Holly & Co is a beautiful website, dedicated to helping England’s small shops thrive. As well as a marketplace of 20,000 products created by small indie artisans, it offers free help and advice, labels to promote your indie shop, all with a focus on sustainable items that are kind to animals and the planet.
Run an indie shop? Many seeds, flowers, plants (and plantable cards) are toxic to pets, so learn what not to sell to households with pets.
Holly is now passionate about helping the nation’s small independent shops. And she has good form, as 20 years ago she founded Not on the High Street. She’s now moved on to create this site, which is far more focused on sustainability and a real niche that needs nurturing. Not bad for a woman who got an ‘E’ in Business Studies!
After discovering that each us only have around 29,000 days on planet earth, she has made it her mission to ensure everyone lives their dream:
My lifelong mission is to champion small businesses. But I am also a huge advocate of empowering women. I truly believe that running a business is the secret to living what I call ‘The Good Life’ – a life of purpose, creativity and a colourful life, where you get to do what you love, and love what you do.
What Can You Find at Holly & Co?
Lots!
- A marketplace of 20,000 products by small creators
- Free emails to inspire small shop owners
- Corporate gifting and gifting ideas
This is our favourite part of the site! Knowing that 72% of us want to shop sustainably, Holly has created a series of gorgeous badges, that you can use to promote your small shop or business. The big guns and supermarkets and chain stores can’t do this, but you can!
Any brand that sells on Holly & Co can choose up to three badges to display at their store. This is to celebrate, not divide. So a ‘woman-founded business’ is just as likely to support a male-founded business, and the male shop owners can choose other badges like ‘black-owned’ or ‘socially progressive’ or ‘vegan-friendly’. It’s just a fact that most small businesses are owned by women, yet often don’t get the support they deserve.
There are badges for small business owners over 50 or 60 or disabled. And also ones for people who have autism or dyslexia, or who are gay or transgender. Plus badges for people who make things by hand in the UK (from recycled materials). And even a badge for young kidpreneurs!
Read Holly’s Book (to do what you love)
Do What You Love, Love What You Do is a book for anyone who wants to make a profit, from doing what they are passionate about. Turn your dreams into reality, by demystifing the boring world of business, anad get a new vibrant outlook, with lessons from someone who has been there, and has both the skills and mindset to get you there too.
Holly was married, divorced and recovering from a brain tumour all before age 25. Then went on to found one of England’s top online shops which generated millions for small shop owners and the economy. All while having dyslexia. Her nickname is ‘Hurricane Holly!’ as she’s always in a rush to do the next thing!
