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Why the ethical fashion sector in the UK struggles to grow
Published 2 January 2020A recently published article in the Guardian celebrates ethical spending in the UK hitting a record high, swelling to reach over £41 billion. Consumables take the largest portion, with energy, home and personal products scooping up significant portions of the rest. The industry that has had the most tussles with ethical issues however, the one […]
Goodnight, sleep tight: Creating a beautiful bed.
Published 28 March 2019It’s important to have a good night’s sleep. A good night’s sleep will often fix most problems. You’ll wake up relaxed, refreshed and ready to tackle the day. Plus it’s great for your skin. The key to a good night’s sleep isn’t just one thing. We recommend creating a comfortable and beautiful environment that will […]
In with Spring, out with dust
Published 1 March 2019It’s spring! Or so we hope… I’ve been transitioning in between clothing types this week, moving away from my warm wool coat to lighter garb. It’s delightful to not be weighted down by 20 layers of fabric. Spring is synonymous with the shedding of layers (unless we’re talking about trees), and part of that includes […]
Love is in the air
Published 13 February 2019Love it, hate it or simply ignore it, it’s still Valentine’s Day today. Traditionally, a day for lovers, we’ve decided that it should also be a day for small business owners. So here are three oh-so-important ways to express love if you’re a small business owner. Ready? Love yourself Small business owners are so susceptible […]
Guest Blog for The RSA
Published 30 November 2018We’ve written a guest blog for the RSA on problems facing the high street and a new ethical shopping oriented solution. “When on the high street, it feels as though poor quality products are sold everywhere for high prices. Online shopping seems like a better deal since we’ve been trained to think of purchasing online as […]
Guest Post by Crown Northampton
Published 29 October 2018Do you love a good pair of shoes? Take a look behind the scenes of a shoemaking company that is quintessentially English, preserving old traditions in manufacturing while adding that modern touch. As one of the last remaining active shoe factories in England, our brand, Crown Northampton has a deep understanding of English made and […]
At last (perhaps) autumn has arrived
Published 16 October 2018I’ve been away in sunny India for about 6 months (yes, a bit longer than expected), and I completely missed the British summer. Traded it in for the original Indian summer followed by monsoon which made for hot hot hot weather with torrential rain. The weather here is conflicted. Some days it’s autumn with those longer sleeves, […]
Blue Patch Sustainable Business Awards 2018!
Published 22 May 2018We’re delighted to announce the Blue Patch Sustainable Business Awards 2018 results are available here. The People’s Prize will be announced by the 2017 winner Anna Jacobs. Meet the talented artist-designer at #BStore18 as she hands the award to the winner for 2018! Thank you to the applicants for such wonderful submissions – every one was […]
It might as well be Spring
Published 1 April 2018Now that Easter’s been and gone, it might as well be spring. This weekend has been so very springlike. A bit of sun, a bit of rain. Has anyone seen any Daffodils yet? Those are my favourite sign of spring. Last year we wrote this blog about garden products. To add to that list, and in honour […]
Something old, something new: A guest blog by Jan Knibbs
Published 13 February 2018Did anyone get engaged recently? Whether you are frantically planning your wedding, or simply keeping an eye out for ideas, here are a few ways in which you can incorporate some of your family history into your wedding dress. Intrigued? Read on. We live in an age of mass production, surrounded by a throw-away society. […]
The language of love
Published 6 February 2018Does you remember hearing about the 5 languages of love? It was something I heard about in university, that people understand love in 5 primary ways. That the way one person expresses love may not be how the other understands it. You may do something that you consider to be tiny for your significant other and it may […]
Guest Post: Interiors trends for 2018
Published 5 February 2018Got the itch to redecorate? Take a look at Zoe Murphy’s interior predictions for 2018 to keep on top of trends for the home. Whilst the fast moving world of fashion can sweep away what went before, in interiors we tend to build on existing trends. Partly this is practical. Who wants to repaint their walls […]
Do you want to build a business?
Published 25 January 2018Do you have an idea that could change the world? Maybe you’ve been toying with the thought of starting your own business and this might just be the year that you finally take the leap and go for it. We asked some of our small businesses for advice that they would give people starting out. Reading through their replies, I […]
Guest post: Sales Plans for Small Businesses
Published 15 January 2018Welcome to 2018, a new year, a new start, an exciting new sales plan? When you run your own small business you wear multiple hats. There is barely time to reflect or think about the direction you’re headed and if it’s right for you. Statistics show that small businesses with sales or business plans in place are more […]
Curing those Blue Monday blues
Published 14 January 2018It has come to my attention that Monday, the 15th of January is Blue Monday. Incase you didn’t know what Blue Monday was, it’s supposed to be the most depressing day of the year. Apparently there’s a mathematical formula behind it with several contributing factors including motivation levels, time since christmas and the weather! I’ve […]
Guest Blog: Ethical Business in a Post-Brexit World
Published 9 January 2018One of the conversations we have had multiple times in the last year is the effect of Brexit on small businesses. It’s a complex issue with many facets to consider, and with many unintended consequences stemming from it. Today we’re featuring a guest blog by What Daisy Did who shed a light on the effect of Brexit on their business, […]
A touch of June to your Jan
Published 6 January 2018Did you know that January is named after Janus, the god of gateways and that Janus could look in both directions, back at the old year and forward towards the new year at the same time? Hindsight and foresight both 20/20 for this guy, right? However, as far as we’re concerned, December is as cold as January, […]
Better latte than never: The need for circular economy solutions
Published 6 January 2018There’s no worse place to throw your coffee cup than into a general waste bin. Why? There is a very, very small percentage of those cups that actually get recycled. In the past day, there has been a lot of discussion around the subject of the proposed 25p charge on disposable cups. What do you think? Good? […]
Looking back at 2017
Published 19 December 2017Fresh starts in January With Maxine leaving us at the end of last year, we were lucky enough to be joined by the amazing Natalia Komis. Serial entrepreneur and brilliant business strategist for social businesses and creatives, she rolled up her sleeves and got straight to work on her very first day. Love in February Sometimes we […]
BluePatch on the ETA blog
Published 7 December 2017We were featured on the ETA blog in their brilliant blogpost titled Christmas shopping that delights family, friends and the planet. “Websites such as Blue Patch offer a different shopping experience – putting customers, communities and the environment first with a colourful catalogue of products and services with a sustainability edge. They have ethical fashion, ethically designed furniture, […]
4 tips for a greener Christmas
Published 28 November 2017It’s beginning to look a lot like….. The lights are starting to get switched on. The nights are getting longer, the weather colder, and hot chocolate suddenly sounds like a REALLY good idea. While you’re preparing for the holidays, here are a couple of tips to keep in mind to green up the holiday season. […]
How to put on a PopUp event
Published 22 November 2017As part of our Power of Positive Shopping campaign, we are building bridges between retail outlets and Blue Patch members. This includes pop-ups. Being temporary spaces, they offer a relatively low-cost way for brands to take creative risks, generate buzz and reach new audiences, which are all GREAT benefits. Our first foray into the world of large scale events was the task of organising […]
The birds, the bees and the best of the beasts.
Published 13 November 2017We all know someone who is mad about animals. Horses, dogs, cats, birds, bees, otters, sheep….. the list could go on! Here are a few ideas for animal themed christmas gifts, with even a few gifts for animals! Birds of a feather… 1. Green & Blue, Belle Feeder £26. Feed tits, sparrows, nuthatches and finches with fat balls, fruit and kitchen scraps! […]
Is Veganism here to stay?
Published 8 November 2017The rise in animal-free diets and products is ever increasing, with consumers becoming more concerned about sustainability and clean eating. Small businesses across the British Isles are rising up to the demand and proving that veganism is not a fad. In fact, data released by Google News shows that there has been an increase of […]
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