Hexham sisters spread laughter with new venture

A North East-based gift business is spreading laughter across the UK.

Two sisters from Hexham, Natalie and Steph Wood, have launched Laughing Sisters, an online shop offering quirky, fun gifts designed to bring joy and positivity. 

Following Steph’s diagnosis with a rare autoimmune disease, the sisters turned their long-held dream into a reality and started trading in November 2024.

Since then, the business has grown with support from the Northumberland Small Business Service (NSBS), which provided training, a startup grant and expert advice, including courses on SEO and marketing to help build an online presence.

While primarily online, Natalie and Steph are also looking to expand Laughing Sisters through local markets and events such as the Living North Fairs and the Brocksbushes Christmas Fayre, as they continue to develop new product lines.

Natalie said: “There’s nothing better than making someone smile, whether it's with an inside joke or a thoughtful gift. 

“That’s what Laughing Sisters is all about.

“The grant allowed us to work with professionals to create a website with advanced features, like the ability to build bespoke gift boxes while keeping track of inventory.

“We also had help from Aspire Digital Marketing, learning how to run Google Shopping campaigns, which has been invaluable for growing our sales.

“The support, training, and connections we’ve gained have been incredible. 

“If the NSBS can’t help directly, they’ll always know someone who can.”

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