Why shopping small is more important than ever before
At Òr, our mission has always been to champion craftspeople across Scotland and beyond, shining a light on who they are, their skill and their stories. But sadly, for many makers, remaining open for business has become increasingly challenging.
Recently, our good friends at Wolf and Moon had to close their doors after 17 years of creating beautiful handmade jewellery. Higher costs across materials, tariffs, customs, wages, and rent have all contributed to their closure. Not to mention drops in orders due to cost of living and the closure of many of their wholesale stockists. This made it difficult for Wolf and Moon to provide affordable handmade pieces while upholding the values at the heart of their business, including fair pay for all staff and retaining a healthy work-life balance.
This is a story we’re hearing more and more in today’s world, which means keeping the future of handmade craft alive has never been more important than it is today. So, we wanted to share six good reasons to continue supporting small businesses.
1. We keep the culture of our communities alive
Traditional ways of making and cultural heritage in our community go in hand in hand. Whether it be ceramic techniques used for millennia, or artists like Louisa Katherine Thomson representing the history of her families’ fisherfolk heritage with her Quarter Crann print. By sharing and supporting handmade, we’re keeping those stories and skills alive for the next generation of creatives.
2. We pay fairly for time and skill
As many individuals in the Òr team are creators and makers themselves, we understand the time and care it takes to produce handmade pieces to the highest quality. And for that, we ensure we pay all our makers fairly so they can carve a career from their creativity, while also balancing the costs of our shops and online presence to maintain a sustainable future for our growing community.
3. We give generously
Like many small businesses we know, we’ve raised thousands for charities over the years. Whether it’s one-off donations to local foundations or creating products with the purpose of supporting conservation on our island, such as Celia Wood’s Corncrake Plate. We’re always more than happy to help where we can to support our community on Skye.
4. We provide excellent customer care
We know our products and we know our customers, often personally. When you order from us you’re not speaking to a robot, you’re talking to a person — and in Òr’s case, that person wears many hats. They might be on the shop floor one day and packing your website orders another, then replying to your enquiries online. We tailor our customer care to the individual who has been in touch with us — because every person is unique and we genuinely care about the relationship we have with our customers.
5. We offer a more sustainable future
Acting as an antidote to mass consumerism, craftsmanship, quality and creating in limited, small batches is a priority and a necessity for our makers and artists. Though you may be paying slightly more for the time, care and materials it takes to create handmade pieces, your investment in the maker’s work means you’re supporting local skill which is better for the future of our planet.
6. We look after each other
We’re a community of makers, artists and customers around the world who support each other. We purposefully credit all our makers to give them a platform to shine because we want them to be as successful as possible. By lifting each other up, we create a reciprocal ripple effect across our community, where our supporters spread the word about our makers far and wide to create a healthy future for handmade craft.
A note from our makers and artists
‘What I love most about working with Òr is their genuine commitment to supporting local makers and celebrating the island through everything they create. They have a beautiful way of translating the landscape, culture and sense of place into thoughtful products and collaborations. We’re very like-minded in our values and creative approach, which makes it a real joy to work together.’
Veronika, Pantry Pots
‘I'm interested in what contemporary Scottish aesthetic might be, and I also really care about how Scotland is represented to visitors. Òr is thoughtful, authentic, and closely connected to what I've experienced of land and life in Scotland.’
David Fleck
‘Jen, the owner, got in touch with me in 2016 with a lovely email and I’ve been a maker at Òr ever since. Ten years on, both of our businesses have grown so much and I’m incredibly grateful to work with such talented, professional women. It’s been wonderful to see our businesses evolve and flourish over the years.’
Rosie, Rove Knitwear
‘Òr is so special, everything feels so carefully and cohesively selected, and I really think it shows off the best of what Scottish makers have to offer. We have so much to celebrate creatively in this country and Òr does an amazing job at being a platform for that. As well as the privilege of being amongst some of the artists I admire most, I also love working with the team. Everyone is so kind and everything is done with attention and intention.’
Phoebe Roze
