The Big Issue

Business Profile

Core Value Proposition

Big Issue provides a street newspaper and social enterprise model that funds its mission to end poverty by supporting vendors who are experiencing homelessness or vulnerably housed.

Target Customer

People experiencing homelessness or vulnerably housed (vendors); readers and supporters; advertisers; potential corporate partners seeking social impact opportunities.

Key Differentiator

A vendor-based street-paper model funded by advertising, supported by a diversified social enterprise ecosystem (Big Issue Invest, Big Issue Recruit, Big Issue Exchange), and certified as a B Corp with reader-supported journalism since 1991.

Implementation Timeline

Subscriptions are available immediately; impact programs, investments, and partnerships operate on ongoing timelines with measurable annual reporting.

Pain Points

1Poverty and homelessness in the UK.
2Barriers to sustainable employment for people facing poverty and living in vulnerable housing.
3Social exclusion and lack of inclusive access to income, housing, financial and digital inclusion.

Key Features

1Vendor-based street magazine that funds its mission through advertising.
2National vendor program and vendor stories to illustrate impact (and events like National Vendor Week).
3Five impact pillars guiding activities: Learning & Employment, Housing, Health & Wellbeing, Environment & Community, Financial & Digital Inclusion.
4Group services including Big Issue Invest (investment), Big Issue Recruit (recruitment), Big Issue Exchange (marketplace), and Big Issue Shop (retail).
5Subscriptions and special pricing (e.g., SPECIAL PRICE: Just £9.99 for the next 8 magazines) and multi-channel journalism (print, website, app).

Target Customer Industries

Client Results

1Funding for journalism and campaigning to end poverty through advertising and subscriptions.
2Empowerment and income opportunities for vendors (payments, vendor stories, and support).
3Advancement of financial and digital inclusion for participants and communities.
4Partnerships and collaborations that extend vendor support (e.g., BillyChip partnership).
5Ongoing group impact through five pillars and annual impact reporting.

Competitive Advantages

1Integrated, multi-arm approach to poverty alleviation (media, investment, recruitment, campaigning).
2Vendor-based model directly linking income opportunities to individuals facing poverty.
3Strong, long-standing brand with reader-supported journalism since 1991 and B Corp certification.
4Diversified revenue and impact channels (advertising, subscriptions, investments, partnerships).
5Public-facing advocacy and campaigning that complements journalism and vendor support.

Key Benefits

1Direct funding for journalism and poverty-focused campaigns.

2Income opportunities and support for vendors through a vendor network.

3Advancing financial and digital inclusion for communities.

4ESG and social-impact collaboration opportunities for employers and partners.

5Access to a multi-channel media and shopping ecosystem (print, digital, shop).

Case Studies & Success Stories

My customers have been very good to me: Big Issue vendor Tony Flynn returns to work after triple heart bypass

Case #1

Vendor Tony Flynn returns to work after heart bypass surgery, illustrating the vendor support network and positive impact of the Big Issue model.

BillyChip partners with Big Issue to help our vendors

Case #2

Partnership with BillyChip to support Big Issue vendors.

Additional Product Information

Product Description

A weekly street magazine and social enterprise that funds its poverty-ending mission through advertising and a vendor network, complemented by an ecosystem of social-impact services (Big Issue Invest, Big Issue Recruit, Big Issue Exchange, Big Issue Shop).

Target Market

Vendors (people experiencing homelessness or vulnerably housed), readers and supporters, advertisers, and corporate partners seeking social-impact collaborations.

Unique Value Proposition

Hand-ups, not handouts: a sustainable, reader-supported model that directly funds poverty-ending journalism, advocacy, and vendor empowerment through a comprehensive social impact ecosystem.

Technical Requirements

N/A

Pricing Model

Subscription pricing including a special offer: £9.99 for the next 8 magazines; ongoing subscription options referenced on site.

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