Consumer blog

Back your local independents

April 12, 2021

Shops are now open – and lockdown loosening has begun. Now, more than ever before, is the time to support our local communities and shopkeepers. Online shopping has kept us fed, watered, clothed and entertained – but, throughout the pandemic, for many of us local shops have also been a lifeline. So, now non-essential shops […]

Shopping locally has never been more important or appreciated

March 24, 2021

A change is afoot in our personal shopping habits according to new research – and local, independent specialists are set to benefit. Demand for neighbourhood shopping has soared in the pandemic. According to newly released figures by the Local Data Company, a total of 31,405 independent units opened in 2020. Furthermore, a survey by Barclaycard […]

Neutral Know How

March 12, 2021

Colour may be to the fore now but, when push comes to shove, the majority of us still pick pales and neutrals – and this is very true with carpet. This is no doubt down to the fact that plain, and neutral carpets especially, give greater flexibility for use of pattern elsewhere in the room. […]

Use them or lose them

February 18, 2021

Thanks to the pandemic, community spirit has been all the rage. Communities everywhere have been pulling together and one of the key rules of bolstering one’s local community is simple: use local shops or lose them – and particularly independent retailers. The mood music now is very much with ‘local’ heroes, the small wonders. Walk […]

Fashion turns to wool

January 22, 2021

It has been interesting to read and hear the coverage given to wool recently, and consumer attitudes to it. It is no secret (certainly not in the media!) that British wool has suffered hugely since the first lockdown and prices have dropped alarmingly. However, there is an upside to every downside. Wool has long been […]

Bring Us Sunshine

January 15, 2021

We all need a bit of a lift at the moment and, if global colour authority Pantone is to be believed, we will give it to our homes this year as one of their colours of 2021 is ‘Illuminating’, a sunny yellow. Yellow is a wonderfully happy and cheerful colour – just what we need […]

New Year New Trends

January 4, 2021

2020 was an ‘annus horribilis’ but it was the year of the home. Spending more time at home inspired many of us to spruce up and refresh our interiors. Our homes really did become our sanctuary. As is customary at this time of year, the experts reveal their trends and predictions for the new year. […]