Over 1,000 people a day have visited a new directory of gifts that give back in its first week of operation.
The latest data from the new Buy Social Scotland ethical gift directory has revealed the top Scottish ‘gifts that give back’ this Christmas.
BuySocialScotland.com launched at the start of December to meet the growing demand from Scottish residents to support social enterprises [1].
Among the top gifts are experiences that can be purchased online right up to Christmas Eve:
- Sustainable Zero Waste Classes from EcoArt
- Dressmaking Course from Remode
- World Tour Scotland Box from Invisible Cities
- Upcycling Workshop Gift card from The Edinburgh Remakery
- Once Upon a Gram from The Walking Theatre Company
The most popular festive gifts and hampers featured include:
- Handmade Christmas Wreaths from Locavore
- Ethical Merch Box from Wild and Kind
- Christmas Luxury Hampers from Edinburgh Community Food
- Banquet Box from Just Trading Scotland
- Handmade Food Hamper from Edinburgh Food Social
Another social enterprise featured in the directory, Kilwinning-based Mecoco, offers work experience opportunities for disabled people to make eco-friendly candles, diffusers and soaps.
Jenny Trott, Director, commented:
“Buy Social Scotland is an important and timely campaign which we are excited to be a part of. Mecoco has worked hard to support its team and the wider community this year and we’re now looking forward to promoting the festive range of products made by our inclusive team.”
There are over 6,000 social enterprises in Scotland generating over £3 billion in trading income and employing almost 90,000 people [3]. Social enterprises deliver positive social or environmental change and re-invest some or all of their profits into supporting Scottish communities.
BuySocialScotland.com features a wide range of ethical gifts that give back, with products, experiences and vouchers ranging from arts and crafts to health and beauty, home and garden, clothing and accessories for adults and children, and sport and wellbeing.
Chris Martin, Chief Executive of Social Enterprise Scotland, said:
“With so many ethical shoppers looking to find great products and services while also helping to build a better, fairer society, now is the time for Scotland to Buy Social and support businesses that give back.”
A new gift guide to help the public find the best festive gifts this season is available online with direct links to over 70 ethical gift ideas for everyone and every budget. The guide covers gifts for her, for him and for children as well as Christmas hamper ideas, gourmet foods, stocking fillers and zero waste presents. The full Buy Social Scotland directory is at www.buysocialscotland.com.
[1] ScotPulse interviewed a representative sample of 1,364 Scots online between 7-12 October 2020. Results were weighted to be representative of the Scottish population by gender and age. Currently a third (29%) of Scottish consumers have bought from a social enterprise in the last year, with 20% of these buying products and services from social enterprises on a regular basis. But of those who haven’t purchased from a social enterprise this year, 46% (Six percent of the general Scottish population) highlighted it’s because they don’t know of any social enterprise to buy from.
[2] Social Enterprise Scotland / Google Analytics data
[3] Social Enterprise Census, 2019 – https://socialenterprisecensus.org.uk/