Do you want to be part of a huge campaign to support craft and handmade? Of course you do! Sarah Hamilton started the JUST A CARD campaign to support artists, designers and makers, and show people that each and every sale matters, no matter how small, because when you buy from an independent maker, you’re helping them do what they love. In this letter she explains why she would love you to join the campaign, and how you can take part in Just A Card Week which runs from 18-22 June 2018.
A letter from Sarah Hamilton about Just A Card
Dear Folksy Sellers,
Have you heard of the JUST A CARD campaign? It aims to encourage people to support and buy from artists, designers, makers and independents, and to raise awareness of how much skill and passion it takes to create something handmade. It’s run by a team of volunteer makers and small business owners just like you.
My name is Sarah Hamilton and I’m an artist and designer. I set up the campaign three years ago to help people appreciate just how significant every sale – even something as small as a handmade card – is to designers, crafters and makers, so the purchaser gets something extra special, while also enabling creative people to continue to do what they love.
We should all work together to shout from the rooftops about just how much skill, talent, passion and love goes into creating something unique, individual and precious.
Artists and makers are notoriously shy when it comes to promoting and selling their work – making is always the best part, yet bills need to be paid. They often feel nervous about using social media too, so the wider community seldom hear the stories of artists and makers – they’re simply not told often or loudly enough. We at team JUST A CARD think that needs to change. We should all work together to shout from the rooftops about just how much skill, talent, passion and love goes into creating something unique, individual and precious.
How you can join the Just a Card campaign
I’d urge you to join our campaign to help spread the word! Take a look at our website, follow us on social media and join in with the various events we run (mostly online), as and when you feel inclined. Do sign up to our newsletter and read our blog – makers, shops owners and specialists often share tips, advice and experiences which we can all learn from. JUST A CARD is for and about you. You can dip in as and when you like – there’s no rules, no joining fee – all we ask is that you spread the word so more people appreciate the simple message.
Makers are often feel nervous about using social media, so the wider community seldom hear the stories of artists and makers – they’re simply not told often or loudly enough.
Our campaign inspires people to feel part of a community, and makers love our super popular Twitter Hour too – every Thursday at 8pm, run by gallery owner Michael Fram from The Leaping Hare Gallery and Framers in Yorkshire. The Hour is for chats, sharing experiences and community – it’s not solely about promotion.
Just a Card Week
As luck would have it, we are planning a big event next week, our biggest ever in fact – JUST A CARD WEEK. The perfect time for you to get involved. There’s a five-day Instagram Challenge, where you can share your story, your work and makers you love. We’re also running a series of social media tutorials aimed specially at artists and makers who are ambivalent about social media. If you often feel you’d love to know more about social media, yet it makes you nervous, I’d thoroughly recommend you visit to our blog and our daily tutorials – they’re especially for makers like you.
There’s a five-day Instagram Challenge, where you can share your story, your work and makers you love. We’re also running a series of social media tutorials aimed specially at artists and makers who are ambivalent about social media.
If you want to take part, follow me @sarahhamiltonprints and Emily Quinton @EmilyQuinton on Instagram, as that’s where we’ll be running the social media tutorials. Don’t let social media intimidate you – it’s so vital and we’re here to help!
We’d love you to join the JUST A CARD WEEK fun. We’re so excited about sharing and promoting our wonderful creative community and everyone is welcome.
We also have a poster that you can download from our website for free and display at craft fairs and events, which reiterates the message that buying something small is so appreciated. Many makers report that the posters are great at stimulating conversation and sales. You can also put our logo on your website – it’s becoming increasingly recognisable as a prompt to remind people how precious handmade artwork is – again the wider public are saying that when they see it they are reminded as well.
Every sale counts – no matter how small
We all care so passionately about creativity – it’s so important to stress that all purchases, however small, even something as simple as just a card, are crucial to artists and makers. The campaign is called JUST A CARD as it came about when I read this quote by a gallery owner who’d recently closed their doors: “If everyone who’d complimented our beautiful gallery had bought ‘just a card’ we’d still be open.” Makes you think doesn’t it? Just a card, just a book, just a gift, just a pin – that’s all it takes. There’s a huge groundswell of support for our message – there are even window stickers popping up in shops all around the country. Maybe you’ve even spotted one?!
Just a card, just a book, just a gift, just a pin – that’s all it takes.
We’d love you to be part of the campaign, and also join in for JUST A CARD week. Don’t be shy – we’re a very friendly bunch!
Thanks so much to Folksy for giving us the opportunity to spread the JUST A CARD message, so we can make a huge difference to the future of independents.
With Very Best Wishes,
Sarah Hamilton and Team Just a Card
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Please join us on Twitter @justacard1 and on Instagram @justacard. You can follow me @sarahhamiltonprints and Emily Quinton @EmilyQuinton on Instagram too. That’s where we’ll be running the social media tutorials as part of Just A Card Week – see you there!
