Xmas Cardies quick off the mark with a warm up for #Cardmitment campaign
Instagram is abuzz today, 27 October, with positive posts from independent greeting card retailers about the joys of shopping in independent shops.
They’ve all been galvanised into action in support of the first Shop Indie Day, a brainwave of Therese Ortenblad, of Small Business Collaborative, and Beck Prior, owner of Bristol’s Prior Shop, who felt compelled to do something “to make some noise for our nation’s indies”.
So, despite having only launched the Shop Indie Day idea a week and a half ago, today saw a hugely successful Instagram flashmob between 9am-10am with independent bricks-and-mortar shops and supporting publishers from all over the UK posting reels, images and messages celebrating what indies have to offer.
And, among those who have enthusiastically embraced the initiative seeing it as a perfect kickstart to their #Cardmitment campaign activities, are the Xmas Cardies, a growing WhatsApp group of 20-plus like-minded independent greetings retailers who are determined to ignite their customers’ passion for sending Christmas cards like never before.
“Being independent retailers means we all have our own ways of doing things,” Heidi Early, co-owner of Earlybird Designs in Stoke Newington and instigator of the Xmas Cardies What’sApp group, told PG Buzz, “but what’s wonderful is the feeling of togetherness, how by sharing ideas and joining forces in support of Shop Indie Day and #Cardmitment means we can get the message out there that the High Street isn’t dying and how there are real shops, run by real people, selling wonderful greeting cards and other products that customers can physically hold and enjoy buying,”
Earlybird’s engaging reel – which can be seen below – for Shop Indie Day reinforced the real treat of visiting the shop and, indeed, other indies in the vicinity, including “human interaction…no self-checkout here”.
The reel “reached over 500 accounts and had over 550 plays in the first hour alone, which is a record for us,” revealed Heidi. Other Xmas Cardies who blasted out a positive message this morning included Sally Matson from Red Card in Petworth, who said she’s “part of a thriving High Street that’s definitely alive – why not pop into your local town today and connect with small businesses”.
Among the many others busy spreading the love are Sean Austin, of Malvern’s Austin & Co, who banged the drum for #realShopkeepers in his post while Jo Barber at No.14 Ampthill used the catchy Scarlett Fever’s Let’s Go Shopping for a soundtrack with the message: “Here’s to all our fellow independents shops too, smashing it every day!” which can be seen below.
At Clitheroe’s Raffia owner Charlotte Eccles posted a quirky quickfire reel about how indies “smash it” while Paper Tiger’s Michael Apter brandished the GCA’s #Cardmitment poster up in Edinburgh, with the message that it only costs 75p to send a card from John O’Groats to Lands End. Our Handmade Collective in Horsforth, Leeds’ Chirpy Store, Paper Plane in Bristol, and Pencil Me In from Elgin, are among those who also posted.
Commenting on the widespread take up of Shop Indie Day, Therese told PG Buzz she was “overwhelmed by the support it has received,” and loves how it’s part of the whole #Cardmitment campaign.
“Independent shops, villages, towns and cities make the places we live and spend time more vibrant and more enjoyable,” said Therese who hopes that the activity will encourage those in our communities to ‘shop indie’ this Christmas.
Next week sees the Xmas Cardies kick off their respective #Cardmitment activities. Any independent greeting card retailer keen to join the group is most welcome, just email Heidi at Earlybird on heidi@earlybirddesigns.co.uk
