The first ever Just a Card Week will take place June 18 – 22. The new event is a celebration of independent shop owners, designers/makers, artists, small business owners and everyone passionate about creative businesses. The week-long campaign is spearheaded by Just a Card pioneer Sarah Hamilton (supported by the Just a Card support team which includes GCA, PG, Cardgains and Top Drawer) encourages people to support independent businesses.
As Sarah reminded an enthralled audiences at the recent GCA AGM her inspiration behind Just a Card, which she started three years ago was when she “read a quote by gallery owners who’d been forced to close: ‘If everyone who’d complimented our beautiful gallery had bought ‘just a card’ we’d still be open’. The powerful message, that every sale however small is vital to independents, is working. The aim of Just a Card week is to build on this success – the more word spreads the more businesses will flourish.”
Thousands of artists, designers, makers, museum and gallery owners and curators have already put up Just a Card posters and take part in social media events. Just a Card’s alternative to Black Friday – Indie Friday – made such an impact last November that it featured on BBC Radio.
Creating a Just a Card Week gives a special focus to the campaign. During the Just a Card week retailers, artists, designers and makers are being encouraged to share their stories on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and in their shops and work places too. They are asked to emphasise how and why it is so important to support not only them but others as well.
Just a Card is running various initiatives to help small businesses during the week, including no-nonsense Social Media tutorials with expert Emily Quinton from Makelight. There will also be a five day Instagram Challenge and a giveaway, with prizes, including business mentoring by The Design Trust. The aim is to reach an even wider audience ahead of Indie Friday and Christmas, so even more people will be encouraged to shop small and support and value independents.
As revealed in PG Buzz a few weeks ago, independent buying group Cardgains has pledged its support to Just a Card by agreeing to help distribute window stickers free of charge to its retail members.
- A special Just a Card ‘pin’ has been developed and cost £10.00 each (plus p&p) to help with campaign running costs. Please order from justacard.org
- Free shop window stickers (thanks to Cardgains, GCA and Top Drawer) are available by sending an A4 SAE with a large letter stamp to: The Leaping Hare Gallery & Framers, Easingwold, Yorkshire, YO61 3AE
