Hey! Nashy & Abs here 👋
Welcome to your weekly Thriving Newsletter!
Welcome back folks! The summer break continues and we are straight back into it whilst juggling parenting and building a business. 🩷
First things first. Our hearts go out to everyone affected by the recent fire on Princes Street. A lot of disruption to the city centre and many local business owners have lost several days’ trade through no fault of their own. I headed straight to Castle Street Market and some surrounding businesses to make videos and help get eyes on their businesses.
Now. The Edinburgh Festival is almost here and the city is already absolutely electric. Every street, every close, every nook and unknown cranny, every pub and every cafe is buzzing with visitors and the kind of energy that only Edinburgh can produce in July and August! There is genuinely nowhere better to be right now. 🎭
And something new from us this summer. Nashy is now offering Wander Tours. Taking tourists directly to Edinburgh's independent businesses whilst exploring our brilliant city together. Taking visitors to the real Edinburgh businesses that make the city thrive while also enjoying the tourist spots. If you know anyone visiting the city this August, send them our way. 🩷
Let's get into it! 👇
This week's newsletter includes:
🔥 New business shout-out - us - Keep Edinburgh Thriving!
🏪 Local business highlights
📣 Worth shouting about & 📅 Dates for your diary
💳 A taste of what's on the Thriving Card this week!
If you haven't grabbed your Thriving Card yet, the founding-member price is still available to newsletter subscribers only.
Let's get into it! 👇
🔥 NEW BUSINESS SHOUT OUT
🔥 THIS WEEK'S NEW BUSINESS IS - US! 🩷
We don't do this very often, so bear with us for a moment.
Keep Edinburgh Thriving has one simple goal. To shine a light on the brilliant independent businesses that make Edinburgh and the Lothians so special. The newsletter, the social content, the wandering all of it comes from a genuine love of this city and the people building something in it.
Two things have grown out of that quite naturally, which lets Abby and I continue helping local businesses and we wanted to share them properly.
The Thriving Card is live and out there in the wild! Over 150+ independent businesses across Edinburgh and the Lothians are offering exclusive discounts and offers to Thriving card holders. Massive Snap-Fax vibes from back in the day!
Locals, tourists and visitors are all using it to discover brilliant independents they might never have heard of before. If you haven't grabbed yours yet, it genuinely pays for itself very quickly and every use puts money directly into a local independent business. With different options available, there is something for everyone; annual, monthly or tourist - have a look below 👇
Wander Tours are now up and running too. Nashy is taking small groups through Edinburgh's streets and into the city's best independent businesses along the way. Not a history tour. Not a ghost tour. A real Edinburgh experience with someone who genuinely loves this city. Perfect for visitors this August.
Check out this recent review from Brennan visiting from Canada with his family.
We are so proud of what we have built and there is so much more to come. We are so grateful to every single one of you for your support along the way. 🩷
🏪 LOCAL BUSINESS HIGHLIGHTS
🍔 Candersons - The Leith Walk Sweetie Shop
Edinburgh's smallest and sweetest shop and one that makes every single person who walks through the door feel like a kid again. 🩷
Tucked away on Leith Walk, Candersons is a proper old-fashioned traditional sweet shop. Jars stacked, floor-to-ceiling, with Edinburgh Rock, Soor Plooms, Sherbet Lemons, Rhubarb and Custard, Fruit Salad, Giant Chocolate Mice and so much more. All sold by weight just like back in the day. Pick your favourites, get them weighed out and wrapped to savour later. Simple, joyful and completely brilliant.
Custom sweet jars and gift bags available too. Perfect for birthdays, parties and gifts. They'll have it ready with a personalised card and everything. The kind of independent shop that reminds you what the high street used to feel like. 🩷
❓ THIS WEEK'S QUESTION - Where would you Wander? 🌍
If Nashy was taking you on a Wander Tour of Edinburgh today. Which neighbourhood would you want to explore and what kind of independent businesses would you want to visit? Reply to the email and let us know!
💍 Royal Mile Silver - Jeffery Street, Edinburgh
One of Edinburgh's most loved independent jewellery businesses and a genuine Edinburgh institution. Royal Mile Silver has been trading in this city since 1993. Starting from a wee market stand at the Fringe Festival and now with a beautiful boutique shop on Jeffrey Street just off the Royal Mile.
Owner Chandra has travelled the world from Jaipur to Chiang Mai, Tiznit to Timbuktu, personally designing and sourcing unique sterling silver, gold and tungsten jewellery. Celtic designs, Viking-inspired pieces, nature ranges, tribal art and so much more. All ethically traded, working directly with artisans and using sustainable materials throughout.
Perfect for gifts, souvenirs, wedding rings, treating yourself or that special something you'll wear every day. Book in for permanent jewellery, bespoke engraving or a ring fitting consultation with the brilliant team. 🩷
Thriving Card offer - £10 off welded bracelets over £60 / 10% off sales over £40. Check the directory for details.
📣 WORTH SHOUTING ABOUT & 📅 DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
Traade are taking over the Rhinestone Cowboys gaff on Leith Walk and it sounds brilliant. Everything you love from Traade. Locally made homeware, coffee and loads more clothing.🩷
Plus Waugh Ceramics are on site creating exclusive merch and hosting a clay workshop. And obviously there's a party. Check their socials for all the details.
16th to 19th July. Get it in the diary.
Thriving Card offer - 10% off everything in store, applicable to Rhinestone Cowboys only. Check the directory for details.
I had a brilliant chat with Cameron Gibson recently and if you are heading to the Fringe this August this is one you should check out! 🩷
Cameron Gibson, Elliot Bibby and Luke Osey return for their fourth year as Insane Magic. Bigger and more spectacular than ever before. Following multiple sell-out seasons and now upgraded to a larger venue. Incredible new illusions, high-energy performances and plenty of moments that will leave you wondering how on earth they did that. Hailed as "truly a global phenomenon" with five-star reviews worldwide. World-class magic that will leave the whole family amazed, laughing and believing in the impossible.
Age guidance 8+. 60 minutes. £10 to £16.
5th to 31st August (not 6th or 10th). 5:30pm daily.
Thriving Card offer - 20% off all tickets to Underground Magic. Use discount code at checkout. Check the directory for details.
Zavian from First Class Football Shirts is taking over Leith Walk for an entire week during the Fringe, Monday 10th to Sunday 16th August. Vintage and retro football shirts from across the world and his biggest pop-up yet. Get yourself down there - 27 Albert Place, EH7 5HN. 🩷
Warm-up pop-up first at San Ciro's Pizzeria on Leith Walk on Friday 1st August. Pizza and new strip, what’s not to love! Then the main Fringe event on Leith Walk, Monday 10th to Sunday 16th August.
Thriving Card offer: 15% off all shirts in store. Check the directory for details.
💳 A TASTE OF WHAT'S ON THE THRIVING CARD THIS WEEK
The Thriving Card is doing exactly what it was built to do. Locals are saving money, tourists are finding the real Edinburgh and brilliant independents are getting the support they deserve. Here's a taste of what's on the card this week:
🕯️ Melrose Candle Company - New Town, Edinburgh - Independent candle and fragrance business in the heart of the New Town. Every single product is made in store on Howe Street. Beautiful gifts, stunning scents and a proper independent Edinburgh business worth visiting. Pop in and treat yourself or someone you love.
Thriving Card offer: 10% off all Melrose products.
🌊 The Lost Close - Old Town, Edinburgh - A unique underground space just off the Royal Mile buried for over 200 years and rediscovered in 2019. Intimate whisky, gin and beer tasting experiences led by brilliant storytellers. The perfect Edinburgh experience for locals and visitors alike during the Fringe.
Thriving Card offer: 10% off all standard Lost Close experiences for Edinburgh locals.
✂️ Half-Cut Barbershop - Broughton Street - Independent barbershop on Broughton Street. Precision cuts and quality grooming since 2023. The kind of neighbourhood independent that does what it does brilliantly every single time.
Thriving Card offer: 20% off all in-store services.
🌿 Tatashe Cafe - Leith - Friendly neighbourhood cafe on North Fort Street in Leith. Coffee, hot drinks and homemade cakes with a warm welcome every time. A brilliant little independent that deserves every bit of your support.
Thriving Card offer: Free cake or 3 puff puff donuts with any hot drink.
🩷 Loads more offers across food, drink, health, wellness, shopping, experiences and outdoor activities. A wee something for everyone.
That's your Thriving Thursday! 🩷
If you haven't grabbed your Thriving Card yet, the founding member price is still available at £45 through the link below:
BECOME A FOUNDING MEMBER - £45
We genuinely love putting this together for you every week. The fact that you read it, share it and support it means the world to both of us.
Our Newsletter is a place to shine a spotlight on the many brilliant local businesses on our doorstep and to keep you in the loop on local events and what’s happening in and around Edinburgh.
We really want to hear about new independent businesses that are opening in Edinburgh and the Lothians! Know a business deserving a shout-out? Reply to this email and tell us their story.
Let's Keep Edinburgh Thriving. 🚀
BIG love,
Nashy & Abs