What Does Christmas Mean to You?

Each year as Christmas approaches or just after the ‘big day’ I usually say, “next year I will do it differently’.  However saying and doing are not quite the same and the years come and go and hey I’m saying and doing exactly the same thing. So what does Christmas mean to you?  Christmas has meaning for me on a spiritual level but all the materialism and sentimentalism can sometimes minimise the essence of this special time of year. Even if you don’t look at it from a religious perspective it’s easy to get lost in the frivolity.  

Perhaps we need to ask ourselves  

·         What do we want from Christmas?

·         What do we get from Christmas?

·         What is a reasonable amount of money to spend at Christmas?

·         Does how much we spend equate with how much we love someone? 

As a small business owner, I am hoping to sell gifts for Christmas so I am trying to look at the questions with 2 hats on.   

Hat 1 is as a consumer, a mum, wife, gran and friend. What I want from Christmas is a time to think about love, friendships and family along with time to think about what gifts they would like to receive.  I’d also like more time to spend with those I am closest to. 

For me, time is one of the most important gifts we can give to people, yet as Christmas approaches we frequently run out of it and the hopes we had to ‘do things differently’ dissolve into panic buying, rushing around and feeling frustrated and unfulfilled. When this happens we can feel we don’t get much from ‘Christmas’ except stress and a large credit card bill. 

I’m lucky to have lots of people to buy for at Christmas and love to give gifts they like.  I try not to focus on how much they spend on me and give accordingly.  So, to be honest, I don’t tend to buy expensive gifts and do my best to keep within my budget. 

So, does how much we spend on an individual reflect on how much we love them?  I used to get caught up in that but the most important thing we can give those we love isn’t expensive gifts but a bit of our time and a thoughtful present. 

Perhaps I’ll listen to my own words and make the desired changes this year. Any advice would be very welcome! 

I’m putting my 'online gift retailer' hat on now and I can imagine you may be thinking I may contradict myself here! 

Yes, that is a hard one and I'm not going to say I don’t want to sell lots of lovely gifts.  I do!  

At Noah Home and Gifts Online we strive to offer a variety of products from a unique range of suppliers that we are happy to work with.  We offer:

 

·         Gifts that are fair trade and/or recycled therefore supporting others

·         Giftsthat are handcrafted in Scotland / Britain therefore supporting small and new businesses

·         A choice of other unique gifts and home accessories to give customers choice

·         Unique  personalised and bespoke gifts

 

We have recently added to our fair trade shop and our collection of gifts handmade in Scotland. 

So that’s my views with my business hat on but I’m sure you will have your own thoughts on what Christmas means to you, whether they are religious views or not.  

Oh I nearly forgot to mention the benefits of buying gifts online (:-)):  

·         Less stressful than large, crowded high street stores

·         If you start early enough there is no need to panic buy

·         There is no rushing around tiring yourself out

·         You will have more time to spend with those who matter

·       You can browse without anyone constantly asking if they can help you (ok this is a bit unfair – many retailers give you the space you need while there to give advice if you need it)!

 

Another alternative to online shopping is supporting small independent retailers which we have previously blogged about! 

I think I know where I will do my shopping this year! What about you? 

Happy Shopping!

 

Florence

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Why Buy Handcrafted?

So many creative and talented crafters and designers are following their dream of earning an income while being their own boss. Many of us as are turning to unique handcrafted home accessories and other items that make perfect gifts for friends and family.   These unique, original and creative gifts can inspire us to choose something that little bit different.  

Why choose handcrafted gifts?

 

·         Each designer maker and crafter of handmade gifts has their own original style unique to them.   Imagination and creativity used offers us an attractive alternative to the mass produced gifts found in high street stores.  

 

·         Handcrafted products are made to the highest quality often with lovely attention to detail.  We can also appreciate the time invested in creating these products.

 

·         Quite often handcrafted items can be personalised which makes them that bit more special.

 

So where do you find these original gifts? 

We are lucky to live close to Glasgow where there are lots of craft fayres regularly taking place all over the city. 

However if like us you are short of time (such a difficult thing to manage these days) you may not have the time to travel in search of a ‘gift with a difference’.  This is one of the reasons we launched NoahHome and Gifts – our online gift shop.  We wanted to offer an alternative to those who have busy lives.  It is lovely though when you get a chance to have a wander around craft fayres to see what’s available. 

 

What types of gifts can you buy?

There’s an amazing selection of handcrafted gifts to choose from including wall hangings, handmade jewellery, key holders, soft furnishings, candles, soap and toiletries.  You are sure to find something wonderful while at the same time helping to support small businesses. 

 

 

 

To welcome new babies you can choose something different such as a handcrafted personalised wooden wall hanging or perhaps a fair trade handmade soft toy.  

 

 

It can be difficult to find an original wedding gift.  Personalised handcrafted wooden wall hangings such as our ‘just married’ sign or wooden wedding plaque are ideal and a special keepsake for the happy couple. 

What about those older friends and relatives?  A shabby chic, wooden handmade kitchen wall plaque for ‘Grandma’s Kitchen’ or ‘Grandad’s Greenhouse’ sign for Grandads who like gardening will make a perfect choice. 

Perhaps you are going to a dinner party.  Why not take along some cupcake wine glass charms.  They will last longer than chocolates or flowers.   

 

 

 

There is such a fantastic choice of gifts for all occasions.  

From handcrafted gifts for the home to gifts for occasions and personal gifts bought to convey a personal sentiment there is a gift that will suit your purpose from our handcrafted selection. 

So go on – delight your friends and relatives by choosing to buy handmade and support small businesses at the same time!

 

Thanks for reading!

 

Florence

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Breast Cancer Awareness Month - October 2012

As you may know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. We are encouraged frequently to be ‘breast aware’ but how often do you check for lumps or changes? I am going to be very honest and feel a bit embarrassed to admit this but I have to confess that I frequently forget to do this on a regular basis. However, I am going to make a commitment to examine myself using the guidelines and information from the websites I have listed below. 

 

Many of us know someone who has had breast cancer.  Sadly we may have lost a friend or family member to it and yet we can still (if you’re like me) be very complacent in our attitude to our own well being. What would they say to us? I think we know the answer to that. 

 

We give all kinds of excuses:  I’m too busy, I’m not sure how to check or how often, it won’t happen to me I have no family history, I eat healthy and exercise and anyway I’m too young!

 

Fortunately I have no personal experience of Breast Cancer however a friend of mine had a diagnosis 25 years ago when very limited testing was available.  She found a lump in her breast and knew there may be a problem as she had previously been treated for cysts but this was different.  The doctor made her an appointment for further investigation under general anaesthetic and she was told you’ll know if we have had to carry out a mastectomy if you wake up on a drip. She woke up on a drip. 

 

Devastated was the word she used when I asked her how it felt. Treatment was to follow and the day before her first treatment she felt that she couldn’t go through with it.  She did in the end as she decided cancer was not going to control her life and the way she wanted to live it with her husband and family. Yes, there were times, hard times, to go through and one of the difficulties was feeling everyone knew she’d had breast surgery and was different from them.  It was also hard going out to buy new clothes or catching her reflection in the mirror.  

 

Twenty five years later she lives life to the full and loves life.  She is an inspiration to all of us! 

 

Unfortunately others haven’t been so fortunate. So why not use Breast Cancer Awareness Month as a prompt to gather information (if you need to) and start to become ‘breast aware’ to make sure that you notice any changes as soon as possible. 

 

The following websites offer help, more information and support.

 

• Breast Cancer Care 
• Breakthrough 
• NHS
• Cancer Research UK

 

Take care 

Florence

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We will donate 10% of sales in October from NoahHome and Gifts Online to UK breast cancer charities.

Supporting Independent Retail Stores (aka Indie Retail)

To Let and For Sale signs are commonplace these days on British high streets.  There are many things to blame:  the convenience of out of town shopping malls prising shoppers away from the high street, the rise of online shopping and with the rise in VAT to 20%, increased business rates and a struggle to raise funds via bank lending, more and more independent retail stores are closing their high street outlets.

In saying that, recent figures show that the number of small independent shops in Britain grew significantly last year (there were still a huge amount of closures but more opened than closed), whereas the number of multiples outlets fell. 

As co-owner of an independent online gift shop I am obviously an advocate of online shopping.  With our lives busier than ever, it makes it easier for people to shop from the comfort of their home when time is at a premium.  On the other hand it saddens me to see my local town centre (Paisley) such a sorry sight and feel strongly about supporting local independent retailers.  Online shopping shouldn't be at the detriment of local high streets.

Our local council have talked about encouraging outlet stores to Paisley to differentiate from nearby out of town malls.  We already have a couple including M&S, however, I think it would be fantastic to see the high street buzzing with a cluster of smaller independent  shops offering products that little bit different.  This would definitely encourage shoppers back to Paisley High Street!

A couple of my favourite places with a selection of lovely indie shops are the West End of Glasgow around the Byres Road area and the Scottish coastal town of Troon.  They are buzzing with shoppers, there is a lovely atmosphere and you are sure to find some hidden treasures, whether it’s a gift from one of the many gift shops such as Ae Fond Kiss, or a classic wooden toy from Sentry Box.  It would be great if this could be replicated in high streets all over the UK.

Mary Portas, the well know ‘Queen of Shops’ offered her opinion on how to save our high street.  She fears that with online shopping the British high street might disappear.  She believes that the high street has to reinvent itself so it becomes more a place to meet and socialise than to actually buy things.

So what can we do to help?  We should use indie stores whenever we can to put money back into the local community.

This Christmas why not try to source as many gifts as possible from local independent retail & independent online stores or encourage local retailers to get involved in the new 'Celebrate an Independent Christmas' campaign which is launching this year.  Consumers will be encouraged to divert a proportion of their Christmas spending on gifts, food, partying or pampering from local independent stores and establishments

“The message to consumers will be that buying from an Independent guarantees them a more unique experience. We'll highlight that if they are looking for a bit of indulgence at this celebratory time of year, wanting to find unusual gifts, unique outfits, delicious treats, and enjoy special occasions, they should explore their local independents”

So go on, we can all make a difference! Give Indie Retail a chance! 

Nicola

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Read more about Celebrating an independent Christmas here...

 

Shop now or browse in my online independent gift shop – Noah Home and Gift Boutique

 

Support some of my favourite indie retail stores:



Carrick Mill, Alloway Street, Ayr (Golf wear, Knitwear & Textiles)

Ae Fond Kiss, Queen Margaret Drive, Glasgow (Gifts)

Sentry Box, Great George Street, Glasgow (Toys)

The Store, Anniesland Glasgow (Home Interiors)

Pinnochio Footwear, Silk Street, Paisley (Children’s Shoes)

 

 

 

 

Working Women and Women in Small Business

A recent BBC documentary with Hilary Devey of Dragon’s Den about ‘women at the top’ has prompted me to share my own experiences of working women and women in small business (not that I’m at the top or anywhere close!!)

We have certainly come a long way in terms of equality, but why is it still so difficult for many women trying to juggle a career with raising a family?

In the documentary, Hilary more or less claims that there is no such thing as a glass ceiling.  That this is a myth or excuse for women’s own failings.

The ratio of men to women in top positions, in the UK, is shocking.  I don’t believe that this is down to the failings of women, but I agree that (in principal) there is no such thing as a glass ceiling. 

I do believe however, that for a woman to ‘break’ the glass ceiling she has to work so much harder than a man with a similar skill set.  She also has to sacrifice a whole lot more.

This is obviously my personal opinion based on my own priorities but I respect the fact that women have different values and goals just like we have different tastes in clothes and handbags!

I went back to work on a part time basis after having my first child.  Partly because I still had to earn but also because I had worked for the same organisation since leaving school, had worked hard to get to where I was and my work was important to me.  It was challenging and gave me a sense of achievement. 

On the other hand, it was really important to me to be the main carer for my children and I was happy that my work/life balance tipped in favour of them.

Despite only working part time when they were young I still found it really difficult to juggle everything.  I have total respect for mum’s who manage to work full time.  I don’t know how they do it and am the first to admit that I would really struggle.

Until recently I was very lucky with the element of flexibility I had in my ‘day’ job.  I had a very understanding boss who worked with us to ensure that the goals of the business were met but at the same time we had the work life balance that we needed.  This drove me (and my colleagues) to work so much harder in return.  It was a win-win situation.

Unfortunately, things have started to change recently due to restructures taking place as a result of the recession and I am disappointed to say that going forward I fear there will be much less flexibility as the company strives to cut costs.  It seems we are going backwards instead of forwards in terms of family friendly initiatives.

It’s no wonder then that there is an army of strong women going out on their own working from home, fed up with trying to juggle raising a family, keeping a house and the many other hats they wear, while working to the rigid rules of employment (and spending a small fortune on childcare). 

On my journey I have met so many inspiring women either through work, at craft fairs or at the school gates!

We all share the same goals.  We want the flexibility to care for our families in the way we see fit while fulfilling our potential and having success in our own right doing something that we love!

I am looking forward to working with some of them, in my quest to seek out unique handcrafted gifts , home accessories and handmade jewellery for my online gift shop.

I’m sure in years to come that many of these small businesses will grow and prosper with women at the top!

Nicola

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Click here to visit Noah Home and Gifts - my online gift shop 

 

I have also included links to just some of the small businesses I have come across!  They are well worth checking out! 

http://www.lovethyskin.myarbonne.co.uk

http://www.denisemcdonaldphotography.com

http://www.jammylicious.com/

http://www.myemeraldvilla.com

 

 

My Very First Blog!

My Very First Blog! 

Well, here I am 50+ years old and doing my very first blog.  A year ago I wouldn’t have had a clue what a blog was never mind writing one.

However, a year can bring so many changes in our lives. Changes and challenges that if we embrace them can help us to develop our potential and face the huge learning curves we so often retreat from - or if you are like me, run a mile from. 

Since my daughter, Nicola and I decided to start our online home and gift boutique – Noah Home and Gifts -  I have had to overcome a fear of the dreaded internet; google, facebook, seo, keywords......... and all the other words that were once a foreign language to me and made me feel like a stranger in a strange land. A novice with no skills of interpretation.  I can think of lots of other phrases but daren’t put them down in black and white!  Of course I have many other transferable skills that I have developed over the years from various jobs, mainly in customer care that I could bring to the table but I’m sure we’ll all agree that the world wide web has changed the world as we know it in the recent past! 

So, I am now sitting in front of my laptop contemplating my development over the past year and hopefully encouraging anyone else who may be reading this virgin blog to follow their dreams!  When he was three years old, my grandson once gave me some good advice!  He had asked me to fix one of his toys. After 5 minutes I gave up saying, “I can’t do it”. He replied: “Never give up gran, you have to keep on trying”.

I asked, “Where did you hear that Ryan?” He said “From Granny Murray on the telly”.

 

Yes, you’ve guessed right those words of wisdom outweighed all the positive thinking training, online courses, self talk etc, etc, etc, to get me to the position I am in now, a gran doing a blog, a mum in business with her daughter and a woman with a belief in herself to reach her true potential.  My motto is, “Never give up and keep on trying”.  So thank you Ryan (now 7 years old). 

A post I saw on facebook also had some good advice, though not as good as Ryan’s: 

 

                   Making a big life change is scary.

                But know what’s even scarier?

                REGRET.   

 

Think on it!

 

Florence

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click here to see what we have achieved with Noah Home and Gifts so far!  This is just the start! ...

 

 

 

 

 

Back to Business

Back to business! 

The summer holidays are well and truly over with the kids now back at school.  Weather wise I don’t think the summer has begun but I’m hopeful that we are in for a toasty August and September!

My youngest has just started school with her brother now in P3 with a move to the ‘big playground!'  We have had a great time during the holidays having enjoyed a caravan holiday in the most beautiful surroundings of Drimsynie Estate, Lochgoilhead, a camping trip with friends to Millarochy Bay near Balmaha on the bonnie banks of Loch Lomond, caught up with friends and just had a fun relaxed time.  On the days spent with their gran (and sometimes granddad) while I was at work they enjoyed trips to the park, trips to Troon in Ayrshire and lots more! 

I have mixed feelings about them going back to school.  The carefree days of the summer holidays are nice as there is no timetable to follow and the kids get to stay up a bit later.  It’s also nice getting to spend so much time with them.  My youngest starting school is a reminder that time flies by all too quickly and we really should take stock and appreciate our children as they grow up all too soon. 

On the other hand ….. I’m sure I’m not alone in thinking this but it can be hard work keeping them occupied.  If stuck in on rainy days they fight like cat and dog, turn the house upside down so it looks like we have been burgled and just don’t let me get anything done! 

As a result I now have about 10 to do lists for our business (yes – I’m one of those people who has lists for lists!) of things that I just could not get near over the holidays. 

My mum (who is also my business partner) and I have kept things ticking over and made sure that we have still provided top customer service but we have been frustrated at times having not been able to work ‘on’ the business as much as we would have liked. 

We have now had a chance to sit down together and work out our strategy, where we are now and where we want to go with Noah Home and Gifts. 

We have loads of ideas for the future and are really excited about where they will take us.  This is just the beginning! 

We also realise that we still have loads to learn but then who doesn’t.  I’m a great believer in lifelong learning!  If anything it will exercise our minds! 

Talking about exercise, that’s another area that has been lacking lately.    I really do need to get myself into a better routine and look after myself a bit more with exercise, healthy eating and relaxation!  I’m sure I would have more energy as a result and help me to focus on work and being the best mum I can be!  (Or so I’ve been told anyway!) 

Back to our business.  We feel strongly about sticking to our original plan to offer handcrafted, fair trade and recycled gifts and unique home accessories.  We will offer these alongside personalised gifts and other gifts from ethical suppliers including East of India. 

We have fine-tuned our business plan to ensure that we stick to our core values (We are:  evolving, ethical, honest, friendly, reliable and collaborative) while we try to build on our supplier base and product range that we offer. 

It’s exciting times for my mum and I, (and of course our family) and we can’t wait to get stuck into the hard work that’s ahead of us while trying to get a good work life balance, having lots of quality time for our families and friends and having ‘me’ time too!  Can a woman really have it all?......

Recycling Week – 18thJune 2012 – 24th June 2012


Recycling week takes place each year in the UK to help raise awareness of why we should recycle and what more we could be doing.

This year the focus is on plastic bottles. Councils, retailers and businesses from across the UK come together to highlight the issues.

15 million plastic bottles are used in the UK every day with less than 50% being recycled!

 

Facts: (Taken from http://www.recyclenow.com/recycle_week/index.html):

• If the 15 million bottles used each day were recycled it would be the equivalent of taking 73,000 cars off the road annually
• 90% of all UK local authorities now offer collection facilities for plastic bottles either from your kerbside collection scheme or at recycling centres.
• It only takes 25-two litre plastic bottles to make an adult-sized fleece. (I had no idea that’s what fleece jackets were made from)
• If everyone in the UK recycled just one extra plastic bottle during Recycle Week, this would save enough energy to power over 71,000 plasma screen TVs for a year.

Given that we have a focus on gifts made from recycled materials (http://www.noahhomeandgifts.com/products/index.php?categoryID=3) and with recycling week looming I thought I would find out more about why it is so important to recycle, test my knowledge on what can and can’t be recycled and discover if there is any more I could be doing!

 

Why is it important to recycle?

 

The main reasons are:

• It conserves raw materials - If used materials are recycled, it prevents the need to extract fresh raw materials from the earth through mining and forestry which means that these important raw materials are conserved.
• Natural Habitats are protected – as a result of less forestry etc.
• Less energy is used - when recycled materials are used in the manufacturing process.·
• It protects the environment - the substantial air and water pollution caused by extracting, refining and processing raw materials is reduced and greenhouse gas emissions are reduced due to reduces less energy being used. Current UK recycling is estimated to save more than 18 million tonnes of Carbon Dioxide (C02) a year – the equivalent to taking 5 million cars off the road. Recycling also reduces the amount of waste sent to landfill sites. The 1,500 + landfill sites in the UK produce around a quarter of the UK’s emissions of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas.

What more can I do?

 

OK , so I know the importance of recycling for our environment but what more can I do?

 

With the majority of local authorities offering recycling facilities on your door step, it has never been easier to recycle.

 

I like to think I do my fair share! We have a large bin that is emptied fortnightly for all our plastic bottles, cardboard, textiles etc, a box for all our glass (which embarrassingly is usually full of empty wine and beer bottles! - why does mine always make the loudest clanking noise as it is emptied? J) and we also have a garden waste bin.

 

When the local council decided to reduce the uplift of our normal bin from weekly to fortnightly I was horrified as I had visions of it overflowing and having to take regular trips to the local dump to keep the vermin away but due to the recycling options, our normal household waste has substantially reduced and we manage perfectly well with our fortnightly collection.

 

The ‘Recycle Now’ website http://www.recyclenow.com/recycle_week/has lots of information on what happens to our recycling when it gets to the recycling centres as well as what items can be recycled. It’s well worth having a look as well as checking out your local councils website for a full list on what can be recycled in your area.

 

Let’s face it, no one has time to check ‘the list’ each and every time they go to put something in the bin but if you discover one or two things that you didn’t realise could be recycled you can make a small difference. The small things all add up!

 

For me I have had a gentle reminder that things such as engine oil, light bulbs and building rubble can be recycled.

 

What changes can I make?

 

Armed with my new knowledge, there are a few changes I will personally be making.

 

By not being lazy and making sure I completely squash all the items I recycle, not only will it free up space in my bin, it will take up less space in the bin lorries. If everyone did the same, it would mean fewer lorries required on the road thereby reducing engine emissions.

 

I have perhaps been guilty in the past of binning old small electrical appliances, however I will be making sure I take them to my local recycling centre in future as I didn’t fully appreciate their value! Some of them contain materials such as gold, steel, aluminium, plastic and zinc (mobile phones). The zinc from mobiles can be used in galvanising and also in ship building!

 

I am also going to invest in a compost bin and start to recycle my food waste. (I have a lot of this with 2 young fussy eaters!)

 

1 year of composting at home saves the equivalent global warming gasses produced by your kettle annually or your washing machine in 3 months!

 

Food waste still breaks down in landfill sites but because no air gets to it, harmful methane is produced. (Methane is 20 times more potent than Carbon Dioxide!).

 

The compost will also be great for my garden in a few months time! (Learning gardening skills will be next on my ever growing to do list!!)

 

I must admit I wasn’t sure I would find anything new I could be doing which wouldn’t take up too much extra time or expense but I’m pleasantly surprised.

 

Its amazing what can be made from recycled materials.

 

Here at Noah we have discovered some talented designers and artisans from around the world (and locally) who are creative with recycled aluminium! Here are just a few of their wares!

 

 

 

Until next time!

Nicola

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