We all want to do our bit for the planet and live a more sustainable life but come Christmas time, what with gift lifts and endless gatherings, it can all get a little bit difficult to stay on track.
“Everybody wants to have a sustainable Christmas and one of the best ways to do that is to shop locally.” -Tracey, Kitchen Garden Cafe.
To help with gift buying this year, we’ve put together some top picks for where you can gift shop locally. The environmental benefits of shopping local are endless – by purchasing products that are made right here in our community you’ll not only reduce your own food and transit miles, but also those that produce the products too! Plus local produce is often organic which means producers don’t need to use nasty pesticides to keep them fresh. And, of course, you’ll be supporting a local workforce, which not only keeps our community unique but also means you’ll have more choice right on your doorstep too. Also, when you buy from a small business, more of your money is used to make purchases from other local businesses and service providers that help strengthen the economic base of the community. Last but not least, if you’re just popping down to the High Street for your Christmas Shop, you are already reducing your environmental impact by using less transportation! Small choices make a big difference.
“Kings Heath is a great place to shop for affordable Christmas presents, you can get everything you need without going anywhere else.”
HONEST – 34 Poplar Road
Let’s kick things off with one of our favourite ethical shops in Kings Heath, Honest Skincare (## address). Honest are an independent organic skincare brand loved by people far and wide. All of their products are crafted by hand and don’t contain ANY synthetic ingredients. Even their packaging is simple, biodegradable and reusable, and all products are only tested on people, never animals.
The team at Honest have put together a special Christmas gift set range that’s available in-store and online. This set contains a black cardamom room mist, sleep mist, dark patchouli candle, sandalwood incense and a palo Santo bundle. Or if you want to build your own gift set, just ask in store and the staff would be more than happy to help create your present. Alternatively, if you’re gifting for a loved one that likes to choose their own gift Honest also offer digital and store gift cards. These can even be used on spa treatments, from facials to holistic back, face and scalp treatments and even massages.
GRACE & JAMES – 23 York Road
Grace & James specialise in wine, local beer and British & European cheese and charcuterie. They specifically pick wines that are organic, biodynamic and are made by winemakers who respect the environment by avoiding the use of additives, chemicals and pesticides. You know what this means… you can purchase a bottle or two for your nearest and dearest without feeling guilty about it! They also offer gift cards if you can’t decide which bottle to buy from their huge selection!
KITCHEN GARDEN CAFE & SHOP – 17 York Road
Along with their amazing Santas Wildlife Grotto, (blog post link) Kitchen Garden Cafe & Shop stock a HUGE array of eco-friendly products that make perfect gifts. From gardening tools, recycling gifts and beeswax wraps. Did you know they also stock artwork from over 120 local artists?! They also offer gift vouchers to either use in-store or even on an experience day! They regularly host arts and craft sessions and a gardening club too, so if you’d like to show some body how much you appreciate them with a day out or workshop activity, then this is the place for you!
ENKI – 30 High Street
Enki was founded by Faith, a Birmingham trained jeweller who wanted to make a small contribution towards saving the dying indie-jewellery trade from high street chains and computer-aided technology. As well as repairing old jewellery, Enki also offer a personal service creating bespoke jewellery! They also offer classes to share their skills with everyone else! This lovely store stocks lots and lots of products from local independent craftspeople, from baby clothes, cards, pottery, cushions and the most beautiful jewellery. Guaranteed you will find plenty to purchase here!
HARE AND HOUNDS – 106 High Street
If you know someone that is an avid gig-goer, why not buy them some tickets for a show at the Hare and Hounds? The music venue veterans have gigs nearly every night, so guaranteed you’ll find something they would love to see!
“Kings Heath has so much to choose from, lots of lovely independent shops as well as main stream chains.”
THE GYM – Unit 1 Findlay Road
We all know that when January comes around, we all feel a sudden urge to kickstart healthy habits and work off all those mince pies consumed over the festive break. So why not get ahead of the game and buy a friend a gym membership? It can be your joint new year resolution! The newly renovated The Gym has some great introductory offers, ranging from only £6.99 for a single visit to £22.98 a month for multiple gym access, free classes and you can even bring a friend for free!
KINGS HEATH PET CENTRE – 43 York Road
If you need a gift for the little animal friend in your life, look no further than Kings Heath Pet Centre. They offer a massive selection of toys, food and equipment for more animals than you can think of. But also if you’re looking to buy a pet for someone, they also have plenty to choose from too. Just remember, a pet is for life not just for Christmas!
XOVER NUTRITION – 61 The Parade
Xover Nutrition is a family run business that’s been thriving in Kings Heath since 2018. Their belief is that vegan, natural, ethical and cruelty-free products should be easily available to everyone. They stock a wide range of natural and plant-based items and over 1000 products in-store and online. So we can guarantee you will find something here to purchase for Christmas presents.
