As the appetite to shop locally & support local businesses grows, we took part in the first-ever Made in UK Day on Tuesday 9 March 2021. This was something we felt was important & dear to our hearts as I had set the business up before Brexit, before Covid & before the small business movement concentrating on British manufacture as important integral part to this business & the thinking behind its sustainable ethos
The Made in UK Day campaign was created by Make it British to celebrate their 10 year anniversary. Started as a blog by ex-retail buyer Kate Hills to champion all the wonderful products that are made in the UK, the Make it British website has now been visited by more than 6.5 million people looking to buy UK-made products & search for UK manufacturers. This year alone has seen a 68% increase in enquiries since the UK left the EU’s single market & customs union, which is so exciting for the small businesses we work with & for us a hive of British brands.
Did you know, that UK manufacturing is currently worth £192 billion to the UK economy and employs 2.7 million people. More than 65 million people live in the UK & if everyone bought just one item made in the UK worth £20 on Made in UK Day it would be worth £1.3billion!
Appletree and Avalon only stock British made products & if something is handmade it’s made by hand in someone’s factory, small business or even at the kitchen table!
By purchasing from UK-made businesses like us you are helping to:
Lower your carbon footprint
Buying products made closer to home means you can significantly reduce the number of miles something has travelled. In turn, this reduces its carbon footprint. UK-made products are often made in much smaller quantities, too. Many can be made to order, discouraging waste within the supply chain. We also buy locally wherever possible, reducing further mileage on posting
Save essential skills
Manufacturing requires skill. Not everyone suits working in a service-based industry. By purchasing a product that is made in the UK you are helping to save skills within local communities. Skills that would otherwise be lost. Workers are also paid fairly & believe it or not, a retailer like us doesn’t take that big a chunk of the product margin, it’s still the maker!
Create job opportunities
2.7 million people work within manufacturing in the United Kingdom. When you buy a product that is made in the UK you are directly contributing to keeping someone in employment. Believe it or not, this, in many cases tends to be female founders
Promote UK craftsmanship
When you buy a product that is made in the UK you are helping to preserve craftsmanship that has been passed down through generations. This is so important that our industries are not forgotten
Boost local economies
Buying locally-made directly contributes to your local economy. Spend your money wisely & help contribute directly towards the area in which you live.
1 thought on “Made in the UK”
Love the website and your blog.