Xmas Shopping - Is there anything you can't get from Independent shops

This is a personal blog rather than one from a wholesaler of soft toys, so if you are looking fot information on EN71 and CE or any other wholesale questions you will need to scroll down the list of blogs!

Last week I offically started my Xmas shopping. This may not sound momentous but up until this year I normally started thinking about it once we hit December and then finally getting myself organised 10 days before The Big Day.

As regular followers of this blog you may realise that this is because I have decided to buy all my Xmas gifts from Independents this year. As a soft toy wholesaler you have supported us all year and I would now like to return the favour.

So far I have bought some gorgeous quirky jewellery from The Tate, a skirt for my sister from Seasalt and best of all a hand made knitted purse/bag for my Mum from Ginger Fig (@gingerfig, www.gingerfig.co.uk) What my Mum can't make herself she already owns so I am particularly happy about finding something for her.

All of these gifts were ordered on Thursday/Friday and turned up on Saturday. All of them were better than expected, and all of them were at a price I don't think could have been beaten by a multiple so I am pretty thrilled with the start I have made.

Whats next? I am seriously considering a knitted door stop from Orchard Home and Gifts (www.theorchardhomeandgifts.co.uk ) My teenager says she can make one but I can't see that happening in time for Xmas, and there are some gorgeous bracelets in Make fashion www.makefashion.co.uk which I think are going to be coming our way.

This has led me to think is there anything I can't buy from Independent shops?

My nieces and nephews are brand obsessed so I wondered whether I would struggle to get them anything. Last year the girls all got Clinique skincare and branded make up but this year I am looking for organic equivalents. Anyone ideas of skincare/make up Independent shops? Please email me your shop names as I seriously want to buy from you.

And suggestions for brand obsessed, sports mad boys anyone? Given I have started looking in November I feel that I have enough time to find a suitable gift rather than a time constrained compromise.

An unconsidered benefit from shopping from Independents in this year is I am definitely feeling that I am closer to how the spirit of Xmas should be. Previously I would have gone in to a multiple, put as many things in to a basket as I could to make the queue worth while and just counted off the presents I had got. Whether the gift was exactly what the receipient wanted came 2nd to having achieved a gift at all! Now I am looking more carefully at what people want to see where I can buy it. My family's requirements have crept infront of my own convenience.

So shopping from Independents is also good for your soul. is there no end to the benefits?!

Which means that so far I have come up with just two things where I think price will drive me in to the multiples - My kids always get Xmas PJs and some CDs. Please prove me wrong and let me know any Independents I can buy these from.

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