Independent Oxford: The story so far…

January is always a good time to pause and reflect on what you have achieved, what went well and what you’d like to have more of in the year ahead. With that in mind, I thought we’d take a little trip down the years of Indie Oxford, what it is, how it came to be and why it is more important now than ever. Enjoy! >>

What is Independent Oxford?

Independent Oxford supports and promotes indies businesses in Oxfordshire. It plays a crucial role in fighting for a vibrant and resilient local economy in Oxfordshire by serving as a dedicated membership community for independent businesses.

Who, why, when?

Independent Oxford was set up in 2015 by me, Rosie Jacobs, and Anna Munday as a space for indie businesses in the county to find peer support and to create a collective voice for the indie community to promote the benefits of buying local. The thought being that the more people we can encourage to buy indie and local, rather than from big chains, and see the value (and joy!) in supporting and exploring local, the better that is for all indies and our local economy, which benefits everyone.

Independent Oxford in numbers –

165 members

9 years old!

20 meet ups and events in 2023

30 hours of 1:1 support provided in 2023

Growing a community of brilliant indies over the last 9 years as been an absolute joy and a privilege. I am so humbled by the incredible hard work and resilience of the amazing small businesses in our community, and how in the most testing circumstances they still show up with a smile on their face and create unique spaces and products that make our towns, city and communities richer for their presence. When Anna and I first explored the idea of creating a community for indies, it was something that we felt we needed for our own businesses and reached out to other indies who felt the same way. It can be lonely and isolating running a business, so having a peer group to share the highs and lows is really crucial to the sustainability of a business and just being able to keep on keeping on. Having spent time exploring networking opportunities, we struggled to find a group that had the community values, vision and vibe that we wanted, so went about setting up monthly meet ups for indies in the spring of 2015. From there we created a website so locals, visitors and students could discover great indies too. The website and blog went from strength to strength and garners a huge following of indie lovers eager to find brilliant businesses, get to know the people behind their favourite indies and read the latest events and news from the indie community. This has created a platform for indies to raise the profile of their business as well as benefit from a supportive and friendly community.

We have had some really proud moments over the years from creating the Indie Oxford Compendium with Bitten Oxford in 2017, to launching our hugely successful Market Place in The Covered Market in 2019, showcasing a awesome indies from across the county.

During 2020 we worked nonstop to provide online support for indies to stay connected and share knowledge and skills to sell and reach customers online, including a 4 hour live shopping channel on the Indie Oxford Facebook page!

Anna stepped aside in 2021 to focus on other projects but is still a great ambassador for the community and the power of a collective indie voice in Oxfordshire.

I have always embraced opportunities to highlight the importance of local businesses and the local economy, including speaking at TedxOxford in 2021, working with local radio stations to create indie segments, collaborating with local and national stakeholders to produce local business campaigns, advocating for local businesses on council steering boards and task forces, and writing for the national Grimsey review looking into support for independent businesses and networks that support them.

Post pandemic, I craved analogue media after months and months of zoom calls and everything being online, so decided to create the Indie Oxford Magazine as a space for indies to share stories from the shop floor or studio, and for indie supporters to find out more about indie life and tales from their community, offline. We have now produced 6 issues of the magazine and printed over 14,000 copies.

Next year Indie Oxford will be TEN (!) and I am so delighted with how the community as evolved and flourished over that time. I think it’s very important that the group grows organically, and that indies only join that align with the values of Indie Oxford, namely that they are passionate about creating a positive impact to the local economy and community, and appreciate the value of collaboration and collective support.

I run Indie Oxford because I know firsthand how important it is to have a group of like minded business owners around you to be able to get through the hard times. They understand the challenges and possibilities for problem solving in a way that friends and family don’t. Secondly I believe that having a collective voice is so important for making sure indies get heard on a county and even national level. Indie Oxford is the go-to place for local and national stakeholders and press to interface with the community and for the community to advocate for an environment in which indies can succeed and find the support needed for that to happen.

I am so passionate about the positive impact indies have, and how we’d have more vibrant and connected neighbourhoods if we create the right conditions for further small businesses to start up and thrive. Local business communities are essential to that success.

How Indie Oxford works

Community Support:

Independent Oxford brings together local independent businesses, creating a supportive and collaborative community. This network allows businesses to share resources, insights, and best practices, fostering a sense of solidarity among entrepreneurs.

Promotion and Visibility:

Membership in Independent Oxford provides businesses with increased visibility and exposure. Through shared marketing efforts, events, and website, independent businesses gain access to a broader audience, helping them attract and retain customers.

Connection:

Independent Oxford serves as a bridge between independent businesses and locals. By promoting the uniqueness of these businesses, IO helps residents and visitors discover the diversity and character of Oxfordshire’s local economy.

Advocacy and Representation:

Independent Oxford acts as an advocate for the interests of independent businesses. This advocacy can include collaborating with local stakeholders, and ensuring that the unique needs of independent enterprises are considered.

Collective Wisdom:

The community members share skills, knowledge and information, helping each other navigate challenges, stay informed, and access relevant training opportunities. This knowledge-sharing contributes to the long-term success and sustainability of independent businesses.

Event Coordination:

Independent Oxford organises events that bring the community together, such as meet ups and markets. These events not only promote the businesses directly involved but also contribute to the overall cultural richness and social fabric of the region.

Preservation of Local Character:

By supporting independent businesses, Independent Oxford contributes to the preservation of Oxfordshire’s unique local character. This helps maintain diverse and distinctive neighbourhoods.

Economic Resilience:

The community fosters economic resilience by encouraging people to choose local, independent options where possible. This, in turn, helps create a more robust and sustainable local economy less susceptible to the fluctuations and challenges that may affect larger, more centralised businesses.

Independent Oxford adds significant value to the Oxfordshire community by creating a platform for collaboration, promotion, and advocacy that strengthens the independent business ecosystem and contributes to the overall well-being of the region.

What Indie Oxford members say

It’s a lovely experience to support and boost other (much needed!) independent businesses in and around Oxford. A lovely ethos and gives an opportunity to show respect and joy to others involved.

– Ben Bateman, General Manager at Arbequina

I love anything that helps to support the local economy, which IO does well. Indie Oxford is such a fun and creative networking group.

– Annabel Latham, Owner at Annabel’s Patisserie

It’s nice to be part of a local community of independent businesses and get the support of lovely people that care to promote everyone.

– Debora Brand, General Manager at Gatineau

We love to part of the Indi Oxford community, giving us links to other lovely little businesses and helping us spread our network.

– Paul Birtles, Owner at The Garden of Oxford

I like the constant communication via the WhatsApp group. Always events going on and everyone looks out for each other.

– George Sandbach, Owner at Sandy’s

Indie Oxford is a wonderful community of supportive, like minded businesses who support each other and are always on hand to offer help, guidance and solutions.

– Andrew Tee, Owner at Oxford SUP Club

We love being a part of the Indie Oxford community because it gives us a chance to meet like-minded people, share ideas, get inspired and hopefully give back as well by connecting people we see might be able to help each other.

– Frances Lewis, Co-Owner at Earth Ale

Being included in what is such an important movement in Oxford gives me credibility and trust with people that don’t know us already. Unbeatable access and updates to a host of meet ups, markets and events. It feels like I have a voice in a city full of big biz and high street brands. The Indie Oxford market is the highlight of my year.

– Amanda Suliman Bell, Owner at Rainbow & Spoon

Its is a true community, diverse businesses all connecting and promoting each other – a wonderful group to be part of!

– Sarah Wiseman, Owner at Sarah Wiseman Gallery

Indie Oxford is a really friendly and supportive community. They open up a number of opportunities for marketing, collaborating and personal development. But even more importantly than that, they create a fun space for growing ideas, sharing business challenges and celebrating one another’s success.

– Sally Dear, Owner at Ducky Zebra

I love being part of the Indie Oxford Community. Its great to connect with other small businesses who are paving the way in our shop independent community.

– Anna Butler, Owner at Custom Made

Great people, huge amount of support from you Rosie! Love knowing I’m not alone and being inspired by other cool people.

– Annabel Lee, Owner at Annabel Lee Communications

MEMBERSHIP IS JUST £20 A MONTH AND INCLUDES – 

Support & Community

Attend regular Indie Oxford Business Meet Ups

Opportunity to join the Independent Oxford Business Community WhatsApp Group

Monthly Members Only Newsletter to hear the latest news from us and our network, including additional retail and collaboration opportunities

Connect with other local indies and organisations

Marketing & Promotion

Directory Listing and entry on the online searchable map

Independent Oxford online sticker

Unlimited event listings on our events page

+ there are always lots of projects and ideas on the go too like the Indie Oxford Magazine.

If you would like to find out more about joining Indie Oxford, email me at rosie@independentoxford.com