The Big Issue has launched a creative campaign calling on the public to take on the challenge of selling its magazine subscriptions to help vendors while they are unable to work on their pitches during the pandemic.
The magazine has asked the public to join an army of ‘Associate Big Issue Sellers’ to participate in the Sell A Sub Challenge and sell three subscriptions of the magazine to three members of family or friends in seven days.
The Big Issue put out a call for its existing subscribers, supporters of the magazine as well as people who have been furloughed or are working from home to volunteer their time to take on the challenge.
The first magazine that people will be tasked to sell subscriptions of is its latest edition showcasing ‘Covid-crusaders’ around the country and their good deeds.
The magazine has created an information pack containing social media graphics and suggested advertising text to help new sellers get started.
The publication says 50 per cent of the net proceeds will go directly to supporting vendors and the other half will support The Big Issue to maintain the organisation today and in the future.
Editor of The Big Issue, Paul McNamee, said: “It is a brilliant new initiative. This terrible time has impacted on every single person and on every aspect of our lives. At The Big Issue we have had to be fleet-footed and focused in our response. We needed to make sure we could get money to get to our vendors. The staff have been remarkable. The Big Issue team has done so much to grow subscriptions, shop sales and our app.
“Always, our vendors are central in our heads and our hearts. This initiative keeps them there. I call on everybody to support it.”
At the start of lockdown the magazine took the decision to protect its street vendors and stopped selling magazines on the streets, with The Big Issue being sold in supermarkets for the first time in its history.
Big Issue vendors have also been receiving support from The Times through its coronavirus charity reader appeal which has raised £1m to be shared between The Big Issue Foundation and a second charity, Family Action.
Find out how to sign up at bigissue.com/latest/sellasub.
