Happy Planet Studio & Gallery

Ethical Gift Shop North East

Have you searched Ethical Gift Shop North East? Well we are proud to announce that we are currently the only ethical gift shop in the North East of England

Ethical and Plastic Free Gift Shop

With a name like Happy Planet it should not be too surprising that we have an ethical mission to create an ethical and plastic free gift shop.

That mission began in 2014 with the guiding principle that I would not make or sell anything in Happy Planet that caused harm to either people or the planet in the name of profit. That ethic has remained at the heart of our social enterprise.

No to Plastic or Resin

We don’t sell anything made of plastic or resin.

However we do sell:

· Ceramics

· Glass

· Jewellery

· Candles

· Soaps

· Fabric items

· Felted goods

· Original paintings and

· A lovely range of greeting cards. Furthermore these cards are printed in the UK on FSC card.

Hand-made Gifts North East

Most of what you see is unique to Happy Planet. In addition, because of our popularity and the handmade nature of the goods, the stock changes regularly, which is great.

However, it also means if you see something, don’t wait to buy it!

Ethical Gift Shop North East – how it all began

Since 2014 we have grown from a market stall and have been in our current shop location in Whitley Bay for almost five years.

We now offer a wide range of attractive handmade ethical gifts, from 26 North East Artists and Makers, in our award winning shop. Our shop is managed by resident artist Gail Curry.

We also support two Fair Trade co-operatives in Nepal and Peru. Moreover we stock seasonal goods from other Fair Trade suppliers from around the world. This is to support educational and environmental projects.

Local Links

Our local links are very important to us and to our artists. Especially in these difficult times of COVID-19 and of course with craft fairs and events not being held.

As an ethical business we feel it’s important to promote the wealth of local goods available, but also to ensure customer safety. We have made Happy Planet COVID-19 secure, while still maintaining our friendly helpful approach to visitors.

Free Bookable Shopping Slots at Happy Planet

With this in mind, as we approach Christmas, we have created free bookable shopping evening slots, prior to the current November lock down. Once the lock down has been lifted in December we hope to resume this service. The slots are for individuals or small household groups of up to four people for 30 minutes. You will be able to browse safely and unhurriedly.

If you would like to book a Christmas Shopping slot, all we ask is that you contact us in advance. You will be asked to pay a deposit, which will be returned on the evening when you attend. We are still taking bookings for December providing COVID restrictions are lifted. You can Book Here