‘Shop Local First’ at Christmas

STILL not started your Christmas shopping Yet? Panic not! For here in Thame we have one of the top three, smaller market town high streets in the whole of Great Britain – and that’s official! Particularly unique is the number of wonderful, independently run shops in our high street; shops where good old-fashioned personal service and knowledge about the providence of products is paramount – and there’s loads of FREE parking!

SHOPPING for Christmas, whilst a pleasure for some, is for others, a last minute dash over to the nearest big town’s shopping centre or wandering fruitlessly around a huge shopping Mall among the present-hunting hoards squeezed in after work;  or scouring the internet, only to discover that the ‘very thing’ for your favourite person is sold out or can’t be delivered in time for Christmas. Well, help is at hand – right here on our own doorstep, where we are lucky to have so many interesting and individual shops stocked with unusual and special seasonal gifts to suit everyone’s pocket.

Planning and parking

So, make your list of friends and relatives over a nice cup of tea or coffee (or a glass of something stronger), divide it by the number of free shopping days you have left between now and Christmas and shop for just two or three each day in your lunch hour perhaps, or at the weekend – many more shops are opening on Sundays this year in the run up to Christmas. Alternatively, if you’re the sort of person who likes to do your Christmas shopping all in one manic shopping day, Thame is compact enough to walk from shop to shop, find what you’re looking for and take time out in the middle at one of the town’s many hostelries for a spot of lunch and to rest the tired feet. (See https://www.thame.net/Eating.asp)

Don’t forget to park in the Long Stay car park at the Cattlemarket. There are three hours of free parking in the Market Place, if you are a very organised shopper and work out exactly where you are going beforehand – and in the run up to Christmas, there is FREE parking in Thame all day on Saturdays on December in both the Cattlemarket and the Southern Road car park behind the Co-op. (LINK TO SHOPPING GUIDE

Help begins here

To help you find just the right present for just about anyone, be it the man who has everything, a teenage boy or girl, mum and dad, or a best friend of either sex, we’ve combed the shops of Thame, and in consultation with the proprietors, have come up with, what we think, are a few useful suggestions to get you started.

We begin our Yuletide trail in Buttermarket, Thame, where just beyond the new restaurant that has slotted so easily into what was the Sports Shop, is the beautiful and unique, little emporium of make-up, perfumes and body-pampering lovliness, Powder, run by Karen Moore. Karen suggests the following ideas for starters but really, pop in and explore even more options – for men too:

What about a reed diffuser that gives off a rich aroma redolent of the finest oak-aged single malt, with warm vanilla and cedarwood? “The Noble Isle, Whisky & Water Reed Diffuser is an ideal present for the man with everything,” suggests Karen.

 

 

Very popular among those with longer hair that needs tying back for the gym, for running or for a neater look, are Popbands in a variety of colours and patterns, the perfect hair accessory this Christmas, that Karen says: “…look cute on the hair and on the wrist and are great for children, teens and adults.”

 

Olverum is a pine based bath oil, made with plant extracts that is the most luxurious way to unwind, sooth aching muscles, relieve stress, and promote a restorative sleep that can help revive a tired immune system. “A unisex product, Olverum is great for those who have been pounding the streets or hitting the keyboard doing their Christmas shopping and need something to help relax,” advises Karen. Discover more about Olverum HERE

 

 

Cosy up with some Christmas fayre

Almost opposite Powder, is one of Thame’s newest independent retailers, THE DELI AT NO.5, where Joe Bastan and Hannah Leah Jones are running what is their very first business, a delicatessen and homeware shop bringing together Great British products they’ve sourced from around the country from small producers, including beer from a local brewery. “Our focus is on supporting other small businesses that offer high quality products.” explains Joe.

As well as Christmas hampers and gift tokens, check out the beautiful, soft, 150cm x 183cm, Tweedmill Throws – handmade in Scotland of very good quality Pure New Wool. Ideal for those ‘Hygge‘ times so beloved of the Danes and spreading fast in this cold, damp country of our’s.

 

 

 

 

Or, how about Cheese Lovers Chutneys in a jute bag? All the chutneys are made by hand in the Yorkshire Dales by Raydale Preserves. Everything is stirred, poured and packed by hand. “There’s a great chutney to go with every good cheese,” says Hannah.

 

 

 

Christmas is a time for bringing out the special booze. For the Gin connoisseurs in your circle, step into The Deli at No.5 and find Tarquins Gin and Two Glasses Gift Set, produced by Southwestern Distillery in Cornwall – perfect -and with an extra glass so that the 70cl bottle of gin can be shared!

 

 

Budding musician in the family?

One of Thame guitar teacher, Kevin Lucas’s gift vouchers could well set your son, daughter, granddaughter or grandson well on their way to becoming an accomplished musician or just able to play for pleasure – Kev  has several older pupils returning to playing the guitar well after leaving their teenage years behind!

Call Lucas Guitar School on Kev’s palendromic phone number, 01844 21712, to discuss how many lessons you would like to give, and he will arrange a gift token for you.

Finally

It’s worth remembering that: “Christmas should be a time of community spirit and local shops make up a large part of this community. But the power of the big supermarkets will continue to squeeze small suppliers and shops, so within a few  Christmases, we could be left with little choice of where to do our shopping. By supporting your local shops you can really help to keep Thame thriving.

“And if you walk (or cycle) to the shops and choose locally sourced food you’ll be making a much better environmental choice too.” Quote: Friends of the Earth