Whether it’s a well-deserved Christmas break, time to unwind and find their creativity again, or straight back to it in January, each of our locals do it differently. Local small business owners share their approaches to taking breaks, tackling January's sales slump, and strategizing for upcoming events and holidays. 

And if you’re looking to make some changes in the New Year, then, of course, our small businesses and local community organsiations have got you too! Whatever you want to do differently next year, there’s so much to do in Leighton Buzzard, from fitness to volunteering. 

And finally, what plans do our locals have for 2025? Whether big or small, more of the same or exciting new things, I know we’ll all be supporting them. 

00:00 Looking Ahead to 2025

00:26 Post-Christmas Reflections

03:02 January Slowdown and New Beginnings

06:50 Community and Volunteering in 2025

10:27 Health and Fitness Resolutions

19:29 Plans and Aspirations for 2025

26:43 Wrapping Up the Season

This episode features: 

Leighton Fun Runners - https://leightonfunrunners.org.uk/ 

Spectrum Community Arts - https://www.spectrumca.co.uk/

Heni from The Refill Leighton Buzzard - https://therefill.co.uk/

Luke from Three Counties Spirits - https://threecountiesspiritsco.com/

Jonathan from The Bottlehouse - https://www.facebook.com/thebottlehouseLB

Alice from book Leighton Buzzard - https://www.getlostinbook.com/

Jo from Kings Road Boutique - ‪https://www.kingsroadfashions.co.uk/

Helen from Bits and Buds - https://bitsandbuds.co.uk/

Sarah and Carrie from Happydashery and The Workshop - https://happydashery.co.uk/

Hunt Fitness - https://huntfitness.co.uk/

The Body Rule - https://thebodyrule.com/

The House of Coffee - ‪https://thehouseofcoffee.co.uk/

The Cottage - https://thecottagelb.com/

Find Leighton Buzzard Local on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/leightonbuzzardlocal/

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I talked to local businesses about practical tips such as regifting, buying second hand, using reusable packaging, and gifting experiences rather than physical items. 

We covered everything from recycling to creating eco-friendly products and gift options. Everyone I spoke to emphasised the importance of thoughtful, sustainable choices highlighted how local businesses naturally integrate these practices into their businesses anyway. 

00:00 Introduction to Sustainable Practices

00:50 Green Christmas Tips

02:36 Sustainable Gifting Ideas

04:16 Recycling and Reusing in Local Businesses

08:38 Sustainability in Fashion

14:17 Eco-Friendly Workshops and Experiences

17:19 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

This episode featured:

Heni from The Refill Leighton Buzzard - https://therefill.co.uk/

Luke from Three Counties Spirits - https://threecountiesspiritsco.com/

Jonathan from The Bottlehouse - https://www.facebook.com/thebottlehouseLB

Alice from book Leighton Buzzard - https://www.getlostinbook.com/

Jo from Kings Road Boutique - ‪https://www.kingsroadfashions.co.uk/

Helen from Bits and Buds - https://bitsandbuds.co.uk/

Sarah and Carrie from Happydashery and The Workshop - https://happydashery.co.uk/

Find me on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/leightonbuzzardlocal/

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The festive decorations, supportive local businesses, and magical sense of community highlight the traditions that bring us together in Leighton Buzzard during the Christmas season.

00:00 Introduction: What Makes Christmas Special in Leighton Buzzard?

00:45 Community Vibes and Christmas Traditions

01:40 The Magic of the Christmas Market

02:31 Family and Community Spirit

06:20 Santa Dash: A Fun Family Tradition

07:53 Festive Activities and Local Businesses

11:51 Christmas Eve: Carols on the High Street

15:18 Conclusion: The Magic of Community at Christmas

https://www.instagram.com/leightonbuzzardlocal/

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It's awesome to see the dedication of local businesses in ensuring a memorable Christmas for everyone, offering unique insights, helpful tips, and thoughtful recommendations for gifts, outfits, and festive treats.

00:00 Getting Ready for Christmas: Local Business Insights

01:01 Unique Christmas Wreaths and Repeat Customers

02:14 Book Elves: Personalized Book Shopping

04:04 Gifts and Celebrations at The Bottle House

05:38 Festive Spirits and Ready-Made Cocktails

07:27 Coffee and Tea Gifts for the Holidays

09:18 Staying Fit During the Festive Season

10:32 Adventurous Christmas Cooking and Baking

15:48 Nontraditional and Fun Christmas Gifts

18:22 Conclusion: Supporting Local Businesses This Christmas

Big thanks to everyone that featured in this episode:

Kings Road Boutique - ‪https://www.kingsroadfashions.co.uk/

Bits and Buds - ‪https://bitsandbuds.co.uk/

Book Leighton Buzzard - https://www.getlostinbook.com/

The Bottlehouse

Three Counties Spirits - ‪https://threecountiesspiritsco.com/

The Refill Leighton Buzzard - https://therefill.co.uk/

Hunt Fitness - https://huntfitness.co.uk/

The Body Rule - https://thebodyrule.com/

Happydashery and The Workshop - https://happydashery.co.uk/

The House of Coffee - https://thehouseofcoffee.co.uk/

Constantines Salon - https://constantinessalon.co.uk/

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I start by chatting to small local businesses about how they prepare for Christmas and when they start thinking about it. It was great to hear how much they put in to Xmas, and how much they are thinking of us, their customers, when they do.

Big thanks to everyone that featured in this episode:

Kings Road Boutique - https://www.kingsroadfashions.co.uk/

Bits and Buds - https://bitsandbuds.co.uk/

Book Leighton Buzzard - https://www.getlostinbook.com/

The Bottlehouse - https://www.facebook.com/thebottlehouseLB

Three Counties Spirits - https://threecountiesspiritsco.com/

The Refill Leighton Buzzard - https://therefill.co.uk/

Hunt Fitness - https://huntfitness.co.uk/

The Body Rule - https://thebodyrule.com/

Happydashery and The Workshop - https://happydashery.co.uk/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Find the Leighton Buzzard Local Instagram account here: https://www.instagram.com/leightonbuzzardlocal/

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It was so lovely to hear about how Heni feels about the business community in Leighton Buzzard.

Leighton Buzzard Local on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leightonbuzzardlocal/

The Refill

https://therefill.co.uk/

https://www.instagram.com/therefill.leightonbuzzard/

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Find Leighton Buzzard Local on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/leightonbuzzardlocal/

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Listen to the other episodes I've recorded with locals talking about what they do in Leighton Buzzard and what it's like to live and work here.

Leighton Buzzard Local on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leightonbuzzardlocal/

Creative Buzz Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/446759396584052/

Creative Buzz on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/creativebuzz_lb/

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From starting out, to the challenges of running the organisation today, Jade talks about her amazing team, and what it means to have the LB community give your organisation a big hug!

Find out more about Spectrum here: https://www.spectrumca.co.uk/

And find the Leighton Buzzard Local Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/leightonbuzzardlocal/

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I chat to Wes, one half of Buddy Fernandez cards, about their business model, and the changing face of our High Street in Leighton Buzzard.

Find the Leighton Buzzard Local Instagram account here:

https://www.instagram.com/leightonbuzzardlocal/

And Buddy Fernandez Cards here: https://buddyfernandez.com/

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Her newest shop has office space above and a cellar below that has tunnels rumoured to be connected to other places in Leighton Buzzard.

We chatted about adapting her business and offering new things, the history of her building, and how she find the business community in Leighton Buzzard.

Leighton Buzzard Local Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leightonbuzzardlocal/

Mimic Gifts Website: https://mimicgifts.co.uk/

Mimic Gifts Insta: https://www.instagram.com/mimicgifts/

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Find the Leighton Buzzard Local Instagram account here: https://instagram.com/leightonbuzzardlocal

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.