Unique partnership funds national vendor uniform

Monday 19th of July 2010

The Big Issue has teamed up with fairtrade wine brand, Fairhills, in a unique partnership which will see Big Issue sellers across the country wearing identical co-branded, waterproof jackets for the very first time.  

The jackets were designed with the aim of making legitimate magazine sellers easily identifiable to the public, a move welcomed by police forces and local authorities. In addition they will provide protection against the elements and reduce vendors' vulnerability to attack. The jackets include a pocket for their official badge and will feature the Fairhills logo.

By increasing Big Issue sellers’ visibility it is hoped that members of the public will feel more confident about approaching vendors, thereby increasing their earning potential. The partnership between Fairhills and The Big Issue has

Fairhills is delighted to be working with a company that reflects its ideals around fair pay and fair working conditions. Bernard Fontannaz, the founder of Fairhills, says, “We are delighted to team up with Big Issue on this project. Across South Africa, Argentina and Chile, Fairhills focuses on the people and the community involved in the supply chain, helping to create a fairer and more sustainable way to do business.  A big part of our work also involves working with alcohol abusers in the Cape to great success – we are soon opening the Fairhills Alcohol Treatment Centre.  Our involvement with the Big Issue is based on the same principles of fairness and rehabilitation – and allows us to do this in the UK where we don’t produce wine but we can still help to make a huge difference.”

John Bird, the founder of The Big Issue, says "We are enormously grateful to Fairhills for enabling us to produce a national uniform for our 3,200 vendors across the UK. It is hoped the jackets will not only provide protection against the elements but will also increase the visibility of our vendors, and make them more approachable to the public - hence ultimately helping vendors to sell more magazines. In sponsoring these jackets Fairhills have improved vendor safety and increased their potential earning power."

Bryan Rowe, 50, has been a Big Issue vendor for eight years.  He said of his new uniform, “I’m delighted with it!  It’s brightly-coloured and has given me a new identity which is great.  I think it will help me to sell even more magazines now.  If I hadn’t started working with The Big Issue, I’d probably be in prison now – it’s saved my life.”

To read more about the scheme visit the fairhills blog - click here