Well, 2025 has been a year.
And we all thought the COVID Pandemic was a tough time. It’s certainly not been the best year for me since I started running my small business back in 2021.
It’s essential now more than ever to understand the importance of supporting small businesses.
GPSR
General Product Safety Regulation. This did technically start in December 2024, but it certainly had a sales impact for this year.
In a nutshell, the GPSR is an EU regulation surrounding the safety of products being sold into the EU. The big thing is that it is a requirement to have an EU-based representative, as well as a whole load of paperwork and various other things.
As I can’t afford a certified EU-based representative, I had to stop selling to the EU. Many other UK-based businesses have had to stop selling to EU member countries.
I have been working hard to expand my UK and other non-EU-based customer base. And sadly, I have seen many businesses close their virtual and real doors because they have lost so much to this regulation. So when shopping, pop into that local shop, chat to someone at a Christmas market about their business, and show them support on social media.
This helps small businesses be seen by more people and potential customers. It really does make a difference.
Cost of Living
This has hit everyone. The cost of the basics is at its highest, and the cost of materials has made businesses increase their costs, making even the smallest of gifts seem pricey.
This has led to people to be more conscious of their spending, resulting in fewer visitors to websites and marketplaces.
As you can see from the graphs below, which were posted by eRank, there has been a decline in visitor numbers to these marketplaces. And not just Etsy. Amazon and eBay have seen the same trend
It really is sad to see these numbers, with Christmas approaching, these numbers should start to go up. So make sure you support your local business for the holiday season. Your support will be greatly appreciated compared to bigger-name brands.
USA Tariffs
Now this has been a rollercoaster. You can read it in detail in my USA Tariff blog post here.
The amount of changes and uncertainty surrounding these tariffs has made American customers less likely to purchase. And sellers have been struggling to keep up with all the changes, so they have either decided to stop selling to the USA or they have incurred a loss due to the confusing way these tariffs work.
Like many others, it has prompted me to refocus on making more sales in the UK. I have applied to Faire so I can start offering my products at wholesale prices. My application is still pending, so it doesn’t look like I will be set up in time for Christmas. Please consider a UK small business first when doing your Christmas shopping. Whether it’s at a market or via a line shop, you would be helping an unsung part of the economy survive this Christmas.
Jeff Bezos won’t be doing a happy dance when you purchase from Amazon. But small businesses would be jumping for joy and doing everything they can to make your experience with them one to remember.
With the Christmas season fast approaching, please consider a small business first for a gift. I think you would be surprised by the amazing and unique gifts out there, and you would be able to find something for everyone. Even that one person who is hard to shop for.
You really could make someone’s Christmas this year. When you buy from a small business, you are not helping a CEO buy a yacht, but someone who will be able to pay for school uniforms, family days out, and a Sunday roast.
Many thanks for taking the time to read my blog. If you want to give a shout-out to a small business or just want to leave a comment, then please use the comments section below
You can also follow me on social media.
Until next time…keep shopping small
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