Hexham Sisters Bring Laughter to the UK with New Gift Business
Two sisters from Hexham have turned their love for laughter into a thriving new business. Natalie and Steph Wood have started their business called Laughing Sisters and have created an online gift shop dedicated to spreading joy, humour, and positivity with their range of fun and quirky gifts.
Laughing Sisters officially started trading in November 2024, with the launch of their website in January 2025. Laughing Sisters, utilised the support of Northumberland Small Business Service to help get their business off the ground.
The Northumberland Small Business Service (NSBS) is delivered by Northumberland County Council. The project is part funded by the North East Combined Authority and the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and the Rural England Prosperity Fund, with the North East Combined Authority as the lead authority.
The sisters had long dreamed of running a business together, and when Steph was diagnosed with the rare autoimmune disease MOGAD, it became the perfect time to turn their vision into reality. Unable to continue full-time work as a personal trainer, Steph teamed up with Natalie to create a brand that brings happiness to others.
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.”
While Laughing Sisters operates primarily online, the sisters are expanding their reach by attending local markets and events to meet customers and share their passion for laughter and business in person.
Natalie and Steph credit much of their early success to the support they received from the Northumberland Small Business Service (NSBS). Natalie’s full-time job introduced her to the NSBS team, where she connected with a Rural Business Adviser, who guided them toward valuable resources. Through NSBS, they attended training courses on SEO and marketing, received a startup grant, and gained expert guidance on launching their website.
“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,” the sisters explain. “We also had help from Aspire Digital Marketing, learning how to run Google Shopping campaigns, which has been invaluable for growing our sales.”
The startup is quickly gaining traction, with orders coming in from across the UK. The sisters are excited for what the future holds and have already secured spots at major events, including the Living North Fairs and the Brocksbushes Christmas Fayre. They continue to develop new product lines, working hard behind the scenes to expand their range of fun and thoughtful gifts.
When asked about receiving support from NSBS, the sisters said, “There is no downside! The support, training, and connections we’ve gained have been incredible. If they can’t help directly, they’ll always know someone who can.”
To find out more about Laughing Sisters and to see the online shop, you can go to:
NSBS also offers assistance to micro-small sized businesses across Northumberland. The experienced team and its range of experts work directly with businesses and individuals to help them start, grow, diversify, and sustain their ventures through workshops, 1-2-1 support and networking events across the county.
Eligible businesses can still access a Rural Capital Grant Investment Fund, which supports rural businesses with clear growth plans by providing capital investment to expand production capacity or diversify into new markets or products.
There are still grants of up to £2,000 for start-ups and businesses still within the first year of trading.
This project is part-funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills.
If you have any questions about the event or the Northumberland Small Business Service, please visit Northumberland Small Business Service or contact the team at business@businessnorthumberland.co.uk.