My local council do not have the budget (from Central Government) to support not-for-profit social enterprises anymore.
* Please scroll down to read about postage and donations 🧡
PRIOR occupies a retail unit in the centre of a fast-fashion retail centre. We took on this particular unit with purpose; to bring handmade, high quality and independently made work to the heart of global retail. We champion Bristol's small business scene and we took this risk based on being told we would be in receipt of a Business Rates relief.
Due to severe budget cuts from central government, Bristol City Council can no longer offer this support which means we are now liable for the same 'prime shopping centre' business rates as our neighbours Harvey Nicks, Apple and H&M.
Despite trying everything, we are unable to find a way to reinstate our Discretionary Rate Relief. The impact that this sudden decision has on our creative hub is enormous. As a not-for-profit we have never charged profit on our services because this allows more local businesses to share the opportunity with us. In addition, 100% of any surplus money from sales is donated to charities, used to provide free workshops for vulnerable adults in Bristol and to offer free community workshops.
We are unable to pay for the business rates bill this year because we were totally unprepared for it and simply do not have the money. Not to mention that the high street is dying and our overall turnover has already been impacted this year.
Our business rates bill this year 2023 is £6,963.20
Our business rates bill next year 2024 is £34,000
Our plan to stay put
There is a very positive solution for the long term.
As both sides of PRIOR grows: the Retail shop (supporting the sale of sustainable handmade goods) and the Arts Hub (exhibitions, workshops, support etc), we had already been thinking about separating these services. Our plan is to create a new umbrella charity that encompases the Arts Hub - which actually uses the majority of the building. If we are successful, we will get a Mandatory Relief (80%) from central government meaning our business rates bill will stay at £6,800 per year in the future (rather than £34,000). Registering as a charity however is expensive and involves lawyers. We have had a quote for £6,000 to get us submitted to the Charity Commision with a possibility of more if the application needs amending.
How you can help
We need £6,963.20 to pay for this years business rates (2023). We are currently being threatened with a court summons.
We need at least £6,000 to pay for a Charity Lawyer to register our new charity and submit our case to the Charity Commisions, so that we can get Mandatory Relief next year (2024)
Plus for full transparency, we really need another person on the rota to cover me. Setting up a charity is very time consuming and it is having an serious impact on the shop. I need someone to cover some of my hours at PRIOR (adding stock, customer service, deliveries), whilst I have to spend time on setting up the charity.
Target 1 - £23,600
Based on selling 1000 calendars and 400 notebooks/sketchbooks. *Including the bundle discounts
This will cover our:
- The cost of manufacturing the 1000 calendars and 400 note/sketchbooks (£6,945)
- 2023 business rates bill (£6,963.20)
- Legal fees of the Charity Lawyer (at least £6,000)
- Crowdfunder take 2.4% +20p from every pledge so we need approximately £1000 to cover these fees
- We will have to pay VAT at 7.5% on every sale. We are Flat Rate registered and cannot claim VAT back. (£1,770)
- Another member of staff to cover my hours on the shop floor @ £11 an hour, 14 hours a week for 6 weeks (£924)
Target 2 - £30,000 and beyond...
We can grow our charity work! We will use all profits* from anything raised over Target 1 to fund FREE supportive arts community events. We will collaborate with local charities (adult and young people services), schools and marginalised groups to offer free workshops, courses, free space hire, business advice and support. We will share with you how we spend the money and will document - transparently - how we spend every pound. We will share everything on our website.
*With more sales of calendars/notebooks, there will be more manufacturing costs, VAT and crowdfunder fees which will be deducted from the target amount.
Next year
In 2024 if the legal paperwork for the charity hasn't been accepted in time for when the new business rates reach £34,000, we are hoping that in the Autumn Budget Statement from central government, there will be a retail discount on business rates. We welcome this enormously but it's frustrating because the discount will be given to all retail businesses, including huge, global profit businesses. These businesses who earn a profit, who could afford to pay full-price, could pay full price and subsidise independent shops to occupy vacant units - but hey - this is another campaign for another day.
Rewards
Right - now for the good stuff!
I don't want to *just* ask for your money and I want to make sure you get something practical, useful or just wonderful in return. Once the crowd funder has ended, we will order and post the products. We are unsure of the lead time but it will be late October/ early November.
CALENDAR
- Purchase one (£16) or with postage (£19)
- Purchase a bundle of 10 (£150) or with postage (£154)
A selection of 17 prints from independent artists and illustrators working in the UK.
16 x A4 Prints & 1 x A5 Print
If you wish to frame the prints after use, you can cut out each print using a knife and ruler. Paper is FSC Certified and part of a carbon capture scheme.
A very special thank you to all of the artists and illustrators who have contributed to this calendar. You can find their business names and Instagram handles below :)
Jan: Studio Fae / @studiofae
Feb: Mountains in Bristol / @mountainsinbristol
Mar: Do It Later / @doitlater_illustration
Apr: Rosie Reiter / @rosie.reiter
May: Becca Thorne / @b_thorney
Jun: Ben Rogers / @benrogers.art
Jul: Ash Leaf Print / @ashleafprintmaking
Aug: Rosanna Morris / @rosannaprints
Sep: Louise Forster-Smith / @louiseforstersmith
Oct: Harriet Popham / @harrietpopham
Nov: Amy Isles Freeman / @amyislesfreeman
Dec: Double J / @studiodoublej
Plus bonus prints from:
Nice Graphic Design / @nice_graphic_design
Lucy Litchfield / @lucylitchfield
Sky Siouki / @skysiouki
Kulu / @kulutextiles
Do It Later / @doitlater_illustration
A5 NOTEBOOKS/SKETCHBOOKS
High quality, thick books with 144 pages and bleed free paper. FSC Certified and part of Carbon Capture Scheme. A5 in size and a chunky 1.5cm thick
Cover: 350gsm Uncoated, Text: 140gsm Uncoated
- Purchase one (£19) or with postage (£22)
- Purchase a bundle of any 5 (£90) or with postage (£94)
You have a choice of 5 notebooks.
Ochre Yellow: Gridded with 5mm squares
Rust Orange: Narrow ruled with 5mm lines
Forest Green: Dotted with 5mm spaces
Powder Pink: Plain
Abstract: Journal and ruled pages with 5mm lines (rotating)
These books have a brilliant ink retention and after trying a number of pens, inks, felt tips and more, the only pen that went through to the other side was a Sharpie!
DONATIONS
Finally, we have 3 different set donation rewards - you can of course donate any amount but these set donations have perks. This is because at the end of the Crowdfunder every pledge will receive a gift of at least a key ring or magnet. However, some lucky few might receive one of the following:
We've had so many contributions from members of the small business creative community. The donations are ongoing and I will try to update the information here.
£10 DONATION REWARD
Donated so far (and more coming):
- A pair of Beau and Badger's Cheeky Salt and Pepper Shakers.
- KISS Cashmere Mini Hot Water Bottle from Chloe Haywood London
- Scrunchie from Studio Ashtree
- Gift Tin of Four Soaps from The Bristol Soap Company
- Gardeners Gift Set from the Bristol Soap Company
- Something from Fluff Mallow - TBC
- Autumn Ceramic Pendant Neckace from Tamara's Pots
- 'Emke' Cork vessel with Mint Lid from Mind the Cork
- Thermal Pillow - 'Cacti Hugger' from warmlii
- Aerial map of Bristol" art print from Travels of Amy M
- Glass Necklace 'Rock Pool' from Samphire Glass
- Ceramic Trinket Bowl from Just Plain Charming
- Lambswool headband of choice from Island Nation Studio
- A 1950s Surprise Box Perfect for Vintage Stocking Fillers”
It will include toys, hair accessories, haberdashery and other .. surprises ! - from Swagmans
*Images do not show all items donated
£25 DONATION REWARD
Products up to the value of £100.
Donated so far (and more coming):
- Recycled Silver earring hoops with charms from By Maraca
- Recycled Silver and Sea Glass Jewellery from Nautilus
- Printed Photo of a Bristol Scene from Today I'm Bobbi
- Bundle of jewellery and products from Rosa Pietsch
- Zeus Thunderbolt Signet Ring from Erinna Jewellery
- Bridge of Dreams - Print of original painting from Holly Dunham
- x2 hand knitted lambswool hats from Shelagh Brown
- Original Lino Cut 'The Rock Pool' Becca Thorne Printmaker - TBC
- Window Glass Balloon from Catherine Dunston Glass
- Polymer Clay Statement Earrings from Pink Lime Mango
- Sterling Silver and Turquoise Bookmark from Just Plain Charming
- 'Larimar' Sterling Silver Necklace from Just Plain Charming
- Hand Printed Wood Cut Prints (10" x 12") from Ben Brady (x 5 available)
- The Hands and Feet Gift Box from The Bristol Soap Company
- Recycled Silver Teardrop Earrings from Clare LLoyd Jewellery
- 2 in 1 Sterling Silver Earrings from Emily Burnett
- Etched Recycled Silver Earrings from Ava and Bea
- Macrame Wall Hanging from Knots and Stalks (worth £80)
- 1-2-1 mentoring session with Patricia from The Design Trust (x 3 available)
- ONE PLACE on a class with Angela Lai Yen. The prize class can be used on ANY class on ANY date suitable for the prize winner. T&C apply.
*Images do not show all items donated
£50 DONATION REWARD
Items OVER the value of £100
Donated so far (and more coming):
- Original painting from Florence Lee and Co (worth £650)
- Unique handwoven scarf from Shelagh Brown (worth £140)
- Lamp and handmade Lampshade from JP Bespoke Lighting
- A lamp of your choice from Priormade
*Images do not show all items donated
POSTAGE and TIP
If you would like your reward posted please follow the instructions on each listing. You will be required to add £3 - 4 in the additional donations section at checkout. If you don't do this, we won't be able to post the item to you, or we will be in touch to collect the postage cost.
In the checkout page, there is an option to add an OPTIONAL TIP. Please be aware that this tip is NOT FOR US. It goes to Crowdfunder. If you would like to donate additional money to our campaign, please do so in the 'additional donation' section.
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Wowee - thanks for reading all of this. To be completely honest, I'm hugely stressed and I have tried everything to resolve this. Honestly - everything! I've been a dog with a bone; absolutely relentless in exploring every single avenue to save the shop but unfortunately I have run out of options and a Crowdfunder is my last attempt to save us.
I'm sorry to ask for your help - I appreciate you all very much.
Love Beck; but also love from Zoe D, Laura, Nell, Rosy, Zoe H, Flo, Amira, Steph, Emily, Lyndsey, the 150 makers we stock, the 170 small businesses who we have supported through space hire and ...... (hippy but true) the planet :)
xxx