Last Friday Manchester Lib Dem Leader and City Centre Councillor Marc Ramsbottom took to the streets as a Big Issue in the North seller to find out what life is like for vendors of the magazine.
Cllr Ramsbottom sold alongside Big Issue in the North vendor Colin, who sells the magazine outside Manchester's Cornerhouse on Oxford Road. Marc picked up tips of the trade from Colin as he sold the magazine to members of the public and met customers who regularly support vendors.
Before starting his work as a Big Issue in the North vendor, Cllr Ramsbottom visited The Big Issue in the North office where he was taken through the induction process, which everyone who sells the magazine goes through, and was 'badged up' as an official seller. Marc found out about the code of conduct which governs the way vendors sell the magazine.
Cllr Ramsbottom was given five free magazines, as all vendors get when they first sign up to sell the magazine, and then had to sell those magazines using the £1profit he made from each one to purchase more. Cllr Ramsbottom gave the profits he made throughout the day to Big Issue in the North vendor Colin, whose pitch he has sold from.
Cllr Ramsbottom said: "The Big Issue in the North does fantastic work in Manchester and I learnt first hand what it's like to be a Big Issue vendor in the city."
Caroline Price, Director for The Big Issue in the North said: "It's great for us to be able to give people a real insight into what it's like selling the magazine and we're pleased that Cllr Ramsbottom has sold The Big Issue in the North to the city's shoppers and found out more about the way we work."
You can find more information about the Big Issue in the North on their website: http://www.bigissueinthenorth.com/
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