Business Cards
Business cards are a relatively cheap way of promoting your community. Get them printed by a local printer or an online printer such as Vistaprint. A generic Freegle business card is available on Posters, fliers, cards in two sizes. If you want a different size or a design specific to your community, email graphics@ilovefreegle.org and ask.
If you'd like a supply of Freegle cards, email media@ilovefreegle.org and, stocks permitting, some will be sent to you free of charge. Or order some via ModTools on the Publicity tab.
Since 2017, when someone posts a TAKEN/RECEIVED on Freegle Direct they may be asked whether they'd like some Freegle business cards to hand out.
Places volunteers have found that cards can be left on the High Street
- Cafes
- Cinemas
- Friendly retailers (usually those with green aspirations) who'll agree to hand them out
- Supermarkets: ask local managers, who will often allow you to spend a day giving out cards and talking to customers, or to put up a banner or posters near the entrance; staff rooms are useful too
- Corner shops and newsagents
- Estate agents
- Repair stores
- Takeaways - one local chip shop keeps a stack on the counter; another local moderator persuaded a takeaway's delivery driver to carry business cards on their rounds
- Charity shops - suggest they hand cards to people who offer electrical or other items they can't take in-store
- Chemists
- Carpet shops - they generate lots of waste such as offcuts, wrapping and tubes
- Churches, synagogues and other places of worship, which often run outreach projects and are happy to distribute cards
- Pubs and clubs
- Train stations
- Doctors' and dentists' surgeries
- By skips and bins (be selective with this one)
- Bus shelters
- Shopping centres
Places in the community that may hand out cards for you
- Citizens Advice
- Housing advice services
- Community venues and halls
- Customer services at town halls, council premises, removal companies and funeral directors
- Universities
- Parish halls
- MPs' offices
- Housing Associations
- Housing estate offices
- Tradesmen
- Unemployment and other social help centres
- The local tip
- Green fairs
- Libraries - ask for the head librarian, and many will take a supply for each branch
- Car boot sellers, especially those selling for charity
- Building site offices, or even the show house
- Schools and scout groups, to give to children for their parents
Places to display business cards or postcards
- Noticeboards (cafes, charity shops, food shops, anywhere)
- Schools
- Nurseries
- Hospitals
- Sports centres
- Cafes
Suggest to members (and do it yourself)
- Always carry some with you.
- Leave them on bus or train seats, or hand them out during your journey.
- Give a few to people who collect freegled items from you.
- Include one in eBay or other parcels you send out.
- Leave one as a bookmark in a book you return or bookcross.
- Leave some in your work canteen or break room.
- Give one to anyone who comes to the door trying to sell you something.
- Post them through doors of houses where stuff has been dumped in the front garden.
- Offer them on your community in batches of ten, then post them out to members who ask. A suggested message:
"OFFER: Freegle Business Cards - can you help promote Freegle? Send your address and I'll post you a dozen business cards. As well as giving them to family, friends and colleagues, you could put one in any letters or parcels you post, leave them as a bookmark when you return library books, ask your favourite shop, cafe or pub to put them on the counter, or put them through doors of houses where stuff has been dumped in front gardens."
For a suggestion on how best to post cards to your members, see Sending Business Cards.
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