How to support local businesses in Sussex after lockdown

July 03, 2020

How to support local businesses in Sussex after lockdown

Firstly I want to thank everyone who has been supporting us and other local online stores throughout the pandemic - we have a really close-knit community here at Ellie Ellie and I am really proud of how we have all done our bit and helped each other through this. Thank you so much for continuing to place orders and we are so glad you are still here with us. 


So, what’s next for supporting local businesses?

As June comes to an end, in the UK we are seeing some dramatic changes to lockdown rules. Non-essential shops have now been given the green light - meaning you can take a trip into town to buy goods other than food or medicine. From the 4th of July our highstreets will be busy with life too, as pubs and restaurants reopen. But how do you go about supporting local shops when they open their doors? 

Here I have listed 3 of our favourite local Brighton and Sussex based businesses that are either opening their doors very soon or still taking online orders. I’d love for you to show your support in any way you can - whether it be following them on social media, making a purchase online or just popping into their shop if you’re in the area. We are all in this together and there’s light shining at the end of the tunnel, but there has never been a time that the highstreet has needed your help more. 

 

peach blossom store

Peach Blossom - Stylish Party Supplies & Decoration

Whether you’re celebrating a baby shower, hen party, your child’s birthday, or planning your wedding day you can give them a call or email to help you choose the right decorations for your upcoming event.

Just like us at Ellie Ellie, Alyssa and her team are handcrafters of many of their party decorations. Peach Blossom breaks the traditional mold of a party shop with uber cool and modern designs, making a party never to forget. Our fave products have got to be the bunting and party decorations - we have them up all over the Ellie Ellie office! We’ve previously bought the Turquoise paper garland and the blue paper bunting to style up our workspace.   

Their Brighton based store is temporarily closed - but you can still order here online or collect from their Brighton store.  You can also give them a follow on Instagram too.

Did you know: Outdoor weddings are now back on with up to 30 guests.

 

bird and blend store

Bird & Blend Tea - Tea Mixology on a mission to make people happy with tea!

If you haven’t already heard of the Bird and Blend Tea Company - where have you been!? I first met Krisi, one of their founders, back when we used to go street dancing - Alyssa from Peach Blossom would have been with us too! 

Krisi and Mike met at University where they bonded over a love of tea and started their loose leaf tea company, packing orders from their bedroom. They now have 3 retail stores which are reopening on the 4th of July - one of which is in Brighton. Bird and Blend Tea create unique blends of fruit, herbal, black white, matcha and all sorts of other teas. I’m a lover of fruit tea and Bird and Blend have introduced me to some fantastic new flavours, rhubarb and custard, strawberry lemonade and Eton Mess - that also make great iced teas too!

They often have tasters available so pop your head in the door down the Brighton Lanes to get a taste of their latest creation! You can also keep up to date with them over on Instagram. 



hisbe store

HISBE - Food Shopping ‘how it should be’

HISBE have labelled themselves the ‘supermarket rebels’ which is totally cool - as is their shopping concept. I first met founders Ruth and Amy at a networking event a few years back - and now with a shop in Brighton they are opening their second shop in Worthing, which is super exciting!

HISBE stands for ‘how it should be’ - offering a range of everyday groceries that are thoughtfully sourced from small, local producers and brands that trade responsibly, fairly and sustainably. Their shopping concept ties it beautifully with shopping local - as they don’t conform to selling like the supermarket giants. 

If you live in Sussex or near to Brighton or Worthing, why not take a peek inside and see for yourself a better way to shop. You can always give them a follow on Instagram too to get your foodie updates. 

 

crab shack food

Crab Shack - catch of the day seafood restaurant, and now takeaway!

Along the marine parade in Worthing seafront is one of the town’s best kept secrets in local fresh cuisine - well I think so anyway! I recently bought a platter here as a takeaway one night and wow, it just kept appearing -  I was overwhelmed with excitement, I kept finding more and more inside the box! If you’re local to the area or fancy coming down to sit along the coast with something a bit more exciting than a fish and chips, it’s definitely worth a try. My favourite is the fish platter, as well as the Sussex Smokie and you can't go wrong with the fresh crab sandwich!

You book your slot via the app for Fridays, Saturdays or Sundays. Because the food is so fresh and primarily based on the ‘catch of the day’ the menu often changes, but you can be sure that there’s always going to be something delicious and they have a few staple dishes throughout each season. 


Other ways to support local businesses that don’t cost money

Smaller companies and local high street shops are under enormous pressure to stay afloat at the moment - so supporting them is the best thing you can do to help. But to do this, you don’t always have to buy something. You can show your support without spending a penny. 

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how to support local

Here’s how to support local small businesses in Sussex or your local area:

  • Review their products/services online
  • Share one of their posts on Facebook
  • Tell your family and friends about them
  • Follow them on Instagram 
  • Like or comment something nice on social media 
  • If you do visit their store - check in on Facebook
  • Visit their website and have a browse of their blog articles
  • Share their blog articles with friends and family
  • If you do visit the store post a picture on social media

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Size Guide

To help you find a great fit, we’ve put together an easy-to-use size guide below.

If you have any other questions about the sizes of our clothes, feel free to give our Customer Service Team a call on 07897 314235.

We’re always happy to help!

Tip: Click on any of the thumbnails below to enlarge!

Quick Links

  • Tops (Adult & Child)
  • Baby Bodysuits
  • Pet
  • Tops (Adult & Child)

    1. CHEST: Measure under your arms, across the fullest part of your chest

    2. WAIST: Measure your natural waistline at the smallest part of your tummy

    3. ARM LENGTH: Measure from the top of your shoulder, down your arm (keeping it straight) to your wrist

    4. BODY LENGTH: Measure from the top of your shoulder, down your body to your waist

     

    Baby Bodysuits

    1. Chest: Measure under your baby's arms, across the fullest part of their chest

    2. Length: Measure from the top of your baby's shoulder to underneath their nappy

     

    Pet Clothing

    1. NECK: Measure around the part of the neck where a pet collar would naturally sit

    2. CHEST: Measure around the widest part of your pets chest just behind their front legs

    3. LENGTH: Measure from the area a pet collar would naturally sit, along your pets back towards the tail

     

    Pet Vest Size Guide