This Christmas, why not gift from a social trader?
Treat yourself and your loved ones to something local, to help support our homegrown entrepreneurs, many of whom rely on Christmas trade to help support them throughout the year.
Be it gifts, events or gigs, it’s beneficial for everyone to shop local, small and early – not only does your money go directly to sellers, you might save some too!
Events
Oxton Christmas Open Studios: November 26th to 27th
Why not come along to the Oxton Christmas Open Studios to find some local gifts. Spread across 4 locations all within walking distance of the centre of Oxton, the event is showcasing 11 artists, opening the doors to their studios at the end of November. From ceramics, sculptures and paintings to illustration, willow weaving and jewellery, there’s plenty of local artwork to pick from. It could be just the place to find those perfect presents.
wellyroadart.com/events/oxton-christmas-open-studios-2022/
Granby Street Market: December 3rd
Granby Four Streets market is Liverpool’s most original and friendly community market, run entirely by volunteers. Its first-Saturday-of-the-month date sees one last – very special Christmas edition – market in 2023, from 10am to 3pm on the 3rd December. It’ll showcase the talents, spirit and diversity of the community, with stalls ranging from bric-a-brac, vintage clothes and memorabilia to handmade soaps, arts and crafts, plus a mouthwatering range of food stalls.
Make. CIC’s Winter Arkade: December 4th
The winter season is fast approaching and Make. CIC it is running it’s Winter Arkade on Sunday 4th December at Make North Docks, from 11am to 4pm. Visitors to this winter shopping event can expect an abundance of independent stall holders, tasty food, themed craft workshops and of course music and entertainment throughout the whole day. It’s a winter themed festival like no other!
Future Yard: throughout December
Why not check out the ever impressive line up of gigs at Future Yard Birkenhead, including a 2 night residency for legendary garage Scouserock band The Stairs (tickets still available for Thursday 15th December!) or the Mosh Tots Christmas Special on Sunday 11th December.
Bay Tree Catering’s Community Christmas Dinner – December 25th
Bay Tree Catering CIC offers event catering and multicultural cookery education, pioneering empowerment through food. In 2020, Bay Tree worked with community voluinteers, drivers, and. Community centres, to provide 1,860 food food kits, containing 7,440 servings of fresh, nutritious food to families in the L8 and L13 areas of Liverpool.
Each year, Bay Tree Catering serves a Christmas dinner, bringing people across the city region together for dinner. This year’s community Christmas Dinner is taking place at Vauxhall Neighbourhood Centre. Find out more here.
Facebook: Bay Tree Caterers Liverpool & Bay Tree Cookery Academy CIC
Gift Ideas
Little Light Stitchery
Brighten up a loved one’s home with a ready made hoop from Little Light Stitchery. Or, for those that love to make, pick up a DIY kit, so they can embroider at home. With embroidery for children and adults alike, you’re sure to find something lovingly stitched that’s perfect for a loved one.
www.littlelightstitchery.co.uk
Wirral Unplugged
The team at Wirral Unplugged has boxes that are a regular delivery of magical materials and captivating content aimed at nurturing digital balance, to doorsteps across Wirral and beyond. Perfect for families, you can unplug, create and explore with help from its boxes and events created by uni students/pros, with boxes from Ancient Egypt, Japan, Engineering, to Fairies, Dragons and Trolls.
Joolzery
Joolzery creates contemporary, quirky, gorgeous handcrafted, 100% recycled sterling silver, copper and ethical and metaphysical healing crystal jewellery/wearable art.
Find Joolzery at Brockholes Artisan Market on Saturday 26th – Sunday 27th November, 10am-4pm. Find out more here.
MerseyCycle
MerseyCycle is a social enterprise whose focus is on recycling bikes. Bicycles are recovered from various sources including waste recycling centre’s, and donations from industry and the general public. With the help of a team of volunteers they are refurbished and sold on or given to community projects.
Keep an eye out for the MerseyCycle sales, where you can get your hands on a bike and get some tips on bike maintenance and safety.
Writing on the Wall
Writing on the Wall is a creative writing charity that’s proving that writing is for everyone – it’s about turning up, sharing stories and creating change on the page. For the book lover in your life, Writing on the Wall has a great selection of books and bundles from local voices for you to choose from, from the Black Voices Book Bundle, with four books from Liverpool-based black, Asian and other global majority community writers, to the Children’s Book Bundle, including picture books and an anthology written by children, for children.
Melodic Distraction
First broadcasting in January 2017, Melodic Distraction is an independent internet radio station amplifying the sounds and stories of the North West (and beyond)… Home to over 150 monthly shows…and always growing! Tune in 7-days-a-week for non-stop radio from DJs, musicians, parties throwers, festival organisers, vinyl slingers, musos, weirdos and anything else goes from Liverpool and around the world.
For that music-obsessed friend or family member, Melodic Distraction has tees, totes, records and more.
melodicdistraction.bigcartel.com/products
The Book Stop
The Book Stop in St Helens is a charitable community benefit society, running a community bookshop in the heart of St Helens. It sells a wide range of new books, both fiction and non-fiction, with a cosy refreshment area run by Two Brothers Coffee, and you can buy books online through their Bookshop storefront.
Homebaked Bakery
Gift fresh from the ovens of Homebaked, the community-owned bakery opposite Anfield. With everything from classic breads to cakes and pastries, give your friends and family some deliciousness with a local twist this Christmas, or let them take their own pick of Homebaked’s famous pies with a voucher.
Facebook: Homebaked Bakery / Instagram:@homebakedbakery_
We Make Places
We Make Places helps communities to develop their identities through creative, land or building based projects. And the team also makes a great range of birch plywood accessories from off-cuts, through their Urban Workbench project, that would otherwise be wasted in the manufacturing of its larger pieces for kitchen door replacements, from tablet and phone holders to desks and coat racks. It’s just one of the ways the CIC minimises its impact on the environment.
The Slab tablet is a versatile yet simple desk accessory at just £19.85, holding your tablet for watching films, Zooming or viewing online recipes; the Block phone holder supports your phone and pairs with a full ‘Homeworker’ range, whilst the Neat is a multi use compact desk organiser and phone holder. It’s £19.85 including UK P&P.
urbanworkbench.org / wemakeplaces.org
Gateway Collective
Gateway Collective works to see thriving people and communities in Bootle, increasing wellbeing and creating lasting social connections through community gardening. AND it creates a tasty range of locally-made and freshly-sourced pickles, jams and relishes, which we think make the perfect Christmas prezzie. Customise a tasty jam trio with the Trio Gift Set Box option, or inspire some guerrilla gardening with a pack of wildflower seed bombs.
gatewaycollective.co.uk/shop/ / Instagram: @thegatewaycollective
Jigsaw Coaching CIC
Jigsaw Coaching helps people gain clarity about what they want, increasing their resilience and developing an action plan for their future. If you have a friend or family member who you think might benefit from some support in 2023, could some coaching prove life-changing?
Love & Co
Find take your pick of the local crop with Love & Co’s selection of beautiful items from amazing local, independent traders. From beauty products and clothing to home decor, you’re sure to find the perfect gift for anyone, and give back to your local community in the process.
You can find Love & Co at it’s container on Lodge Lane, and at the Granby Street Market.
Instagram: @loveandcoshop
Rae Shea
Give the gift of pampering with Rae Shae’s organic, natural anti-ageing skin and haircare products. Handmade from unrefined butters and essential oils, Rae Shae’s collection ranges from life balm and body butter to sunscreen and beard oil. You can even pick up a gift set, to give the gift of pampering from head-to-toe.
etsy.com/uk/shop/RaeSheaUK / Instagram: @raesheauk
Always Endeavour
For handmade custom gemstone and wood beaded bracelets, there are beautiful stocking fillers to be found at Always Endeavour. Pick up a beaded bracelet in your choice of gemstone and charm for that perfect, personalised gift – or gift a whole look with stacking or bracelet and earring sets.
etsy.com/shop/AlwaysEndeavour / Instagram: @alwaysendeavour
Epiphany Bliss
Epiphany Bliss is a hair company that supports wellbeing, confidence and empowerment for those facing illnesses such as cancer and hair loss. For those who want to look good while supporting a local business, an Epiphany Bliss t-shirt could be exactly what you’re looking for.
epiphanybliss.com / Instagram: @epiphany.bliss
Akoma Arts
With independent artist Michelle at the helm, Akoma Arts is the home of inclusive and progressive art, with love and compassion at its heart. With framed art, prints and greeting cards available, Akoma Arts has you covered if you want to add some powerful and impactful local art to your gifting this year. Head down to the Akoma Arts Studio to get your hands on some pieces to give to your loved ones.
Facebook: Akoma Arts / Instagram: @akoma_arts