Hexham businesses urge residents shop local this Christmas

Town centre businesses called for residents to support the local economy by shopping in Hexham for gifts and Christmas items.

Lifestyle store Grace & Purpose co-owner Laura Jackson said the 'lovely thing' about the small business community in Hexham is 'there is always something going on'.

Laura Jackson, co-owner of Grace & Purpose, said scarves are one of the store's most popular Christmas gifts (Image: Natalie Finnigan) READ MORE: New lifestyle store sees 'amazingly positive' support from community

Several businesses have been successful enough to move into bigger premises, such as French & Wilder and Travels of Amy M.

READ MORE: Travel-inspired art business expands into new premises

Grace & Purpose opened at 13 Battle Hill on June 15 by Laura and her partner, Pete.

Grace & Purpose sells Christmas decorations such as baubles and wreaths (Image: Natalie Finnigan) "The feedback has been amazing and everybody is grateful we've opened a shop in Hexham," she said. "I think the town has vastly improved in the last five months we've been here. There's so much happening and it's really nice to see businesses have moved on to bigger premises."

Find everything you need to decorate your home this festive season (Image: Natalie Finnigan) She also noted Battle Hill has been removed from Historic England's At Risk conservation register.

"I fear if people don't shop local at Christmas, they're not going to shop local any other time.

Grace & Purpose on Battle Hill (Image: Natalie Finnigan) "More so at Christmas, we need a busy December period to see us through the quieter January, February and March months when it's cold. Also, people should shop local because I think Jeff Bezos has enough money now," she added.

Grace & Purpose will soon open their upstairs for extra retail space (Image: Natalie Finnigan) "People always proactively try to do things for the town and you don't see that in many other places. I think that's what makes Hexham stand out more, it's got such a strong, small independent business community."

Laura said some of their most popular Christmas gifts are jewellery items from Estella Bartlett, scarves, candles and reed diffusers.

Grace & Purpose stocks Estella Bartlett (Image: Natalie Finnigan) "I would like to say a thank you to Hexham for supporting us since we opened in June. We opened on a tiny budget in a not-very-good financial climate."

Grace & Purpose has had its signage put up and will open upstairs for extra retail space in the coming weeks, showing the business has come on 'leaps and bounds', Laura said.

Claire Harijan, owner of Marketplace Coffee in Hexham, opened her new ice cream parlour Four Beaumont opposite Hexham Abbey on July 19 and said the independent businesses set Hexham apart.

Claire Harijan, owner of Four Beaumont and Marketplace Coffee (Image: Natalie Finnigan) She said: "It's such an honour to be right across from the Abbey, the views and the energy from that building and being right here on Beaumont Street, it's one of the nicest streets that I know of, not just in Hexham but anywhere." 

Christmas wreath workshops (Image: Natalie Finnigan) Four Beaumont has hosted several Christmas wreath workshops on its first floor. Contact Claire at claireharijan@gmail.com to book future dates.

The next dates are Saturday, November 30 at 11am and 3pm and Sunday, December 1 at 3pm.

Christmas wreaths made by customers (Image: Natalie Finnigan) "What sets Hexham apart is the independents, chains could be anywhere. Independents are what make Hexham feel special. You're helping the local community, most of the business owners live in the area.

Claire has started making bespoke juices, such as ginger and turmeric and celery (Image: Natalie Finnigan) "If you buy online you're just contributing to another yacht to whoever might benefit from that," Claire said.

Claire owns Marketplace Coffee a few doors away from Four Beaumont (Image: Natalie Finnigan) Nathan Wilder, co-owner of interior design shop French & Wilder, moved into a larger store at Market Place earlier this month following a successful year.

READ MORE: Interior design store expands into larger premises in Hexham

French & Wilder's new premises in the Market Place (Image: Natalie Finnigan) "I get a lot more footfall here and people who didn't know I existed are coming. I'm an independent textile interior designer and I make all the things myself.

Items are inspired by French designs (Image: Natalie Finnigan) "I use local businesses to make my candles and other items. It's important to support independent shops, we make the high street what it is. 

Nathan makes items himself or sources them, such as candles, from local businesses in Hexham (Image: Natalie Finnigan) "Having decent shops and them all being full makes the town feel full. The more independent shops we have the more reason people will come here. I think Hexham has got so much going for it now, we're drawing people in."