At Along avec Anna, we’re passionate about supporting small businesses, because we know only too well how grateful we feel when customers choose to support our business over larger, more established brands. With this in mind, I’d like to share some of the products and businesses that have caught my eye for the Summer season, to embrace this time of year (my favourite!) while putting our money where it makes a difference. So here are my top five picks for Summer, from small, independent, UK-based businesses:
Image source: https://www.themindfulapothecary.co.uk/products/lemon-verbena-bay-basil-garden-candle-bowl
I’ve had the pleasure of trying out Sarah’s wonderful aromatherapy products before, and was very excited when I saw her latest Summer release! This candle is scented with a blend of essential oils that are not only formulated for their mood-boosting properties and digestion support, but, thanks to the inclusion of citronella, also keep the bugs at bay during those long Summer evenings outside! And maybe the best bit is that, even after the candle is all gone, you get to keep the beautiful terracotta pot, and perhaps even plant something in it!
It’s also worth highlighting that all of The Mindful Apothecary’s products are 100% natural, organic and palm oil free – what’s not to love!
Image source: https://mindthecork.com/products/onda-sol-cork-vase-duo
What better way to bring summer’s abundance indoors than with these stunning, contemporary cork vases. They would look fabulous as an elegant and unique centerpiece for a dinner party, or as a beautiful and minimalist addition to a bookcase display. Mind the Cork takes advantage of the fact that natural cork is an amazingly sustainable material. It is completely biodegradable and can be harvested without any damage to the tree, allowing the woodlands to sustain an incredible biodiversity and sequester carbon. Find out more about this fascinating material on the website, and check out the whole collection of stylish cork products!
Image source: https://baxbees.co.uk/shop/multifloralhoney/july-blossom-honey/
Living in Liverpool, Bax Bees is my absolute favourite local honey. They are truly passionate about sustainable bee-keeping and this is reflected in the incredible quality of their raw honey (a true superfood!). Their July blossom honey is the taste of summer in a jar – sweet, floral and incredibly morish. I certainly have been known to eat it by the spoonful… They also sell a range of other fantastic products, such as beeswax candles, mead and more! While I love visiting their shop filled to the brim with bee-based goodies in Cheshire, they do also ship all around the UK.
Image source: https://www.marthabrook.com/product/leather-effect-gardening-journal/
This journal went to the top of my wishlist as soon as it was released earlier this Summer! It’s the perfect planner to take advantage of the growing season and stay organised. Keeping notes on gardening (on whatever scale) is wonderful way to keep a record of successes (as well as failures…) ready to start all over again next year with more information. And what a lovely keepsake to store all your green-fingered thoughts – you can even get it personalised!
Image source: https://www.teaspoon-tea.co.uk/products/summer-tea-loose-leaf-tea
If you’re like me, then tea is for drinking all year long, not just the colder months! And you can’t beat a quality loose leaf tea for flavour. This summer tea has a deliciously floral blend of black tea, marigold blossom, rose petals, safflower petals, and mallow blossom. Why not treat yourself and make it as an iced tea sweetened with some honey stirred in and sipped outside in the sun?
What small businesses have you supported this year? What would you add to my list? Let me know in the comments! We’d love your help to discover more unique brands! And if you enjoyed this article, check out our Top Tips for Shopping Smaller for lots more inspiration!
As always, we’d love to hear from you, in the comments below or on Instagram! You can tag us at @along.avec.anna or use the hashtag #alongavecanna!
