Caring this Christmas

A Gift Guide from The Editor

Some Xmas fun is off the table this year, but our usual festive desire to give and receive gifts can be satisfied better than ever – especially as most of us have some extra cash stashed due to various pandemic-based restrictions.

When going on a shopping spree, be it digital or in-person, buying local and thoughtful is more important than ever this year. Giddy Goat Toys in Didsbury is one of our favourites when it comes to presents for kids, but of course every village has its own treasure trove – whether it’s Pixie Children’s Clothes in Hale, Kids Exchange in Wilmslow, or Little Big Heads – where little customers can buy shiny shoes and have a trendy hair cut at the same time – in Bramhall and Altrincham. Please support your local shops, for a lot of them it’s a matter of survival!

●   The Toniebox is a toddler-proof speaker which arrived at the Giddy Goat Shop last Christmas and has proved itself popular ever since. A fantastic way for children to listen to their favourite stories and songs, and for adults to reclaim their phones, iPads, laptops or just some free time (to do Christmas chores and preparations, of course).

– £69.95

 
●   The stories are told via Tonies, magnetic characters sitting on the Toniebox. You can buy as many Tonie characters as you like, unless they are sold out due to their popularity.

– £14.99

 
Of course, there’s nothing wrong with our usual internet shopping. We’ve been doing it for ages, and this Christmas is not the time to stop. But when tapping away in search of your Christmas gift, do remember that Jeff Bezos can probably do without you, while a small enterprise round the corner, or far away for that matter, probably can’t. Don’t take me wrong, I entered into a marriage of convenience with Amazon quite some time ago, but my romantic alliances are still with fellow small businesses.

 
●   Speaking of e-shopping not far from home, here’s one we’d like to recommend this year. Bargain Edit is an online children’s boutique, with an office in Altrincham, run by a local mum. It specialises in designer clothing at discount prices. Nothing better than a good bargain just before Christmas, right? Here is some outfit ideas from Happyology and Brice.

Baby Girls Embroidery Shirt, 100% cotton outer – £10.00
Brown Check Pontil Trousers, 100% cotton – £12.00
Girls Merino Wool Cardigan, 55% superfine Merino wool, 25% nylon, 20% cotton – £20.00

●   If books are your thing and you have a little bookworm in your family, this story will grab your attention. Even more so if you believe in all things magical (as we all should at Christmas) and are particularly interested in Unicorns. ‘Rosie and the Unicorn’ is written by a mother and daughter from Manchester during the first lockdown. It can be bought from many independent shops and from Amazon (ok Jeff, you’ve won). The costs is £7.99 and all profits from sales of the book will go to the NHS, Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, and Young Minds.

Charities ought to be supported any time of the year, but at Christmas it’s a special tradition! We know that you’ll remember all your favourites, where you always buy your Christmas cards and make generous donations. But how about adding one more to your usual list?

Born Free is a wildlife charity supporting all wild animals, whether living in captivity or in the wild, and making sure they are treated with compassion and respect. Somehow, the name ‘Born Free’ really rings true in this year of Covid restrictions and adjustments.
 

●   There are a few ways of helping this great cause and sorting out your Christmas gifts at the same time. One is to adopt an animal. An adoption gift pack lasts one year, costs £36 and includes an adorable soft toy and a copy of the Adopt! magazine twice a year.

●   To encourage your kids to not only love animals, but know more about them you can subscribe to Hear the Roar Kids Club, where they’ll learn about wildlife, the natural world and the work that Born Free does around the world. Members receive a welcome pack full of goodies including a Hear the Roar membership embroidered patch, certificate, and a Superstars chart. Club members will also receive monthly e-newsletters as well as copies of Born Free’s bi-annual Hear the Roar magazine which is packed with fun activities, educational facts, inspirational conservation ideas, games and more. Membership costs £16 per year and is available from www.bornfree.org.uk/kids-club.

 
●   There are also a lot of cute and useful gifts you can purchase at www.bornfree.org.uk with a varying percentage of profits from these sales (depending on the product) going directly to Born Free.

Bespoke tiger print face masks – £9.99
Leopard print mugs – £10.00
A5 size hardcover giraffe print wire-bound notebooks – £10.00
Reusable, eco-friendly, leopard print thermal water bottles – £19.99

 
We wish you happy shopping and hope that you’ll get and give some beautiful gifts from the list above or other places we’d love to hear about. Although, being realistic and very statistically attuned this year we know that over 21 million of us receive at least one unwanted gift each Christmas, with 1 in 5 gifts ending up in landfill. That is the last thing we want to happen to our environment and our presents. You know what to do, don’t you? Local charities, of course.

Happy gifting from me and the team!

Related posts:

Little BigHeads is the Perfect Place to Shop Local for Your Christmas Gifts Christmas gifts for the house – how not to offend! Have a Giddy Christmas! Christmas @ Derwen Pivoting Plans: Christmas Family Fun in 2020