Moray makers feature in XpoNorth Christmas Marketplace
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MORAY makers will feature in a scheme designed to encourage Christmas shoppers to support creatives by buying local this year.
In the run-up to Christmas, XpoNorth, which works to promote creative businesses throughout the north and Moray, is launching its first digital advent calendar to showcase the regions’ talent.
With the creative industries among the most heavily impacted by Covid-19, an appeal was launched last month asking local practitioners to apply to be part of XpoNorth’s Christmas Marketplace.
The initiative aims to drum up support for small independent businesses by urging people to shop local.
From Monday, November 30, more than 20 businesses will be showcased in XpoNorth’s advent calendar which will feature on its social media channels to highlight gift ideas from local companies and champion local makers.
Selected businesses include textile makers, jewellers, sculptors, candle makers and more. They include Elgin-based Ava Innes, which sells 100 per cent cashmere luxury accessories, and Keith-based Mulderie Wood, which sells vegan scented soy wax luxury candles.
As the calibre of entries was so high, an additional 20 companies will also be featured on the XpoNorth website.
XpoNorth, funded by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), says the scheme will provide increased website traffic over the festive season for the creative businesses, with no fees involved.
Iain Hamilton, head of creative industries at HIE and co-founder of XpoNorth, said: "Many small businesses across the Highlands and Islands are heavily relying on Christmas sales this year to get them through the next couple of months.
"It’s a crucial sales period which will be the making or breaking point for many businesses in the creative industries.
"It’s more important now than ever that we choose to shop local this Christmas and help those who need it most.
"We are really lucky to have such a huge variety of talent in the north of Scotland, so we are encouraging everyone to support our creative economy by utilising these businesses and purchasing the incredible goods they have to offer."
The full list of creative businesses included in XpoNorth’s Christmas Marketplace will be available to view at www.xponorth.co.uk from Monday, November 30.
