RUN Native, understood to be UK’s first online marketplace showcasing products made, sourced and sold by social enterprises, has launched.
Run Native allows shoppers to buy design-led goods with a social conscience from the comfort of their armchairs.
Says a spokesperson: “A new generation of ethical eTail site, it stocks everything from gourmet treats and gifts to lifestyle accessories, high fashion and homeware.
“But, what makes this site special, is that the profits it generates will have a powerful impact on people’s lives.
“With funding from the Scottish Government, the site is the brainchild Scotland-based organisation, Community Enterprise.
“For 25 years, Community Enterprise has helped social enterprise ventures all over the country grow into great brands.
“During this time, the team have constantly been inspired by products made and sold by these ventures – from luxury soap handmade by people with disabilities in Inverness to tartan dog coats designed by homeless people in Edinburgh.”
The spokesperson added: “However, for the average shopper on the street, these producers can be hard to find.
“Bringing together hundreds of sellers under one virtual roof, Run Native makes it easy.
“Now, with just a click of the mouse, they can stumble across One World Shop – an amazing fair trade boutique – Fox&Bhut, designer fashion based out of a bus in St Andrews – or boutique chocolatier, Chocolate Memories, who offer unique training opportunities to people with Autism Spectrum Condition.”
Says Run Native’s chief executive, Douglas Westwater: “We’re here to show the world what fantastic products social enterprises across the UK are producing.
“We’ve scoured the country to source cool, covetable buys made for the benefit of everyone. It’s about helping customers find ethical products, and ethical producers find customers.”
http://www.runnative.com http://www.runnative.co.uk
ENDS
EDITOR’S NOTES:
What is social enterprise? A social enterprise is an organisation that’s run like a business. The difference is that these organisations reinvest their profits back into the community or cause they support. So, in a nutshell, it’s business with a big heart.
Who is Community Enterprise? We help communities, charities and social enterprises to make good things happen, from food initiatives and credit unions to community run sports facilities, we help organisations become more sustainable by generating income and moving away from grant funding. We’re a social enterprise and our mission is to help people gain the capacity and confidence to improve their community through enterprise.
We’re a small professional team that provide personalised support to individuals and groups. Each member of the team has an area of specialist knowledge such as accounting, fundraising, marketing and impact measurement.
We deliver support when it’s needed. We charge for large pieces of work, such as business plans, and all of the profit we generate is used to subsidise free support. This allows us to build long-term supportive relationships with our clients.
http://www.communityenterprise.co.uk
What does Run Native mean?
The name is inspired by the term ‘digital natives’ meaning the generation of young people that have grown up in an exclusively digital world. This was part of our vision – to get social enterprises to enter the digital world for the benefit of the organisations they run and the people that they help – and we knew that this was the name, Run Native.
How does Run Native work?
Run Native is unlike any other shopping website – because everything you see comes directly from a social enterprise based in the UK. Shoppers can fill their shopping baskets in the same way they would on any other retail site. They can buy from as many different sellers as they like but pay for everything together at one checkout.
Why shop at Run Native?
- because you want to: Recent research by The Plunkett Foundation shows that 74 per cent of shoppers would rather buy from a company that makes business decisions based on concern for society and the environment.
- to support Britain’s social enterprises: Run Native is proud to work with Britain’s best social enterprises – a diverse, talented bunch of independent businesses all working to give back.
- to discover unique products: Run Native carefully selects every product for quality, style and originality. Every item is unique and each seller has a story.
For more information and images please contact Emily Bookless at Run Native on (01506) 862 227 or e-mail emily@communityenterprise.co.uk
MEDIA RELEASE posted by Community Enterprise. You too can post media releases (aka press releases) on allmediascotland.com. For more information, email here.
Contact: Emily Bookless
Phone: 01506862227
Email: emily@communityenterprise.co.uk
Website: http://www.runnative.co.uk
