Up The Garden Chillies

15/06/2026

The unfortunate truth of owning and running a business.

Running a business is really hard.

What they don’t tell you is that it can cause severe stress and anxiety, and drains you mentally to the point of depression in even the most laid-back people.

People will talk about you, compare you to others, use you, they will view you as a service and not a person anymore.

Friends and family will expect discounts and people will value you and your hard work less than a big chain store or company.

You have to worry about if you forget to email/message someone back, are they going to think it was on purpose? Did you disappoint them? Will they hold that against you? When in reality you just can’t get to everyone’s messages and emails.

Starting up or Taking over and running a successful business puts incredible strain on personal lives and relationships, many of which fail because there is just often no work-life balance.

You need to be the director, the worker, the admin, the marketing team, the accountant, the cleaner..... All whilst being a parent, a husband or a wife, grandparent, family support, friend...

There’s a reason you don’t see many people succeed in small businesses after 5-10 years. If they are successful they are overwhelmed.

It takes a toll. It’s freaking exhausting. Especially the past couple of years when so much has been out of our control.

Here’s a small reminder that we are just normal people with hectic lives.

Please support small and local businesses's cos we do it because we actually love it despite the stress etc , it can also be very rewarding at times ❤️

*copied from another post

18/05/2026

There are a lot of event organisers out there that that really need to read this..... just saying........

If you’re running a market, collective, pop-up or artisan event, it’s important to understand the difference between inspired by products and goods that illegally use copyrighted or trademarked material.

In the UK, both Trading Standards and the Intellectual Property Office can investigate counterfeit or infringing products being sold at markets, fairs and retail spaces.

Here’s a practical overview for market organisers and traders:

Items that often breach regulations include:

* Clothing using Disney, Nike, Adidas, Harry Potter or football club logos without permission
* Printed mugs, candles, tumblers or gifts using copyrighted characters or brand names
* Handmade items using trademarked fabric or images for commercial resale
* “Dupes” presented as genuine designer goods
* Fake branded packaging or labels
* Unlicensed fan art reproduced commercially

Even if products are handmade or “small business” items, copyright and trademark law still applies.

What traders must understand (and this is often lost in the mix) :

A trader generally needs permission or a licence to commercially use:

* Registered logos
* Brand names
* Copyrighted artwork
* Characters from films, TV, books or games
* Sports team branding
* Music or album artwork

Saying:

* “Inspired by”
* “Fan made”
* “Not affiliated”
does not automatically protect a seller legally.

Responsibilities of market organisers

As event Organisers we should show we have completed reasonable due diligence by:

* Having clear trader terms and conditions
* Prohibiting counterfeit or unlicensed goods
* Asking traders to confirm goods comply with IP laws
* Requesting proof of licences where appropriate
* Removing products if concerns are raised
* Keeping trader records and contact details
* Reporting serious counterfeit concerns if necessary

If we knowingly allow counterfeit goods, we can also face investigation.

Best practice for artisan collectives

We always advise to check with us if you’re not sure and will always point you to official guidance:

* UK Intellectual Property Office
* Trading Standards business guidance
* Counterfeit and piracy guidance

A simple rule for traders is:

“If you did not create the brand, logo, character or artwork yourself — and you do not hold permission to use it commercially — you should not sell it.”

25/04/2026

Find us at the beautiful Walpol Gardens this Sunday at the award winning Cliftonville Farmers Market

09/04/2026

We will be at this exciting event at Standard Quay all weekend, always lots beautiful hand crafted items at this event. Well worth a visit for that something original.

01/04/2026

We will be here

29/03/2026

A big thank you to everyone who came along to Cliftonville Farmers Market today and made us feel so welcome. We are looking forward to becoming a regular stall at this fantastic market.