainable leather goods: bags, wallets, purses, and more - perfect gifts for others (or yourself!) that are made to last and will only get better with age.
Paula’s motto sounds good to us: “Creating classic pieces with care and longevity, buy once buy well."
Nature's Florals
Bringing the outdoors inside
Website: www.naturesflorals.com
Instagram: @naturesflorals
Inspired by nature, Rosie Barratt is a female-led independent artist who works with responsibly sourced materials. Blooms are sourced and selected with a huge amount of care and consideration to not only bring you quality but also the best colours, vibrancy, wild and wonderful textures and of course - scent.
For Christmas gifts, check out long-lasting quality, eco botanical decorations to create that seasonal vibe for your home, including wreath making kits, dry or fresh seasonal wreaths, pressed flower frames, glass domes, hanging botanical stars and hoops.
Events by Daria
For the bride and groom
Website: www.eventsbydaria.co.uk
Insta: @eventsbydaria
Daria has been coming to Top of the Woods for 7 years and in her own words it is her
"family’s home from home. It means peace and connection to one’s self. Bliss ❤️"
Daria has been running her event business for over 30 years’ so knows a thing or two about planning and how to manage successful events with a speciality in weddings and event management.
Why not gift Daria’s services for a bride or groom's upcoming celebration so the couple can be assured it will go to plan?
Sustainability is at the heart of her business ethos: “Not overusing resources. Being mindful 100% of the event’s overall impact on the environment and adjusting protocol accordingly.”
Dog Furiendly
Finding the perfect Christmas adventures with your pooch family
Website: www.dogfuriendly.com
Instagram: @dogfuriendly
Woof! Woof! Next up is Dog Furiendly, run by another of our lovely guests, James, and Adele (who won the Entrepreneurial Spirit Award at the Great British Entrepreneur Awards 2021).
This award-winning website is the place to find your next dog friendly adventure. It is helps dog owners find dog-friendly places across the country to enjoy wonderful times and holidays with their fur babies, with suggestion created by their dog furiendly community
You can find places to eat/drink or stay or find vital services like vets, pet shops and dog groomers. From a casual blog set up in 2018, Dog Furiendly has grown to a trusted source of dog-friendly travel with over 30,000 places listed.
Simmer Kitchen
For the pizza lover foodies in your life
Website: www.simmerkitchen.com
Instagram: @simmer_kitchen
Based in Leeds, Simmer offers artisan woodfired pizza, fine dining, Rustico set meals as well private events. Delicious! For Christmas, why not treat a foodie friend or family member to gift vouchers?
"We look to source the best seasonal & sustainable products, Our bespoke menus can be tailored to contain anything from wild foraged ingredients to traditional prime Butcher cuts."
Top of the Woods - Gift Vouchers
For the nature lovers and travellers in your life
Website: www.topofthewoods.co.uk
Instagram: @topofthewoods
As a small sustainable business ourselves we have one last Christmas gift idea of course!
Top of the Woods Gift Vouchers will last well beyond the festive season. Wrap up camping and glamping holiday memories, offering your loved ones the freedom and space to reconnect with nature, family and friends.
Choose the amount you want to give towards their 2023 holiday and receive a personalised gift voucher to bring joy this Christmas.
Top of the Woods Provides the Best Eco Luxury Glamping & Camping Holidays in Pembrokeshire and Cardigan Bay in Wales, UK. Sustainable Staycations. Beaches. Nature. Woodlands. Dog Friendly.
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