Jo's Journal - November

We are fully into preparation for Christmas here at Mantra, as November draws towards a close.

We started the month by taking Mantra to the ‘Mind Body Spirit’ Wellbeing Festival at the NEC in Birmingham. What a lovely event! We met some wonderful people, many of whom already knew the Mantra brand, and came along wearing their Mantra jewellery.

We had our engraving machine with us, as we love being able to personalise your necklace while you wait. We heard wonderful and inspiring stories about why you chose a particular piece, or specific mantra.

I also had the chance to listen to a talk by Dr David Hamilton and have a chat with him afterwards – one of the kindest, most genuine people you could meet.

A week or so later, we visited ‘Stylist Live’, and listened to inspiring talks by some very impressive women. A talk on the communities being created by women on Instagram was fascinating, while Bryony Gordon talking about running the London Marathon in her underwear was very powerful – creating a proper conversation about body positivity and why size is still a feminist issue.

When planning which pieces to make in large quantities for Christmas this year, to ensure we don’t run out of your favourites - we looked back at some of the reasons you tell us for why you buy Mantra. We are so lucky to hear such heart-warming stories.

Many of the messages are around self-belief – wanting to give your teenage daughter the gift of self-confidence; or telling your 20-something daughter how much you believe in her, as she heads off on a gap year.

And messages between friends are equally moving: thanking a friend for being there for you; offering support as she goes through difficult times; or simply celebrating many years of close friendship.

Mantra is about connection – between the giver and the recipient. When you hold onto your necklace and bring its mantra to mind – you are also bringing to mind the person who gave it to you, and the message they wanted to give you. This is why it makes such a popular gift for birthdays, big occasions and Christmas. Take a look at the pieces we feel are perfect for Christmas here.

We were also delighted to hear from some of our myMantra fans this month. Holly Matthews and Sandra Garlick both told us what their personal mantras mean to them, which they have engraved on their myMantra necklaces; while superstar Rita Ora chose to wear one of our myMantra necklaces.

This month also sees us support GivingTuesday here at Mantra. The campaign, which began in America, is an antidote to the mass consumerism of Black Friday, and aims to get people thinking of others in the run up to Christmas, be it through donating to charity, volunteering or simply helping a friend, neighbour or family member.

This year, we are donating 10% of our sales from Black Friday through to #GivingTuesday to all the charities we work closely with - MIND, Bullying UK, Care International, Breast Cancer Haven, Trees for Cities, CALM, Women for Women Intl and Modern Muse. 

Enjoy the approach of the festive season, and I look forward to catching up in December. Jo xx