Launching the East End Trades Guild's Independents' Day Initiative

In less than two weeks the East End Trades Guild (EETG) is open for friends and members to create the critical mass we need to launch Independents' Day! Similar to Record Store Day the aim is to champion the kaleidoscopic diversity of all the small independent businesses that give the East End its distinctive identity on Small Business Saturday, 3rd December 2016.

The discerning customer knows that it's a personal touch and meaningful interaction, enhanced expertise and craftsmanship that all make for a uniquely creative and authentic end product. Small independents employ local people, pay their taxes, and are rooted in the social fabric of our neighbourhoods. Many of them take on social and community responsibilities to support local residents.

So the EETG have teamed up with Herb Lester and James Brown to make a map of the small businesses based in East London that pledge their advanced membership dues via their IndieGoGo campaign set to launch on the 6^th June. Their handsome map will direct the public to curated events and walking tours of studios, machine rooms, shops floors, cafes and pubs on Independents’ Day. Participating businesses across all sectors will be featured to make sure the world knows where to spend their money - where it counts the most - on East End Independents' Day and forever! 

If you don't have a business you can now be involved as a Friend of the East End Trades Guild, or show your support by snapping up one of their uniquely special perks, lovingly made by some of some of their favourite members. There’s some genuine treasures to get your hands on! Here's just a few:

• Tatty Devine are making some beautiful wooden badges emblazoned with their logo, especially for their Friends, and they’re providing the EETG with places on their necklace making workshops.

• Ally Capellino has bequeathed one of their stylish bags.

• They have exquisite tea and cake from Lily Vanilli, and a cake making tutorial for our premium perks offer.

• There’s £100 to spend in the gorgeous Milagros Mexicana shop and gallery.

• Nelly Duff has given us a print from world famous punk illustrator Mr Bingo.

• The Duke of Uke is teaching lucky backers how to play the Ukulele.

• Café Caribbean are providing some of their delicious dinners.

• Spitalfields City Farm is offering up some delights as yet to be revealed. 

• Baddeley brothers have gifted a number of their historic Baddeley Brothers books.

• An account by the Gentle Author, who has kindly bestowed signed copies of The London Album, .... and many more!

The East End Trades Guild launched in 2012 and volunteer members have achieved a great deal on a shoe string since then. Now the East End Trades Guild needs your help to pay for a member of staff to work with businesses to deliver their Independents' Day initiative.

Founding organiser and active volunteer member, Krissie Nicolson is an RSA Fellow. Krissie recently worked with local artist Lucinda Rogers to compose an open letter of objection to Boris Johnson regarding the proposed Hammerson & Ballymore plans for Bishopsgate Goodsyard. Together with founding member Paul Gardner from Gardners' Bags they compiled a list of over 140 local business signatories.  

Krissie also played a key role in organising an Ideas Workshop on March 18th with the aim of developing solutions to the loss of industrial land to unaffordable housing developments. Experts including Turner Prize winners Assemble gathered at the Urban Innovation Centre. Industrial areas are the natural habitat for 22% of London's small businesses. These solutions are currently being distilled and refined together with the Just Space Economy & Planning group and the Open Workshop Network. 

In addition - she has worked with local legal firm Dowse & Co to provide a commercial property law workshop with the aim of empowering small business owners to confidently negotiate with their landlords. 

Get in touch with Krissie via her MyRSA profile, or pledge to donate to the campaign once it has opened on 6th June.

To find out how you can be involved with East End Independents’ Day make sure you sign up to their newsletter!