In the final episode of the season, we look ahead to 2025 and talk about how our local small businesses and community organizations can help us into next year.

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/

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

This episode focuses on how small local businesses can help you have a greener and more sustainable Christmas locally in Leighton Buzzard.

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/

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

In this episode I explore what makes Christmas uniquely magical in Leighton Buzzard. I talked to local residents and business owners, and we chatted about the significance of community events like the Christmas Market, the Santa Dash, and Christmas Eve Carols on the High Street.

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/

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

In this episode, local business owners share how they prepare for Christmas and help their customers make the festive season special. Highlights include Christmas wreath workshops by Helen from Bits and Birds, book sourcing by Alice from Book, special gift boxes at The Bottlehouse, festive spirits by Luke from Three Counties Spirits, and exciting new products and services across various local stores.

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/

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

Season 2 of the Leighton Buzzard Local podcast is all about all things Christmas locally.

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.

In the last episode of this first season, Laura (that's me!) from Leighton Buzzard Local chats to Jaime from Animal Sorted who then turns the tables and asks me about the LBL account, why I set it up, why I do it and what the future holds.

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

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Heni runs The Refill in Leighton Buzzard, and is celebrating her business birthday as this episode goes out! She talks about the journey to her current shop, from starting on a market stall and her first shop in AF Reid (which is now The Work Shop by Happydashery).

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/

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

This week I speak to Gemma from Andrew Isaacs Law about opening an office in Leighton Buzzard and what it's like to build a community for the business you work for and your own life when you move to a new town.

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

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