Valentines Day is just around the corner, and what better way to spoil your loved ones than shopping locally for Valentines gifts this year?
Manchester is home to so many creative local businesses that offer a variety of products, ranging from earrings, to personalised bags, to sweet treats, or even classic flower arrangements.
We’ve decided to round up some of our favourites to help with your Valentines Day shopping!
@beckadoesart
Becca is based in Stockport and creates personalised tote bags, knitted accessories, drawings and prints! She takes commissions over on her Instagram and Etsy store.
Becca has just launched the cutest hand kitted heart bag, perfect for Valentines day!
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Becca said: “In my spare time I like to do drawings on my iPad and recently just picked up knitting. i’ve made bags and cardigans!
“I got my passion for it just after college but I started making it more than just a hobby during the first lockdown.
“I think the perfect gift for Valentine’s Day is something personal and handmade, which is why a personal drawing of you and your partner or a heart bag to show how much you love them is a good sustainable gift!”
Becca puts a lot of love and effort into everything she creates, and Valentines is one of many perfect opportunities to shop with her!
Here is a link to her shop, she also takes commissions via her Instagram.
@dollpartsshop
Calista creates accessories under the name ‘Doll Parts Shop’, including earrings and barrettes. She started her venture during the first lockdown as a hobby and it eventually grew into a business.
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Calista said: “I’m inspired by the 60s/70s and cool colourful patterns and unique prints. I’m having a drop on the 11th Feb and it will feature new and old styles along with some Valentines-esque stuff!”
Some of the prettiest and most creative earrings and accessories I’ve seen online and they would 100% make the perfect Valentines Gift.
Here is a link to dollpartsshop.
@eats_treatsmcr
A sweet treat for Valentines Day – what could be better?
@eat_treatsmcr are based in the M15 area (Castlefield). They sells treats like Brownies, Blondies, Stuffed Cookies, Cheesecakes, Truffles etc. with the odd special every now and then!
Charlotte, a third year university student based in Manchester, started her business after an up and down job hunt due to Covid.
She said: “I thought instead of wasting my time scrolling on indeed and waiting years for a response, I would try and take matters into my own hands. I decided to invest in my myself and baking to do what I wanna do in 2021.”
Orders are available to be gift wrapped, with special notes written inside, perfect for a loved one.
They also offer a Date Night DIY kit, ‘I love dough’ box. These contain pre-made cookie dough, cooking fillings, chocolate to melt and decorations, alongside some instructions to help you guys get baking!
Charlotte said the aim of the business is: “making people smile and spreading a little happiness where we can.”
Charlotte offers collection if you’re local to M15 with appropriate Covid-19 guidelines, or she can post to you!
They have just released their Valentines menu and you can view it below.
Check out @eat_treatsmcr on Instagram
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@blumintea
Diana and Mike own ‘BluminTea’, an online store that specialises in handcrafted flowering teas. They started their business back in May 2020.
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They told us a bit about their products: “Our products include; BluminTea (Flowering teas), Its Blumin Magic: World Infusions, Premium glass/ceramic Teapot Sets, a Blumin TeaTox and Blumin Nonsense hand drawn/written cards that focus on current affairs and aim to make you smile. Our cards can only be chosen at random which is part of the fun.”
They have also put together some special Valentines Day packages that include the best Valentines Gifts; they include Flowers, Chocolates, Teddies and a Blumintea touch of a ‘a naughty or nice’ personalised card that you can send directly to your loved ones this Valentines Day!
The packages range in price from £25-£60.
You can support and buy from Blumintea through their website here.
@katefleurs
Kate creates handmade floral wreaths and began her small business in lockdown one. She was inspired by other creatives to make something homemade, personal and one of a kind.
She uses copper wire to create frames and words by hand, and in the future hopes to give customers the option to personalise the scent of their wreath. For Christmas, she used festive scents such as pine and gingerbread.
Kate said: “I turned what began as a hobby into a business I am passionate about. Each product I make by hand with love. I design the social media, the packaging, the personalised message cards, everything down to the littlest detail & I love what I do.
“I think my gift is perfect for Valentine’s Day as the valentines hearts are made to last like the good lasting relationships. I put a lot of love into my products.”
Kate has just launched Valentines heart wreaths so check them out on her Instagram.
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@didsbury_gin
Based in Didsbury (shocker), this gin company offer a wide rage of variant and zesty gins made with 100% fruit juice, no extra additives and are vegan friendly.
Their incredible range of flavours include Blood Orange & Ginger, Strawberry & Sicilian Lemon and Raspberry & Elderflower.
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The shop also sells gift sets which are priced at around £14.95 and contain miniature samples of popular favourites which include the three aforementioned flavours, as well as the zesty Original.
They also offer pre canned cocktails, ready to drink as they arrive!
These drinks are perfect for a Valentines cheers with your loved one.
You can purchase items through their website here.
@arlurum
For a ‘rum-arkable’ gift this Valentines, check out ARLU Rum.
ALRU Rum is Caribbean-born but Manchester-made. The spirits they offer are blended together with unique spices to create flavours perfect for a gift for any occasion!
They offer so many flavours, including Blood Orange, Passionfruit and Mango, or Original Spiced, which all start at around £25 a bottle.
If you’re looking to bring a bit of the Caribbean to your room look no further!
Here is a link to ARLU Rum’s website to purchase or learn more.
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Do you know of any other local Manchester business’ we should be shopping with this Valentines Day? Let us know @PieRadioUK
