Handmade Hippo is closing…
It’s taken me a while to actually write this and that’s half because I’ve been really busy with Christmas market prep, customer orders, coursework and general family life but half because I’ve been putting it off (ok it’s probably a 30/70 split). Handmade Hippo has been such a big part of our family for nearly 10 years and the community I’ve found through Handmade Hippo has meant so much to me… so it’s really not easy writing about saying goodbye to all of that.
When I started this business, my now 10 year old was only 10 months old! You may know (depending on how long you’ve been here) that when I was coming to the end of my Masters degree, we found out we were going to be parents… I actually ended up submitting my final dissertation at 36 weeks pregnant and my son came to graduation with me nearly a year later. When I was trying to figure out how I was going to manage starting a career in the arts and balancing being a parent, I knew I wanted to do something that gave me control over my working hours so I could be there for my then teething and incredibly dribbly baby. Fed up of changing dribble bibs almost hourly, Handmade Hippo started with super absorbent dribble bibs in cute fabrics. I then added memory blankets and teething rings to the Handmade Hippo range. After maternity leave following the birth of my youngest and trying to manage life as a mum of two, I came back with some ready to post products: muslin swaddles, tea towels, zip pouches and eventually sustainable wooden pins.
Prior to lockdown, I started a collaboration with another small business owner and expanded my product range making aprons for that business’s themed baking boxes. As much as I love my handmade aprons (they are a staple in our house), my bedtime cushions and tooth fairy pockets are probably my favourite products. The idea for my bedtime cushions came from my book Advent cushions; I wanted a way to support my children’s independence and take away a little of the stress at bedtime and add a little organisation into the mornings, we use ours every day! My kids put their pjs in their cushions ready for bedtime and put their school uniform in the pocket before bedtime so it’s ready for the morning… no hunting for clean socks or the right uniform for the day! As well as the tooth fairy pockets being one of my favourites… (honestly who decided the tooth fairy should retrieve a teeny child’s tooth from underneath their sleeping head???) it’s one of your favourites too and has become one of my best selling products which means so much to me as I designed the toothy fabric myself. The business and its product range has grown and evolved as my children have grown and I’ve learned so much!
After years of talking to my amazing repeat customers and followers online, in 2021 I took Handmade Hippo to in-person markets. Over the past few years I’ve been to markets around Northumberland, The Scottish Borders, North Tyneside and Tyne and Wear. I still find markets incredibly nerve-wracking! I'm very fortunate to have a friendly online community who have chosen to follow and support me but taking products out into the real world you meet people that have never heard of you, seen your products and may be very vocal about what they think of your business. Over the past few years markets have definitely helped me develop a thicker skin but I’ve also gained so much more confidence talking about my products. For the most part markets have been a wonderful, positive experience and I’ve met some lovely fellow small business owners and have had the chance to meet a whole new audience.
I still LOVE Handmade Hippo, the products and the community it’s brought me, which is why it’s so hard to talk about closing after nearly 10 years. As you may know, over the past couple of years I’ve struggled with pain in my hands and wrists which has meant that at times (particularly during busy periods like the lead up to Christmas) sewing can be quite painful for me. This pain is unfortunately not something likely to go away as it’s linked to my hypermobility so it’s more a case of managing situations that cause difficulty or pain. I take great pride in the fact that my products do actually last for years and can truly be treasured even with frequent use, that longevity comes from reinforced seams and precision.
I hate letting people down and as much as it’s hard to close this chapter, I wanted to do it on my terms and whilst I was able to manage the workload I had. In reality if I had decided to keep Handmade Hippo going, I would have had to make choices about how the products were made (potentially outsourcing that step) to be able to grow or, put further demands on my body to be able to make a higher volume of products- either of these choices could have meant that the quality and costs would have been impacted or that I would have had to close the business suddenly and have to cancel orders because I was physically unable to make them. I think you’ll agree that neither of those options are good outcomes, and they would take so much away from the values behind my business.
Taking a step back and considering the issues with my hands and wrists paired alongside the challenges small businesses are facing and increasing costs across the board, it felt like all signs were nudging me towards making this decision. Although it’s very emotional, after sitting with it for a few months before I announced the closure publicly in September, I know it’s the right decision for me and my family moving forward.
I will miss Handmade Hippo being part of my daily life, it’s strange to think that I’ve experienced my last Christmas as a product based business owner. That being said, I’m not going anywhere just yet! As I’ve said, the decision to close Handmade Hippo is a proactive decision which will protect everything that has made Handmade Hippo so special for nearly a decade.
The website will be open until the end of March 2026, you will be able to order personalised and custom orders until Sunday 22nd February. After the deadline for personalised and custom orders passes, I will be focusing on making those last custom orders and I’ll make some changes to the website so everything on there will be ready-to-post.
So what’s next for me? You may know that in October 2021, I received my ADHD diagnosis. The journey I’ve been on since that discovery, learning about my own brain and how to support my neurodivergent kids has led me to my next chapter… Kind of Extraordinary.
This new business is focused on supporting neurodivergent children and families using therapy informed approaches, advocacy and understanding. I’m really going to miss Handmade Hippo and although I’m nervous about the shift from a product-based to a service-based business, I’m so excited to work with families and help neurodivergent kids thrive.
I’m so grateful to you for supporting Handmade Hippo over the past decade (nearly!) It's so special that even after this business is closed, my products are still going to be out there being used and loved by your families. So many small businesses talk about this but genuinely, every single, share, message, like and comment means the world to a small business owner and they have meant so much to me. I have loved getting to know you over messages, making your orders and seeing pictures of your families enjoying their Handmade Hippo goodies.
I know things have been quieter on instagram lately and tbh that’s mainly because I really needed the time to decompress and process that I had just done my last Handmade Hippo Christmas. I wanted to write this before getting back online to help things feel a little clearer and possibly less emotional (as much as that is possible given the circumstances). Keep following Handmade Hippo for the final updates and news as I approach the closure. I’m also going to be releasing some more product bundles to help you stock up on goodies before I close so make sure you keep an eye out for those.
As always, if you have any questions about orders, the business or my next chapter… just drop me an email or a message!