Decorate your Home Diversely this Christmas

One business set to enjoy a great festive season is March Muses, who specialise in selling Black Christmas decorations.

In just four years, co-founders Natalie Duvall and Alison Burton have seen March Muses expand from selling decorations at Christmas pop-up shops – including one in Selfridges – to securing two BBC Dragons to invest in their business, and signing a licensing deal where their products will be sold in over 700 Tesco stores.

This remarkable achievement is due to persistence.

Based in Croydon, these businesswomen first approached Tesco in 2020 to collaborate and were told no. In the ensuing years, there was much back and forth, however discussions took a positive turn after the women connected with Leon, team lead for Tesco’s Black Action Plan. Alison recalled: “When he found out about the constant back-and-forth discussions we’d had, trying to get in store, he stepped in to help. We now have a five-year licensing deal with Tesco.”

The idea for March Muses was birthed in 2018 after Natalie’s daughter, then aged seven, asked: “Mummy can angels be Black?” Recognising her daughter couldn’t see herself represented in Christmas decorations, they started sourcing Christmas decorations that reflected the fact that we live in a diverse world but couldn’t find any authentic products in the UK.

So, they created their own range of products, which includes a Black Santa, Black angels and Black elves, available in both dark and light skin tones. Their global customers are from all races and cultures.

Alison believes it’s important that diversity and inclusion impacts all areas of society, including Christmas decorations. She shared:

We live in a multicultural world, why should that not be reflected in the things you’re able to purchase? This should include the celebration of special moments, just like Christmas and beyond.

Visit www.marchmuses.co.uk