Applications call as sponsor boosts Just A Card online event – and join in Shop Indie Day
An official sponsor has stepped up for Just A Card’s Christmas Fair meaning the event can be stretched to two weeks – so new applications are invited.
And there’s also a separate Shop Indie Day social media event this Friday, 27 October, where Small Business Collaborative is out to celebrate independent bricks-and mortar shops across the UK by posting reels on Instagram.
Thanks to www.link.store, Just A Card’s fair will now run from 20 November through to 4 December, and the applications deadline is 31 October for the limited number of slots in the online market shopping event for artists, makers, indie shops and small businesses to showcase their work and increase visibility.
The fair runs alongside the famous Just A Card Indie Week, 20-24 November, which is in its seventh year of being a colourful independent alternative to Black Friday – last year nearly 60,000 people got involved.
“It’s an antidote to the fast-purchase culture of Black Friday,” explained Sarah Hamilton, who founded the grassroots Just A Card campaign after hearing an indie shop plead that buying “just a card” would have stopped them from closing.
“It’s your chance to shine, your opportunity to celebrate and share your work, stories and communities, both on social media and in the wider world. During these challenging times the more we use our collective voice to raise awareness of how incredible independents are, the more everyone will benefit.”
Just A Card has again partnered with Handmade Hour for the second edition on the online Christmas Fair as a dedicated space to buy from independents, along with new sponsor www.link.store which offers indies the chance for branded links to build a memorable brand name.
As part of Indie Week, indies are encouraged to join in the 5 Day Instagram Challenge and download and display the resources, including posters, online sale inserts, and web button, which are available from the Just A Card shop to spread the shop independent message.
On Friday – which is payday for many as it’s the last one of the month – Shop Indie Day is being organised by Therese Ortenblad of Small Business Collaborative, which aims to help companies build profitable brands through wholesale, and Beck Prior, of non-profit creative arts hub and eco-conscious retailer Prior Shop.
“Use our joint reach to make some noise for independent shops this October payday,” Therese said. “If we can get 50-100 businesses to join in, we may reach 250,000-500,000 people!
“It’s to celebrate our wonderful independent brick-and-mortar retailers around the country who, with their curated range of products, help bring our communities to life, create a meeting point where we can be inspired, and find hidden treasures.
“They are the future of our High Streets, a source of creativity, and the key to keeping our villages, towns and cities vibrant. Together, we can support them, for if we don’t, we risk losing these beloved gems that make our communities truly special.”
Therese and Beck want people to post their reels to Instagram between 9am and 10am on Friday, 27 October, using the hashtag #shopindieday and invitation @shopindieday and the stickers supplied by greetings publisher Grace Jackson Design.
The stickers, and suggestions and advice for creating reels and scripts to join in the Instagram flashmob are available here.
