The Early Bird Gets the Worm

2020 has been a turbulent year for many, if not all of us. While all non-essential retail has been hard hit, it's the small, independent makers who have suffered the most. None more so than in the Scottish Highlands and Islands. Given that the area is so reliant on tourists and with numbers dramatically reduced, the impact on makers has been considerable.

With a large percentage of the population still in lockdown the majority of Christmas shopping this year will be done online. It would be wonderful if, this Christmas, you showed your support for small businesses and buy your gifts from them. You can find many of the small, independent makers of the Scottish Highlands and Islands on Highland Hiddle. Not only will you acquire a unique product, different to what you will find on the high street, but it will also have a much lower carbon footprint.

When shopping with small, independent makers, it's worth bearing in mind the need to shop early. This is for a number of reasons:

• The increase in online shopping this year will put an inevitable strain on our postal services, therefore deliveries will take longer.
• Small makers produce much smaller quantities or make items to order which can add to delivery timescales.
• With the remote landscape of the Highlands and Islands, our makers don't necessarily live close to a Post Office, making daily visits difficult.

Lastly, but most importantly, many of the items available on Highland Hiddle are unique which is why they are so special. Once they're gone, they're gone. So, don't delay buying something you like, as someone else might beat you to it.