We are excited to be taking part in Shop Independent Day on Saturday the 25th of June as part of #CampaignShopIndependent! This exciting campaign was started by Holly Tucker of Holly & Co to celebrate all things small business. This special day marks exactly 6 months until Christmas - one of the biggest shopping events worldwide for big and small businesses alike. To celebrate this incredible day & to share some small biz love, we're offering 1 of our customers the chance to win their entire shop for FREE. Keep reading to learn more...
Did you know that if we each bought just 1 Christmas gift from an independent business, we would relocate over £2.7 billion to our local communities! We think this is a fantastic way to keep our colourful, independent high streets alive. During the pandemic, we saw a huge increase in people supporting small and independent businesses, but with Christmas steadily drawing closer, many people have seen this support fade. As exciting as the festive period is for small business owners, it can also come with a lot of worries. Independent businesses are not able to compete with the huge discounts and deals on offer from large conglomerates, meaning many shoppers go elsewhere for their gift shopping. If you love what a small business does, show them that you support them!
"We’re on a mission to encourage everyone to vote with their money and shop independent. Small businesses are the lifeblood of the UK economy, with small and medium-sized enterprises making up 99.9% of all private sector businesses in the UK, and, after one of the toughest years in recent history, now more than ever small needs our support. We’re spearheading a movement, calling on consumers to understand the value of their pound and where they spend it. Encouraging everyone to vote with their money for the kind of world they want to live in."
- Holly Tucker MBE
Here's just some ways that you can support your local independent businesses and get involved with Campaign Shop Independent;
- Visit local businesses
We think the best way to discover new independent shops is to simply have a wander around your town or high street, pop in and have a chat! As small businesses, we love to talk to you about what we do, so don't be afraid to have a browse and ask us questions. Another great way to discover independent retailers is through social media, local business directories or by asking other local businesses you already know.
- Share small businesses you love with friends and family
Small businesses usually don't have big budgets for advertising, which means we rely on word of mouth recommendations. If you love a local independent retailer, be sure to share them with your friends and family! To do so you could share the businesses you love on social media, like and engage with the posts they make or write them a fabulous review. Buying and giving vouchers as gifts is also a great way to help spread the love, as it means new customers will discover your favourite store too.
- Make the swap to small where possible
Maybe there's a local bakery you've always wanted to try out, or you're all out of cleaning products and a new zero waste shop has opened nearby, or maybe you're simply shopping for a birthday present. Whatever the occasion, try and shift your shopping habits a little and spend more time looking into the independent retailers that are local to you instead of opting for the usual big retailers.
So, what are we doing to celebrate? One lucky customer will win their order for free on Saturday 25th June as our way of saying thank you for choosing to shop small. Simply place an order as normal on our website on Saturday 25th June and we'll take care of the rest. We will pick one winner at random to refund the cost of their shop. The winner will be contact directly on the 26th June and will receive a full refund for their shop. This is a great opportunity to get some early Christmas shopping done or just to treat yourself!
We want to thank each and every one of our customers who have chosen to support independent by shopping with us. We think you are all fantastic and the change you have made by choosing an independent business over a chain is very real and very humbling. As a small business, we care immensely about everything we do, everyone we work with and the impact we are having on local communities all over the world. So thank you for helping us make the world a more unique, colourful and ethical place! Be sure to support Shop Independent Day this Saturday 25th June and share the small business love.
Illustration by Rebecca Strickson
*Please note, giveaway is only valid on online orders made between 00:00 & 24:00 GMT on 25th June. 1 winner will be selected at random. We will refund the winner the cost of their shop.*