Does anyone buy Big Issue?

Earning an income We sell the Big Issue magazine to vendors at £2 and vendors sell the magazine on to customers for £4, keeping the difference.

Does anyone actually buy The Big Issue?

Since the Big Issue was founded in 1991 we have been in constant partnership with our vendors. They buy magazines for £2 and sell the magazine for £4. They keep the profit from every sale, and can reinvest it in buying more magazines to earn the money they need to lift themselves out of poverty.

Are people selling The Big Issue homeless?

No one is necessarily breaking any official rules here: the Big Issue's vendor requirements are now loose enough that anyone in an economically precarious position can qualify, and they are open that a majority of their vendors are now not homeless.

What happens to unsold big issues?

We do not buy back unsold copies. Many people facing extreme exclusion spend a lot of their time on their own, looking inward & struggling to connect to the world.

Why don t Big Issue sellers get a job?

Big Issue vendors are self employed. They buy the magazine at a cheaper price than they sell it. Aside from your implied criticism of their job, that vendors are either homeless or vulnerably housed will not be a great selling point to prospective employers.

Day in the Life of a Big Issue seller

How much does a Big Issue seller earn?

How much does a Vendor make at The Big Issue in the United Kingdom? Average The Big Issue Vendor yearly pay in the United Kingdom is approximately £33,117, which is 11% above the national average.

How do people sell the Big Issue?

Big Issue Vendors are able to earn an income by selling Big Issue magazine. Our frontline team set vendors up with selling locations, provide sales support and arrange for cashless payment options. We support every vendor to run their own mini business, buying and selling the Big Issue magazine each week.

Is The Big Issue a con?

The Big Issue is a con. It may not have started that way, but for the last fifteen years, while I have been aware of it, it has been. It is successful because it has a great narrative – buy a magazine and help someone off the street. A simple message – but a complete load of rubbish for many reasons.

Why is The Big Issue so expensive?

Over the Christmas period, vendors bought Big Issue North from our regional offices for £2 per magazine, and sold it to readers for £4, keeping the money they make. This means that vendors get £2 in their pocket for every magazine they sell – an extra 50p compared to the previous prices.

Do big issue sellers pay tax?

Big issue sellers buy their product from The Big Issue Company and then sell it on at a profit and keep that profit. They also have to sign up to a code of conduct. In my view that is earnings for work done under a contract and liable for income tax and national insurance like any other form of earnings.

Why do Romanians sell big issue?

To save time and money, it is common for large families in which multiple members sell Big Issue North to pool financial resources to purchase a car, which one member can then use to buy everyone's magazines for the week and to drive their partner, siblings, parents, children, cousins, aunts or uncles who also sell the ...

Can big issue sellers claim benefits?

Yes, like anyone self employed, vendors can claim a range of in work benefits such as Housing Benefit.

How many people sell The Big Issue?

The new figures published in the Big Issue Group annual impact report reveal that during 2022, we worked with 3,637 vendors – 876 of whom came to us to sell for the first time, a 10% increase in the total vendors on the previous year.

How much is a Big Issue now?

Since then over 200 million copies magazine have been sold by over 100,000 people. Vendors buy the magazine upfront for £1.75 and sell it on to the public for £4.00, and in doing so each runs their own micro-enterprise.

Is The Big Issue legit?

The Big Issue is one of the UK's leading social businesses and exists to offer homeless people, or individuals at risk of homelessness, the opportunity to earn a legitimate income, thereby helping them to reintegrate into mainstream society. It is the world's most widely circulated street newspaper.

How many vendors sell The Big Issue in London?

Out of the 3,637 vendors, 899 sold the Big Issue for the first time in 2022 – highlighting how many are in financial need for the first time.

Can big issue sellers beg?

Vendors must not beg for money using the magazine (asking for spare change or other items is considered to be begging).

How much is big issue 2023 UK?

Vendors buy the magazine upfront for £1.75 and sell it on to the public for £4.00, and in doing so each runs their own micro-enterprise.

Do big issue sellers have to buy the magazines?

They have outgoings and have to turn a profit just like any other enterprise out there. Vendors buy their magazines from The Big Issue for £2 each and sell them to their customers for £4 a time. This Christmas, the magazine is packed with more pages and the cover price has gone up to £4.50.

How to compare Vogue and The Big Issue?

Vogue's main purpose is to entertain the audience whilst The Big Issue explores current affairs and problems within society. This provokes a reaction from the audience thus encouraging them to act.

What nationality are The Big Issue sellers?

Of the 3,500 vendors currently registered by the Big Issue, 25 per cent are Romanian or Roma, 66 per cent British and the remainder other nationalities.

Is The Big Issue still on sale?

Big Issue North is to close following the publication of its May 8 issue.

Is The Big Issue not for profit?

The Big Issue is a not-for-profit social enterprise that develops solutions to help homeless, marginalised and disadvantaged people positively change their lives.

Is The Big Issue still being published?

The Big Issue North is shutting down next month, its demise blamed on reduced town centre footfall since the pandemic. Increased print, energy and paper costs have also contributed to making Big Issue North “no longer financially viable”, its publishers said.

Does the Big Issue pay writers?

Submission details

Entry is FREE, and open to writers based in Australia. Every author published is paid $500. Stories should be between 500 and 3000 words. Stories must be previously unpublished.