Our Shop Aberdeen Shopping Champions are a dedicated group of individuals who are deeply passionate about supporting and promoting local businesses. With a genuine love for Aberdeen’s vibrant retail scene, they take pride in discovering and showcasing the very best our city has to offer. Whether it’s highlighting hidden gems, sharing exclusive offers, or offering first-hand insights into unique shopping experiences, our champions provide a fresh perspective on the diverse and dynamic world of local retail.
Their expertise is invaluable in helping you navigate the city’s finest shops, cafés, and boutiques, ensuring you don’t miss out on anything special. By following them, you'll gain access to expert recommendations, insider tips, and curated finds that celebrate Aberdeen’s exceptional retailers. From the newest arrivals to time-honoured classics, they’re committed to supporting the local community and helping you make the most of your shopping experience.
Meet Julia Bryce
Julia Bryce, an award-winning Scottish journalist and content creator from Aberdeen, has dedicated more than a decade to celebrating Scotland's vibrant food and drink scene.
Julia's passion for feature writing landed her a series of roles at DC Thomson and in 2021 she advanced to Head of Food and Drink, overseeing coverage for publications such as The Press and Journal and The Courier. Her expertise earned her the title of Food & Drink Writer of the Year at the 2021 Scottish Press Awards and she was named Scottish Food and Drink Influencer of the Year in 2024 by The Scotsman's Scran Awards.
In 2024, Julia also made her Netflix debut on hit show Somebody Feed Phil, showcasing Scotland's diverse culinary landscape.
Deeply rooted in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, Julia continues to highlight the region and its offering on her social media pages at @juliabryce92 and on her radio show on Original 106 on Sundays from 1-5pm.
Julia's Shop Aberdeen retailer pick: Annie Mo's and Aberdeen Whisky Shop
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Follow @juliabryce92Meet Natasha Calder
Natasha Calder (@xnatashacalder) started posting on social media around seven years ago while working full-time in finance, and she hasn’t looked back!
Since then, she has shared outfit ideas, quirky shops and all her favourite places to eat and drink in the city. Natasha feels that there are so many hidden gems in Aberdeen that not everyones knows about, which really inspired her to start her Instagram pages, @itscaldstyle and @itscaldhome.
Fast forward to now, she is fortunate enough to be able to work alongside all the great businesses Aberdeen has to offer with new launches, updates and events through social media.
Over time, her love for Aberdeen and sharing content on social media has allowed her to help local businesses with their own social media channels through @itscaldsocial. Natasha is passionate about teaching local businesses everything she has learnt over the years and supporting them spread the word about all the great products, services and events they offer.
Things are changing all the time in Aberdeen and she is super excited to see what the next chapter has in store!
Natasha's Shop Aberdeen retailer picks: Aberdeen Art Gallery, Juniper and Tiger Lily Boutique.
Follow @xnatashacalderMeet Sam Briones
Sam Briones (aka @stylingbee) is a proud 40+ new mama to baby Maggie. Sam was born and brought up in Aberdeen and has worked in various retail, hospitality, and oil and gas roles over the years.
Sam has a huge passion and love for fashion, merchandising and content creating. Over the last six years, her work as a Team Manager in the M&S Aberdeen store has seen her become an M&S Insider Brand Ambassador (aka @marksandspencer_sam). On this channel, Sam creates content showcasing all the things she loves from M&S.
Those who know Sam best know she is obsessed with taking a photo! She loves creating content and sharing things from her point of view.
In her spare time, Sam Ioves spending time with family, exploring Aberdeen, shopping and eating out. In this digital world we now live in, Sam still prefers engaging interaction while she shops - supporting local businesses means a lot to her and feels it is important we keep it alive.
Sam's Shop Aberdeen retailer picks: Attic and Edit
Follow @stylingbeeMeet Dej Ekundayo
Dej Ekundayo, or perhaps more commonly known as Wolf of Aberdeen, is a travel and lifestyle creator who’s all about sharing meaningful experiences through stories that feel real and relatable.
Whether he's working with trusted brands or capturing everyday moments, he knows how to connect with his audience in a way that’s both authentic and engaging.
His content blends adventure, creativity, and a genuine love for discovery, always with a personal touch. Music plays a big part in his world too; it's his go-to source of inspiration and a soundtrack to the journeys he shares. At the heart of it all, he’s about building connections, exploring new perspectives, and using creativity to bring people closer to the world around them.
Through his love of music, Dej is the co-founder of Raven AfriKulture and the Afro Indie Series. The art and music festival creates moments that connect, inspire, and change the way African culture is seen. The festivals aims to take Scottish communities deep into the world of African heritage.
Dej's Shop Aberdeen retailer picks: Edit and Kenny’s Music.
Follow @wolfofaberdeenMeet Laura McIntosh
Laura McIntosh (@_laura.lives) is all about finding the joy in the everyday. She is a passionate advocate for Aberdeen and all it has to offer, especially it's vibrant independent shops!
She loves discovering the unique character each local business brings to the city and takes pride in championing them whenever she can.
Laura loves exploring a beautifully curated store that is known for its unique gifts, and visiting shops in person to get that expert advice that fuels her love for Scotland’s natural beauty.
Whether she’s picking up the perfect present or planning her next adventure, Laura believes in the power of shopping local to strengthen the heart of the city.
Through the Shop Aberdeen campaign, she’s excited to help shine a spotlight on the businesses that make Aberdeen such a dynamic and inspiring place to live, explore, and support.
Laura's Shop Aberdeen retailer picks: Juniper and Craigdon Mountain Sports Aberdeen.
Follow @_laura.livesMeet Oxanna Cairns
Oxana Cairns is a fashion, beauty and lifestyle blogger featuring all things retail in Aberdeen and the Shire through her Instagram page @aberdeen.finds.
Aberdeen Finds was born when Oxana worked in retail and witnessed many customers asking about specific products they had viewed online but that had already been sold out or temporarily out-of-stock in store.
Oxana saw an untapped opportunity and thought it would be a fantastic idea to show people living in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire what was actually in the stores. And so we have @aberdeen.finds.
Oxana has always loved supporting local businesses and shops with them whenever she can. That's how #24daysoflocalbusinesses_aberdeen was created!
Nowadays, Oxana is a full-time mum who loves sharing her kids' finds online as well.
Oxana's Shop Aberdeen retailer picks: Annie Mo's and Style for your Shape.
Follow @aberdeen.finds