Small Business Shout Out: Business Round Up

Santa and his sleigh are gearing up for Christmas, and so are many of us. Are you the kind of person who finished most of their Christmas shopping a month ago? Or the kind of person who hasn’t even started yet?

However you do your Christmas shopping, one thing is for sure: there has been an exponential increase of easy online shopping in the last year due to the many restrictions of Lockdown. This means that small businesses and our highstreets have suffered. But, here at the Union we LOVE small businesses! So we asked you to share some of your favourite shopping locations and use our platform to shout about it!

See what businesses your fellow students love below! 

Well of course we have to share our shop! The shop is open until (DATES) and you can order online! We have Christmas Jumpers (for all your Christmas Jumper needs), face masks, hygiene keys, keep cups, hats, hoodies…the list goes on! You can check out all our stock online here. 
AND (yes, we really do spoil you) you can get customisations from just £2 per line of text! Bargain! 
The Union Shop

The Beehive is Portsmouth’s smallest department store! They pride themselves on selling eco-conscious, vegan-friendly and products made by independents! If you’re looking for small, local, independent artists and products, look no further! They are constantly updating their stock too, so definitely keep checking them out!
The Beehive
@thebeehiveportsmouth

Check out this great business on Albert Road! Did you know that Portsmouth was once known for its soap making and restorative sea bathing? Well Southsea Bathing Hut are looking to bring that back with their natural skincare inspired by coastal beauty!
All their products are lovingly handmade in small batches from totally unique and original recipes, using only the highest quality natural ingredients. The perfect gift! 
Southsea Bathing Hut
@southseabathinghut

An icon of Albert Road, Bored of Southsea opened in 1997 and has been a staple of local skaters, also offering alternative products to the city. They work with commercial and independent brands alike and are huge advocates for local artists in the city. Check them out!
Bored of Southsea
@boredofsouthsea

Handmade resin Dino jewellery! And we do live on the Jurassic coast after all! Megan and Drew are Welsh-based students who have a passion to be creative! They have recently launched their website and their Etsy page has a plethora of 5 star reviews! They are really active on TikTok too, where they do lots of different videos, including ones showing you how they package their items! Cute, affordable and dinosaurs? What’s not to love!
Quirky Dino Jewellery
@quirkydinojewellery

Bansie offers unique and affordable hand-crafted earrings made with a range of materials including genuine crystals, up-cycled beads and plated wire. They are also open to custom orders and requests, for that extra special personal touch!
@Bansiie

Another Portsmouth local! Pigeon Books is located on… Albert Road! They started Pigeon Books for three reasons:
1. They LOVE books. 
2. They love Southsea. 
3. They couldn't understand why no one had yet opened an independent bookshop in Portsmouth, especially Southsea.  
Pigeon Books, although small, has a fantastic selection of books, fiction, non-fiction, children's, young adults… the list goes on! Can’t find what you’re looking for? Drop them an email and they will try to get it for you!
Pigeon Books
@pigeonbooks

Gemma started selling her bows back in 2012, when she found that she couldn’t find a set of small hair bows in accessory shops in patterns she liked or with enough of a range to suit her choices! So, she started to make her own with bold and unique fabric choices before branching out to the other products! Take a look at what Gemma has to offer on her website!
Gemma's Bowtique
@gemmasbowtique

Rose Clover - a plant haven found on Elm Grove! Rose Clover opened the doors of their jungle back in November 2018. If you are a plant parent, or know one, this is the perfect place for you! Filled with all sorts of incredible things, not all of them green! It’s definitely worth checking out!
Rose Clover
@rosecloveruk

On… Albert Road! Are you sensing a theme? More than just a yarn store, Seeded is a home, a community, a place of creativity and inspiration! A place where everyone is encouraged to create, in whatever medium they choose. Crafty? Know someone who is? You should check them out!
Seeded
@seeded_buttons

​Seka Candles is a black-owned business run by a one women team! Their candles and wax melts are eco-friendly and made from 100% soy wax and each candle is an inspirational quote so that whoever lights the candle can understand that they are not alone and have a piece of tranquillity in their home. ‘Seka’ originates from the Shona language in Zimbabwe, which translates to ‘laugh/smile’. Sounds like the perfect gift for yourself!
@sekacandles

Roma-May is a freelance illustrator and designer based in Hampshire! She takes a lot of inspiration from nature and the natural world, often incorporating concepts of decay, growth and balance, whilst frequently including imagery of flora and fauna and organic shapes. She also offers custom pet portraits! Know someone who would love this? Or want to treat yourself? Check out her work!
Roma May Design
@romamaydesign

For something totally different and unique, you should check out Vile Eight! Started in 2013 by Luke Etherington, they offered engraved plugs, but has now grown into specialist wood engraving, signwriting, clothing and alternative artwork, as well as still offering the best custom wood plugs, ouija boards and eye catching wall art. Take a look!
Vile Eight
@vileeight

For the cutest home decor around, you need to check out Pretty Little Home! Gorgeous mugs, candles and timeless home accessories and furniture … you’ll fall in love with all of it! They started in 2015 and they source their products from the makers themselves! Want to make your student house a little more homely? Look no further!
Pretty Little Home
@pretty_little_home

Emily creates beautiful, chic and on trend pieces of wall art! If you’re looking to add a bit of art and colour into your life, you need to have a look at her work! Her pieces are affordable, stylish and she has something for everyone! Take a look today!
Yellow Bloc Prints
@yellowblocprints

If you’re on campus and you haven’t been to Hideout yet, why not? They make great coffee but what is even better, is they have released some great merch! T-shirts, soap, mugs, a scarf… and of course, coffee. You need to check ‘em out!
Hideout Coffee Co
@hideoutcoffeecompany

‘Born of Lockdown and heartbreak’ - the perfect reason to start a funky earring company! Some nostalgia and some of the quirkiest earrings we’ve ever seen, you’ve got to take a look! You’ll find a great statement pair of earrings for every occasion!
Hot Tramp Earrings
@hottrampearrings

A brilliant black owned business from Portsmouth! Melanin Makes creates homemade gifts, including tote bags, make-up bags, hot water bottles and some incredible candles! Gorgeous patterns and the perfect gift too! Take a look!
@_melaninmakes

The Package Free Larder is Portsmouth’s first plastic-free supermarket! They offer refill stations of many of your favourite home essentials, like ingredients, soap, shampoo - and more! They are a social enterprise, meaning that all of their profits are reinvested back into the shop and community, allowing them to further develop, as well as run events and workshops encouraging the community to try plastic-free alternatives. They sell some great plastic free gifts and sustainable product alternatives. Head down to Elm Grove and pop in to say hello!
The Package Free Larder
@packagefreelarder

For the best witch in your life! Horoscope Heretic is a small home run business with love and intention, specialising in wire wrapped crystal jewellery and other unique witchy items, including online tarot readings and homemade soap! Check them out!
Horoscope Heretic
@horoscope_heretic

If there is one thing Bubblehead Barista knows, it’s good coffee! Good coffee ‘makes the best days brilliant and the bad days bearable.’ Bubblehead, because that’s what they call the divers in the Navy, and barista because they’re all about sourcing the best coffee and delivering it directly to you. They can also hook you up with everything you need to make your coffee, from an AeroPress to an on-the-go portable setup. They know what they’re talking about!
Bubblehead Barista
@bubbleheadbarista

Who thought last Christmas that a fashion staple of every day would be the humble facemask? Well, Meg’s Masks have you covered! Handmade, reusable face masks based in Portsmouth and North Wales, there are endless patterns to choose from - you’re totally spoilt! Totally affordable which means you can have a mask for every occasion!  Take a look!
@megs_masks_x

Strong Island is proudly independent, and their ethos is to quite simply be the best resource to promote, showcase and inform people about Portsmouth and Southsea’s arts & cultural scene! Be it past, present or future, they do their best to keep you up to date with photos, videos, interviews and features about the city and its people. 
Strong Island Co
@strongislanduk

Wild Thyme is located near the top of Palmerstone Road in Southsea! They are a worker co-operative who run an independent wholefood shop with a juice bar and take away counter! They sell the widest range of natural and organic food in Portsmouth and all of their food is vegan and you'll find plenty of fairtrade items and local produce. If you're vegan, you have to check them out. If you're not, you should check them out too - they have a great selection of food, home and beauty items for sale, including refill stations! 
Wild Thyme Wholefoods
@wildthymewholefoods

Love these suggestion? Want to promote your business with UPSU? Email business@upsu.net