Wedge Card

Serves me right

2009-11-03T09:33:00.000-08:00

A couple of burning desires took me to Westfield yesterday. I was almost lead by a kind of hypnotic, compulsion to see this temple of shopping. And the crazed desire to find a unique and funky little wedding outfit for my four year old. Along the local high street it is quite difficult to find interesting children’s clothing; especially boy’s and I didn’t want my son to look like a midget minor of the catering staff. I needed to have access to several different shops in the one shopping experience.

Immediately it was stress. My mother got stuck in a traffic jam then couldn't park. Though she did like the idea of having a green or red light above each space to show if it was vacant, just like a lavatory. I was already inside and her hysterical voice through my phone grated my nerves. Two hours, that's it! I wanted to try and enjoy this.

Once we were all out of the depths of the car park we ventured into a corner of the complex. We needed a map to find certain shops in the labyrinth of signs and sales and escalators and people. It was just all so big, busy and overwhelming. It felt like we were in a giant ant farm of retail hungry insects scurrying to their large trade coves then out again. And I was one of them. Having left this little outfit to the last minute, I too was in a frantic rush.

It was hard not to feel a little spaced out in this massive air-conditioned cube. Shops were lined up like regimented retail soldiers marching with brightly coloured uniforms and bayonets to pop music, trying to entice people into their businesses.

It was a very individual experience, not a fun family outing browsing for cute little suits. Everyone was caught up in a world of their own, driven by a need to get in, get out and get it done. People were focused, hurried and irritated with an ‘every man for themselves’ attitude. We went into some children’s clothes retailers and we could have been anywhere in London. We queued for the changing rooms like we queued to give them our money. It was just another generic homogenous experience, which wasn’t unpleasant, it just wasn’t unique.

On the way out we queued again to pay for our parking. Getting out of the car park was an even more traumatic experience; there was a traffic jam and half an hour of impatient, frustrated beeping.

Serves me right. Next time I think I will just stick to my local high street.

It's just not healthy to be without a community

2009-09-14T10:04:00.000-07:00

Just been listening, from the isolation of my front room, to a fascinating lecture on loneliness. American social neuroscientist, Professor John Cacioppo, has written a book on the subject. Through studying our brains, he has researched the biological effects of loneliness (perceived or real) on human beings. He found how important social connections are, and being isolated from others increases morbidity and mortality.

Charting the period between 1984 and 2004 in America, he discovered that the number of people living alone rose to 25% (from, I think, 11%) but the social networks of these people decreased by 50% in this period. The likely outcome of this will be more isolation and perhaps consequential bad health. But it’s also interesting that loneliness is an inherent trait like hunger, thirst or pain – it’s there to protect our species by promoting vigilance against social threats. Do listen to the lecture, as there's a complicated biological argument there.

This tendency for our society to become less community-oriented and more isolationist is not good for our bodies and souls, and gives strength to the argument that loneliness on a large scale is not what nature intended for us in our pursuit for long and healthy lives.

http://www.thersa.org/events/audio-and-past-events/2009/connected-minds-loneliness,-social-brains-and-the-need-for-community

Merging, the new black

2009-08-26T08:44:00.000-07:00

Shop Local First: Q&A

We champion any ideas that create new ways for independents to thrive in the market. This idea of merging bookshops & record stores we love:

www.psfk.com

Creating new ways to do business by sharing space or bringing different ideas together. Here are some of our favourite shops that encapsulate this creative thinking of merging:

One major challenge for local shopping is getting everything you need in one trip. So we applaud Sandy’s Fishmongers in Twickenham who sell excellent meats & cheeses too. So not only can you buy your razor shell clams and whole salmon but gooey brie and tasty sausages. We need more of these!

Scooterworks – a Waterloo favourite. A scooter repair & supply business and excellent cafe/bar. How useful is that?!?

Greensmiths, also Waterloo, a traditional looking food shop & cafe but actually a rather radical return to the idea of co-op/concession shopping. A number of excellent businesses have come together to provide their food including iconic butchers Ginger Pig, Post Office Bakery and, one we know well now, Waterloo Wines.

Brill – record shop and cafe serving quite brilliant coffee in the very charming Exmouth Market.

Lock 7 in Broadway Market where you can “come in and have a drink, some cake, a meal and get your cycle repaired or just browse our selection of cycle accessories or second hand cycles.”

We’re on the lookout for more....

Try a new church this Sunday - one of Life After Shopping

2009-05-29T06:07:00.000-07:00

Today at Wedge we recieved this news of this event. Looks like fun, check it out:

Yes its true the Reverend Billy is coming to East London
Who he? A real reverend from the Church of Life After Shopping.
http://www.revbilly .com
The Death Of The East End Funeral Procession!

Meet Midday (sharp)
Starbucks Spitalfields Market.
Sunday 31st May

We will be holding a funeral procession from the Starbucks in the historic East End.

An area of diversity, clashing cultures and independence, the East End of London has long been a haunt of artists, vagabonds, misfits, anarchists and rippers! However with the spread of global capitalism, and the homogenised pseudo-counter culture that it markets, companies such as Starbucks now feel comfortable hawking their unethical wares on our doorsteps, traditional cafes are replaced with watered down impressions of some terrible episode of Friends.

The Reverend Billy, The Church Of Life After Shopping, The Space Hijackers and Rhythms Of Resistance ask you to join us in a funeral procession through brick lane ending in a sermon and street party.

Wear your black Sunday best, bring home made cakes, thermos flasks of tea, bunting and coffins. Bring dancing shoes and rhyming slang. Let us rise up to the invasion of the bland, let us show these unfair traders that their business is not welcome!

If your planning to come – let me know – I will be filming throughout

Chris
Producer, Film Maker,Communication s
07881-823071
www.ecotube. co.uk

Breaking News! Government helps high street shops!

2009-04-22T10:11:00.000-07:00

What a great idea! Community Secretary Hazel Blears has finally taken
our advice and, although we didn’t actually talk to her, our ideas
have obviously wafted across the river to Westminster. Blears last
week announced that there were new measure to help communities
“findcreative ways to reduce the negative impact empty shops have
on the high street” by temporarily converting them into social
enterprises, local art displays or learning centres.

Also proposed are special planning application waivers, standard
interim-use leases, and temporarily leasing shops to councils which
will allow empty shops to get makeovers. Councils can also use
licensing powers positively to permit things like farmers markets
that bring local produce to the high street.

All good stuff, but why did we have to wait until the recession hit us
for any government response to the difficulties faced by independent
shops and businesses? Wedge and lots of campaigners have been
banging on about this for a long time. And let's keep it going.

Shop Local comes to Stroud!

2009-04-04T10:49:00.000-07:00

I'm staying near Stroud this weekend. Stroud is my birthplace, a market town in the middle of the Cotswolds with an award-winning Saturday farmers market. So I was mightily impressed when I arrived to see this week's headline of the Stroud News and Journal (SNJ) "Shop Local to support our traders". Stroud, like many British towns, is held in a clinch between two supermarkets, with a town centre full of a variety of great independent shops.

"Shop Local, supported by businesses, councils and the SNJ, aims to boost local economies and encourage a greener attitude among customers and traders" says the SNJ. Not only do they want to "raise awareness of the role local shops play in retaining vibrant town centres and a sense of community in our villages" but also to rid Stroud of plastic bags. Stroud District Council has provided hundreds of canvas bags which sell for £1.00 (with such messages on the sides as 'Reduce Refuse Reuse Repair Recycle' and 'Shop Local'. )

It's great to hear that people are campaigning on the Shop Local issue - but it's a shame that it has to happen.That people don't automatically shop in their local shops. When I was a child, my father worked in Stroud and my mother shopped at Moody's. I would go down on the bus from my village four miles away to stroll around, visiting the record shop and the lovely stationers. As the chairman of the Stroud Market Towns Partnership said: "Money spent in local shops stays in the local economy". And as for the bags - so far there are 11 plastic bag-less towns in the UK. Perhaps Stroud will be the 12th?

Tess Swithinbank

Top 10 cafes on Wedge

2009-04-01T01:35:00.000-07:00

We Wedgers spend a lot of time in and out of local shops. Here are some of our favourite cafes.

Swan at The Globe, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, Southbank: A new arrival to Wedge. This riverside cafe/bar is a lovely place to meet, sit and relax. A stupendous 25% off all food and drink this April with your Wedge Card, so this gives you only more reason to indulge.
http://www.wedgecard.co.uk/modules/merchant/index.php?op=show&id=420702

London Review Bookshop, Bloomsbury: This bookshop filled with interesting book-finds also hosts talks, events and a little cafe. Clearly a good place to get smart and refuel. We love it. Plus 10% off books with your ole Wedge Card.
http://www.wedgecard.co.uk/modules/merchant/index.php?op=show&id=420527

Tea Smith, Spitalfields: If you like them there teas, this is the place for you. Stock up on a wonderfully wide range and also let them make you a brew or two in their teahouse. 10% off, you lucky Wedgers. http://www.wedgecard.co.uk/modules/merchant/index.php?op=show&id=420185

The Tea Rooms, Stoke Newington: Another great tea loving cafe, this time in the independent enclave of Stokey. Half price tea or coffee with your cake plus, if you take a fancy to their retro tea ware, you’ll get 10% off.
http://www.wedgecard.co.uk/modules/merchant/index.php?op=show&id=420515

Scooterworks, Lower Marsh, Waterloo: Cosy and rather cool, excellent coffee and bring-your-own food policy makes this a draw from miles around. We spend many a day having ‘meetings’ in here enjoying the lovely vibe. Great for parties as with a Wedge Card they’ll give you a free bottle of wine when you hire the space.
http://www.wedgecard.co.uk/modules/merchant/index.php?op=show&id=420609

Living Space, Waterloo: A community run space that has a cafe, internet access and other useful programs in a beautiful light new building.
Wedge offer: 10% off your food & drink
http://www.wedgecard.co.uk/modules/merchant/index.php?op=show&id=420147

Tutti’s, Lambs Conduit Street, Bloomsbury: A real local cafe with excellent homemade food, friendly staff and good coffee. A great spot in summer to sit outside or curl up in winter and chat to your neighbours. A variety of Wedge deals on offer.
http://www.wedgecard.co.uk/modules/merchant/index.php?op=show&id=420005

Brill, Exmouth Market: We like cafes that shake it up a bit and what could be more natural partners than good coffee and good music? This little local cafe and music shop in the always interesting Exmouth Market is a great find.
Wedge offer: 10% off CDs
http://www.wedgecard.co.uk/modules/merchant/index.php?op=show&id=420247

Cafe Gossip, Broadway Market: A veggie heaven with homemade food in an old house. Cosy, colourful and a good place to recharge.
Wedge offer: Half price tea with your cake, Mon-Fri
http://www.wedgecard.co.uk/modules/merchant/index.php?op=show&id=420396

Chelsea Physic Garden, SW3: With spring so temptingly in the air we want to be enveloped in nature. These botanical gardens offer inner city peace and serenity, and some beautiful flowers too. Wedge offer: Concession rate admission of £4 (usually £7)
http://www.wedgecard.co.uk/modules/merchant/index.php?op=show&id=420097

As much as we’d like to, we can’t spend all our time sitting on our derrieres sampling the delights of the cafes on Wedge as there seems to be rather a lot of work to do! Here is a list of all of the cafes on Wedge for you to search out and enjoy. Let us know what you think!
http://www.wedgecard.co.uk/modules/merchant/index.php?op=tagged&tag=cafe

Supermarket lovin'

2009-03-09T11:24:00.000-07:00

We at Wedge adore our new supermarket on Lower Marsh in Waterloo. Wedge people loving a supermarket, you ask? Greensmiths is what we would describe as the perfect example of such a store – a butcher/baker/greengrocer/coffee specialist/wine and grocers, with a superb cafe attached (with just the longest table – ideal for meetings). They have brought together the Ginger Pig, the Old Post Office Bakery, Solstice greengrocer, Caffe Antica and the Waterloo Wine Company to provide almost all of your staples for your weekly shop - no fishmonger or cheesemonger as yet, but I'm sure they're on their way. The meat pies, pates, croissants, cakes and chocolates are delicious, as is the soup for lunch, or the toast and home-made marmalade for breakfast. We need more of these shops, where you can buy good quality nourishment, enjoy a friendly atmosphere and know that they care about their customers. And they don’t hog the high street. Take a peek!

The shop is open Monday to Fri: 0800 to 2000 and on Saturday: 0800 to
1800. Check them out on their website: www.greensmithsfood.co.uk

2009-02-28T03:41:00.000-08:00

We’ve been away for a while and frankly we’re sorry. We’ve been busy. What with the running of a business (paying the bills, recording of paying bills, arguing with our landlord about fixing lights etc.) and finding ways to spread Wedge across the nation we’ve neglected our little blog.
But our silence on our blog hasn’t meant we’ve been silent in real life (our neighbours would vouch for us ‘too much bloody weird laughing coming from that basement!’ we’d think they’d say). We’ve been up to all kinds of exciting things.

Even though most of us Wedgers are Londoners we are always surprised by how many great things are going on in the capital, often for free. It is to be celebrated that events such as this week’s launch of another great East festival are hosted for us Londoners to enjoy. East Festival celebrates the cultural happenings of our East London with hundreds of events and special shows from 5th to 10th March. The very lovely festival organisers are also encouraging everyone to purchase a Wedge Card to help them get the best of East London (http://www.visitlondon.com/events/east/wedge-card) so we suggest you do.

Here is what we’ll be checking out offerings:

Do Something Different weekend at The Barbican – where Diana will be heading to the kids discos, for her son, naturally, not (just) herself http://www.visitlondon.com/events/detail/4306774

Anthony will be using his beloved bike to Cycle East, where venues such as The Arcola Theatre and St John-at-Hackney Church have joined together to provide a program of theatre and arts events for those wishing to explore different veneues and events with their bicycles. http://www.visitlondon.com/events/detail/4357591

Petro will be trying out the Vortex Tour East with free concerts in unexpected places... http://www.visitlondon.com/events/detail/4414798

And we know we won’t be able to tear Tess away from the food extravaganza of Circus Eat that includes a night of dining accompanied by performance and music by local artists. http://www.visitlondon.com/events/detail/4341348

And while you’re in the area use your Wedge Card! Some suggestions would be:
10% off food and drink at Strongroom, the live music venue with a bar and restaurant on Curtain Rd, EC2 http://www.wedgecard.co.uk/modules/merchant/index.php?op=show&id=420424

15% of your food bill Sun-Thurs at The Real Greek, Spitalfields: http://www.wedgecard.co.uk/modules/merchant/index.php?op=show&id=420688

10% off exceptional teas at Tea Smith, Lamb St E1 http://www.wedgecard.co.uk/modules/merchant/index.php?op=show&id=420185

Thanks all!

PS: We’ve had a few lovely pieces of press these last couple of months. We were written up in an American magazine called Ode: http://www.zinio.com/express3issue=334123976&o=int&prev=si&pg=seo&p=65

And Red Magazine profiled our founding Mama in January. Right on.

A meeting with Mr Cameron

2008-04-16T05:49:00.001-07:00

Last week we were summoned to Parliament. We arrived slightly sweaty palmed - perhaps there had been some outstanding bill we'd forgotten about that had been 'taken higher' ? We were then pleasantly surprised to find out that Grant Schapps MP, Shadow Housing Minister, and his party had discovered the delights of Wedge Card and wanted to sign up all of their MP's en masse.

Fast forward a week and we've Wedged up 194 MP's and been visited by David Cameron himself. He talked to us and a couple of Wedge shops on Marchmont Street, asked the owners of their thoughts about the local shop situation and was a generally pleasant guy. He then took his thoughts and wrote a great piece about us for today's Evening Standard.

So we are delighted that Mr C has supported us so. And to make sure we're remaining truly apolitical we're sending out this message to Gordon and Nick: 'join us too!'

You never know when you'll need a friend

2008-03-25T09:44:00.001-07:00

My visa card was declined last week as I was attempting to pay for some food for my dinner. Fortunately I was in a shop where I was known and I was allowed to walk away with the promise of payment the next day.

The moral of this story isn’t that it’s better to not spend everything at the beginning of the month and then live on credit at the end (though it isn’t, my mother would be appalled if she knew) or that buying smoked salmon for a mid-week supper is shockingly decadent (possibly it is and my mother would again be appalled if she knew) but that my local shop knew me and trusted me enough to return. This naturally made me feel all village-y and warm.

So although I don’t advise practising my financial bad-planning and testing this out in your local shop, I do advise you get to know your favourite local shopkeepers because disasters befall us all and it’s nice to know there is someone out there who can help us out the sticky stuff.

Local lives in New York

2008-03-25T09:41:00.000-07:00

A new American short film about small shops and communities in New York has caught our eye. Twilight becomes Night cuts right to the heart of the matter. Shot by film-maker Virginie-Alvine Perrette, its message is: “Each time a neighbourhood shop closes its doors for the last time, something vital is lost forever….Local businesses are vanishing at an alarming rate, but trends are not destiny. Through individual commitment and community activism, a neighbourhood can save a neighbourhood store”.

(You can see a short excerpts on http://blogs.wsj.com/independentstreet/2008/02/20/want-to-save-the-corner-store-show-em-the-money/?mod=googlenews_wsj and on the film’s own website http://www.twilightbecomesnight.com/)

As anyone who has wandered through the back streets of NYC and any of its 480 neighbourhoods will attest to, the plethora of independent shops is quite extraordinary. The film has catalogued some of these, with wonderful quotes. “You have to live the life of the people” says one store owner. “People involved in the community feel an attachment to me and I feel an attachment to them”. They talk about the ecology of the block, forming friends and webs of meaning that makes life rich and possible. It’s not just about money, it’s about life. The film-maker even interviewed a neuro-scientist talking about the importance of community life to your emotional well-being – we all need to live in an area where we feel safe and secure. Could it be any more obvious? So you take a cheap flight to NY, taking advantage of the cheap dollar and shop for clothes on Fifth Avenue. But where will you find those vintage jeans, ‘60s records, the repairer of pens or Italian delicacies? In the ‘hood, of course.

Wedge businesses voted Top Eco Foodies!

2008-01-29T08:56:00.000-08:00

It was great to see how many Wedge Card business owners were mentioned in Sunday's January edition of the Observer Food Monthly. The subject: the Top 40 Eco Foodies. Among the 40 are Wedge people Geeta Singh, owner of the Duke of Cambridge organic pub; Arthur Potts Dawson, owner of Acorn House (Alan Titchmarsh, a great favourite of mine anyway, loves to eat at Acorn House. "The wild-mushroom ravioli is fabulous", he says); Catherine Conway, of Unpackaged; Keith Abel and Elle Heeks of Abel & Cole, and Oliver Rowe, chef and owner of Konstam. Now go visiting or eating at these wonderful people's places.

Congratulations to all!

Local shops help build communities

2008-01-28T10:28:00.000-08:00

James Lowman, the CE of the Association of Convenience stores, writes today in the Scotsman about the importance of local shops in encouraging a sence of community. He reveals some startling facts from the Princes Trust that "one in ten Britons admitted to failing to meet other people socially on a weekly basis and 15 per cent go a week without speaking to any of their neighbours."

We agree that local shops provide vital meeting points for communities . We need a sensible debate that leads to strong policies that protect a communities right to choose what shops exist within them.

Read his article in full here:
http://news.scotsman.com/opinion/Local-shops-for-local-people.3715833.jp

Do Good Lives Have to Cost the Earth?

2008-01-28T05:41:00.000-08:00

We were very interested to see a new book entitled 'Do Good Lives Have to Cost the Earth?' published last week. We were attracted by their blurb:

We tend to see climate change as an overwhelmingly daunting threat requiring impossible sacrifices. But it's time to rethink, say a range of notable experts brought together by nef and the Open University - who share a conviction that living well need not cost the earth.

With contributions from such clever people as our founding father John Bird, A C Grayling,
Oliver James, Rosie Boycott and Anita Roddick, we know it will make us think and more importantly inspire us to ACT!

Find out where you can buy it with your Wedge Card discount on our site:
http://www.wedgecard.co.uk/modules/merchant/index.php?name=books&op=namesearch

Can you be lazy and have morals?

2008-01-16T12:45:00.000-08:00

I woke up on Sunday six Gin and Tonics away from a good sleep. My small child was bleating for breakfast and entertainment. My one day off this week was clearly going to be less relaxing than my actual job. I wanted at least to be a good mother so I took my son to the controlled mayhem of an indoor kid's gym. By 5pm I was worn out. It wasn't until then I remembered I had to do a food shop for the week. I felt sick. I started fantasising about a well-lit display of endless food, conveniently located under one roof where I could get everything I needed. It didn't matter that I am gloriously blessed with a wealth of local shops literally on my doorstep. It all suddenly seemed a bit of a fag.

But in my lurching tiredness I fortunately remembered how so many fantasies are in real life doomed to be sad, limp, disappointing affairs. Apart from my moral beliefs that if we only shop at supermarkets that's all we'll end up with and our fabulously vibrant and eclectic neighbourhoods we have will turn into vast mega malls and our towns will become soulless clone town affairs. Apart from all that I know that my local deli stocks much better cheeses, hams and bread for sandwiches than the supermarkets. The 24-hour Mediterranean grocer has cheap and good herbs, veggies and stable things like rice and lentils. The odd little corner shop sells my favourite popcorn and snacking materials. And the little health food shop around the corner is heaving with tasty pre-made veggie burgers, organic milk and frozen berries.

So I made a pack with myself – in an effort to not destroy my nerves on this cold Sunday evening I would just shop a little every few days this week. And I'll find out too if my morals are getting in the way of an easy life. I'll let you know how it goes…

Take action on Competition Commission supermarket report

2008-01-09T03:29:00.001-08:00

All too often one is left fuming with newspaper/remote control in hand. The news brings us so much woe and so few opportunities to take action on what troubles us. Well here is a great chance to get your voice heard. If you don't agree with the competition commission findings about supermarkets – that they aren’t a threat to independent shops and that actually we don't have enough of them –join the Friends of the Earth email campaign. (Read about the report on Telegraph: www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/11/01/ntesco101.xml and New Economics Foundation www.neweconomics.org/gen/competitioncommissionfailing120407.aspx)

Click here for FOE campaign: http://www.foe.co.uk/campaigns/real_food/press_for_change/supermarkets_planning/index.html. I did it and it took about 2 mins.

Cute shops save Wedge writer from Meltdown

2008-01-04T11:22:00.000-08:00

My Mall Meltdown was quickly followed by an Idyllic Independent Shopping experience. Accuse me of shameless propaganda (and I’m not ashamed because it’s all true!) but my mind, soul, spirit and Christmas present list was saved by some gorgeous independent shops in Berkley. Residing slightly north of where were staying my husband had the bright idea of visiting this grown-up hippy town for our shopping after his wife returned home with the Mall Meltdown Shakes (OK, there were no shakes. But you get the idea, see below).

After only two hours of sauntering up and down College Avenue in the fresh cold sun with coffee in hand and we were done. We bought books (for the same prices as Borders) at Mrs Dalloway’s http://www.mrsdalloways.com/, a pot and pan set (£6.50) and a broom (£3) for my son (no child labour exploitation here), a tea cup and tea strainer in-one at Global Exchange (£6.50) (www.globalexchange.org), Twister from Sweet Dreams Toy Store (£13), and some beautiful leather gloves for my mother-in-law (£19).

We also stopped off at the Ecology Centre (www.ecologycenter.org/store/) for tie-die socks for our 7 year old nephew (£6) and a jigsaw map of Europe (£8). After some amazing Mexican food in a little house-like restaurant with one table we were ready to for ice cream and giant donuts, where my son dismayed everyone by drinking honey straight from a pot and then charmed them with his English accent.

Mall Meltdown

2008-01-04T10:25:00.000-08:00

I have clearly become so local I can’t remember what it is like to venture into a shopping mall or superstore. Sure I’ve been dragged around by friends and supplemented my shopping sometimes at the odd chain. But nothing could prepare me for being slung into an American shopping mall for the first in a year.

Every Christmas I visit my in-laws in a little town south of San Francisco. Without wishing to offend my lovely family there this little town is sort of what spurs me on when the going gets tough at Wedge. The town is spread out with probably six big malls with shops that look like they suffer from elephantiasis, so large are they. No-one walks on the pavements and there is no atmosphere to the town, nothing special that says this is me, this is why my town is great. The shopping and the products are all exactly the same from this town to the next, and all across that vast nation.

The mall was full of pre-Christmas buyers and my sister-in-law and I went to buy some rain boots for my son. I used to go to malls all the time. I spent my early teenage years festering in one just like this. I should feel fine here. Except I didn’t. I felt overwhelmed. I started oozing want from every pore; my eyes went fuzzy as I zoomed from store to store thinking how wonderful I would feel if I bought this sparkly top / those shoes / that necklace. It all got a bit overheated and soon I was in meltdown. I found it hard to concentrate on the goal, one pair of rain boots. When I found some they seemed imperfect, not quite right. I had this nagging feeling that just around the corner there was something better, more thoroughly perfect. This is odd coming from a woman who is always happy with the imperfect, so long as we can just leave the shop right now!

After careful examinations of all the rain boots in the 300,000 sq foot space I left empty handed. Both my sister-in-law (who is used to such ventures) and I were happy to leave. We sought the fresh air like gratefully saved drowning rats. I asked her if I was just plain nuts, didn’t it seem that there was both everything to buy and nothing? All was perfect yet just around the corner was something better. Did she feel as drugged as I? Fortunately she said yes, actually she did. And I felt relieved that this shock to the system happened so rarely now that I could actually feel it coming on – the Mall Meltdown I think I shall name the disease. Cause – too much stuff to buy, too bright lights, too many big shops. Solution – try bite sized buying, much better for the mind and the spirit.

People who love Wedge Card obviously are great people themselves

2007-12-14T10:04:00.000-08:00

We are very grateful to two very superb companies who supported our Shop Local Challenge last week in the East End. www.welovelocal.com have been active friends, counsel and champions since they launched earlier this year. They have spread the word about Wedge Card and helped us with our mission. We think you should all go and take a look at the great site they created which allows you to review your favourite local shops and find recommendations on ones you’d like to try. A genius idea (we wish we’d thought of it first).

Another super company who helped us in our efforts in the East was Sanctuary Hereward an organisation providing affordable housing and promoting community cohesion. Their support of Wedge Card shows how willing they are to extend their truly community focused work in recognition of how local shops are the lifeblood of our neighbourhoods. www.sanctuary-housing.co.uk/

Lastly we thank all of those people who rose to the challenge of Shop Local week and bought Wedge Cards, used their local shops, talked to us in the rain when we looked like drowned rats and signed up.

Viva independent shops everywhere!

Get the shopping experience you deserve

2007-12-14T08:07:00.000-08:00

We know that life is busy/expensive/difficult/confusing. We know that there are so many things to think about and reasons the world is going to ruin (and it always seems to be our fault!). We don’t want to add to your burden, we want to lighten the load. We want shopping to be fun, good value, full of wondrous products - the kind of experience you deserve. In our journey through local shops we have discovered some real gems, enclaves of Indy brilliance and really sweet shopkeepers that will make your shopping experience just brill. And it is these that we want to share with you.

If you need further convincing just look at some of the independent experiences you could be having this Xmas with a Wedge Card:

Get that vintage style with a free wardrobe style makeover at Butterfly Girl in Brentford. (Plus 10% off over £85)
http://www.wedgecard.co.uk/modules/merchant/index.php?op=show&id=420429

Walk your way to good health, hearty times and new experiences with the Ramblers association. (20% off membership)
http://www.wedgecard.co.uk/modules/merchant/index.php?op=show&id=420487

Sauciness comes in good taste and welcoming surroundings at the sex shop Sh! in Hoxton Square. The staff are friendly and the women only door policy (men can only come with a woman) makes it even more so. (10% off, excluding books & tampons)
http://www.wedgecard.co.uk/modules/merchant/index.php?op=show&id=420458

Cycle fanatics will impart wise words and good gear to you at Two Wheels Good in Stoke Newington. (10% off)
http://www.wedgecard.co.uk/modules/merchant/index.php?op=show&id=420225

Have a drink at the neighbourly a real local pub The Three Kings in Farringdon.
http://www.wedgecard.co.uk/modules/merchant/index.php?op=show&id=420112

Feeling stuffy/groggy/fluey or hung-over seems a prerequisite for Xmas. Your local pharmacy is the place to head. We’ve got 9 on Wedge:
http://www.wedgecard.co.uk/modules/merchant/index.php?op=tagged&tag=pharmacy

You could be boogying with the boogiest band on earth - The Earthlights Boogie Band (5% off).
http://www.wedgecard.co.uk/modules/merchant/index.php?op=show&id=420347

You can start all of your New Year’s get-fit, get-healthy-, de-stress and generally loved up with your mind and body early at Breathe…Mind, Body, Spirit Studio in SE1. (10% off).
http://www.wedgecard.co.uk/modules/merchant/index.php?op=show&id=420072

There. Job done!
www.wedgecard.co.uk

Wedge Card invades East End

2007-12-05T04:32:00.000-08:00

Our wee Wedge is one year old.

In celebration we decided to bring everything we’ve learnt together in a week long Shop Local Challenge we hosted in Hackney last week. Our Wedge team took to the streets to entice people with cookies and stickers into talking our Shop Local challenge, because we have found that when people try their local shops more often than not they love them.

Here is what my mum said about her challenge:
‘I always go to Café Nero in Twickenham, It’s my routine and they have good coffee. I have to say I’m really anxious about getting a good coffee and have always been reluctant to try independent shops in case they weren’t good. But under the duress of the Shop Local Challenge I visited a little Italian café with my daughter and grandson in Twickenham lanes. The coffee was spectacular but the best thing was the Italian lady who ran it and one of her customers loved my grandson and played with him so my daughter and I could relax and chat. It was a really good find.’

We hope everyone who took the challenge found equally good gems.

Spice Girls and Tesco deserve each other!

2007-11-22T10:00:00.000-08:00

Recently it was announced the Spice Girls advertising relationship with Tesco is to continue. I for one am very pleased. Who else but this vacuous pop group who are just in to make big bucks should represent well, the supermarket equivalent. Their first foray into popdom was quite revolting to me. The Spice Girls only seemed to promote a love of flashing their knickers, child-sized bottoms and shiny hair to our female youth (if you're going to do that please don't call it 'girl power', that's a joke).

So now I get to display our pop credentials: Jarvis Cocker, Sinead O'Connor and Suggs support us. Need we say more about how different our independent shops are?
http://www.wedgecard.co.uk/modules/news/article.php?storyid=108

Life gets better when you marry American

2007-11-15T08:28:00.000-08:00

There was a time when anonymity was attractive to me. Perhaps it was because I was a very self conscious teen/twenty something. One of my favourite places to sit was the Starbucks attached to Sainsbury’s. Whilst sipping watery bitter coffee, surrounded by the glaring tungsten lights, I would relish the anonymity.

I was jarred into thinking, Perhaps There is Another Way when I acquired a friendly American (husband) who didn’t have the hang-ups I did, and would talk to everyone. The woman at the newsagent would tell him her marital woes, the kids in the house next door would high five him on his way to work, and the rude restaurateur would let him stroke his whiney little dogs on their morning walk. At first I was worried he was breaking such a strict moral code that some authority figure would apprehend him and explain the rules, only letting him go with a warning. This clearly reveals my disturbed mind (unfortunately this is just the tip of the iceberg).

I let the desire for friendliness to strangers bubble away inside of me until it burst out after a big life change. My son arrived and after a slew of visitors just when you don’t need them I was suddenly alone. There is not much you can do when you have a small baby, nothing that lasts more than about 5 minutes. But you can shop, talk and walk. So that’s what I did. I knew no one in my neighbourhood. But six months of thrice a day shopping and I was suddenly chatting to the butcher, shooting the breeze with our landlord and conversing with old ladies in the park. I even made some friends.

It was because my area was full of little shops, a park and lots of communal space that I was able to do this. It was with this feeling that I decided to do something to promote local shops. And hence Wedge Card was born. You can all say ahhhh now. And we all lived happy ever after.

Competition Commission - we need a more holistic approach

2007-10-31T11:47:00.000-07:00

Last week I spent £65.50 on my shopping. I'm an extravagant shopper, but I like to have lots of goodies to eat in my house of 2 1/2 people. I went to 5 of my local shops. I bought some succulent mangoes, some vivid fragrant coriander and some organic, flavourful beef amongst other things. I know all of my shop keepers even though I've lived in my area for only 2 months. My son was cuddled and cooed over. Several sweets were offered. My newsagent told me about the ins and outs of running a marathon. I met a mother from our nursery.

It took me 40 minutes door to door and I didn't drive. I have done a similar shop at Waitrose (£95) and at Tesco (£78). Neither competes in terms of quality of fruit, veg, meat and fish in my eyes.

I am lucky. I have lots of local shops near me. I keep an eye on the prices and know which shops are better for which. People continue to flock to this area and the ready made community that these little shops create. My mother lives in an area with no local shops. Her nearest is a massive Tesco. She doesn't know anyone in her area (except her immediate neighbours). She has been there 15 years.

Having lots of local shops fosters a sense of community. We therefore have to look much closer at the role shops play. We can't thrown their role in the landscape of our lives off lightly. This report is short sighted. Let's look at the dominating role they play in our communities and take a more holistic approach.