Shop Small - Xmas Present Ideas FOR HIM

 As social distancing means that many of us will be doing our christmas shopping online this year, I thought I would blog about gift ideas from Indie shops.

Buy purchasing from small shops and designer makers, you are not only getting original and unique gifts for your family and friends, but are also supporting independent businesses who are going to have a harder time surviving this winter than their chain store/online megacorp counterparts, which in turn helps the local economy, keeps local people employed and so on. You'll be supporting real people who really do appreciate each and every sale; I doubt J**f B*zos does a little happy dance every time an order comes through!

I admit that I'm terrible at buying for guys, but I've never had anyone complain about clothing!
Sight Hound have t-shirts that will suit every guy in your life. Their range of screen printed graphic tees include cycling, coffee, writing, climbing, fishing and camping inspired designs which come in sizes S to XXL. Different colour options are available, and many of their tee's are customisable with a 'pin' printed over the location of your chosen town or area. Can be gift wrapped. Prices £22.50-24.50 + postage.

Objectables carry a range of funny, naughty, sweary Blue Q socks. These are my favourite: we all have a 'Selective Hearing Specialist' in our lives! £9.95 plus postage.

Soaplab's luxury handmade Spruce and Seaweed soap is £4.95 + postage, or they have a buy 3 get 4th free offer.

Bookworms will LOVE this personalised leather bookmark from Jane de Bono. Have it stamped with initials, a nickname, name or short message, for a thoughtful personal touch. £16 + postage.

Vintage and Vinyl have several turntables for sale, which range in price from £200-£3,000. The funkiest by far is this Pro-Ject Debut Carbon DC which comes in 8 colour options. We like this gorgeous glossy blue. £299 including postage within the UK. 

Retro pin-up mugs from Moda come in a variety of designs and are sure to put a smile on his face every morning! Choose from Miss Heidi Hythe, Miss Foxy Stone and Miss Sandy Gate. £7.95 + postage.

Or you might prefer the pin-up boys range, which includes Mr Ben Dover! ;) £7.95 plus postage.

He'll need some tea to go in that mug, so why not treat him to a pouch of local tea blenders Teastones aromatic 'Russian Smoke' blend? £6.50 + postage per 50g tin. Also known as Russian Caravan, this full bodied blend echoes the taste of historical lapsang souchong when it was transported along the silk road, picking up the smokiness of the traders campfires as they stopped to rest every night.

Coffee lovers may prefer Real Deal Roasters Colombian Coffee, available ground or as beans from Folkestone Wholefoods, £5.50 for 250g. Peruvian, Guatemalan, Mexican and other blends also available.

As a seller of essentials like milk, bread and vegetables, Old High Street stalwart County Fayre has not had to close their premises during national lockdown, so you should be able to purchase locally brewed ales and ciders from their wide selection positioned towards the back of the shop. Prices vary from £3-5ish. They have no retail website that I know of, but they can be found at 3 the Old High Street, and are open daily. A selection of 3-4 bottles will keep most Dad's/Stepdad's happy on Xmas Day!

There's nothing more classic (or cosier) than a hand knitted Aran jumper. Ben's Vintage Menswear has several high quality Irish wool sweaters made in this classic style, including this XL sized cream version. Irish Aran sweater, £40 plus delivery.

And on the knitwear theme, these naturally dyed men's pure wool socks (size 6-11) come in a range of colours from Folkestone Harbour Yarn. £20 + postage, or use code LOCALPOST at checkout to Click & Collect from the Old High Street.

To be continued...