Over the next couple of months in the lead up to Christmas, Desirable.co.uk will be collecting items, stores and designers that we want to include in our Christmas catalogue.  While we’ve already got a pretty big list - just take a look at our Directory and you’ll see what we mean - we know there are many more UK-based stores, designers and independent craftspeople out there that we’re missing.  That’s where you, the reader, comes in!  We want you to tell us about your favourite UK stores, a particular item that you’re lusting after, or even your own crafts and designs.

Using our Contact form or the comments for this post, we want you to let us know what your favourite UK internet-based store is, what their best items or products are, and whether you’ve tried or purchased the items you recommend.  If you have your own blog or website, let us know - this is your chance to get a mention on Desirable.co.uk and perhaps even appear in our Christmas catalogue!  Get in touch now and introduce us to your favourite finds… we can’t wait to see what you’ve got in store for us!

You may have noticed that we are really keen on eco-friendly products here at Desirable.co.uk, and we’re always looking for ways to help our readers to shop in an environmentally friendly way.  That’s why we’ve put together a new section of the Desirable.co.uk Directory of British Online Stores - the ‘Eco-Friendly Labels, Designers & Stores’ section!

Finally, after weeks and months of trawling through some incredibly dangerous sites (Etsy, I am referring to you), I can happily announce that the ‘Independent Craftspeople, Artists & Designers‘ section of the Desirable.co.uk Directory is finally published.  Pop on over and show the fantastic British independents some love!

Like many people, I’m concerned about the environment.  Running a website which encourages people to buy items which may not be exactly necessary does have it’s drawbacks, particularly as I personally feel that we should be spending more money on less items and cutting down on the throwaway products we keep for a year or two before chucking in the rubbish.  That’s why I try to feature as many ‘green’ items as I can, and why the Desirable.co.uk Directory of British Online Stores lists a green heart icon against every store which offers eco-friendly alternatives.  I feel that by giving people the option to choose eco-friendly products and by showing just how many great environmentally friendly items there are out there, we can slowly work towards a greener world - without sacrificing on great shopping finds.

From now on in the daily blog you will see our ‘Eco-Friendly’ badge (as seen above) popping up from time to time.  This badge will help readers to determine whether or not an item is specifically environmentally friendly - the item may be made from recycled materials, for example, or the brand that produces them may participate in a carbon-offset scheme.  By keeping an eye out for the ‘Eco Friendly’ badge you will be able to choose items that are greener, safer for the environment, and that allow you to give a little bit back.  So keep your eye out for our new ‘Eco Friendly’ friend!

Finally I can happily announce that part two of the Desirable.co.uk Directory of British Online Stores is live! This newest section concerns Homewares, Furnishings, Appliances and Decor, and is a comprehensive list of all the British retailers, designers and brands which sell their wares online.

The next section will be our Independent Craftspeople list - so if you’re a British craftsperson, artist or designer and you have a store or listing on Etsy, Big Cartel, Poppytalk Handmade, Mintd, and so forth, feel free to get in touch! The listings are free and are a great way to get a bit of extra traffic to your stores.

After a good few weeks of work, we are now happy to announce that the first section of the Desirable.co.uk Directory of British Online Stores is now available for your browsing pleasure - that’s right, the Directory section for Women’s Fashion, Jewellery & Accessories is now up and running. The Directory aims to be a comprehensive resource for British brands, designers and stores that have online shopping facilities open to people who reside in the United Kingdom. No where else will you find such a detailed and easy to use directory of solely British online stores.

The first section published, that concerning Women’s Fashion, Jewellery & Accessories, has been split into easy to use categories, such as ‘Department Stores’, ‘Fashion Retailers’, ‘Footwear’, and so on. We’ve also included some great little icons that indicate whether the store has eco-friendly products, whether they ship internationally (a bonus for all our non-British readers!), whether they have plus-size clothes, and whether they have a loyalty program for customers. We hope that whenever you need to find a product or item online, our Directory will be the first place you look.

So, please enjoy our Directory, and if you have any ideas, submissions or feedback, please get in touch!