Today is the 4th anniversary of our awesome project Independent Oxford! We set up Indie Oxford in 2015 to support and promote independent businesses in Oxford and the surrounding county. It started as a side project born out of a passion to celebrate local indies and to give them a platform to promote themselves, and support each other. Four years on, we now work with over 110 indies across the county from Thame to Faringdon as well as indies in Oxford.
We launched the website at an awesome evening at The Annie Sloan Shop with a great pop up market from a selection of indies who joined us at the start.
We’ve always worked hard to offer our members opportunities to market and sell their goods, whether that’s getting to know them through business interviews on our blog, or creating events and space to showcase their businesses. We’ve held pop up markets, Christmas Markets, and our awesome Indie Oxford Market Place in The Covered Market for Christmas 2018.
As well as helping to raise the profile of indies, we are also passionate about creating an indie community where we can offer support and knowledge, and create an environment where indies can encourage each other and work together to offer unique and exceptional products and services.
Our monthly meet ups offer indies a space to connect with other businesses, and acquire knowledge from our expert speakers on subjects such as social media and marketing, as well as negotiation skills and GDPR.
It doesn’t stop there! We’re working with local indie Business Services to offer expertise to our members, and hold workshops like Thursday’s Brand Voice Workshop to offer affordable business knowledge and skills to local businesses.
The Future’s Bright!
Despite challenging times on the High Street, we’re working tirelessly to ensure there is a future for indies in our towns and cities by working with Oxford City Council, local stakeholders, and Town Councils, to create inviting spaces for our communities, and affordable retail spaces for small local businesses.
Our little passion project has grown into a fantastic platform for indies, and we’re looking forward to working on more diverse ventures this year and beyond to promote and support the awesome businesses that make our communities unique, colourful and a better place to live.
If you have any questions, or would like to get involved with Independent Oxford, please do drop us an email.
Love, Rosie & Anna
xxx
