Holly’s campaign for UK independents
JOIN OUR #CAMPAIGNSHOPINDEPENDENT
Back in 2017, we started campaigning to shine a light on small businesses and all they do for our economy, communities and the planet. These aren’t just people driving commerce. They are committed citizens making the world a better place and if we don’t want to see them disappear, they need our support. So how do we campaign? There are many ways…
Supporting female founders for life
TAKING ACTION FOR A MORE EQUAL SOCIETY
Many people aren’t aware that women-led small businesses contribute £105 billion to the UK economy a year, and are changing the way we work. These bright, brave, brilliant women are quietly pioneering a new kind of entrepreneurship — one where business takes care of more than just 1% of society. Since 2018, we’ve campaigned annually to help show what what a female founder looks like, what we bring to the table and what could be achieved if we came together to support them.
Celebrating Colour Friday
A HAPPIER ALTERNATIVE TO BLACK FRIDAY
We know Christmas is make or break for many small businesses. We also know that Black Friday can be a bit of a bunfight where people buy throwaway items that often end up in landfill. So in 2020, we invented Colour Friday — a way to sing from the rooftops about the colour this community brings to the UK, and together with independent businesses, encourage everyone to buy handmade finds from them instead. Want to bring joy and support small with us?
What is Shop Independent Day?
FLYING THE FLAG FOR SMALL BUSINESSES
Since 2017, we’ve been fighting to save our high streets and stop home towns becoming clone towns. So we introduced Shop Independent Day as a way for us to galvanise this incredible community, share free campaign kits, raise awareness, lobby parliament, fly our flags — whatever we can to get the word out there and get people shopping local. This has now become a year-round activity where we tour the UK, shout from the rooftops and commission artwork from UK artists.
Why we commission special campaign artwork
RECOGNISE THESE UK ARTISTS?
We asked 1,000 small businesses from across the UK to share the truth about running a small business and 96% expressed the need for more visibility. That's why we collaborate with recognisable UK artists, from Rebecca Strickson to Dave Buonaguidi, and commission them to create standout artwork for us that makes sure small businesses don't go unnoticed. Here are some favourites…
Highlight moments
Campaign shop independent
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