Northumbrian Gifts Celebrate their 18th Anniversary

Just over 18 years ago, Stephen and Katrina Wanless married at Bamburgh Castle – a perfect Northumbrian backdrop for a couple who would go on to create a truly Northumbrian business celebrating the best products and produce that the region has to offer.

This month they celebrate 18 years of their local business, supporting and promoting Northumbrian businesses and suppliers by distributing and selling the finest local produce.

Northumbrian Gifts currently work with over 50 locally based suppliers and sell more than 400 local products including soft drinks, beer, spirits, preserves, snacks, hampers and much more. They operate through their local store, online gift shop as well as wholesaling to farm shops, tourist destinations and many other family run businesses across the region.

The ancient kingdom of Northumbria was one of the most culturally significant areas of Anglo-Saxon England. Fiercely proud of the area they were both born in, Stephen and Katrina source the finest artisan produce from Alston to Alnmouth, and from Berwick to Bishop Auckland spanning the counties of Northumberland, Tyne and Wear and County Durham.

Based in the Ashwood Business Park in Ashington, Northumbrian Gifts are long term tenants of Advance Northumberland, having been based there since 2010 – previously based at the Wansbeck Network Centre. Since launching in 2004, they have steadily increased their number of suppliers and supply a huge range of local products from one place. Supporting local businesses in a centralised destination attracts repeat customers who trust and support local. Northumbrian Gifts has been established as the business to find local gifts, support local businesses and local people.

During lockdown, Northumbrian Gifts pivoted their business to expand their online offering to customers as the world switched rapidly to digital. With help from the Advance Northumberland business support team, they improved their website to enable them to focus on customers across the whole of the UK so that people who have moved away from the area can still enjoy a piece of Northumbria.

The business has come a long way in 18 years, growing, adapting, regularly increasing the number of products in their range, moving to larger premises and providing employment in the area. Some of their dedicated team have been with them since the beginning. They are a strong presence in the North East and continue to work with and represent the best that Northumbria has to offer.

To find out more about their local produce, visit their website: https://www.northumbriangifts.co.uk/