Jewellery By Shalini

Recently I was followed on twitter by  @ StamfordNetwork This is what its all about Building a strong business network - Here to discuss, share, connect & support. Join us for  # StamfordHour   Wednesday nights 8.30 - 9.30pm Great idea! I have seen a lot of these #(addplace/activity)hour happening on twitter recently and its good to see one for Stamford. Local businesswomen Cheryl & Amanda from Cocktail Marketing are the brains behind #StamfordHour and they are doing a fantastic job promoting it. Its nice for local businesses to talk to each other and where possible work with each other. After a few twitter sessions they decided to have a Meet up at local Wine Bar Milano Bar Stamford  last night and what a lovely evening it was! Met some lovely people and I hope we will be talking more on twitter now. Always nice to put a face to a tweet! I hope this becomes a regular event on the Stamford networking scene. I was so busy chatting that I did not t...

I would like to wish Rachel and her Reba team the very best. I am really sad to read the announcement that Reba is closing. This really isn't the kind of news you want to hear as a New Year starts. But sadly it is the reality on many High Streets in big cities and in small towns. And its even more depressing when it is one of the most active local champions of Shop Local and Shop Indie . For those of you on twitter who follow @Rebaboutique  I don't really need to tell you that Rachel has been actively spreading much needed awareness about local Independent shops. For those who don't... Reba's tweets about shopping local and supporting small business have been truly inspiring. Often quirky, sometimes really funny but always with the simple message of buying from independent local businesses where possible. This blog post on Jofftastic will give you the full text of Rachel's very honest press release announcing the closure   "End of an era" as Reb...

Buy Local, Buy Handmade.  Help support your local craft community and small businesses! If you are in Grantham area do check this out! Pop Up Shop at the George Shopping Centre until Saturday, 14th December 2013. Fantastic shopping opportunity for Christmas! I won't be there but many of my artisan friends are including Shedglas Design , Eve Marshall , Pin & Tuck Notice Boards , 1.2.Tree , DL Designs of Rutland and Shelly Anderson

...they are everywhere! On your high street, in local markets, in that little corner shop unit near your house, occasionally working out of a van (electricians, food sellers, decorators...). And in this age of technology, a lot of them are on the internet . Some because that is their business model and some because they have not yet got to the point where they could afford premises on the high street to open a brick and mortars shop. (That will be me then!) Some of us are working very hard towards having a little shop. In the mean time we are still trading and open for business on-line . On Small Business Saturday why not take a browse around the interweb and seek out small, individual businesses (like mine) in your area. You know they are there. They have websites and on-line shops you can buy from. You have seen some of them on Facebook or Twitter . You have met them at local markets / craft fairs. You have friends who have told you about their friend - who makes jewel...

The Sibson Inn Hotel on the A1 near Stamford will host a Christmas Fair showcasing local craft talent on 13 - 14 November. I have booked my stall and I am really looking forward to it. If anyone is interested in having a stall please contact Mark Prime for details The Sibson Inn A1 Great North Road Stibbington Nr Peterborough Cambs PE8 6ND  Tel:  01780 782227   Jewellery By Shalini , Stamford Lapidary & Greensleaves Florist will be there.