If you attended Ready24, you might have spotted a couple of Big Issue vendors selling the latest magazine as you entered Sydney’s Royal Randwick.
Events like Ready are a great opportunity for vendors to earn some additional income, and we were lucky to have David and Rachel join us to have a chat to attendees about their journey selling The Big Issue.
It can be tough selling The Big Issue, and with foot-traffic in major cities yet to return to pre-covid levels, it’s even tougher these days.
Vendors are facing a 40% drop in sales, and with production and operating costs continuing to rise, lowering the wholesale cost of the magazine for vendors isn’t a viable option.
Above: “Everyone Deserves a Mailbox”, the wall of mailboxes containing stories from those who have experienced homelessness featured at the entrance of Ready24.
The Big Issue offers a way for people to earn a meaningful income when traditional employment pathways aren’t an option. Vendors buy the magazine for $4.50, and sell for $9, keeping the difference as their income.
Thanks to Ready24, and the 1,200 REA Group customers that came together from across the country, $400,000 was raised for organisations working to end homelessness, with $100,000 going direct to The Big Issue.
The donation went towards funding Vendor Week, which offers vendors two magazines for the price of one – putting twice the amount of earnings in their pockets throughout the campaign, which also highlights vendors across a range of channels, to raise the profile of The Big Issue and its vendors.
The Big Issue returns as a Community Partner for Ready25.
Learn more about The Big Issue and how you can get involved at thebigissue.org.au.