10 reasons you should buy gifts made in Britain this Christmas

Why buying British really is the only way to give this Christmas

Reindeer baby shoes by Star Child

Here are our 10 reasons why your gifts should be made in Britain:

1. You are supporting British craftsmanship – many of the products made in Britain are made by hand using skills that have been handed down through generations – think woodworking, glass blowing, weaving and knitting – and actively seek out something not mass-produced.
2. You are investing in something of quality that will last - British made products may sometimes cost more, but because they are often better made the cost-per-use or wear is actually much lower, meaning you give a gift that lasts.
3. You are giving something more unique - products manufactured in the UK are usually produced on a much smaller scale than things made abroad so you are less likely to be giving the same gift as everyone else.
4. You are bestowing a gift that doesn’t come with a huge carbon footprint - have you ever stopped to think how mass-produced foreign imports get from the factory to the shop floor? It sure as hell isn’t on a slow boat from China these days. More often than not it has flown here from the other side of the world, leaving a massive carbon footprint behind it.
5. You are creating employment for British workers - why pay for goods that have been manufactured overseas when you can help boost the British economy by keeping people in jobs here?
6. You are nurturing home-grown talent - in times of recession many designers leaving college can’t get jobs working for big companies so they set up their own brands in order to continue doing what they love. By buying their products you are helping to keep the retail market in the UK exciting and vibrant.
7. You are buying something made locally - isn’t it better to give something where you know its provenance and where it’s come from?
8. You are preserving the future of British manufacturing - by actively seeking out gifts made in Britain you are helping to keep the skill of manufacturing alive in this country. The UK would be a much duller place if everyone worked in a service industry.
9. You are spreading the word about buying British - the more people come to realise that we do still make things here, the more they might seek them out too. And an increasing demand by customers for things made in the UK would force retailers to think twice about where they source their products from.
10. You are making excuses if you say that you can’t find anything UK-made - It has never been easier to find products made in Britain, just check out our directory for starters.

Over the next few weeks we will be featuring a selection of fantastic gifts made in Britain to inspire you into buying British this Christmas. Many of the brands are also offering exclusive discounts for Make it British readers.

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