Handmade Over Hype: A Black Friday Rebellion
Forget the fake flash sales. This is about soul over scale — a celebration of people-powered business, craft with conscience, and the magic that lives in doing things differently.
Every year, the same storm rolls in. Countdowns. Cart timers. “Biggest sale ever!” I’m talking about Black Friday. It’s not a celebration – it’s a siege. Me? I’m unsubscribing from the chaos.
Black Friday doesn’t sit right with me. It never has. Not because I’m against a good deal – I just believe in fair pricing all year round. Calm buying. Considered choices. Work that holds value, not discounts.
When I make something – whether it’s a brand identity or a hand-painted sign – it’s designed to last. It’s made with intent. The kind of thing that earns its space in your shop, studio, or home. That doesn’t scream for attention but earns it through craft and care.
I’m not here to shout louder than Amazon. But I am here to remind you – there’s another way.
There are businesses doing it differently. People who’ve swapped security for creativity. Makers, breakers, dreamers and doers who dared to build their dream instead of fuelling someone else’s.
Below are a few of those legends I’ve had the joy of working with, supporting, or just quietly admiring from the sidelines.
Image: CWB
holly and co.
Swapping Black Friday for Colour Friday – and championing creative rebellion since day one.
Holly & Co are flying the flag for small businesses everywhere. They’re not just selling products – they’re building a movement. One that’s bold, bright, and unapologetically independent. Every item in their marketplace is made by a human with a dream. It’s proof that commerce can have heart – and colour.
PS: I’m proud to have a little corner of my own in their store. Come say hi.
deck and dagger
No screens. No rush. Just good times around a table.
Deck and Dagger are reimagining how we spend time together. With handcrafted games and immersive painting sessions, they’ve created a space where conversations flow, creativity is sparked and phones get forgotten. They’re bringing people back to the table – one board game at a time.
PRESSED AND FOLDED
Design you can touch. Products with soul.
Pressed and Folded keep things tactile and timeless. Their hand-pulled prints and linocuts celebrate slow design, crafted the old-fashioned way. Each piece is beautifully imperfect – like a good story, it’s meant to be held, not scrolled past.
BØF
Meet Zander. A butcher with passion, purpose and proper chops.
BOF isn’t just a butcher – it’s a beacon of local pride. Zander has built a loyal following by doing the simple things right: quality produce, zero BS and a deep respect for his trade. It’s not just meat. It’s community, connection, and a reminder that you don’t need to sell your soul to sell something.
MILLIE MOON 
Where craft lives, breathes and blooms on the streets of Frome.
Millie Moon is more than a haberdashery. It’s a colourful, creative hub that’s kept craft alive on the high street. Whether you’re sewing your first cushion or your fiftieth quilt, this space welcomes you with open arms, bursting with fabric and expert advice. It’s the kind of shop that makes you want to make something.
When you buy from a small business, you’re not just buying a “thing”. You’re backing someone’s risk. Their late nights. Their “let’s-just-try-this” moments. You’re keeping creativity alive. You’re fuelling local economies. You’re reminding the world that not everything has to come in a brown Amazon box.
So this Christmas, shop small. Buy local.
And know that every penny spent with someone like me or the folks above helps build a better way of doing business – one full of colour, craft and community.
Got a favourite independent business that deserves support? Go show them some love this season. Buy the “thing”. Share the post. Tell your mates. Let’s rewrite the rules – one independent purchase at a time. ✌️
