National Women’s Small Business Month

This month, I’m celebrating National Women’s Small Business Month with some of my favourite female entrepreneurs. These are the women who have started successful businesses from scratch, often alongside existing careers and family life. It’s the ultimate in multitasking and is no mean feat. Hard work and dedication have led to incredible products, creativity, and huge achievements. I love supporting small businesses, and knowing that these businesses have inspirational and, let's face it, badass women at the helm makes shopping with them a joy.  

Spacemasks - Best for pampering and self-care

I discovered Spacemasks about 2 years ago via Instagram. Known as the ultimate ‘interstellar relaxation’ these handy single-use eye masks are dreamy! Each mask is individually packaged and contains a self-heating eye mask infused with four gorgeous fragrances. The original mask is infused with Jasmine, others include rose, orange & grapefruit (my personal favourite) and chamomile. The chamomile masks include a donation to Little Lifts, a brilliant charity that supports women with breast cancer. Spacemasks are wonderful for general relaxation and pampering but I find them especially useful for winding down before bed or stopping a headache in its tracks. 

 The founder and owner behind Spacemasks is Harriet Ingis. As a busy mum of four who’d experienced depression, anxiety and panic attacks in the past, Harriet came up with a genius idea that could help others in a similar situation.  Harriet said  “I created Spacemasks so that we could all take a break from our hectic lifestyles with something ludicrously relaxing and calming. They’re also the perfect thing to send to a pal in need.”

A box of 5 Spacemasks in the fragrance of your choice is just £18.50 and well worth every penny. They are the ideal treat and the perfect gift. 

Cotton Clara - Best for crafting  

I, like many, can’t think of anything better than an afternoon of crafting. Over the last year, I’ve taught myself embroidery, and I’ve managed to create beautiful handmade items whilst enjoying this mindful hobby. I’ve done this with the help of Cotton Clara. Cotton Clara is a treasure trove of embroidery, cross-stitch and craft supplies. I’m a member of the ‘Hoop Club’ which is a subscription box service. Every three months I receive a beautiful kit that allows you to complete an embroidery piece from start to finish. Subscription boxes are sent out every 3 months and each kit is unique, so you never have to worry about a repetitive project. And each kit teaches you new techniques to add to your repertoire. 

Cotton Clara was founded in 2014 by Chloe Hardisty and has grown from strength to strength. Chloe is ‘on a mission to bring crafting and making to a mainstream audience, to those millions of people who are tired of spending hours scrolling their phones’. 

The quarterly Hoop Club subscription box is £27.50. It includes all the tools and materials required and you even get an instructional video to help you on your way. 

Perla Coco Designs - Best for sustainable jewellery 

Perla Coco has revolutionised the way I buy and wear jewellery. Gone are the days of me heading to general brands for fashion jewellery, I now wear unique handcrafted pieces made with recycled materials. From smaller everyday pieces to unusual statement pieces, I get compliments whenever I wear Perla Coco Designs. My most loved treasure is a gold necklace with an oversized golden swallow, it’s always a talking point and, as yet, I’ve never seen anyone else wear anything else like it. The jewellery I wear from Perla Coco makes me feel special and unique. 

The founder and creator of Perla Coco Designs is Helen Watkins. Jewellery-making started as a hobby. Helen said she ‘liked to rework existing jewellery to suit her own personal style’. This led to making pieces for friends and family, which they adored. As a former owner of a beauty salon, Helen found her role stressful, which led to devastating miscarriages. It was then that Helen realised her hobby could become a business. Helen said that 

You can find Perla Coco Designs on Instagram. Prices are varied and you can message Helen for bespoke pieces.  

March Muse - Best for black-owned 

March Muse is a female-led brand that I’ve never been happier to discover. As a mum of mixed-heritage children, I’ve found it incredibly challenging to find gifts that represent my family. During the Christmas of 2023, whilst shopping in Tesco I was delighted to find gift wrap and Christmas cards that represented my family. The beautiful artwork featured Black Santas and mixed-heritage angels, it was an emotional discovery. Since then, I’ve purchased an angel tree topper that looks just like my daughter - she is seen! I plan to buy more Christmas decorations this year, and finally, Christmas is a reflection of what a mixed-heritage family looks like. 

Natalie Duvall is the founder of March Muse. Natalie told me how March Muse began, and it was a relatable story. Natalie said ‘the idea for March Muses came when I was decorating the Christmas tree with my daughter Sophia and she asked me if Christmas angels could have brown skin. We were hanging up white angels and Santas at the time.’ But starting her business was a challenge. Natalie went on to explain that  

We knocked on every retailer, emailed, and called, but it just wasn’t opening. We soon realised we weren’t going to get into these spaces the traditional way. We may be small, but we are mighty. Persistence and passion for representation keep us going.’ 

March Muse Christmas decorations are available online with some designs now exclusive to Liberty. Prices start from as little as £6.50. October is also Black History Month so it’s the perfect time to give some awareness to black-owned businesses. However, we need to celebrate and support black-owned businesses all year long.  

Spectrum  - Best for Beauty  

As a qualified makeup artist, I love great quality makeup tools. I discovered Spectrum makeup brushes in 2016 on a local photoshoot. I was impressed with the performance of the brushes, so did some research online. At that time the range of brushes was fairly small, I purchased a set and I’ve never looked back. The performance and longevity of these brushes are second to none. Over the last 8 years, I’ve purchased several makeup brush kits for myself and as gifts. Spectrum now has Disney-themed sets but my current favourite is the Emily in Paris collection. Spectrum brushes are vegan and of a professional standard, so you can be your own MUA. 

Spectrum is the brainchild of Welsh sisters, Hannah and Sophie Pycroft. They founded Spectrum in 2014 from their home in Barry, South Wales but are now an international brand, selling their brushes and makeup tools all over the globe. They are another perfect example of female entrepreneurs, starting at a grassroots level and now paving the way within the beauty industry. 

Bookbar - Best for bookworms 

I recently discovered Bookbar on a trip to London. As an avid reader, bookshops are my happy place. I’m always on the lookout for an independent bookseller too, so I wandered into Bookbar and wasn’t disappointed. What better combination can there be than a good book with a glass of wine or a delicious cup of coffee? There is a real sense of escapism at Bookbar, I didn’t look at my phone once! I could take my time choosing a new book and even got chatting with other book lovers whilst having a drink. It seemed they loved it there too and we happily shared book recommendations. I don’t live in London and felt quite sad that I won’t be able to visit every week, but I’ve recently become aware of the Bookbar Bookclub which provides you with a book and a virtual event with the author. If you do live nearby you can attend an in-person monthly meetup too. If you are stuck in a rut you can also subscribe to the Shelf Medicate subscription. Simply sign up and one of the Bookbar experts will provide you will a consultation that will get you back on your reading journey. All you need to do is sit back and wait for your monthly book ‘prescription’ to arrive - genius. 

Chrissy Ryan is the owner of Bookbar. Chrissy opened Bookbar in 2021, during the pandemic, which in itself must have been a challenge. Bookbar started with a click-and-collect service, which was clever thinking as this was a time when people had time to read. Speaking to City AM, Chrissy said ‘ I wanted to celebrate the social side of reading and bring people together through books.’

You can find Bookbar at 166 Blackstock Road, London, N5 1HA.