Showcasing Denbighshire businesses in winter shopping campaign

A campaign highlighting the wealth of businesses, goods and services available in Denbighshire has been launched as the county appeals for people to shop local and buy local this winter.

This new Winter Shopping campaign is an extension of the #lovelivelocal initiative, with a push to encourage people to spend their money in the county, to encourage businesses to showcase their products or services and to entice old and new customers to town centres.

This campaign also looks at capitalising on the free parking offer available in selected car parks across the county and the initiative to make our town centres a safe place to visit and do business during covid.

Leader of Denbighshire, Councillor Hugh Evans OBE, who is also the Lead Member for the Economy, said: “Local companies need our support during these very difficult financial times. 

“Times were already hard financially before covid affected communities and some businesses have struggled to stay afloat. That’s why we think it’s more important than ever to push the #lovelivelocal message.

“There are many shops in our towns and villages that offer a wide range of products, from food and drink to beauty and fashion, from arts and crafts to professional services. 

“A walk into the towns and villages will surprise you. We really have some hidden retail gems in our county and we want to help businesses to showcase their products, to encourage people to visit and to surprise and excite the consumer about what’s on offer.

“Give Denbighshire businesses a go and help support local businesses.”

#lovelivelocal #wintershoppingindenbighshire

Lighting up local landmarks to support #lovelivelocal

A number of key sites across Denbighshire towns are being lit up in December as part of an overall winter shopping marketing campaign launched to support local businesses.

In the absence of some of the Christmas activities normally held in the county’s towns, the Council has been working with its partners on an alternative approach to boost the recovery of town centres, in support of the Winter Shopping campaign already underway.

The Light Up Denbighshire project will aim to boost the number of people visiting town centres and to enhance the work already carried out by the Council to make commercial centres safe places to shop and enjoy hospitality.

The lights are expected to be switched on from December 4th and will run for a month, to try and reap the benefits of additional visitors, not only in the run up to Christmas but into the New Year as well.

The locations due to be lit up are:

• Prestatyn – Churches and chapels
• Rhuddlan – Rhuddlan Castle (currently closed to the public)
• Rhyl - Town Hall
• Denbigh - Denbigh Castle (Information on opening hours at: cadw.gov.wales/visit/places-to-visit/denbigh-castle)
• Ruthin – St Peter’s Square, St Peter’s Church
• St Asaph – St Asaph Cathedral
• Llangollen – Main town bridge
• Corwen – The Square

The scheme is funded by the Council.

Leader of the Council, Councillor Hugh Evans OBE, said: “The lead up to Christmas is going to be a bit different this year, with large events normally held during switch on of town lights unable to take place.

“Whilst the towns will have their own traditional Christmas lights, the Council came up with the idea of adding a little sparkle and bringing some additional Christmas cheer by lighting up historic and iconic buildings and structures in our main towns. We are delighted to have received support from many city and town councils across Denbighshire to carry out the project.

“Our aim is to bring people into the town and to promote our Winter Shopping marketing campaign, designed to encourage residents to support their local shops through this crucial buying period. This campaign will also look at supporting wider businesses activities, including online sales and forms part of the #lovelivelocal initiative.

“ We hope people enjoy the lighting experience and are tempted to visit the town centre for themselves to see what’s on offer and add some festive cheer”.

Short film about the shop local campaign

The Little Cheesemonger Shop: Big smiles as business owner takes cheese business to another level

A businesswoman from Rhuddlan is hoping to become a ‘big cheese’ in the business industry by expanding into a nearby town.

Gemma Williams, the founder of ‘The Little Cheesemonger’ is very busy running her multiple award winning business, whilst also in the process of setting up another large shop which she describes as ‘next level cheese mongery’.

The Little Cheese Company has been operating in Rhuddlan for almost four years. There are lots of products to choose from including cheese wedding cakes, sharing platters as well as gins and hampers.

The Little Cheesemonger is one of many businesses supporting Denbighshire County Council’s Winter Shopping Campaign set up to encourage people to support local businesses over the coming months.

Gemma said: “I am passionate and determined to sell fabulous cheese! It makes me happy to see people bowled over by cheese which they may never have experienced before.

“When I get the chance to build cheese wedding towers for my clients’ wedding, it’s an honour. I’m a curd nerd and I enjoy sharing my passion and excitement with other people who also love cheese as much as I do”.

Gemma explained how she felt the pandemic has brought the community closer together and that people were noticeably going out their way to support local businesses more than ever.

She said: “I think people understand more than ever that the power is in their purses. Where people choose to shop will have a massive impact in helping local businesses. Shopping local and supporting your community will help avoid any more shop closures.

“Small business give their heart and soul. We welcome the elderly and lonely and remember our customer by name and get concerned for them if they don’t visit. We don’t just provide a product or service, we are the foundation of the community, the high streets and the local economy.’

Gemma added: “We have a fantastic relationship with the local community and that is primarily why we decided to keep the Rhuddlan shop open and trading while we expand in to a new larger shop in Prestatyn.

‘I have epic plans for the future. There will be a cheese maturing room and windows for customers to view our “cheese cave” and delve into the world of cheese affiage.’

‘We have invested in tailor made specialist equipment to prime the shop for the perfect counter top storage. In 2021 we will be developing butter and cheese on the premises and as soon as we can, we will run in house cheese and wine tasting events.’

#lovelivelocal #wintershoppingindenbighshire

Pethau Tlws: Business ‘gives back’ to the community after support during lockdown

A business owner from the Dee Valley says the support of the local community and loyal customers has kept them going through challenging times and they’ve adapted their business as a way of saying a big “thank you.”

Pam Morris set up business in Corwen with her sister Lynne Davies Hocking and began trading in July 2012. Initially their plan was to open a tea room but as there was plenty of competition in Corwen, they opted to buy an empty shop in the town and the Pethau Tlws gift shop was created.

The shop sells a wide range of products including scarves, clothing, cards, jewellery and candles, with a focus on selling products created by Welsh talent.  Whilst they have been dependent on the support of the local community, they have also gained customers across a wider area, including Bala, Ruthin, Llangollen and Llanrwst.

Pethau Tlws is supporting the Winter Shopping campaign being run by the Council, with the aim of encouraging more people to support local businesses.

Pam said: “It's hard to believe that we've been going for over 8 years now, especially in a small town. We sell a range of lovely products and it’s very important for us being local Welsh girls that we sell as many Welsh items as we can so are always on the lookout for Welsh talent so that we can stock their lovely wares.

“This year has been a very challenging year for small businesses due to the pandemic. We are fortunate to live in such a fabulous area where our locals are so supportive and have kept us going through these difficult times.  Without them we wouldn't be here - their support has been incredible especially this year. 

“One thing we've been doing since lockdown is offering evening appointments for those customers who have either been self-isolating or nervous of venturing out. This has been very successful and it's important that we look after our customers since they've looked after us. They can book a slot where they have the whole shop to themselves for 30-40 mins with no pressure and more importantly they feel safe. Also we have been doing local deliveries again for those who cannot venture out.

“We feel it's very important to 'give back' so have introduced a loyalty scheme where once you've spent £100 (which is carried over) you get £10 off your next purchase. This has gone down very well.

“It's so important to siopa lleol/shop local, we need to keep local businesses going as they're the soul of any town. We have a fantastic community here in Corwen and that's why we've been able to trade for 8 years .... so here's to the next 8 years hopefully”.

Rhyl’s award winning floristry ‘Flower Tops’ has recently expanded

Rhyl’s award winning floristry ‘Flower Tops’ has recently expanded and we spoke to the owner Carol Parr to find out more.

Flower Tops has been operating for 10 years, offering gorgeous floral bouquets for businesses and occasions such as weddings and funerals. The most recent expansion of the shop has provided further space for an extended gift range including Greeting Cards, Balloons, Homewares and many more items for customers to choose from.

Carol said: “I love running Flower Tops. I think most of our customers visit the shop for an experience they don’t receive when buying online. As well as physically seeing products, customers love to be able to feel for quality and we let them! We love to chat to them and provide expert advice for every order.’

‘There is a sense of community when shopping local, people love supporting each other, its brilliant. Without support from the community, local businesses end up closing and once they are gone people miss them.’

Many businesses are coming together to support the Council’s Winter Shopping Campaign including Flower Tops. This campaign has been set up to encourage people to support local businesses over the coming months.

Carol expressed her passion for supporting local businesses and continued to explain how she felt Flower Tops go the extra mile to provide personalised services.

‘Local shops go above and beyond to offer the best possible customer service. For our customers we provide lots of personalised touches, including adding extra decorations to our bouquets free of charge. For sensitive gifts we even send across images for customers who are unable to travel to the shop, to keep as a memory.’

Carol added: "I love giving back to the community and acknowledging good people out there. I run competitions to give away free gifts and sometimes even invite the mayor to present these prizes to the special winners.’

Keep an eye on Flower Tops’ social channels, it sounds like there are lots of exciting things in the pipeline!

For further information about the campaign, follow the Council's Facebook and Twitter accounts, as well as the #lovelivelocal social media account.

No State of Distress for Ruthin business owner this winter

Bernadette O’Malleyis a very busy lady running two businesses in the Vale of Clwyd – even setting up a brand new company at the start of the main lockdown period in Spring 2020.

The entrepreneurial businesswoman set up State of Distress, her main business in Ruthin in 2013 and more recently took the opportunity to set up Ruthin Artisan Markets CIC, a market events company.

State of Distress sells local arts and crafts, Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, it has a Paint Your Own Pottery Studio and run craft workshops.

Ruthin Artisan Markets CIC hosts markets at which people sell local produce, including local arts and crafts, food and drinks.

Bernadette is one of many businesses supporting the Council’s Winter Shopping campaign, set up to encourage people to support local businesses over the coming months.

Bernadette said: “We have over 40 businesses showcased under one roof, most items are personalised at no extra cost and the majority of items are one of a kind. Our Paint Your Own Pottery studio is aimed at all ages, we even do foot and handprints on pottery for babies. We offer free local delivery which is in most cases delivered the same day and we are known for our friendly approach and advice when asked.

“Ruthin Artisan Markets are a community interest group. We are here to help local businesses to set up a customer base and to grow their business and also to give our community members safe outdoor events where they can come and do their shopping and safely meet friends and family outdoors, we also are working to try to increase peoples' awareness of our attractions and historic buildings in the town. Any excess profits will be reinvested into our community so we give back too.

“It is absolutely essential for small local business that you support them this year more than ever, a lot of small businesses like my own this year have gone out of our way to deliver what our customers need to their doors and help them to carry on their lives as easily as they can.

Bernadette thinks Ruthin has a strong and supportive business community and has a unique selling point:

She added: “Businesses in the town offer a personalised service, a connection to products made in our area and the fact that money spent in our area stays in the area as the local small businesses reinvest in other small businesses and also provide jobs for local people.

“Businesses have offered to help each other out with deliveries throughout, they recommend other businesses to their customers and they spend money in each other’s businesses.

“There are things you can buy on Ruthin high street that you wouldn't find on other high streets in the UK and as most businesses are owner operated you are served by someone who genuinely cares that you are choosing to spend your money with them and not elsewhere.

“We provide space in our shop for aspiring businesses who can't afford the overheads of staff and a shop, as well as all the bills that come with it, I make personalised mugs, signs, coasters and other items onsite, same day in most cases. I also offer a furniture painting service where you bring your furniture in and I paint it for you in whatever colour and style you like.

“Ruthin Artisan Markets CIC is a voluntary organisation created in order to bring people into our town and give them events to meet with friends and family as well as also to make them aware of our amazing local micro businesses that they might not have heard of otherwise, at  an affordable price for the businesses”

For further information about the campaign, follow the Council’s Facebook and Twitter accounts, as well as the #lovelivelocal social media account.

Myrtle House Gift Gallery: Denbighshire gift gallery supporting Welsh products and local shopping

The owner of a gift gallery championing 'made in Wales' this Christmas is encouraging shoppers to do the same.

Pippa McGrevy set up Myrtle House Gift Gallery in St Asaph in December 2017 selling art, craft and artisan items made by small independent creatives from across the North Wales area and beyond.

She is supporting the Council's #LoveLiveLocal winter shopping campaign to encourage people to support Denbighshire businesses and shop locally in the run up to Christmas and onwards.

Pippa says: "I champion 'made in Wales' and I'm supporting this campaign because buying lovely things from your local independent businesses keeps your money in the local economy, it's good for us all and our area.

"There is a strong business community in St Asaph, I have found other businesses to be very supportive of me and I do my best to support them too.

"As a local independent business I try to go above and beyond with personal service to both my suppliers and my customers. I aim for friendly, prompt and excellent service by arranging commissions, offering free gift wrapping, a postal service and free local delivery. Nothing is too much for my customers. This personal touch is what local businesses can offer their customers."

Myrtle House Gift Gallery sells a wide range of hand painted, handmade and hand crafted items and boutique gifts including fine art and textiles, silver jewellery, hand-bound books, ceramics, artisan body care, bath and shower products, greetings cards in Welsh and English, and much more.

The business is based at Myrtle House which has a long history of commerce, originally an ale house, then a fish and chip shop in the 1950s.

Pippa, a creative bookbinder, and her artist husband, Miles, originally opened the shop to showcase their own work.

She said: "I met so many creative people at markets and fairs that the business just grew organically as I invited them to join us. The two small areas of the shop are now bursting at the seams.

"I love to source unusual items and to support artisans who don't do social media or have websites. Because makers have had no fairs or markets due to Covid-19 this year, it means we have exclusive stock of quirky and original items that are available only to our customers this winter."

Morgan’s Hair and Beauty: Hairdresser encourages residents to shop local winter

An award-winning hairdresser supporting a shop local campaign says a haircut or beauty treatment can give Denbighshire residents a much needed boost this winter.

Rebecca Morgan Brennan opened Morgan’s Hair and Beauty in Prestatyn in 2013 and then incorporated Morgan’s Wigs in January 2014, offering support to those with medical conditions that have led to hair loss.

She is supporting the Council’s #LoveLiveLocal winter shopping campaign to encourage people to support Denbighshire businesses and shop locally in the run up to Christmas and beyond.

Mrs Morgan, 51, a hairdresser for 17 years, said: “It is more important than ever to support local businesses with everything that has happened this year.

“Spending money locally protects jobs and helps the local economy. We have people who come to us from across North Wales, then they then spend money in Prestatyn, we direct them to places to shop in Prestatyn.

“We are large salon, and we are very Covid-19 safe and wear all the required PPE, and we can tailor the experience to customers to ensure their needs are met, we also offer a range of beauty treatments here. Having a haircut or a beauty treatment is a great pick me up. It is a really good way to make yourself feel better, especially during this time.”

Mrs Morgan, who employs 11 people, also runs Morgan’s Wigs which provides wigs and wig fitting for people across North Wales who have lost hair through a medical condition or treatment.

She works with a number of charities, including Look Good Feel Better, Macmillan Cancer Support and Little Princess Trust and is the supplier of wigs for NHS patients across North Wales.

Morgan’s Hair and Beauty and Morgan’s Wigs have won a number of awards including being named a Community Champion of the Year Winner in the British Hair & Beauty Awards 2020, a Little Princess Trust Gold Standard Award as well as winning the Wales Social Enterprise Award at the FSB Wales awards 2020.

Mrs Morgan added: “There is more on offer locally than people expect, I have seen Prestatyn grow and I have seen new businesses opening after the lockdown and there will be more businesses opening. If locals don’t support businesses they will lose them, people have to put time and money in to keep their local high streets. People need to support their high street.

“Local businesses provide a community and support each other. I recommend other local businesses to my customers and I use local businesses for everything I can. I believe businesses should help other businesses out as well, especially now.

“The great thing about independent traders is we can tailor our service. For example, if people are nervous about being in the salon and around other people, we can provide a 1-2-1 room to make people feel safe.”

Making an Entrance: Custom-made seasonal decorations hand-crafted with love for Christmas and all year round

A wreath on the front door or a floral centrepiece for the Christmas lunch table may be part of a romantic festive scene and for one Denbighshire business couple, the beautiful countryside surrounding their home provides inspiration for their artistic creations, all hand crafted with love with incredibly realistic and long-lasting artificial flowers. 

Making an Entrance is a company run by Wendy and Andy Radley from their home in the Clwydian Range near Llanarmon yn Ial. Everything is made to order in a log cabin-style Flower Studio which they converted from a stables at the bottom of their garden. Making door wreaths and centrepieces all year round which reflect each new season, their company motto is ‘A wreath isn’t just for Christmas’.

Originally from Warrington, the couple moved to Llanarmon at the end of October 2019 and have got actively involved in community life, including volunteering in the local shop and singing in the community choir. They have also been busy with their online shop: http://www.makinganentranceuk.co.uk/, an Etsy Shop and have a combined total of 8000+ active followers on their Making An Entrance U.K. Facebook and Instagram pages. 

Making An Entrance has received nothing less than a 5 star rating from hundreds of genuine customers for the quality of their products and exceptional customer service, these are proudly displayed at their online shop, Etsy shop, Facebook and Google pages and is perhaps why they have attracted so many social media followers and loyal customers in Denbighshire, throughout Wales and the rest of the U.K. even as far afield as the U.S, Canada, Australia and Europe. 

The company is one of a number of businesses across Denbighshire supporting the Winter Shopping campaign, co-ordinated by Denbighshire County Council, which encourages residents in the county to support local businesses this Winter.

Wendy said: “We moved to Wales a year ago from Warrington to start our new ‘chapter‘ as ‘Empty Nesters’ as our two boys have ‘flown the nest’ and it’s the best thing we’ve ever done. The move here has allowed us to build a lovely flower studio with inspiring country views where I can create seasonal floral decor for my lovely clients all year round”. 

“Unfortunately during the lockdown Andy was made redundant from his management position with a national construction company so we have worked really hard together to create new business opportunities, generate increased sales and to grow our company reputation, particularly here in Wales. Andy is now working for the business full time we make a good team: he has taken over many of the (non-creative) tasks which I previously did myself including delivering orders to local clients (following Covid safety guidelines) which allows me to fulfil more orders and therefor increase our sales revenue”. 

“As a small business we have a limited budget for advertising so we rely on word of mouth and promoting our business with local Facebook groups. The support we’ve received has been incredible. I’m delighted to say my sales figures have increased week on week even during the pandemic for which Andy and I are incredibly grateful. 

“Clients often share with me the ‘stories’ behind their Making An Entrance purchases. I find it both humbling and heart-warming to have such an insight into the love between families and friends separated by Covid and to be able to facilitate their acts of kindness by making the floral gifts they’ve ordered and delivering them to their loved ones‘ doors on their behalf.   I have clients who purchase wreaths for the gravesides of loved ones, others order door / wall wreaths to brighten their surroundings and to cheer themselves up, particularly those who are now working from home who have often described feelings of loneliness and feeling imprisoned in their own homes.

“I’ve made heart-shaped floral wreaths to be delivered to elderly relatives in care homes to show them they are loved by those on the outside and to remind them they will be together again soon. I’ve created flower wreaths for brides and grooms whose wedding plans have been changed and numbers reduced and yet they remain determined to say ‘I Do’. I’ve made wreaths to be sent as gifts from my clients to nurses and teachers to show their gratitude for the amazing work they do.

“And recently, in response to client demand I’ve created a personalised, heart-shaped door / wall wreath with a heart pendant at the centre inscribed with the words ‘A Hug In A Heart’ for my clients who are wanting to show family and friends how much they miss seeing them due to local travel restrictions and social distancing measures. These are just a few examples of why every single order is hand-made with love.

“I am incredibly proud of our small business and extremely grateful to our loyal clients, particularly during these difficult economic times.   I feel blessed to do what I love for a living for clients who truly appreciate the effort my husband and I put in to offer quality hand-made products and exceptional customer service”.