This phrase is poignant with many small business owners after it triggered a campaign adequately named ‘Just a Card’ when a card gallery closed down with just the following message left on the door by the business owner.

Artist & designer, Sarah Hamilton, was passing the closed down shop and saw the quote:

“If everyone who’d complimented our beautiful gallery had bought ‘just a card‘ we’d still be open”

As a designer herself, she thought ‘enough is enough!’ and she decided to fight back and created the ‘Just a Card’ campaign.

The campaign is aimed to promote small shops and artists and to get the campaign in front of customers so they can try and make an effort to buy just a card, just a gift, just a coffee, just a bouquet. If everyone did this our high streets would thrive and be alive with activity and small business owners will do a little happy dance, as each little sale will help to keep their shop open, put food on their table, a roof over their head and buy their child that little gift

These shops are at the heart of a diverse local economy – they showcase creativity and keep many a Designer/Maker in business and often champion their artists for years. They generate tourist traffic and make our towns and villages interesting places we want to visit and enjoy.

As an example, if we look at the number of our facebook followers (currently standing at 3,039), which we receive many great comments and appreciation for our products, If half of those followers (1,519) each month came to the shop and purchased one of our Sarah Keheller cards (£2.50) it would give us a turnover of £3,797.50 each month from just buying a card.  Granted that is not profit but something as small as that would not only keep our shop open, but, also keep a designer trading too from half of our followers buying a card each month.

If we take that a step further, if half of our followers purchased a bunch of £20 flowers and a Birthday, thank you or congratulations card etc then that monthly figure would become £34,177.5!  That would not only keep our shop open but it would put food on our table, allow us to buy toys for our little boy and employ local staff which can also do the same for them.

So next time you need a card or gift or meeting a friend for a coffee then please give a thought to the small independent shops like ours, pay them a visit and keep the high street alive and that one card is all it takes to keep a local independent shop open.

For more information on the ‘just a card’ campaign please visit their website and support the campaign and independent shops before the high street disappears.

“Supporting local businesses is crucial if we want to keep our High Streets alive and buzzing with independent, exciting and creative shops. Don’t just talk about it – do something about it – shop local and make a real difference.”

— PATRICIA VAN DEN AKKER, THE DESIGN TRUST