Housewares Business-to-business magazine for housewares retailers and their suppliers
Trade show Top Drawer and the Greeting Card Association are collaborating with JUST A CARD: an initiative encouraging consumers to support artisans, small businesses and independent shops and galleries.
JUST A CARD was founded by artist and designer Sarah Hamilton, who was inspired to take action when she heard the quote: “If everyone who’d complimented our beautiful gallery had bought ‘just a card’ we’d still be open”. The comment was made by a retail business which recently closed its gallery.
Sarah has now been joined by a team of volunteers, each with their own independent businesses, who campaign to share this message.
Sarah said: “Every day we’re told that our message is changing consumers’ buying habits. We are so passionate about this – and teaming up with Top Drawer gives us a fantastic opportunity to promote our cause directly to retailers and ensure we can make a difference. We all need to think about the positive consequences of our choices if we are to keep our towns and cities diverse.
“Our message to consumers is: don’t just say you support independent shops and businesses – actually do something. Buy just a card, a book, a gift… because, believe me, this makes all the difference.”
Top Drawer show director Alejandra Campos added: “We’re delighted to be supporting the JUST A CARD initiative. Our aim is to spread the word to our retail community. If we can increase consumer awareness by encouraging retailers to endorse and promote the initiative, it can make a huge difference to these businesses and, consequently, to the diversity of their town centres, which is in everyone’s interest.”
The campaign has gained support from Printed.com, which has donated window stickers that will be distributed to independent shops across the country to raise awareness. Retailers who would like to join the campaign can collect free JUST A CARD window stickers at the Spring/Summer 2018 edition of Top Drawer.
Organised by Clarion Events, Top Drawer takes place from January 14 to January 16 at Olympia in London.
To find out more visit www.topdrawer.co.uk and www.justacard.org
