Local independent retailers celebrate Small Business Saturday

Rochdale Small Business Saturday

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Local independent retailers celebrated Small Business Saturday (3 December) with an event at the Rochdale Exchange Shopping Centre.

Retailers present were selling everything from beauty goods and candles to jewellery and baby clothes and much more. It was the first Small Business Saturday event most of the retailers Rochdale Online spoke with had been to.

Nicky, of Aromaflow, can usually be found on Rochdale Market on Fridays, Saturdays and Mondays. Aromaflow specialise in handmade fragranced wax melts and candles, incense and bathbombs. This was Nicky’s first time at Small Business Saturday and she said how pleased she was to be invited.

Also exhibiting was Isabella’s Baby Boutique, run by Kirsty, who usually operates from her home in Milnrow. She set up the boutique three months after the birth of her daughter, Isabella, who gave the business her name.

Kirsty offers handmade children’s clothing, including bespoke Christmas and birthday sets. Each item can be customised, including embroidery and printing. Isabella’s Baby Boutique was also nominated at the Rochdale Business Awards, something she was thrilled about as the business is only six months old.

Artisan Alley, run by Helen Yates, offers hand crocheted items from umbilical cord ties to clothing to accessories, including Christmas decorations and CE certified toys for babies and toddlers. Helen, who has been in business for four years and operates from her home in Rochdale, says every item can be customised and made to order.

Greg Couzens was displaying his handmade shampoo bars. A novel concept, the bars are made from the finest ingredients with essential oils and can be found in various stockists around Rochdale, including Gregory Couzens Hair Studio.

Greg, who has been making the bars for about one year, says each bar is equivalent to three bottles of shampoo. He said: “Each bottle of shampoo is about 95% water. If you take that and the packaging away, this is what you’re left with.”

Mother and daughter duo, Amy and Clare Norton were also at their first Small Business Saturday event with their business, Amelia Alice Jewellery. Each item is handmade by Clare, who Amy says is ‘very talented, although she’d never admit it’. The pair are based in Norden and create unique pieces, including intricate beadwork and breathing new life into old, vintage parts through upcycling to a new use. The business began in 2012 after Clare initially picked up the craft as a hobby when Amy’s sister fell ill.

Toni’s Trinkets, based in Rochdale, offers unique handmade wooden gifts for all occasions. Owner Toni started the business after she was pregnant and created her family tree. Friends began to ask her for theirs, only made out of something sturdier, and so her wooden tree was born. She began expanding her items, including custom pieces and makes everything to order.

Andy Sharples of Wardle-based Cruise Holidays, said: “It’s our first time here; it’s good to see the shopping centre promoting small businesses.”

Cruise Holidays is in its fourth year and offer holidays in addition to cruise packages.

Mike Masterson, local membership advisor of the Federation of Small Businesses, was present to show his support of the Small Business Saturday organisation. The Federation is a not-for-profit business which supports the scheme.