{"id":15356,"date":"2019-04-22T11:55:58","date_gmt":"2019-04-22T10:55:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.prettygreentea.com\/?p=15356"},"modified":"2021-02-24T19:40:10","modified_gmt":"2021-02-24T19:40:10","slug":"sheffield-based-eco-friendly-childrens-shop","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.prettygreentea.com\/2019\/04\/sheffield-based-eco-friendly-childrens-shop","title":{"rendered":"Sheffield Based Eco-Friendly Children’s Shop"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

I hope you’re all enjoying the long Easter weekend. The weather is beautiful and I can’t wait to head out for a walk after lunch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I want to kick-start the new week with a Behind the Biz interview.<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today we’re keeping things local with Small Stuff<\/a>, a Sheffield based ethical and eco-friendly children’s shop. I chat with Hellen, the founder, about her business journey and her passion for a sustainable lifestyle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Please tell us about Small Stuff, how did it all begin?
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When I had my son in 2016! Small Stuff started very differently; I wanted to create clothes and accessories for children knowing where I sourced the material and wanted each piece to tell a story. I created a website an Instagram and started selling these organic cotton creations that really meant something to me \u2013 it really took off very quickly and I soon started to sell out of things and then trying to balance being creative, creating and a newborn was a little bit of a struggle \u2013 so I had abit of a break and a rethink and enjoyed the time I could with my son.
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Then in Jan 2018 I was made redundant from a casual job I had, and it was like a light switch moment \u2013 probably the kick up the bum I needed! I decided in that moment I really wanted to create something that worked for me and for my family \u2013 I knew I wasn\u2019t going to work for anyone again. So I started researching eco-friendly, ethical, well-made children\u2019s clothing and product designers and suppliers with a story to tell and well \u2013 it just kind of all fell in to place. I had a huge rejig of the website, curated a long list of new stock and my had a relook at my branding \u2013 that became my creative outlet. In Feb 2018 Small Stuff was relaunched as an eco-conscious lifestylestore!
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How did you decide upon the name of your brand?
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A lot of brain storming (!) at the time I think I used a huge piece of paper and just wrote down every word that reminded me of my son \u2013 and small stuff stuck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Mini Chef Chopping Board<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

How did you source your first selection of products for Small Stuff?
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I tirelessly researched designers and brands \u2013 I wanted to find out exactly where the products were made, who made them and what their story was. If there was a supplier that couldn\u2019t give me any of that information \u2013 I didn\u2019t choose them. It was a long process and I\u2019m still learning so much about it all today.
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Your business is built on ethics and sustainability. Please tell us how this has developed and been put into practice.
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It started when I was researching online in to children\u2019s clothes and making them. I knew I wanted to use organic cotton as it\u2019s softer and keeps for longer \u2013 I wanted things that I could get a lot of wear out of for my own son but also that was kind to his skin and could be put away and kept as a keepsake for memories. I researched textiles that I wanted to use and started to realise how many chemicals and wastage are part and parcel in the creation of textile garments – which was actually really shocking. The more I opened up this box of worms the more I hated it \u2013 I wanted to make sure that each item I made or sold would be traceable, minimal chemicals and had minimum wastage \u2013 I wanted to make sure that everyone had received a fair wage for what they had created too.
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This spilled over when I relaunched Small Stuff and although I wasn\u2019t creating the items anymore \u2013 I knew that I wanted to be comfortable and confident in everything that I sell. That\u2019s why I only stock certified organic cotton items that have come from checked and certified factories. I only sell items that have been made for a fair wage and I work closely with my suppliers to understand their processes too. Even the bamboo ranges come from a managed Bamboo farm rather than a Bamboo forest so nothing is taken, but hopefully a lot given back.
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It\u2019s all about the detail. I know what my own limitations are for running a store that is eco-conscious, but I try and push them all the time; sending plastic wrappers back to suppliers, encouraging less single use plastics in packaging to begin with, recycling all the packaging I can for postage, offering a free recycling service for single use baby food pouches. When I worked out of the office of my house we changed our utilities suppliers to Green Energy and it\u2019s something I\u2019ve brought to my permanent store too. I want to be able to do every part that I can to run a sustainable and ethical business, even in the background.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A post shared by Eco-conscious children\u2019s store (@smallstuff_uk)<\/a> on