'Tis the season to shop local
When you buy from a small business an actual person does a happy dance.
I know, I know, it’s only October. But if you’re anything like me you’re already thinking about and shopping for Christmas. Some of you (there’s always that one smug friend) are already finished! But while it is early days, it’s the perfect time to think about the impact you want your Christmas to have on the planet.
It’s undeniable, we live in world full of convenience. With the click of a button packages from around the globe can show up on your doorstep within a few days. It’s easy to forget the carbon footprint of these items, the conditions endured by the people in the factories making them, and the unfathomable profits being made by a select few huge corporations. This Christmas you can still click away and shop, but maybe take a minute to think about where the items you’re buying are coming from, and who is making them. Many small businesses rely on this busy time of year to simply stay afloat. So I thought I’d share a few of my favourite small NZ businesses and alternate ideas for gifting this holiday season.
An experience to remember
Moana Massage - https://moanamassage.co.nz/
As cheesy as it may sound the old adage is true, the best thing we can spend on someone you love is time. We all have that person in our lives who is oh so hard to shop for! So rather than buying them that thing they probably won’t like and end up putting on Trademe, get them something they can enjoy either with you, or on their own. Maybe they could use a little self care but would never splurge on it themselves - a massage or facial voucher is my idea of winning the lotto. A voucher to go to the movies with you and maybe grab a meal after. A gift card to their favourite cafe making their morning coffee free for a week. Tickets to an upcoming show or concert for you to go together. This year my husband and I have bought tickets to Ben Harper for each other for Christmas. Date night is a rare and beautiful thing, this is the best gift (bar that massage hint hint) that I could ask for. I don’t need some ‘thing’ he’s taken the kids to go choose me (probably last minute) that I’ll have to pretend to be excited about come Christmas morning.
Make something, or buy from someone who did
There are always people in your life who you’d like to show appreciation to at the end of the year. They aren’t the big gifts you would get for your nearest and dearest but smaller things to say thank you, we care, e.g. the amazing teachers, coches etc. This is a great opportunity to get creative! Last year I made body scrubs with the kids by using very simple ingredients. Coconut oil, brown sugar or sea salt and some essential oils. Pop them in a nice jar with a ribbon and boom you have a lovely gift! Pinterest and YouTube are full of tutorials on these and other homemade gifts - here’s a good compilation of 20 ‘gift in a jar’ ideas I found. Its also a great activity to do with the kids who feel extra special about handing over something they were part of making.
If you’re feeling time poor, stressed out, or just simply can’t be bothered, then finding someone local who makes their own products is a great way to go. A great place to do this is The Seaside Market, you’ll find lots of small businesses who create a variety of products from skincare to clothing and everything in between. As most of you know I got my start there selling furniture and homewares, so I know firsthand how amazing it feels when someone comes by to purchase a gift for a loved one from you! I’ve listed a few of my favourite NZ small businesses below, a couple of these who are regulars at Seaside.
Hayley Bensman
Anna-Lee Handmade
Grow Easy
Collective Canvas
Tea House
Love Winter
Inscribe Design
Hayley Benseman Natural Skincare - Self care from natural ingredients in environmentally friendly packaging that she will refill. Made in Taranaki.
Anna Lee Handmade - Impeccably crafted children’s wear in a wide variety of sizes and styles. Each piece is made with love right here in Taranaki.
Grow Easy - Plant babies from an incredible entrepreneurial 14 year old!
Collective Canvas - Simple, modern yet timeless footwear for men and women made with sustainable materials such as organic cotton and natural rubber and cork.
Tea House - Fairtrade organic tea which is sourced from a farmer owned cooperative in Nepal.
Love Winter - Beautiful handcrafted jewellery made by Delwynne Winter out of a shared creative space in Takapuna, Auckland.
Inscribe Design - Mother & Daughter duo who create unique homewares, clocks, kids decor, cake toppers and much more all from beautiful eco-friendly Bamboo. Based in sunny Mt Manganui.
CryWolf - Makers of a wide range of outterwear for adults and kids but I especially love their Eco-Puffer. Each jacket is filled with recycled water bottles instead of down, resulting in a light-weight, insulative jacket!
Taranaki Toy Library / North Taranaki Community Mens Shed
What a fabulous gift for the kids! This awesome mud kitchen is a fundraising inniatative for the Taranaki Toy Library in conjunction with the North Taranaki Community Men’s Shed. These are available to order and have been built with leftover treated timber and marine ply that otherwise would have gone to waste. Fantastic for imaginative outdoor play this summer. They are only making 10 of these so get in quick! They are a big ticket item at $200, but maybe nana or grandad could chip in and support this great cause. Bonus it’s not wrapped in a whole bunch of plastic that will end up straight in landfill.
Size approx 1.20m wide, 1.10 high, 0.6 deep. Comes with plastic sink and hooks.
A membership to the Toy Library is also a great gift! Kids get bored of toys in 5 minutes flat so they can be borrowed and returned just like books at the library. It stops more toys being purchased and discarded and keeps the kids occupied for hours, win win!
New to you, shop secondhand!
When we think gift shopping we tend to think new and shiny, but buying secondhand is a great option! I just scored 10 Berenstain Bears books off the kids market page for $20 - new you’re spending that much per book! My girls love these stories, as I did as a child, so they’re special to us. They don’t care where I got them from, that the pages aren’t quite as crisp as they might be, they’re new to them! Facebook marketplace, pages like the kids market and TradeMe are a great place to get new to you items especially for the kids. Big ticket items like bikes are much cheaper and can be found in great condition. I just got my eldest daughter some awesome secondhand roller skates that I’m going to wrap up for Christmas. She’s been asking for some for ages but I didn’t want to shell out big bucks for brand new ones not knowing if she’ll use them three times or not take them off her feet for three months!
Christmas tends to be a time of excess. We eat a lot, drink a lot, and spoil each other. And that is great! Don’t get me wrong, I love everything about Christmas! But when you’re thinking about that spoiling part take a minute to think how long that item is going to last? How much plastic am I bringing into my home, or forcing upon someone else. Where is this item coming from?
There are so many small businesses here in Taranaki, and throughout New Zealand, who would not only appreciated your hard earned dollars, but put them back into the local economy. We can’t all be perfect, but we can try to be more conscious of choices we’re making when it comes to gift giving. I could have mentioned another dozen local makers and shops but didn’t want this blog to go on forever, instead I’d love to hear who you’ve discovered who is doing amazing things in our wee country. Comment here or on the socials, I’d love to hear from you!