A couple have opened a temporary shop to sell hundreds of of handmade, regional products to the people of Macclesfield.

Macc Pop Up in the Grosvenor Centre this week is welcoming Keep It Local.

Keep It Local is started by Andy and Laura Nixon, who are stocking handmade independent gifts from small businesses across Cheshire and neighbouring counties.

They will be selling anything from artwork to oven mitts from April 17 to April 23, inside Macc Pop Up at Macclesfield's Grosvenor Shopping Centre.

The shop is stacked full of things made locally. But be quick, it is only here for a few days. (Image - Alexander Greensmith / Macclesfield Nub News)

"We're on a mission to change spending habits," said Laura.

"We started just as an Instagram page sharing who we liked to eat, drink and shop at.

"We decided it wasn't enough, after we realised that many of these businesses were really struggling.

"So we launched our own shop selling some of our own products and a few others, selling them in markets.

These Silkmen-themed drinking items are designed by Born Stokie. (Image - Alexander Greensmith / Macclesfield Nub News)

"We'd stock loads of candles and coasters at markets under the Keep it Local name, and decided to welcome in lots of other traders under our name, bringing their products to a new audience.

"We ran networking events and then from markets graduated to pop-up shops across the shires, like we have in Macclesfield this week."

A lot of the independent giftmakers that Keep It Local stocks are people who have other full-time jobs, and cannot devote themselves time or the money towards a presence on high streets.

However, Keep It Local's Macclesfield store is has rallied 34 traders from Cheshire, Derbyshire, Staffordshire and Shropshire, and will be stocking products for them at the Grosvenor Centre site the end of this week.

They believe encouraging people to shop local could create further investment into our high street. (Image - Alexander Greensmith / Macclesfield Nub News)

Highlights include unofficial Silkmen-inspired merchandise, unique greetings cards and gorgeous handmade ceramics.

Keep It Local charges their fellow traders a small fee for Andy and Laura to travel around and sell their products for them.

They also take a little commission off each sale, which helps pay for the rent of spaces such as Macc Pop Up.

In return, they reach a new audience and new sales without even lifting a finger.

Another benefit of shopping local is that you are supporting the dream of a small trader. (Image - Alexander Greensmith / Macclesfield Nub News)

Keep It Local can even do a bit of social media promotion for them.

"A lot of these makers can't afford to do it full-time and would never be able to step-up into a retail environment", said Andy.

"But we can help bridge that gap by having pop-ups like these for a couple of days."

As well as supporting a local business, Keep It Local also believe you should come and buy a gift here rather than a chain as it is better for the planet.

Products ready to purchase include mugs, earrings to necklaces. (Image - Alexander Greensmith / Macclesfield Nub News)

This is as the amount of carbon footprint has been reduced to get the product to the shelves, with many being made from scratch in the local area.

"We look forward to seeing you down at our Pop Up", added Laura.

"Thank you Macclesfield for having us. We have always wanted to come here, and are glad to raise awareness of the benefits of supporting your local traders.

"If it is a success, we'd love to come back. Macclesfield is a wonderful town, which from what we can see from the high street, they love to support independent businesses."

Keep It Local's last day in Macclesfield is on St. George's Day, where they will shut at 3pm. (Image - Alexander Greensmith / Macclesfield Nub News)

In addition to making money for other traders and themselves, Keep It Local also raise money for a Stoke-based greyhound charity.

As well as providing a physical premises (albeit temporary) for smaller traders to sell their wares to a new audience, they are also championed online thanks to Keep It Local's 6000+ strong social media following.

The full list of traders at Keep It Local Macclesfield can be found HERE.

After their seven days in Macclesfield, Keep It Local will head to Longton Indoor Market in Stoke-on-Trent on May 10 to May 13, then heading to The Potteries Centre in Hanley from May 16 to May 28.

The opening hours for the temporary pop-up, here just for this week. (Image - Alexander Greensmith / Macclesfield Nub News)

See Also: Revamped garden to come to Macclesfield pre-school

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