Buy local at expo online marketplace call as quirky advent calendar is launched
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Creative festival XpoNorth is launching its first digital advent calendar to encourage shoppers across the region to support local makers and independent businesses.
The advent calendar will launch on Monday, November 30, providing more than 20 north businesses with a platform to highlight their creations via XpoNorth’s social media channels.
An additional 20 companies will also be featured on
the XpoNorth website alongside those picked for the advent calendar promotion to create a virtual Christmas marketplace.
The businesses represent a wide variety of trades and crafts from textiles and jewellers to sculptors, artists, candle makers and food and drink producers.
Iain Hamilton, head of creative industries for Highlands and Islands Enterprise 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 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.”
Among the businesses taking part are Inverness based artist Sandra Murray, gin and absinthe maker Loch Ness Spirits, Great Glen Charcuterie, cashmere luxury accessories designer Ava Innes, blacksmith and sculptor James Ritchie of Just Hammered from Muir of Ord, jewellerKaren Duncan from Orkeny and Assynt yarn producer Ripples Craft.
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.
