Last week, Avenue HQ’s Conference Centre was due to play host to The Social Market – Avenue HQ and St Paul’s Social‘s monthly gathering of local independents. The vendors come together to showcase their produce to the business community based within St Paul’s Square, however due to world events, March’s edition of the market was unfortunately postponed. Despite Covid-19 playing havoc with events all over the UK, we didn’t want to miss an opportunity to shine light on the fantastic retailers who were due to attend on the day. From sharing their social posts to purchasing products – there are multiple ways in which we can support small businesses (such as those enlisted in The Social Market), whilst we all ride out this wave together.
In the meantime, we’ve rounded up the retailers that you would’ve met! So cast your mind back to the 27th March around lunchtime and head over to Avenue HQ St Paul’s Square, to virtually attend The Social Market…
Stand 1: Coppermyst
As a self confessed hippy, Amy started up Coppermyst as a way to fund her travelling around Europe in a camper van. Now based in Liverpool, Coppermyst has expanded to an emporium of spiritual treasures and crystals. Amy’s work is artistic, creative and completely one of a kind. The products she first started making to fund her journey are designed to help individuals on theirs, bringing positive vibrations and holistic healing to the forefront.
To create the jewellery, Amy uses an electroforming method – a thick copper plating process, which involves running electricity through an acid bath. This results in unique pieces, which aim to brighten your day and add positive energy to the wearer’s life.
Stand 2: To The Moon
To The Moon was founded by Jess Sharpe at the start of 2020, in memory of her late partner. Jess was spurred on by a long-standing passion to show how consumers can change the world through conscious purchasing. To The Moon offers luxury candles which are produced using only the most sustainable and high quality materials available. Jess has carefully curated a selection of gorgeous scents that you can choose from. Selene is a blend of sandalwood, patchouli and vanilla, whilst Harvest incorporates pine, sea breeze and lavender.
The candles are hand poured -with love- in Liverpool, and are ethical through and through – with sustainable packaging and vegan ingredients at their core. Even once your candle has completely burned, the beautiful glass holders can be reused and repurposed, taking on a new life as anything from a toothbrush holder to a plant pot.
Stand 3: Pen-y-lan Pork
Pen-y-Lan Pork is a family run business that has been operating for 15 years. They focus on producing high quality products whilst ensuring that animal welfare standards take precedence. Mike started by selling to family and friends, but Pen-y-lan Pork has flourished into the thriving business it is today, whilst still maintaining its local, family-focused and independent ethos, to preserve the quality of the product.
Stand 4: The Healthy Gut Company
The Healthy Gut Company was established due to Ruth’s love for her family. Following Ruth’s husband’s cancer diagnosis, their family’s journey to wellness began. She started researching the human microbiome and its part to play in health and wellbeing and landed on fermenting. Starting with three cultures; milk kefir, water kefir and kombucha, Ruth brought her products to market and found that the response was fantastic. Using kombucha as a gateway to health, she hopes to reach out to others and help them find the benefits of fermented foods!
https://thehealthygutcompany.co.uk/
Stand 5: Wild Root Cafe
Wild Root Café is a fantastic start-up, run by one of Avenue HQ’s own members, Charlotte-Lily Tomlinson. Charlotte has been creating a variety of graze boxes that can be pre-ordered and delivered, giving you a massive boost of plant-powered nutrients, that one may be lacking during this #StayHome period! They have just started producing a selection of salad boxes to provide even more choice, ranging from: thai peanut and tofu salad, to harissa carrot and quinoa with chickpeas, kale and hummus. Take a look at their Instagram to see what they are up to!
Stand 6: Mary Makes
As we find ourselves in the midst of #StayHome, you may recognise the large amounts of single use plastic that can be found within the common household. Within the current climate, caring for the community and the planet comes to the forefront, and therefore, reducing our plastic use and investing in a more sustainable future is a great way of feeling involved and remaining positive during trying times. ‘Mary Makes’ offers a huge array of products that can replace less sustainable alternatives. From bamboo cotton buds to beeswax food wraps, reusable make-up wipes to recycled toilet paper – the shop is a treasure trove of environmentally friendly products.
https://www.etsy.com/shop/MaryMakesZeroWaste?fbclid=IwAR2Ufj0o8oDbiaqZKtdWcZoKBG9iux8HSo08K4BCufzohNjKAx4EatfEYhYStand 7: The Gluten Free Pie Company
The Gluten Free Pie Company was born from Denise’s difficulty finding suitable substitutes for celiacs. Every product on offer is baked to perfection in Denise’s gluten free vegan kitchen, and made to supply local cafés and shops around Liverpool. They have an array of flavours, from ‘Chick’n and Mushroom’, to ‘Smoky BBQ Jackfruit’ – all encased in their signature flaky pastry. Denise’s pies are the gluten free options on offer in St Paul’s Social, that you’ve tried, tested and loved. Now they can be enjoyed from the comfort and safety of your own home. Take a look at their website to browse the full menu of tempting treats.
In light of Covid-19, we’ve pivoted Avenue HQ’s events programme to temporarily exist online. Stay up-to-date with any virtual events and remain connected with Avenue HQ by following us on Twitter.