Didsbury: Giddy, Comfy, Yummy

 
As a regular customer of South Manchester small independents, I have been so impressed with the pivoting power some of them have shown during the course of the last year. Traders have had to reinvent themselves, widen their offering and seek new ways of reaching their customers, often with little or no notice. They have had to think about their USP and drive that passionate message home to their regulars at a time when being face to face with them is infrequent or non-existent, and financial support from local councils or the government is not guaranteed. Every penny I spend with a local business is an investment in the community that I am part of.

Amanda and the team at Giddy Goat Toys have been a lifeline throughout all the lockdowns for my 6 and 7 year old and have proved vital for my sanity too. When my energy for home-schooling has waned, it’s been great to turn to Amanda, who is a font of knowledge on the topics of toys that have re-imagined dinosaur project-work, resources that have given me back my phonic powers, and board games that have literally made me a times table Hero! Due to my loss of all sense of time as the days have rolled into one, I recently panic-ordered a birthday present for a friend down South and gratefully took advantage of the new gift wrapping, card writing and postage package option on the website. Thank goodness!

It was during a “Click and Collect” trip to Giddy Goat Toys that Amanda summed up perfectly how difficult the last year has been as she has had to close, reopen, close, reopen and then close again, frantically adding as many products to her website as possible to keep sales coming in. She said that going forwards, it’s going to be so important that local businesses work together: “It’s very much a case of strength in numbers. We need Didsbury to be an interesting and varied location for customers to visit, to shop, eat and enjoy facilities such as the local green spaces and children’s craft activities and classes. Traders are supportive and try to support each other. The traders WhatsApp group covers not only day to day updates but also offers words of support and ideas which has been a great comfort during these last months.”

Interesting and varied is what Didsbury has always been, and even the pandemic can’t change it.

In between the lockdowns, I managed to grab 10 minutes of retail therapy and “me time” at Bond Fashion on Didsbury’s high street. I’ve been impressed and intrigued while checking out their Instagram, so it felt like a real treat to be able to go in and try on! I’d say their current offering is “comfort with style”. Clothes that make you feel good, that you would be happy to homeschool and (when it happens) drop the kids off at school in. My favourites are the Lola joggers. Great with a cosy knit but an investment for warmer and brighter days.
Their Instagram and website are updated daily so you can stay stylish! You can
make an online order or browse at the recently reopened store.

For gourmet treats Didsbury is second to none. My husband and I have brought desperately needed excitement to our Covid Friday nights with trips to The Cheese Hamlet. Their Instagram account tantalised my tastebuds throughout Lockdown2.0 and I was over the moon to be treated to one of their plant based spreads at Christmas. I can still taste the Herbivorsin!

Their produce can be ordered through their website or you can drop in and buy in person.

Just across the road from the cheese shop, and next door to the fashion boutique there is a shoe shop. Yes, Didsbury is cosy like that. And shoes, I believe, are a very good way of showing ourselves some “self-care” at the moment. This winter I did some ‘sole searching’ and got some cosy Rieker boots from Andrew Graham Shoes. They proved to be a godsend for walks at the park with the kids. No more frozen toes!

You can check out stock online or pop in and try on.

Aside from the high street shops, there are many cafes and restaurants that have reimagined their offerings; they have provided much needed caffeine and tasty treats for home-schooling achievements or enabled their marvellous menus to be enjoyed at home, to shake up the monotony of the passing weeks.

Now back to my 6 and 7 year old, who don’t like shopping, and don’t care about cheese, coffee or cosy shoes, but have a thirst for outside adventure.
 

 
The winter lockdown has by far been the hardest for me as a mother of young explorers. So the Conker Crew has been a breath of fresh air and has made getting out on the cold, dark, short winter days so much easier. The Crew offers Monthly Adventure Boxes which contain activities to help you engage with pre planned trails across Greater Manchester, one of our favourites being Fletcher Moss and Stenner Woods in Didsbury. We loved using the nature craft on our recent walks. As a family we enjoyed the connection we felt to others, the outdoor space and bonding over discovering new things. Give Chantel, who runs Conker Crew, a shout via her website and she will take you on a new adventure.

I hope that the variety of day and night economies survive. They ensure that the high streets stay interesting and pleasant places to be. It’s often the local traders that pay for the planters that make an area aesthetically pleasing throughout the year, and for the seasonal decorations at Christmas. I would encourage you to check in with your local favourite independents and find out how they are trading and how you can support them. Share news of your purchases on social media, leave comments and reviews, tell friends and family about your experiences and drop the traders a message of positivity. Independents need all the support we can give them if we want them to still be up and running in 6 months’ time.

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Giddy about Toys Giddy Goat Toys Come Back to Life Woolly Chicks to Roost in Didsbury Getting Giddy about Christmas Play The Giddy Goat