Vegan Fairs CIC - entering a new era!
Running Vegan Fairs has never been about making the big bucks. For me, running these events has always been my form of activism. My way of trying to make a little bit of difference in the world. I love being vegan but more than anything I love events. I love bringing people together. I love real life, in person experiences. And I love the trader community that has so effortlessly grown out of these events over the years.
Which brings me onto our exciting plans for the future. As of this week, I am excited to announce that Vegan Fairs is now a not for profit Community interest company.
I have been running Vegan Fairs and Markets since 2018. Being ethical and sustainable has always been at the heart of what we do. Switching to operating as a CIC will open the door to reduced fees with councils and the venues we work with, enable us to apply for funding/grants and make sure that any profits we do make can be re-invested back into the vegan business community.
Our events have always served as powerful catalysts for positive change, extending their impact far beyond dietary choices to influence local economies, community health, and environmental consciousness.
Our markets will continue to act as vibrant, social gathering spots, particularly for individuals who might feel isolated by their dietary or ethical choices.
And we will continue to help the development and growth of independent vegan businesses with marketing and promotion through our networks and events. Giving them a platform to showcase their brilliant innovative plant-based products.
Going forward we want to utilise our online platforms even more, to promote the businesses we work with by sharing their products, stories, and direct links to their online shops or next market appearance. We will continue to benefit the independent vegan business community by raising their profile and helping them to reach new audiences.
We already have a trader whatsapp community where businesses can chat with each other and ask for help/advice. We are planning on hosting a more formal monthly networking meet-up to allow vegan independent businesses to come together to share ideas, brainstorm problems and create a safe space where they feel supported and valued.
Something else we are also working on is creating an online information hub where independent businesses can access free resources to help them with all aspects of running a business. Including operations, health & safety, finances and marketing.
In the future we may also be able to offer more in-depth mentoring and coaching to businesses.
We are still in the very early stages (literally days) of being a Community Interest Company, and we’re sure there’s still a lot to learn. But we are excited to start this new chapter with you and would love to hear from anyone who has any help, advice or ideas for us.
For the moment we are a team of three - Julia, Jack and myself. However in the future, we may be looking for other experienced individuals to come onto an advisory board or as a non-executive director. So if this is something you might be interested in the future, please let us know.
I would like to thank all the traders we’ve worked with since 2018… we’ve worked with thousands of you. Thank you to all the venues and councils who have allowed us to put on our events. And finally thank you to the Vegan Fairs team, past and present. Without any of you, none of this would be possible.
- Daisy Botha, Vegan Fairs CIC Director