Whats gold and doesnāt work? Theresa Mayās front door key! Lols & lols. But replaced by Boris. Letās just move right on from thereā¦.
Anyway, I have to stop reading the paper and watching the news as much now because I just turn into angry-Jess. Kinda like the hulk but less green. And with a hard-Brexit looming for October which will probs involveĀ the UK not only leaving the EU but the single market and the customs union.Ā
Basically, Iāve said it before and Iāll say it again, small businesses are the backbone of the UK economy, and we all need toĀ stick together andĀ promote and shout about each other. There isĀ more than enoughĀ success to go around, so why not be jolly and make new mates in the process? In myĀ experience there aināt no Small-Business-owning-Mama that youĀ havenāt got something in common with: kids, business, cooking (or lack of it), messy houses, trying toĀ leave the house, drinking too much wine (on a Monday), trying to fit in work etc, weāve all got common ground.Ā
AnywayĀ I digress. I went to Holly Tuckerās (founder of notonthehighstreet.com & champion for small businesses) podcastĀ recording at the b.e.autifulĀ Manchester cathedral last week. I met up with some small business owners and we had a wine, chit chat andĀ listened to Holly as sheĀ interviewed MarkĀ Constantine from Lush (the bath bomb place!) Iāll pop a link HERE to her podcast Conversations of Inspiration. And what a bloody inspiration it was, I have titled this blogĀ āVote with your Moneyā as this is something Holly says all the time, and I found it very fitting having had that Boris-bafoon elected PM this week. Holly is currently running a campaign #votewithyourmoney which is all about shopping small & supporting theĀ independents. Actually thinking about where your money goes and spending more consciously: is the money you are spending going to line an already over-flowing fat-cats pockets? Or is it paying for swimming lessons for the Mum who is hustling on a night & running a business around raising a family?! Who are you impacting by your purchases choices? As Holly says: āEvery time you are spending your money you are casting a vote for the kind of world you wantā.Ā
On that note I would like to link to a few fabulous small businesses that you may like too:
Ā
- Betsy & ElsĀ Fabulous laser creations from the seaside!
- Little Letter GiftsĀ - making the 'thought count'
- Koko Blossom - fabulous & on-trend personalised giftsĀ
- Bespoke & Oak Co - lovely and traditional personalised giftsĀ
- Eleanor Bowmer - colourful prints to brighten your home
Also if you are a small biz/know any online small businesses, they may find this interestingā¦.
I'm gonna talk about the C word.....SOZ!
So, a few months ago I was going to start a newspaper for my local area (Clitheroe in Lancashire) promoting all the small businesses. However it was a lot of content to fill and also trying to find someone to deliver them was a ball ache, plus it was a not-for-profit thing and it was taking up loadsa time, plus because I work from home, I don't have a shop front anyway. I was just trying to boost my local high street. So it's gone on the back burner until I can come up with a way to do it!
I've recently had a re-thinkĀ and want to do a full colour newspaper but aiming it at small businesses to use as a type of funky advertising platform on the run up to Christmas. I'm putting this out there now as I want to start collecting stuff together for it and work on it a bit each week then have it ready to post out for people to have it around the beginning of November to peruse for Christmas presents.Ā
I want to pack it with small businesses' funky products, but try to keep costs down, so gift guides etc, interviews, things to do/maybe make but with the intention of helping boost sales for independent businesses at (sorry!!) Christmas time.Ā
This was the type of idea I had below, an actual funky but old-skool newspaper that you can read whilst taking 5 and having a brew. It will be called āSquiffy News - Small Business News (or something similar). If you are a (or know a) small online business & Ā you would like to be added to my list for initial information, pleaseĀ message me with your email on instagram HERE or email me on hello@squiffyprint.co.uk.Ā
On that note, go forth on social media and start helping boost your fave small businesses by liking, commenting & sharing their posts.Ā
Until next week, I love you and leave youā¦.