Today is Small Business Saturday, a marketing initiative created by American Express in the UK with an aim to shine a light on independent shops that make a city its own.
In Carlisle, we’re blessed with some real gems, so we’ve put together a list of just some of the ones you should check out for Christmas presents this year.
Castle Chocolates
Now on Fisher Street, Castle Chocolates is the city’s only independent chocolatier and has been in business for over five years.
It’s for good reason too, as they use the highest-quality ingredients in their chocolate which is made fresh in store for the people of Carlisle and the surrounding fringes of the Lake District.
Their white, milk, dark and classic collections use traditional chocolate-making techniques and combine old family favourite flavours with modern twists, and their ‘Cosmic Collection’ uses coloured cocoa butter to create beautifully marbled chocolates.
Chocolate is a classic Christmas gift, so why not eschew the chains and supermarkets and try this place out?
Flutter and Fern
A firm favourite for the city, Flutter and Fern is the place for people who already have everything, but demand something each year anyway.
There’s guaranteed to be something unique and whimsical in store at this delightful little shop on Rosemary Lane, and most of their stuff is small and easy to wrap and send.
From cutesy but artsy enamel pins to candles and ornaments galore, Flutter and Fern is the place to be for gifts of all occasions.
Bookends
We feel like a broken record here but there’s a reason we can’t stop talking about Bookends when it comes to these listicles – they’re one of the best bookshops, let alone independent bookshops, in the north.Â
Stocking all the latest bestsellers and a great selection of children’s literature, Bookends is also home to ‘Bookcase’, its second-hand and vintage book shop linked to it.
This is where it becomes something truly unique – a colourful cavern of books of infinite variety, from vintage annuals to high-quality antiques and there’s a bounty of local literature, you’re bound to walk out with something even if you never intended to – just make sure you don’t get lost, it’s quite extensive!
Luna Amatores
One of the city’s premier metaphysical supply shops, Luna Amatores stocks all your witchy needs as well as beautiful crystals and other ornaments.
Before the shop was set up on Castle Street, Luna Amatores was seen at various pop-ups and now is a welcome addition to our small but diverse high street.
You don’t have to be a user of magic to enjoy this shop’s wares, though, plenty of the jewellery and crystals make gorgeous ornaments and accessories as they are, and of course, fabulous gifts.
Vinyl Cafe
Perhaps the most unique cafe in town, Vinyl Cafe is both a fantastic record shop and a small cafe in the back.
Their stock is constantly changing and they’ll usually have the newest and most popular releases for record collectors and casual spinners alike, as well as a decent selection of second-hand discs.
They’re also an ardent participant of Record Store Day which, if you didn’t know, is one of the saving graces for independent music shops that both encourages people to visit their local store and also involves unique and very limited releases distributed to various shops.
Make the music head in your family happy, and support a local shop, by shopping here for Christmas this year.