This year, I have set myself the goal of shopping as local as possible during the festive period. My aim is to buy the majority of the gifts I am giving this Christmas from small, indie businesses around Wales.
On my hunt for the perfect presents, it’s been great to see what’s on offer from my favourite brands, discover wonderful family-run businesses and learn about the great things being created by Welsh people and businesses in Wales.
If you can this year, I encourage you to shop small and local wherever possible. To help you out with some gift inspiration, here’s a variety of Welsh businesses to check out and fill your stockings with. From books and coffee to clothes and crockery, there’ll be something for everyone (and maybe a few sneaky treats for yourself too)!
Hard Lines
Whether it’s just a treat for yourself or a gift for the coffee-lover in your life, Hard Lines’ Christmas coffee is a must-have. Check out the cute, festive little bags! (I also recommend an additional bag of House Party – one of my absolute faves).
Shelflife
Shelflife have some great options for book lovers! They have a selection of lovingly curated Christmas gift boxes for foodies, cycling enthusiasts, YA fans, outdoors-y types and more. Check out the full selection here.
Gwenyn Gruffydd
Take a look at the sweetest gift sets from Gwenyn Gruffydd, a family-run business making award winning Welsh honey in Carmarthenshire. The sets include options for shaped candles, reusable beeswax wraps and afternoon tea care packages!
The Lovely Little Stitch Co.
Katy creates beautiful handmade and bespoke embroidery hoops. Get your hands on a cute personalised Christmas hoop or a specially designed piece for a loved one.
Crock-Â-Shwt
Angharad makes beautiful hand-crafted, small-batch pottery celebrating the traditional and kitsch. From bowls and trinket dishes to vases and Christmas decorations, you’ll find a great one-of-a-kind gift to brighten up a loved one’s home.
Black and Beech
Perfect gifts for the feminist in your life. Black and Beech have everything from gorgeous knits and apparel to books, accessories and stationary. You can even get handmade feminist Christmas decorations!
Maggie’s Exotic Foods
From Penygroes, Maggie is delivering simple, delicious ways to add an African twist to an everyday dish. The Christmas spice kits, meal kits in a gift bag and sets of sweet and spicy sauces are a great gift idea for the foodie, cooking enthusiast or spice-lover in your life.
Rhinwedd
Organic, ethical, Welsh and tattoo-inspired clothing! Rhinwedd have a range of gorgeous t-shirts and hoodies featuring traditional tattoo style prints and Welsh language words and phrases. Whether you want subtle and stylish or bold and brilliant, they’ve got you covered.
Coaltown Coffee
Based in the small town of Ammanford, Coaltown Coffee are committed to boosting the local area with their ethical and sustainable coffee. They have a great range of Christmas coffee gift sets that are sleek, stylish and delicious! Check them out here.
Clecs
This responsible clothing brand is run by two Welsh-speaking sisters from Cardiff, and was created to celebrate a love of Wales and the environment. All of their garments, including a range of t-shirts, long sleeved t-shirts and sweatshirts are designed, produced and packaged in Cardiff. I’m a big fan of their Hiraeth pieces!
Paned o Gê
Teaming up with a host of queer businesses, Paned o Gê have created an exciting queer festive gift box featuring a book, tealight holder, keychain, stickers and more. Take a peek! You can also find a wide range of fiction and non-fiction books from Wales’ queer bookshop.
Crwst
Crwst is a beautiful cafe and bakery based in Cardigan that is delivering deliciousness in the form of DIY baking kits and a range of foodie gifts. They have a range of Christmas hampers to choose from (including winter desserts, vegan pancakes and crwstmas breakfast) and fun bake-at-home kits for someone who loves to spend time in the kitchen.
Black Mountain Print
Specialising in lino cuts and prints, Black Mountain Print create gorgeous artwork based around a love of Wales and the outdoors, as well as commissioned pieces so you can have something perfectly designed for a loved one.
Brontosaurus Vegan Shop
One of my favourite shops in Swansea! If you live in or around Swansea then I recommend putting in an order with Brontosaurus for all your vegetarian and vegan Christmas treats. They have vegan Christmas calendars, plant-based roasts for festive dinners and decadent vegan cheeses for an updated take on the classic Christmas cheese board!
Tangled Parrot
Whether you fancy popping in-store for a coffee and a browse in Swansea or Carmarthen, or just want to order online, Tangled Parrot have a great selection of new and second-hand vinyl for the music lover in your life.
MonsteraMartha
This Swansea-based illustrator makes wonderful and eco-friendly botanical prints and greetings cards. Find a perfect piece for a friend who loves quirky art and home décor, or get some of the cutest little Christmas cards to send this year.
Happy Christmas shopping!
Let me know if you choose to buy anything from these lovely businesses in Wales and if you have any other great recommendations for me to check out.
Shopping locally is always a idea! Looks like there are some terrific options for gift buying around Wales.