Map of Social Firms participating in the 'Just Buy' campaign
The launch of the ‘Just Buy’ campaign last month by Social Firms UK invited consumers to buy on a regular basis from their local social firms.
The campaign so inspired social enterprise advisor Bob Northey, director of Social Traders, that he offered his services in order to create a new Google map using the latest mapping tools provided by the popular internet search giant.
The map is being launched today by Social Traders in partnership with Social Firms UK and can be found on the internet at www.tinyurl.com/justbuymap hosted by Google.
Social Traders provide marketing solutions for social enterprises, including social firms, and specialise in internet promotions using social media.
The online map provides details of more than 140 social firms participating in the ‘Just Buy’ campaign and registered with Social Firms UK.
Social firms are businesses that trade for social or environmental purposes, reinvesting their profits back into the company, but most importantly they also create valuable employment opportunities for many hundreds of people with disabilities. Social firms run coffee shops, laundrettes, mail and packing services, horticultural services and a host of other trading activities across the UK from Cornwall to the Orkneys.
The ‘Just Buy’ campaign is encouraging everyone to support their local social firms by becoming regular customers. The new interactive map not only locates each social firm, but offers internet users the chance to zoom in, using either the map or satellite view, and where available access the amazing 360° street view.
Bob Northey said: ‘Now that most people have access to the internet at home, at their local library or even on their smart phones, access to Google maps is literally at our fingertips. I want to encourage internet users to use the Social Firms map to find their nearest social firms and become regular customers and so help these social enterprises to become truly sustainable.
'The map that also has links to each social firm’s website will be a valuable resource for schools and colleges enabling students learning about social enterprise to identify social firms in their local communities and regions.’
Social Firms UK CEO Sally Reynolds said: ‘We are very excited about the "Just Buy" campaign and very much welcome the new map created by Bob Northey of Social Traders. I hope that all our customers who use the new Google map will let sales staff know when visiting their local social firm.'
The launch of the map today compliments the information about every social firm and more details of the ‘Just Buy’ campaign found on our main website at www.socialfirmsuk.co.uk
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