Ahead of the festive season, we’re encouraging everyone to shop small – and what better way to do so than with our Gift Guide 2025 edition! With a wide range of members across the UK from sweet hampers to skincare, we’ve got you covered.
In this Member Spotlight series, we’d like to introduce you to the brilliant minds behind the Gift Guide. Meet Shane Jackson, founder of Historic Football Shirts.
Hi! Can you tell us about your business and why you started?
I’ve been a football memorabilia and shirts collector since the age of 10 – one day, I listed some of my collection and overpriced it. I decided that if it sold, I’d use that money to reinvest in new stock from eBay. That’s how my business started and since then, it just kept growing!
What makes your product the perfect gift for the holiday season?
Football shirts and memorabilia make the perfect gift this time of year – they bring back nostalgic moments that stay with people for a lifetime. It’s hard to find that kind of connection anywhere else, and they often spark great conversations.
What do you love most about running your company?
I genuinely love what I sell, so seeing new, obscure items arrive on the daily is great.
It still gives me a buzz now, and doesn’t feel like a job at all.
How do you prepare for the festive season ahead and what advice would you give to other small business owners?
When preparing for the festive season, we make sure any seasonal items are listed by the end of October. I’d advise other small business owners to do the same – work out what’s seasonal or sells well during the festive period, and get it listed well in advance.
How has Tide helped you to run your business and what has been your favourite feature?
Tide has allowed me to easily purchase stock with its quick bank transfer system via the app, which can be done anywhere in the world.
What’s the biggest challenge for your business at the moment?
The biggest challenge we face currently is processing the stock. We’re sourcing the most stock since we started, and it’s difficult to find the time to hire or process the back stock – this is something we’re currently working on.
Lastly, what’s one tip you would give to people who want to start their own business?
Manage and process your stock in an efficient way. Try to use your own cash flow, and grow the business naturally to ensure that what you’re earning is at the maximum. This creates less risk and natural growth later down the line. When you’re in a more secure situation, you can look at other financial ways to scale up.
