Shopping

How to support your favourite Mancunian small businesses this summer

After a turbulent 18 months, it’s more important now than ever to support our independent businesses.

Daisy Bradbury Daisy Bradbury - 16th July 2021

Small businesses, boutiques and independent labels are the bread and butter of Manchester, they’re our beating heart.

However, after a difficult year of store closures and mapping a pandemic, our local businesses may not be as safe as we once presumed.

If we want these boutiques to always be around the corner, it’s crucial we keep supporting them.

If times are tight and you can’t shell out loads of cash doing so, not to worry! Here are some of the best alternative ways to support your local creatives.

Small businesses need our help more than ever / Image: Tim Mossholder via Pexels

Leave a review

We’ve all been there before – about to book a table at a restaurant or visit a new coffee shop, but we can’t help but check the reviews beforehand just in case.

Too often, we will leave a negative review if we’re dissatisfied with the service, but people rarely think to leave some positive words when they have enjoyed something.

Not only will your praise mean the world to a small business owner, it will also help potential customers make an informed decision when visiting.

Interact with their social media posts

Due to the pandemic, a lot of local businesses have shifted their efforts online, either fully abandoning their brick-and-mortar stores or putting more focus on a website.

Therefore, social media is an invaluable tool for many independents trying to reach new audiences and attract customers.

A little really goes a long way – sharing Facebook posts, mentioning them in an Instagram story or liking their TikToks take two seconds, yet could make a massive difference.

Recommend them to friends

If you love a certain small business, chances are your friends and family will too.

Why not introduce them to your latest discovery in Manchester’s independent scene? You never know, they might just fall in love with it.

Plus, it feels great as a small business owner to know that people are talking about your work and loving it.

Something as simple as leaving a review can make a huge difference to independents / Image: Rachel Claire via Pexels

Shop with them for presents

From Mother’s Day to graduation and everything in between, there’s always another occasion or event to buy gifts for.

Instead of doing a quick Amazon order or shopping from a global chain, why not support a local creative and shop from their store to find the perfect piece?

Chances are you’ll find something unique that can’t be found anywhere else, plus the dedication and effort to find the perfect piece will definitely gain you some bonus friendship points.

Purchase a gift card

Gift cards don’t have to be a present, you can even use them yourself when making purchases.

This is a great way to show your loyalty and return to the store numerous times to try something new.

If you can’t physically get into their store (or, worst-case scenario, we enter more restrictions), this is a great way to still demonstrate your support.

Neglect the chain when treating yourself

Whether it’s an iced coffee and cake on a summer’s day, or splurging on a fancy dress, why not turn towards a small business when treating yourself?

It’s easy to visit your local chain and buy something, but chances are you’ll pay a similar price for a much nicer product (plus an incredible evening) by staying local.

Even if it’s only something small, these swaps will make a massive difference in the long run.

Businesses are trying to recover after a tough 18 months / Image: Amina Filkins via Pexels

Show your appreciation

Above all, remember to be a nice customer! Don’t hide it if you like something – you can guarantee the owners will love to hear about it!

Visiting a local small business with a smile on your face and telling the staff how much you love their work may seem like a small act, but in reality it’ll make their day.

While this doesn’t help in terms of money, that positive experience may just be the motivation they need to continue with their craft.

Featured Image – Manchester Northern Quarter

Shopping

12 exciting new openings you NEED to know about at Cheshire Oaks over this past year

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant Cheshire Oaks is hosting a FREE exclusive gig this summer to celebrate its 30th anniversary

Cheshire Oaks is already the UK’s largest designer outlet, but it’s been getting even bigger and better this past year.

Since originally opening back in 1995, the iconic shopping destination has gone from strength to strength over the past 30 years, having been extended on a number occasions to now boast more than 400,000 sq ft of retail space.

With over 4,000 employees and more than 21 million items sold annually across 140 stores and 19 food outlets, it’s safe to say Cheshire Oaks stands as the go-to destination in North West – and if it wasn’t already a shopper’s paradise enough as it is, 12 businesses have either opened their doors or had a refurb at the Designer Outlet within this past year.

If you were thinking of planning a trip to Cheshire Oaks, then now couldn’t be a more ideal time, so let us bring you up to speed on everything you may have missed.

We popped over recently to check out all the new openings.

Nike

There’s not much we need to say about Nike, really.

It’s already a world-famous sportswear brand, and has been a popular presence at Cheshire Oaks for a good number of years now, but late last year in October, the store had itself a show-stopping upsized refit, and is now the largest Nike outlet in the UK, so it’s well worth a visit.

PANGAIA

This is an exciting one, as this is the only Pangaia outlet store in the UK.

Opening its doors at Cheshire Oaks in early November last year, PANGAIA is an ethical clothing and lifestyle brand that designs products for ‘living in’, and prides itself of producing products with smart technology and using as many sustainable materials as possible.

Lindt

Lindt was already a go-to destination for chocolate lovers at Cheshire Oaks, but last summer, it moved to a bigger – and many would say, better – new location at the outlet, and has been satisfying the sweet tooth of thousands of shoppers this year.

The new location has an ice cream window, and was even one of the first few stores to get the limited-edition Dubai Pistachio Chocolate when it first released.

Nike, Joe & The Juice, and Lindt are three of the brands to open new or bigger stores at Cheshire Oaks / Credit: The Manc Group

Joe & the Juice

You may remember that Joe & The Juice opened its doors in Manchester city centre early this year, and it was a huge deal, with juice and Tunacado-loving fans lining the streets to become one of the first to step inside – but before that, the viral brand actually arrived at Cheshire Oaks fist.

Joe & The Juice opened at Cheshire Oaks last August, making it the brand’s first outlet location at the time, and it’s the perfect place to stop off for a bite to eat.

Gail’s

Another viral brand to open its first-ever outlet location at Cheshire Oaks last year was Gail’s Bakery, bringing its artisan bakes into the heart of the shopping experience and providing customers with a comforting place to refuel.

The opening of Gail’s at Cheshire Oaks last October was one of a number of other North West openings, including several in Greater Manchester and Cheshire.

Crocs

Arguably no brand has had a bigger resurgence these past couple of years than Crocs, which is why it was such a big deal that the first dedicated Crocs store to open in the UK since its return to the country was at Cheshire Oaks last summer.

Opening its doors in June 2024, Cheshire Oaks’ Crocs store is the perfect place to hit up if you’re looking for a pair of your own.

Viral bakery chain Gail’s, and English luxury clothing brand Sunspel have also opened doors / Credit: The Manc Group

Barbour

Barbour is a family-owned British heritage brand that was established in the North East of England all the way back in 1894, and since then, has gone on to become a beloved part of the country’s fashion landscape.

So it was only right that Barbour got to move into an even bigger and better store at Cheshire Oaks last summer.

Abercrombie & Fitch

We may have already talked about one brand’s big resurgence, but Abercrombie & Fitch is another global label that’s also been enjoying renewed popularity in recent years – so it only made sense that it would open an outlet location at Cheshire Oaks.

The American fashion brand known for its trendy, collegiate-inspired casualwear and accessories opened last November.

Sunspel

Founded in Nottingham back in 1860, Sunspel is an English luxury clothing brand that’s best known for boxer shorts, t-shirts, and polo shirts, and it opened its first and only outlet location over at Cheshire Oaks last August.

You can also shop inside new Abercrombie & Fitch, ESPA, and Crocs stores / Credit: The Manc Group

ESPA

A staple in spas nationwide, ESPA is a well-loved luxury skincare brand producing products that go beyond the everyday skincare regimen to nourish and nurture your skin – but up until April of this year, you could only ever find the products online or in spas themselves.

That was until ESPA opened its first-ever – and to this day, only – physical store at Cheshire Oaks, and it’s so stunning inside.

Kids Around

Cheshire Oaks isn’t just a Designer Outlet for grown-ups, its a kids’ shopping paradise too.

That’s why Kids Around opened its doors last June with a ‘unique experience’ bringing together the most beautiful high-end children’s fashion collections – with brands such as Givenchy, Marc Jacobs, Kenzo Kids, Hugo Boss, and Chloé to choose from.

Chit ‘n’ Chaat

Chit ‘n’ Chaat is an absolute Manchester institution at this point – no arguments there.

The beloved Indian street food restaurant is Manchester born and bred, and already has a number of popular locations in places like Cheadle, Rusholme, Deansgate Square, and most-recently the Trafford Centre, but in case you didn’t know, it also opened a new site at Cheshire Oaks earlier this year in April too.

So if you’re looking for a place to stuff your face before shopping till you drop, then stop off here for a proper Indian feast.

Read more:

You can find out more and plan your next trip to Cheshire Oaks by heading to the Designer Outlet’s website here.

Featured Image – Cheshire Oaks

Shopping

Inside Great Britain’s first EVER Primark Home store

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Primark Home is opening this weekend at Trafford Palazzo

Primark has opened its first standalone Primark Home store in Great Britain, packed full of interiors and lifestyle bits at bargain prices.

The much-loved affordable retailer will throw open the doors to Primark Home at Trafford Palazzo this Friday, selling everything from bathroom bits and kitchenware, to soft furnishings, bedroom decor and LOADS of pumpkins

Whether you’re building a fun and feminine bedroom with fluffy pillows and slogan cushions, or a sleek living space with a boucle storage bench and hanging plants.

There are plenty of items for gifting and little treats too, like hot water bottles, candles and scented diffusers.

Autumn has hit Primark Home hard – expect pumpkin cushions, pumpkin and maple scented candles, garlands made of pale frosted leaves, burnt orange throw cushions and even ceramic vases with 3D pumpkins. It’s all known as the ‘harvest range’.

The huge new space is broken down by room. In the bedroom section you’ll find throw blankets, full bedding sets, fluffy rugs and wooden coat hangers.

For bathroom, there are pop-up laundry baskets, soft towel sets, gorgeous ceramic soap dispensers and matching toothbrush holders, and even aesthetic toilet brushes.

Primark Home is opening this weekend at Trafford Palazzo
Primark Home is opening this weekend at Trafford Palazzo
Seasonal items like pumpkins are rife
Seasonal items like pumpkins are rife
Slogan cushions in Primark Home
Slogan cushions in Primark Home
Bathroom bits at Primark Home
Bathroom bits at Primark Home

Kitchen bits include serving platters, tea towels, crockery, glassware and storage jars.

You’ll even find a full travel section where you can pick up luggage, packing cubes, travel pillows, eye masks, wireless headphones, and phone cases.

There are themed collections too, like the Hello Kitty and Friends x Primark range, Disney’s Stitch x Primark, and even a Wednesday x Primark range of gothic bedding and accessories.

While everything is typically priced at the lower end, as per Primark’s niche, there is a new Primark Edit range of more high-end, luxury homewares including crockery, bath robes, and fragrances.

From Friday 5 September to Sunday 7 September, Trafford Palazzo will host a series of events designed to inspire your home life and to celebrate the arrival of Primark Home.

The full schedule of events at Trafford Palazzo

  • Adult Evening Workshop at EL&N: Make a Macramé Wall Hanging | Friday 5 September | 7pm-9pm
  • Interior Talks with Bradley Dreha | Saturday 6 September | 12pm – 12:30pm | 2:00pm-2:30pm
  • Small Business Pop-ups | Saturday 6 September and Sunday 7 September |12pm – 4pm

Featured image: The Manc Group

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