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Northumberland Small Business Saturday 2025: Our Gift Guide to Shop Indie
- by Natalie Wood
Small Business Saturday is a nationwide campaign, happening on Saturday 6th December 2025. It aims to encourage people to shop small and shop local. It’s a great way to just spread some happiness before Christmas! It matters even more to us here in Northumberland as it seems everybody is feeling the pinch a bit this year and running a small business is harder than ever! We want to boost the local independents that we have, build community spirit and encourage even more female-founders and creative makers.
Keep reading this post for our favourite Northumberland small businesses plus, our own empowering gift picks!
What is Small Business Saturday?
Originally started by American Express, Small Business Saturday is now on it’s 13th year in the UK and it needs us all to get involved to keep it going from strength-to-strength.
Small Business Saturday UK | Another year making a Big Difference!
Buying gifts from a small business in Northumberland aims to get money flowing back into your local community (rather than Amazon and Temu etc), build strong links with the lovely people who put their heart and soul into their businesses and end up with personal and unique gifts that mean something! Shopping from small businesses means that the gifts you buy mean something to the seller, to you and to the person you’re buying for.
Why it Matters in Northumberland
After years of towns becoming run-down with high-street chain stores closing left, right and centre, Northumberland is now seeing a real surge of emerging independent businesses. Local markets, makers, crafters and bakers, to name a few, are popping up with charming little shops everywhere, and we’d love to help them stay successful. Buying local keeps jobs, money and soul in your local community in a world where regular human connections are harder to come by. We’re also loving the emerging trend of female small business owners, we want to help encourage women and girls with enterprising brains and I hope we can all agree that a community with strong women at its heart, is a lovely thing to be a part of!
We started Laughing Sisters after Stephanie suddenly became very ill and had to shut down her business, we needed personal, hilarious and uplifting gifts and so, decided we’d be the people to provide them! This just shows that when you buy from a small business, you could be helping people with a range of back-stories, and your purchase will mean more to them than you know!
10 Indie Brands we Love (and Why You Should Too)
1. Sorella – Hexham
A lovely little shop filled with stunning womenswear, accessories, gifts and homeware. Plus, it’s run by Moira, a fantastic and smiley woman who always has time for a chat!
Sorella (@sorellahexham) • Instagram photos and videos
2. Chapter 38 – Corbridge
A beautiful women’s clothes and accessories shop in the heart of Corbridge run by a lovely woman, if you’re lucky you might get a little cuddle with her chihuahua too! The challenge is trying to narrow it down!
Chapter 38 Corbridge – Chapter 38 Corbridge
3. Coffuffle – Corbridge
Pop in and see Philip for all your chocolate gift needs, the truffles are incredible, the gift boxes are lovely and, if you’re feeling the Christmas shopping fatigue, the coffee is fantastic too!
Coffuffle at Corbridge (@coffuffle) • Instagram photos and videos
4. Lilac & Thyme – Northumberland
Run by Bernice from her farm in rural Northumberland, she creates beautiful scented soaps, diffusers, perfumes and more. We’ve met her at local gift fairs and she always has a smile on her face and is ready for a chat! Also stocked in various small independents across the county such as French and Wilder in Hexham (French & Wilder (@frenchandwilder) • Instagram photos and videos), Allendale Forge (Allendale Forge Studios) and Jaspah Crewe in Blanchland (Jaspah Crewe Gift Shop (@jaspah_crewe) • Instagram photos and videos), all of which are worth a visit for Northumbrian indie gift inspiration!
5. Pure Plants – Hexham
Who doesn’t love a house plant? If you can keep them alive that is! One of our personal favourites if you’re looking for a gift for your green-fingered friends! Julie is friendly, knowledgeable and non-judgemental (as somebody who has been in and asked for something that won’t die if I forget about it)!
Indoor Plants | Pure Plants Hexham Peat-free Houseplant Shop
6. Baby at the Bank – Corbridge
If you’re looking for new mum and baby gifts from a family-run, female-led local shop then look no further! They stock a beautiful collection of baby clothes, toys, books and more, plus, they’ll even gift-wrap it for you if you ask nicely!
Baby at the Bank – Baby at the Bank
7. Jewellery – Hexham and Corbridge
We are truly spoilt with fantastic hand-made jewellery businesses in Northumberland, here are a few of our favourites stocking gorgeous items to suit all budgets from impulse purchase to bespoke heirloom!
Kirsty Taylor Jewellery – Corbridge for a friendly and welcoming shop and collections with a local nod. Although they make incredible quality pieces, I have a few pairs of earrings from here for less than £25 and they’re still perfect hundreds of wears later!
Kirsty Taylor Jewellery Goldsmiths Corbridge Northumberland – Kirsty Taylor Goldsmiths
Lolla Mac – Hexham specialists in silver and mixed-metal jewellery with a more rustic feel. Plus, they run workshops so you can learn how to make your own… what a gift!
Handcrafted Sterling Silver & Mixed Metal Jewellery
Sarah Hickey Jewellery – Hexham for a beautiful shop ready to browse and bespoke one-of-a-kind pieces to last a lifetime.
Hand-forged Jewellery made in Northumberland - Sarah Hickey Jewellery
8. Laughing Sisters
Of course, not forgetting ourselves, we’ve saved the best for last! Just kidding… sort of… Anyway! We stock gift from the hilarious to the heartfelt, all sourced from UK designers. You can even send gifts straight to the recipient with a hand-written note.
Laughing Sisters Online Gift Shop - Funny & Thoughtful Gifts for Women
Our Empowering Gift Picks for Small Business Saturday
1. Badass Women: Inspirational Illustrated Book
Full of stories throughout history to now, of strong, empowering and sassy women… what’s not to love? The perfect gift for your feminist friend or impressionable teenager.
2. Empowering ‘Happy than Dignified’ Large Tote Bag
If you want a gift that is useful and classy, yet uplifting and full of attitude this high-quality tote bag is ideal.
3. ‘My Sister Thinks I’m AWESOME’ Handmade Scented Candle
One we’re especially proud of, our range of funny candle collabs… our hilarious design (we think so anyway) paired with LollyRocket’s beautiful quality hand-poured candles… what a gift!
4. Ladies ‘Rise and Shine B*tches’ Socks
Need we say more? Bright, comfy, funny and empowering… all that from a pair of socks for just £7! Plus, they’re in our famous 3 pairs for £18 multi-buy deal.
5. ‘Eat Up B*tches’ Dish Towel
On one hand it has a beautifully classy William Morris sort of vibe to the pattern… on the other it’s a hilarious tea towel with attitude. The best of both worlds!
How You Can Support Small Businesses This Christmas
There are so many ways to support a small business at Christmas, and the rest of the year round too! The best bit? It can be completely free! Try these:
1. Sign up to your favourite local independents mailing lists
2. Share posts on social media and tag friends, or just go for traditional word-of-mouth, tell everybody about the fantastic products and independent brands you love!
3. Leave enthusiastic reviews when you’ve shopped somewhere lovely. Not only will it help the business, it’ll put a giant smile on the owner’s face.
4. If you do have the money, shop local first! Write your list and go and see what you can find from small businesses before going to the big boys. You’ll make somebody’s day, find unique gifts and keep the money local too!
Ready to Support Small Business Saturday in Northumberland?
Thank you for getting involved! Please feel free to share this post if you loved it!
Browse our full range of options on our website, or visit our Girl-Power collection if empowerment is your vibe!
If you sign up to our email list you get 10% off your first order and FREE delivery when you spend over £30.
Remember to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Pinterest for more thoughtful gift ideas and to generally see us make a fool of ourselves for your entertainment!
Lots of love,
Natalie & Steph
The Laughing Sisters
