insideKENT Magazine Issue 57 - December 2016 | Page 191

BUSINESS

SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESS
THIS CHRISTMAS
We all know it’s important to shop locally; local authorities across the country have estimated
that for every one pound spent in an independent boutique, or with a local producer, around
63p stays in the area (the figure drops to 40p when you shop in a national chain).
These fabulous, independent shops will often have unique, quirky gifts for you to buy –
perfect at Christmas when it can often be hard to find something for everyone on your list.
Luckily, there are dozens of different shops and products made right here in the Garden of
England, and here are just a few of our favourites.

The Whitstable Hamper Company

Bombus

The Whitstable
Hamper Company
specialises in
creating unique,
luxury hampers that
use only produce
made in Kent. It’s a
truly local endeavour
that uses the finest –
very often awardwinning – artisan
producers. Nicci
Place, owner of the
Whitstable Hamper
Company, grew up in Kent and has always been keen to support local
businesses; she even studied permaculture and building sustainable
communities. By using naturally grown produce and items made by
hand, the Whitstable Hamper Company can ensure that each hamper is
completely special.
Examples of the gifts on offer include the Luxury Christmas Hamper
which contains, amongst (many) other things a gluten-free Oast to Host
Christmas Pudding, Chobnobs (apple and cobnut cookies) from Zingiberi
Bakery, Wholegrain Mustard with Spitfire Ale from The Wooden Spoon
Preserving Co, Spicy Fig and Plum Chutney from Whitstable Pickles and
cupcake-style Christmas cakes from Bonnie Shortie.

Bombus, Latin
for bumblebee,
is a totally
different kind of
place in which to
find the ultimate
gift for those
who have it all.
Their specialty?
It’s all about
personalised
gifts using maps
as the
centrepiece. For
creative director
Amelia Howard,
maps are just as
interesting to
look at and work
with as fabric;
and perhaps more so. She realised that people love where they live – or
where they met their significant other, or where they used to go on family
holidays – and being able to have a piece of that in the home was something
quite wonderful. The signature product from Bombus is the heart shaped
map, but the range has grown since 2003 when it first began, and there
are plenty of other shapes and items to choose from including cufflinks,
keepsake boxes, clocks and wall art.
Everything from Bombus is handmade to order, and it is all made in
Kent using quality materials, local suppliers and low-impact production
techniques.

www.thewhitstablehampercompany.com

The Black Rabbit
Working from her studio
in Margate, Lindsay
Marsden creates beautiful
lambswool gifts, toys,
greetings cards and
prints. Everything is
designed and made to
order, and this is the
ethos behind The Black
Rabbit – to be different,
to be bespoke and to be
low impact. It’s an ideal
way to work, and the
products that are
produced here are just
lovely. Lindsay has been
creative since she was a child, and this creativity has served her well. It also
serves her customers well, as they can always find something gorgeous for
their loved ones.

Jewellery is always a popular
choice for both men and
women at Christmas, and
when it is designed and made
in Kent it’s even better. Justine
Cullen works in various
different metals including
silver, gold and platinum, as
well as a variety of stones to
compliment the metal itself.
There are items that can be
bought ‘off the shelf’, but if
you want something designed especially for you, that’s something Justine
specialises in too.

www.theblackrabbit.co.uk

www.justinecullen.com

www.bombus.co.uk

Justine Cullen Jewellery

191