Today is Small Business Saturday, so I thought this was an ideal day to share some fabulous small businesses with you – in no particular order, see below!
Northumbrian Gifts
Katrina and Stephen sell unique local products for real ale fans (like my Dad) as well as wines, spirits, soft drinks and gifts. Toon Ale Blonde has just been released, and I was thrilled to be able to help out with the label.
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Gems
Christine sells a wide range of good quality, used items for babies and children – if you need it, she’ll have it. Her shop is AMAZING but if you’re not local, check out her website or give her a call. She stocks shops in Eastern Europe so you’re definitely not too far away.
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Grow up Green
Aggie is the oracle on cloth nappies. Worn by my son and before that my daughter, we get a lot of wear out of ours. She hires out a trial kit too, sells all the accessories and recently started selling leggings. If you have a nappy wearing small person then why not save money and save the planet? You won’t look back.
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Mandy Charlton Photography
Mandy takes the most amazing photographs. She has photographed our family a few times, taken photographs for business too and is also an incredible travel photographer. Look out for her work in Cruise International! Right now, e-vouchers have 25% extra value added till Christmas, so treat yourself or someone else.
Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter / Etsy Shop
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Newsmaker PR and Video Production Ltd
Andrew has worked with some amazing organisations – what he doesn’t know about PR and video production isn’t worth knowing. He knows how to get you in front of your audience, create a video for your business or deliver media training. Check out his showreel, I only watched it yesterday and it’s great!
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Jens Gems
Jen sells beautiful handmade jewellery, crafts and supplies as well as artwork and woodwork by her partner Graham. Catch her at a craft fair or check out her website for places where you can buy online.
Lena Archbold
Lena makes incredible, colourful, wearable art using felting. She also runs workshops to show you how to create your own, or you can try knitting and crochet. Lena is the perfect person to help you discover skills you didn’t know you had – she has so much passion for what she does, and her scarves are like nothing I’ve ever seen before. Go and have a look!
Website / Facebook / Pinterest
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Forest House Press
Lynn is an author herself and a very crafty person who also makes faeries. Forest House is her publishing company – so if you have a book on wellness, education, craft or fiction, then it’s worth getting in touch with her – or you can attend one of her courses. Behind the scenes, Forest House is working with the Just for Women Centre in Stanley on a book about the therapeutic and healing naure of crafts. She’s a busy lady 🙂
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Applause Accountancy Services
Julie is a smiley accountant who wears lovely dresses and isn’t at all stuffy! Her and Stephen are North East based chartered accountants offering small businesses, entrepreneurs & mumpreneurs a personal high quality accounting and tax service.
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The Inspire Network
Julie (see above) co-founded The Inspire Network with Ann in 2010. Since then it’s flourished and is now THE place to be if you’re a woman in business in the North East. Regular family friendly meetings in different venues across the region and a very active, friendly and helpful Facebook group provide support, encouragement, a place to ask questions and find answers and also a place to do business. Personally, The Inspire Network has been amazing for me. For Small Business Saturday there’s a new Facebook group opened which is public, so make sure you check it out to see what women in the North East have to offer.
Website / Facebook Group / Twitter
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AAA Property Services
Every time I speak to Alison it seems this business has grown a bit more! There’s always something going on. AAA Property specialise in property management and student lettings which has expanded to offer a range of services including training and the caring caretaker. If you have a property that needs repairs then AAA Property can help you out!
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Total DM
Tony specialises in direct mail production and fulfilment 0r if you need something printed – then he’s your man. Letterheads, leaflets, brochures, business cards, you name it, he can do it!
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KD Communications
Kathryn is an expert PR and social media consultant. Her blogs are full of useful tips to help you master social media and press releases for yourself, which you can take further by attending one of her workshops or indeed hiring her to help your voice be heard.
Website / Facebook / Twitter / LinkedIn
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Pentagon Computer Solutions
Computer repairs, upgrades, networking, IT anything, games consoles, data problems, cloud computing, email (I use this, it’s great.) – Ray, Sarah and Darren will be able to help you out. IT doesn’t have to be daunting if you call in the people who know their stuff, and they do.
Website / Facebook / Twitter / LinkedIn
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Kids Deserve the Best
Sarah and Ray provide advice and support to parents across the North East who require childcare at home. This includes nannies and also babysitting services, emergency childcare and wedding day childcare too, so everything is covered! A handy contact to have as you never know when it will be useful to have that extra help.
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The Association of Nanny Agencies
The ANA helps families and professional child carers such as nannies or nurseries by providing loads of practical information and resources to make standards matter in childcare. as well as a membership scheme.
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The Biz Brat
Nida is a champion of small businesses. She’s amazing! Go and spend some time watching her videos where she goes into businesses and talks with them with her infectious enthusiasm. Nida would tell you she won’t take no for an answer, she’s cheeky and passionate and she’s a holistic business coach – I love a Skype call with Nida, she’s a lot of fun to work with 🙂
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Nida Hug
This is the same Nida as above. As a cancer thriver, Nida is raising a million hugs for health, healing, happiness and prosperity – she’s started counting and she’s setting up some exciting workshops to help us with our mindset so we can all have a better, happier life. If you scroll down her Facebook page you’ll find all her videos and posts from when she visited New York too – spreading hugs all over the world!
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Beautiful Betty
Haley is beauty therapist in Hexham, she offers all beauty services including Manicure, Pedicure, Nail Enhancements, Tanning, Massage, Face & Body Treatments and Waxing & Tinting – perfect to get you feeling your very best for Christmas and the New Year, or you can buy treatment vouchers for someone special.
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Geeky Sweetheart
I love baby wearing, which is where instead of using a buggy you attach your baby to yourself with a big bit of cloth, so I was thrilled to be asked to create a logo for Geeky Sweetheart (as part of rebrand ‘coming soon’) – Samantha not only alters and converts wraps, but she has developed her own baby carrier (which I can’t wait to try).
Website / Facebook / Instagram / Pinterest / Twitter
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Taylored-Fit Physio
Vicky and Mark help people recover from sports injuries. understand and manage chronic conditions, establish a diagnosis and help babies to sleep or feed more easily with physiotherapy, acupuncture and craniosacral therapy. Clever stuff. Lovely people.
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Your Eco Home
Your Eco Home sells a range of environmentally friendly products for your home, your health and also gifts which are great for Christmas. Small changes make a big difference to the planet – this is the perfect place to start.
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Embellish
This started off as a hobby and quickly became a business when I ran out of people to make papercuts for! If you’re ever looking for something a bit special then a papercut is probably the thing you need. Completely unique each time, drawn and then cut by hand – these are the present for the person who has everything. Ideal for weddings, anniversaries, special birthdays, new babies, graduation gifts or I can do family trees as well. Currently selling Christmas cards if you haven’t bought yours yet.
Website / Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest
In the comments: Who are your favourite small businesses?