Macclesfield Independent gift makers and market traders have banded together to create a platform to encourage the town to shop local.

Made in Macclesfield is a new website which collates over 40 small businesses, which makes it easier to browse the best products Macclesfield's indie sellers have to offer.

Many of the businesses have no high street presence, barring a temporary market stall, so having a site which is a showcase to promote what they do is a low risk, effort-free way to encourage more sales.

Buying gifts locally instead of from a national chain keeps the money in the local economy, particularly as the traders themselves love to support their fellow independent businesses across town.

The 40 traders are spread across six categories.

Made in Macclesfield is the brain child of Macclesfield residents Melissa Wilkinson and Adam Schofield, who are both listed on the site.

Melissa owns ethical wellness brand Holistic Earth, where she makes things like candles from natural, sustainable and vegan-friendly wax.

Whereas Adam has built a reputation creating prints of Cheshire towns which you can put up in your home.

"Melissa and myself met through doing markets across the local area", said Adam.

All of MiM's professional makers live in or around Macclesfield (including some of our border towns/villages) but do not have a high street presence (except for maybe stocking within local shops or odd temporary market stall).

"We always felt that we would pop up and say hello to our fellow traders and customers during markets, but then back into the shadows again at home where nobody would know about us until the next one.

"Many makers have a small audience online that they sell to, so we wanted a platform that could bring the audiences of these smaller traders together, to have a one-stop shop for shopping local.

"Especially at Christmas or Valentine's, we can have a shared platform that we can all share on social media, knowing that everyone listed on the site can benefit."

"It makes it a much easier shopping experience," said Melissa.

Do you recognise some of the traders listed on the site?

"When people are navigating to buy gifts online, people don't want to faff about.

"We are a big hub collective for everyone to come together, celebrating shopping local, shopping small and shopping independent.

"People can look into all the different categories and find a maker that suits them."

"You can't buy on the website, it is purely a sign post where you can learn about the person and the story behind their products," added Adam.

To promote the new website, some of the traders will be selling their products in town at the Grosvenor Centre's Macc Pop-up shop this Saturday.

"There's no moneymaking on our side from it.

"If someone were to think, 'I want to buy clothing in Macclesfield, I want to buy local, but I don't know where to go?' Well, come to Made in Macclesfield and we have five clothing makers to choose from listed on our website.

"Everyone on the site lives in - or in the surrounding villages - of Macclesfield, so you can make your purchase knowing your money will go back into the Macclesfield economy."

"We have 40 traders on the website, and another 20 we are in the process of getting on there. The criteria of joining is to live locally, and it has to be made or designed by you.

Ex-Fallibroome pupil Melissa is born-and-bred Macclesfield, whereas Adam grew up in Crewe but has spent most of his working life in Macclesfield. (Image - Alexander Greensmith / Macclesfield Nub News)

"We decided to do this as we love Macclesfield, and live in Macclesfield. We strongly believe Macclesfield makers need to be shouted about."

"We're here to rally and campaign for small independents," added Melissa.

"Right now people are being pushed of the high street with high rent and business rates.

"We're here to support the local maker community, and provide a platform for them to be seen, sharing their products to a local audience."

So the next time you are thinking of buying a present, why not head to Made in Macclesfield to browse the best of what Macclesfield's creative sellers and makers have to offer.

See Also: New rotational evening menu at All Things Nice Macclesfield

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