Enjoyed this episode or want to ask a question? Send us a message

What makes a gift feel truly personal?

In this episode of The Greener Gifting Gang, Eve chats to Aimee Heaton from From Past To Purpose about why an astrology birth chart can make such a unique and meaningful personalised gift.

An astrology birth chart is created using the date, time and place someone was born, making it something that is completely unique to the recipient. But as we discuss, it’s not just the personalisation that makes a birth chart such an interesting gift.

We explore the personalisation, experience and depth behind an astrology birth chart gift, and why giving someone something they can spend time exploring and reflecting on can make the experience of receiving a gift much more memorable.

Aimee also shares her own love of gift giving, including the joy she gets from finding the right present for someone and her very practical approach to reusing gift bags rather than throwing them away.

In this episode, we chat about:

• Why astrology birth charts make great gifts
• What makes a birth chart such a personal and unique present
• Why personalised gifts can feel more thoughtful and meaningful
• How a gift can offer an experience, rather than simply being something to own
• The depth and curiosity that comes from exploring an astrology birth chart
• Why gifts that encourage someone to discover something about themselves can be particularly memorable
• Aimee’s own love of gift giving and what she enjoys about choosing, wrapping and unwrapping presents
• The simple ways Aimee makes her own gift giving more sustainable, including reusing gift bags

Whether you're looking for unique personalised gift ideas for someone special, or you're a service or coaching business wondering how you could position what you already offer as a gift, there are plenty of ideas to take from this conversation.

About Aimee Heaton

Aimee Heaton is an award-winning Trauma-Informed Personal Transformation Coach, Astrology Guide and the founder of From Past To Purpose®.

Her mission is to help people recognise their self-worth, know their value, believe in themselves, trust themselves again, and create a life that aligns with who they truly are and their purpose.

Drawing on trauma-informed coaching, psychology, nervous system awareness and astrology, Aimee helps people better understand themselves so they can break free from unhelpful patterns, make decisions with greater confidence and create lasting, meaningful change.

Whether through coaching, speaking, workshops or education, everything she does is guided by one belief: lasting transformation isn't about becoming someone different, it's about reconnecting with who you truly are.

Connect with Aimee

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aimeefrompasttopurpose/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aimeefrompasttopurpose/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aimeefrompasttopurpose/
Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/42YbIKYnfVUPQkRVBGlxL7?si=5b706ddf30fa4c38
Website: https://frompasttopurpose.co.uk/

• Don't forget to follow the show, leave a review, or share this episode with a friend who would find it useful.
• Join in my free challenge for product makers and sellers w/c 21st September  Unwrap the Potential: Your Product as a Gift 
• Follow Giftwrapped by Eve on Instagram
• Join our Giftwrapped by Eve - Support for Product Makers and Sellers Facebook community

Enjoyed this episode or want to ask a question? Send us a message

September can feel like the perfect time for a fresh start in your small business. But with all the talk of September resets, getting organised and preparing for Christmas, it’s easy to create a huge list of things you should be doing and end up feeling overwhelmed before you’ve even started.

In this episode, Eve shares a simpler approach to September business planning using a straightforward Stop, Start, Continue exercise.

Rather than trying to reset your entire business, Eve encourages you to take a moment to reflect on what’s working, what isn’t and where your energy would be best spent as we head into the busy autumn and Christmas period.

In this episode, we look at:

• What you could stop doing in your small business
• How to choose one thing to start rather than overwhelming yourself with a long to-do list
• Why it’s important to identify what’s already working and continue doing it
• How pausing before saying yes or no can help you make better business decisions
• How to approach the autumn and Christmas season with more focus and less pressure
• Why you don’t need to completely reinvent your business every September

Looking for more ways to sell your products as gifts?

If you run a product-based business, handmade business or small gift business, September is a great time to start thinking about how your existing products could create more gifting opportunities.

Eve's free Unwrap the Potential: Your Product as a Gift Challenge will help you look at your products from the perspective of a gift buyer and identify opportunities to promote and sell them as gifts throughout the year, not just at Christmas.

The challenge takes place during the week commencing 21st September and is completely free to join.

Register here: giftwrappedbyeve.com/challenge

Key topics

September reset for small business, small business planning, business planning for Christmas, product-based business, handmade business, gift business, selling products as gifts, Christmas marketing, gift marketing, business focus, Stop Start Continue exercise.

• Don't forget to follow the show, leave a review, or share this episode with a friend who would find it useful.
• Join in my free challenge for product makers and sellers w/c 21st September  Unwrap the Potential: Your Product as a Gift 
• Follow Giftwrapped by Eve on Instagram
• Join our Giftwrapped by Eve - Support for Product Makers and Sellers Facebook community

Enjoyed this episode or want to ask a question? Send us a message

What if your next best-selling gift is already hiding within the products you create?

In this episode of The Greener Gifting Gang Podcast, Eve chats to Sarah Haugh of Sarah Haugh Designs, an upcycler and furniture designer based in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

Sarah creates beautiful, one-of-a-kind pieces by upcycling and transforming existing furniture, giving unwanted or overlooked items a new lease of life. Sustainability is at the heart of her business, from reusing furniture and materials to creating pieces designed to be treasured rather than replaced.

Her work has also gained national recognition, including being featured on BBC One's Money for Nothing and Shift the Thrift, and Sarah is a fellow Theo Paphitis Small Business Sunday (SBS) winner.

We hear about how Sarah's pieces have been chosen as gifts for special occasions and how she took her existing designs and turned them into a smaller, more accessible gift product – one that flew out last Christmas.

It’s a brilliant example of how product-based businesses can find new gift ideas and sales opportunities.

We also have a refreshingly honest conversation about the reality of buying and receiving gifts.  Social media often shows us beautifully styled gifts, perfectly chosen presents and picture-perfect reactions. But real-life gifting isn't always like that and Sarah shares her own perspective on the expectations and pressures around choosing and receiving gifts.

If you sell handmade, creative or sustainable products, listen in and see what Sarah’s experience sparks for your own business.

Connect with Sarah

https://www.sarahhaughdesigns.co.uk/
https://www.instagram.com/sarahhaughdesigns
https://www.facebook.com/sarahhaughdesigns

Mentioned in this episode

Ep 47 Ditch the Gift Giving Guilt with Gill Sealey
BBC Money for Nothing
BBC Shift the Thrift

• Don't forget to follow the show, leave a review, or share this episode with a friend who would find it useful.
• Join in my free challenge for product makers and sellers w/c 21st September  Unwrap the Potential: Your Product as a Gift 
• Follow Giftwrapped by Eve on Instagram
• Join our Giftwrapped by Eve - Support for Product Makers and Sellers Facebook community

Enjoyed this episode or want to ask a question? Send us a message

What makes a business gift memorable? For Emma Robson of Stort Valley Gifting, it’s the personal touch.

In this episode of the Greener Gifting Gang podcast, Emma and Eve talk about how businesses can use corporate gifts to strengthen relationships, stand out from competitors and stay front of mind with their clients.

Emma’s approach is about much more than putting products into a hamper. She combines locally sourced products from independent suppliers with a personalised gifting service, creating gifts that feel thoughtful and relevant to the person receiving them.

And although Emma works with local suppliers in Essex and Hertfordshire, her business creates gifts for clients across the UK – showing how a local, personal approach can have national reach.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Why the personal touch can make such a difference to business gifting
• How thoughtful corporate gifts can help you stand out and be remembered
• Why personalised gifts can have more impact than generic corporate merchandise
• How Emma works with local and independent suppliers to create memorable gifts
• The opportunities for business-to-business gifting throughout the year
• Why you don't have to wait until Christmas to send a business gift
• How businesses can use gifting to strengthen client and customer relationships
• What makes a corporate gift feel genuinely personal
• Why supporting small suppliers can add another dimension to your gifting
• How a local business can work with clients across the country

If you sell physical products, you may already think about the people who buy your products for themselves, friends or family. But could your products be bought by a business as a gift? And if they could, how could you add a personal touch that makes the gift more memorable?

Business gifting could be another way to create sales from products you already make or sell – and another opportunity to help your products get remembered

Businesses need gifts for clients, customers, employees, suppliers, referral partners and events. And when the gift is personal and thoughtfully chosen, it can do more than simply deliver a product – it can help strengthen the relationship between the giver and recipient.

That means your products could have opportunities as corporate gifts, client thank-you gifts or business-to-business gifts that you haven't considered yet.

Listen to this episode for inspiration whether you are a maker, seller or service business looking for a way to strength relationship.

Connect with Stort Valley Gifting

stortvalleygifting.co.uk

https://www.facebook.com/stortvalleygifting

https://www.instagram.com/stortvalleygifting

https://www.tiktok.com/@stortvalleygifting

https://www.linkedin.com/company/stortvalleygifting/

• Don't forget to follow the show, leave a review, or share this episode with a friend who would find it useful.
• Join in my free challenge for product makers and sellers w/c 21st September  Unwrap the Potential: Your Product as a Gift 
• Follow Giftwrapped by Eve on Instagram
• Join our Giftwrapped by Eve - Support for Product Makers and Sellers Facebook community

Enjoyed this episode or want to ask a question? Send us a message

How do you make customers remember your small business long after they've opened their order?

In this episode of the Greener Gifting Podcast, Eve is joined by Izzy Weatherall, founder of Support Small UK, a community dedicated to championing independent businesses across the UK.

Our conversation is full of practical ideas for makers, handmade business owners and anyone who wants to create a memorable customer experience without spending a fortune.

Izzy shares the touching story behind a special gift she once received and why its meaning has stayed with her ever since. It's a reminder that the most memorable gifts aren't always the most expensive, they're the ones with thought behind them.

We also cover how gifting has become part of the customer journey within Support Small UK, from welcoming new members to building stronger relationships and encouraging customers to come back again.

If you've ever wondered how to make your packaging feel more personal, communicate your sustainability values more effectively or create an unboxing experience that customers genuinely remember, this episode is packed with ideas you can put into practice.

In this episode, we discuss:

* The meaningful gift that Izzy still passes on today and why it has become such a special tradition.
* How Support Small UK uses thoughtful gifts to welcome new customers and strengthen relationships.
* Why customer retention often starts with the experience you create after someone buys from you.
* Simple ways to make your packaging feel more personal and memorable.
* How sustainable packaging and clear eco messaging can help your business stand out.
* Why small businesses have a unique advantage over larger retailers when it comes to customer service.
* Affordable ways to surprise and delight customers throughout the year.
* Practical ideas you can use whether you sell at markets, online or through social media.

Whether you make jewellery, candles, skincare, home décor, artwork, stationery, food gifts or any other giftable products, you'll come away with inspiration for creating an experience your customers will remember and want to tell other people about.

Connect with Izzy and Support Small UK
https://supportsmalluk.co.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/supportsmalluk
https://www.instagram.com/supportsmalluk/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/support-small-uk/

• Don't forget to follow the show, leave a review, or share this episode with a friend who would find it useful.
• Join in my free challenge for product makers and sellers w/c 21st September  Unwrap the Potential: Your Product as a Gift 
• Follow Giftwrapped by Eve on Instagram
• Join our Giftwrapped by Eve - Support for Product Makers and Sellers Facebook community

Enjoyed this episode or want to ask a question? Send us a message

In this episode I'm joined by Sarah Lou Crafts to explore how thoughtful gifting and sustainability can go hand in hand.

Sarah Lou uses sustainable yarns, cork fabric, and a healthy dose of imagination to create beautiful, handmade eco-conscious gifts.  We discuss why being intentional with the gifts we give matters, how choosing quality over quantity can reduce waste, and why a thoughtfully chosen gift often means so much more than the latest gadget.

She shares her passion for creating gifts that are kind to the planet while bringing joy to the person receiving them, a reminder that every gift is an opportunity to show someone you care not just about them, but about the world we all share.

Connect with Sarah Lou

Discover her beautiful range of eco-conscious gifts at sarahloucrafts.co.uk

Read Sarah Lou's blog post about her experience of being on the podcast.

instagram.com/sarahloucrafts

uk.pinterest.com/SarahLouCrafts/

linkedin.com/in/sarah-skilton/

Other useful links from this episode

If you liked this episode you may also enjoy Episode 14:  From Fabric to Gift Wrap: Sue Eagle’s Sustainable Story

Rachel Cobb Art created a special gift for Sarah Lou

reuseabox.co.uk a different way to source packaging

• Don't forget to follow the show, leave a review, or share this episode with a friend who would find it useful.
• Join in my free challenge for product makers and sellers w/c 21st September  Unwrap the Potential: Your Product as a Gift 
• Follow Giftwrapped by Eve on Instagram
• Join our Giftwrapped by Eve - Support for Product Makers and Sellers Facebook community

Enjoyed this episode or want to ask a question? Send us a message

In this joyful episode, Eve chats with Sheila Murray, a Zentangle expert with a love for creating and gifting her own unique artwork.

In this episode you'll hear
- What Zentangle is and why it's such a calming, accessible art form
- How Sheila turns her tangles into gifts for friends and family
- The joy of slowing down and creating gifts with intention
- How a make-do-and-mend mindset isn't just about saving money, it naturally leads to a greener, more mindful way of gifting, long before "sustainability" became a buzzword.

Connect with Sheila

Website: thecalmcreative.co.uk
Instagram: thecalmcreativeuk
Facebook: thecalmcreativeuk

The WI

Sheila and Eve met at a Women's Institute (WI) in Gloucestershire, one of many wonderful groups Eve has worked with. If you run a WI, craft group, or similar and would like Eve to speak or run a greener giftwrapping workshop for your members get in touch at [email protected]

Love the topic of this episode?

You'll also enjoy Episode 11: Using Calligraphy to Elevate Your Gifts, with Natalie Winder another conversation about slowing down and adding a personal, handmade touch to the way we give.

• Don't forget to follow the show, leave a review, or share this episode with a friend who would find it useful.
• Join in my free challenge for product makers and sellers w/c 21st September  Unwrap the Potential: Your Product as a Gift 
• Follow Giftwrapped by Eve on Instagram
• Join our Giftwrapped by Eve - Support for Product Makers and Sellers Facebook community

Enjoyed this episode or want to ask a question? Send us a message

In this episode, I chat with Gill Sealey, founder of The Neurospicy Hub, to unpack something most of us never question: why gift-giving so often feels like an obligation instead of a joy.

Gill shares her perspective on why the guilt, pressure, and "shoulds" around gifting can weigh so heavily, especially for those who are neurodivergent.  We talk about how you can let go of that obligation and choose gifts in a way that actually works with how your brain operates, not against it.

If you've ever felt drained by gift-giving, second-guessed a purchase out of duty rather than desire, or wondered why "just get them something nice" feels so much harder than it sounds, this conversation is for you.

Connect with Gill

Gill Sealey is the founder of The Neurospicy Hub, where she supports neurodivergent families and business owners to find ways of doing life and work that suit their brain. She is also a mum, a creative business owner, and someone who is endlessly interested in the little things that help people feel seen and understood. 

Connect with Gill

theneurospicyhub.com/links
brainfriendlybusinessclub.com
facebook.com/gillisealey
linkedin.com/in/gillsealey
instagram.com/brainfriendlybusinessclub

• Don't forget to follow the show, leave a review, or share this episode with a friend who would find it useful.
• Join in my free challenge for product makers and sellers w/c 21st September  Unwrap the Potential: Your Product as a Gift 
• Follow Giftwrapped by Eve on Instagram
• Join our Giftwrapped by Eve - Support for Product Makers and Sellers Facebook community

Enjoyed this episode or want to ask a question? Send us a message

In this solo episode Eve shares what she learned at The Plastic Free Gathering and how it applies directly to product-based businesses aiming to reduce plastic. Rather than coming away overwhelmed, Eve came back inspired and she's sharing the three ideas that stuck with her most, plus how they tie into this month's Plastic Free July movement.

We cover:

• Why you don't need to be a big organisation to make a difference — and how every decision ripples out to your customers, suppliers, colleagues and communities
• Why designing for sustainability from the start is so much easier than retrofitting it later
• Why sustainability isn't always the main reason someone buys from you 
• Reframing small swaps as ripples rather than an all-or-nothing overhaul
• Practical, low-pressure ways to take part in Plastic Free July, in your business and at home

Links & resources:

• Listen to Episode 9 from July 2025: Why Plastic-Free Packaging Is Good for Business (Not Just the Planet)
• The Plastic Free Gathering
• Plastic Free July campaign

• Don't forget to follow the show, leave a review, or share this episode with a friend who would find it useful.
• Join in my free challenge for product makers and sellers w/c 21st September  Unwrap the Potential: Your Product as a Gift 
• Follow Giftwrapped by Eve on Instagram
• Join our Giftwrapped by Eve - Support for Product Makers and Sellers Facebook community

Enjoyed this episode or want to ask a question? Send us a message

Charlotte Mason-Curl is officially the first returning guest of the Greener Gifting Gang Podcast!

Catch up on Charlotte's first episode (Ep 4): A Greener Way to Gift at Kids' Parties with Charlotte Mason-Curl

Charlotte first joined me in June 2025 to talk about The Kids Party Pact, her movement encouraging parents to rethink how we give at children's birthdays. Since then, the pact has picked up serious momentum and I wanted her back on the pod to find out what's happened since.

In this new episode, we catch up on:

• What's changed since June 2025, how the Kids Party Pact campaign has grown and where it's headed next
• Press and coverage, the publications and platforms that have picked up the campaign including Postive News, The Times, BBC and The Week Junior.
• Marketing a movement, what's actually worked (and what hasn't) for spreading the word and getting people to take action.
• Dealing with negativity, Charlotte's honest take on the pushback she's had (spoiler: there's been surprisingly little!)
• The big reveal: Charlotte's brand new picture book, Elf Chloe's Surprise, designed to help start conversations with kids about gifting pre-loved. We talj about what inspired it, who it's for, and where to get your hands on a copy

Whether you're a parent rethinking how to gift, fed up of party bag plastic tat, a business owner in the kids' gifting space, or just someone who loves seeing a good idea take off, this episode is full of encouragement that one person's idea really can have a ripple effect.

You can find out more about the pact and sign it here: https://nocrapparties.org/

Grab a copy of the book on Amazon or https://charlottecurl.com/elf-chloes-surprise/

Follow Charlotte
@charlottes_goodbooks
https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlottecurl/

Sign the Kids Party Pact: https://nocrapparties.org/ and follow the campaign on Instagram @no.crap.parties

• Don't forget to follow the show, leave a review, or share this episode with a friend who would find it useful.
• Join in my free challenge for product makers and sellers w/c 21st September  Unwrap the Potential: Your Product as a Gift 
• Follow Giftwrapped by Eve on Instagram
• Join our Giftwrapped by Eve - Support for Product Makers and Sellers Facebook community