The Laings Journal

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Celebrating Local Businesses: Head Office Picks

This week we’re celebrating local, independent and family-run businesses, championing their efforts, throughout what has been a difficult year for many. Here our team members from our Head Office have nominated their favourite local businesses, highlighting how they have evolved through lockdown.

2020 has certainly not been an easy year for many. Local businesses had to shut their doors back in March and the future looked decidedly uncertain. However, the power of positivity has shone through these past few months and many businesses have adapted to the changing times, continuing to be there for customers, as well as helping others and giving back to the community.

Our team in the Head Office have nominated their favourite shops, restaurants and businesses. We want to share their top picks with you, celebrating local businesses and all that they’ve done.

Stardust Balloons

From Kirsten Woods

Stardust Balloons provide vibrant and exciting balloon art for all occasions. From birthdays to graduations, and a range of celebrations they’re known for adding a touch of fun with their imaginative designs.

Celebrating Local Businesses Stardust Balloons

Throughout lockdown they kept everyone one smiling with their balloon art. They decorated the streets around them with balloon flowers and constructed a balloon, rainbow arch for people to take pictures with and show their appreciation for the NHS. On International Nurses Day they created some amazing balloon nurses, with a colourful arch, delivering them to Glasgow Royal Infirmary to say thank you to the nurses for all the hard work they do.

https://www.stardustballoons.co.uk/

Bhaile Bakery

From Claire Campbell

With a team of creative bakers and dedicated foodies, Bhaile Bakery focuses on locally-sourced, high-quality, fresh and seasonal ingredients to help them to create exquisite products. Everything, including their delicious signature sourdough loaf, is handmade in Ayr and it’s a favourite spot for the locals.

Celebrating Local Businesses Bhaile Bakery

As lockdown hit Bhaile had to change their business model to become a purely online and delivery/collection business. They fully revamped their website and started offering local deliveries to help people to stay at home. They even started to sell flour and toilet roll as these items were becoming scarce! Over the weeks they have developed their offerings even further and now sell fruit, veg and flowers. As well as adapting the way they worked they also started a charitable option on their website where you could buy a loaf for a keyworker by making a donation. Each week they would chose groups of key workers from the local area to deliver all of the bread to, for example, Ayr Police, Ayr Fire Station or Ayr Hospital. Bhaile Bakery has been fantastic in how they have adapted their business and continued to support the local community with delicious bread and pastries in this difficult time.

https://www.bhaile.co.uk/

Pop!

From Sally Alobaidi

Run by Russell, Pop! are on a mission to bring great wines to Glasgow. They source every bottle from quality producers around the world and every wine they sell they love. As well as selling amazing wines they also stock local beers and spirits. They also have local products, such as superb Italian Extra Virgin Olive Oil and freshly baked bread from Kember and Jones.

Celebrating Local Businesses Pop! Wine

During lockdown they started offering home deliveries, keeping everyone well-watered. From sparkling prosecco’s to sumptuous reds and smooth whites their delivery service allowed the local community to enjoy delicious wines at home. The Laings team surprised CEO and company-owner, Joe Walsh on his lockdown birthday with a selection of wine from around the world recommended by Russell. A fantastic treat!

https://www.pop-wines.com/

Glorious

From Jill Aniola

Glorious provides quality, second-hand clothing from a range of favourite high-street shops. From bags and shoes to scarves and jewellery, as well as an exciting selection of vintage clothes it’s a treasure trove of delights.

Celebrating Local Businesses Glorious

After having to close their doors when lockdown hit Glorious launched an Instagram account, @gloriousclothingonline, which gave their customers the chance to reserve and collect items that they fell in love with. Now they are excited to be opening their doors again, welcoming customers with their bright and eclectic window displays.

https://www.facebook.com/GloriousSecondHandClothing/

Celebrating Local Businesses Moss Flowers Moss Flowers

From Colin Campbell

Moss are passionate about only using the freshest flowers and are known for their unique bouquets and arrangements. Whether it’s a bright and bold creation or understatedly elegant their designs are perfect for weddings, private parties or flower subscriptions. With over 30 years of floristry experience, they understand the meaning behind every gift.

Lockdown has been hard for businesses like Moss Flowers, however they have continued to delight passers-by. Their beautiful shop front is always an engaging experience and passers-by can’t help but smile at the beautiful display of plants and flowers. For many, it has given them a little ray of sunshine in an unusual time. Moss is a favourite spot amongst the local community and they both have been a huge support to each other during this time.

https://www.mossflowerslenzie.co.uk/

Bluebellgray

From Carol Gargan

Bluebellgray are all about using fresh, uplifting and modern prints to add joyful colour to your home. They have a full range of homewares in vibrant hues, all available in their signature, hand-painted watercolour style. From bedding and fabric to wallpaper and tableware a touch of Bluebellgray is an injection of happiness.

Celebrating Local Businesses Bluebellgray

During lockdown they made good use of their time and completely transformed their Hyndland store, giving it a fresh makeover for when they were ready to welcome back customers. Their online store also kept running and they worked hard to add all of their shop products to the website so that customers could enjoy browsing everything online. They also furthered their offering, adding lovely lifestyle brands which complimented their collection, such as HK Living, Scandinavisk and Nkuku, as well as beautiful kids products from Olli Ella and Djeco.

https://www.bluebellgray.com/

Holyrood Distillery

From Kat Barron

Found in the heart of Edinburgh, Holyrood Distillery is an exciting gin and whisky distillery that’s resurrecting single malt distilling in the capital. Their visitor centre is a unique hands-on, sensory and educational experience and a visit there is designed to enlighten and delight.

Holyrood Distillery

Unfortunately due to lockdown the exciting tours had to take a pause. However, the Distillery adapted with click and collect orders so that everyone could continue to enjoy the magic of single malt. They also launched Picnic Packs featuring their Holyrood Gin, Fever-Tree Tonic Waters, a Distillery bottle opener and a Distillery tote bag. As restrictions started to ease they teamed up with Innis and Gunn and Pizza Geeks, opening up their Courtyard Bar as an outdoor food and drink venue. There’s no better spot to enjoy beers, pizzas and a selection of spirits and cocktails!

https://www.holyrooddistillery.co.uk/

Pane E Vino

From Claudia Sarti

As specialists in Italian and continental food and wine Pane E Vino bring the Italian experience to the heart of Giffnock. Their passion for Italian food, all cooked with fresh produce has been a favourite amongst locals and it has always been a busy spot.

Pane E Vino

As lockdown hit they began a Collection service. Customers could order their favourites, including focaccia, antipasto, beautiful pasta and cannoli, to enjoy. Along with their delicious menu, they also delivered DIY pizza kits, to keep everyone busy at home. They have now re-opened in line with government guidelines and are looking forward to welcoming regulars and new customers alike.

https://www.facebook.com/paneevinogiffnock/

Celebrating Local Businesses Hydranure Hydranure

From Claudia Sarti

Hydranure is the invention of parents whose children had eczema, however nothing they tried worked. With the help of botanical experts, they developed a natural, organic baby cream for rapid relief from eczema. With proven ingredients, it works fast and absorbs easily, and is also pretty good for adult eczema, psoriasis, sunburn and a host of other dry, itchy skin conditions.

During lockdown Hydranure made a conscious effort to help in the best way that they could. They donated their creams to several hospital wards and care homes, helping those heroes on the frontline to keep their skin soft from all of the hand-washing and sanitizing they were doing. It also helped with the effects of wearing masks all day that could irritate the skin. They supported Project Wingman by donating their cream. This project saw airline staff helping out in the staff areas of hospitals, looking after the NHS teams whilst they looked after us and our families.

www.hydranure.com

 

Thank you for joining us in celebrating local businesses, it is now more than important than ever to shop local and support these places that bring so much joy to the community. Let’s continue to champion them and enjoy all that they have to offer!

 

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