Maryport traders encourage people to shop local this Christmas time

Christmas is, in part, a time for gift giving and, with that, gift buying, so it seemed like the perfect time to highlight some of the wonderful businesses local to Maryport where you can get your festive fix.

If it's something for the little ones you're looking for, there is nowhere better than The Bows Baby Boutique with gift vouchers, lots of lovely Christmas outfits and all baby supplies needed throughout the store - as well as girls' clothes up to age five and boys' clothes ranging from baby to age four.

Sophie Telford, owner of Bows Baby Boutique (Image: NQ staff) Owner Sophie Telford said that although Christmas is not the busiest time of the year, the festive period is incredibly important for traders in the town.

She said: "I think people do need to support their local businesses, [or] they won't be here. Maryport is getting a lot done to it at the minute, so hopefully that will bring more people in to shop local.

"Everyone is always having babies so I wouldn't say its necessarily the busiest time of the year, but everyone wants new outfits for their babies at Christmas."

Just a short walk down the street is another family business. The Three Frogs has a whole lot on offer for everyone this Christmas, from jewellery and women's fashion to lovely decorative pieces for your home.

Myles Hudson, of the Three Frogs (Image: NQ staff) Myles Dyson, son of the owner said: "We try to do something which is just a little bit different, things you can't get in the high street stores and try to offer a range of prices as well, some lower budget, some higher budget - just a bit of everything."

Speaking about the importance of people shopping local in Maryport, Myles said: "I think just to build up the local high street, rather than the big brands and make it feel more like a family... ours is a family business, so it's nice to bring that forward."

Further up Senhouse Street is another local business which has been in the town for a few years, recently moving buildings to expand their business.

The Curiosity Shop owned by Marie Buckley. (Image: Supplied) The Curiosity Shop owned by Marie Buckley has a whole host of novelty goodies, Christmas gifts as well as children's toys and other gift ideas.

"It's very important that the shops don't shut and that the shops grow again. I just feel that more people need to open their shops to start, so people can start shopping local again. It's not a dying trade and I think people just need the confidence to start up on their own", said Marie.

And one such business person who has just that in the town is Anna Lowery, who has recently opened Soak and Fizz in the town. 

Anna Lowery from Soak and Fizz (Image: Supplied) The shop has a number of offers on products to be placed in gift boxes for the Christmas season, as well as made-up gift boxes containing bath and skincare products. Also on offer are natural spa products, travel gifts with gifts available for men, women and children.

Speaking about shopping local this Christmas time, Anna said: "I do have quite an array of things.

"It's important because I cannot compete with national stores prices, they're as cheap as chips, but I buy my products locally from Lancashire, they are all made there.

"The products that I sell are really good for your skin. I am trying to sell for everybody for people that may have skin issues as well, because I don't want them to miss out."

If there's one shop that really goes to town over the Christmas period it is Fantasia Beauty on Wood Street. Run by owner Lynne Younghusband, the beauty salon runs an annual festive day raising funds for different charities each year, with Lynne confessing there is 'all sorts' of gifts, as well as vouchers available for treatments.

Lynne Younghusband from Fantasia Beauty (Image: Supplied) "There's Christmas ornaments, decorations, there is gifts for men, gifts for women and kids, anything from snoozy snuggly slippers, to crystals to facials, there is everything", said Lynne.

"If you don't use your local shops, then they are not going to survive and you'll lose them. There are new shops opening up in Maryport and the people of Maryport and surrounding areas have got to use them and tell their friends.

"It's really important to support your local town!"

The Lakes Home Centre, Cockermouth, General manager Gary Whetton said: "It's good to keep things local, that's the main thing. Everybody is battling for customers with the rise of the internet so I am all for shopping local."

Workington's businesses were featured in the first part of this series last month, an Cockermouth saw their high street businesses showcased last week.