The Wedge Card Shop Local East London Week will be launched on 4th December at Art Vinyl on Broadway Market. Celebrating its first anniversary and its 500th business sign-up, Wedge Card founder Diana Bird said, “Over the past year it’s become clear that Hackney residents are leading the way in supporting their local shops and communities: more than 100 of the businesses already signed up to Wedge across London are in the borough. That’s why it’s the perfect area to launch our Shop Local London campaign.”
The Wedge Card, launched in December 2006, gives exclusive discounts and offers at local, independent shops, restaurants and businesses across London. The 500th business to join the scheme is Victoria Park Books in Victoria Park Village, which will be offering Wedge Card holders 10% discounts on £10 spent.
Wedge Card, which also supports local charities, will campaign to raise awareness of the vital role that local, independent shops play in communities across the UK. It will roll out across the rest of the city leading up to Shop Local London Day in June 2008. The Shop Local Challenge is being supported by The Big Issue, welovelocal.com and Sanctuary Hereward.
Wedge Card representatives will be giving temporary Wedge Cards in return for taking up the challenge to use local independent shops for one week.
Bird continues: “With small shops struggling to survive against the onslaught of the big supermarkets, Wedge is a powerful force to promote the diversity and quality that local high street shops offer. Hackney is a fantastic embodiment of the Shop Local ethos – it’s no coincidence that it’s the only borough in inner London without a Starbucks!”
Wedge Cards cost £10 for one year, and for the month of December £5 from every Wedge Card bought online will go to Hackney City Farm.