Belle and Sebastian singer Stuart Murdoch and wrestler Grado will be selling the magazine in Glasgow as part of the International Network of Street Papers’ vendor week.
A few well known faces will be taking to the streets of Glasgow and Edinburgh next week to sell copies of The Big Issue.
Belle and Sebastian singer Stuart Murdoch, Scottish professional wrestler Grado and even Partick Thistle’s popular David Shrigley-designed mascot Kingsley are each taking part on Wednesday and Thursday as part of the magazine’s publisher International Network of Street Papers’ vendor week.
Each is giving up an hour of their time, along with a slew of business people and media luminaries to sell The Big Issue while being mentored by real vendors.
The event is taking place in cities across the UK with the likes of actress Maxine Peake, Guardian columnist Owen Jones, Empire editor Terri White, Buzzfeed’s Luke Lewis and representatives from businesses such as Hard Rock Café, the Law Society of Scotland and Aberdeen Asset Management are all taking part.
I’m a little nervous about next week, but I hoping that with my warmest clothes on, and some sales tips from the real Glasgow vendors, I’ll sell lots of magazines
The events aim to boost Big Issue sales at a traditionally quiet time of year, as well as raising awareness of issues around homelessness and raising money to support INSP.
Guest vendors will also be sponsored, raising money for INSP’s poverty-reduction work around the world.
This year, for the first time, INSP Chief Executive Maree Aldam will be joining the guest vendors and selling The Big Issue herself in Glasgow. She will be joined by members of The Big Issue’s editorial team.
Speaking ahead of the week she said: “#VendorWeek has continued to grow in its fourth year as an international event, celebrating the many thousands of hard-working vendors who sell magazines like The Big Issue in 35 countries worldwide.
“We are so grateful to this year’s cohort of guest vendors for their time and support.
“I’m a little nervous about next week, but I hoping that with my warmest clothes on, and some sales tips from the real Glasgow vendors, I’ll sell lots of magazines.”
A full list of guest vendors with dates, locations, and approximate times visit the INSP website.
Glasgow and Edinburgh guest vendors
Glasgow, 3 February, Sauchiehall Street
Hard Rock Cafe team, 11-12pm
Magnus Llewellin, Herald & Times Group, 12-1pm
Jim Duffy, Entrepreneurial Spark, 12-1pm
John Mcleish, Eqator, 12-1pm
Andrew Dobbie, MadeBrave, 12-1pm
Stuart Murdoch, Belle and Sebastian, 1-2pm
Michelle Davitt, BIIS, 1-2pm
Sheri Scott, top blogger, Forever Yours Betty, 1-2pm
Amanda Davies, Scottish blogger of the year 2015, Honeypop Kisses, 1-2pm
Anne Ledgerwood, St Enoch Centre, 2-3pm
Vicky Carroll, Deputy Editor of The Big Issue, 2-3pm
Steven MacKenzie, The Big Issue features editor, 2-3pm
Maree Aldam, INSP Chief Executive, 2-3pm
Kingsley, David Shrigley-designed Partick Thistle mascot, Time TBC
Glasgow, 4 February, Sauchiehall Street
Grado, Scottish wrestler, 1-2pm
Edinburgh, 4 February, Princes Street
Lorna Jack, The Law Society of Scotland, 12-1pm
Duncan Osler, Chair of Social Enterprise Scotland, 12-1pm
Cally Russell, Mallzee, 1-2pm
Geoff Aberdein, Aberdeen Asset Management, 1-2pm