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NATURALLY NORTH COAST & GLENS BLOG

Updates, News & Interesting Snippets about our Artisan Markets in Northern Ireland

Buy Social - For a better world

Join the #BuySocial Movement


What is a Social Enterprise?


In essence, social enterprises are businesses that are changing the world for the better. Like traditional businesses they aim to make a profit but it’s what they do with their profits that sets them apart – reinvesting or donating them to create positive social change. Social enterprises are in our communities and on our high streets, from coffee shops and cinemas, to pubs and leisure centres, banks and bus companies. By selling goods and services in the open market, social enterprises create employment, make change and reinvest their profits back into their business or the local community. This allows them to tackle social problems, improve people’s life chances, provide training and employment opportunities for those furthest from the market, support communities and help the environment. Each Social Enterprise will have it's own mission. Well known examples include The Big Issue, Belu Water and the Eden Project but there are over 100,000 social enterprises across the country contributing £60 billion to the economy and employing two million people.

It’s business for good, and when they profit, society profits.


Naturally North Coast & Glens C.I.C is a Social Enterprise, we reinvest our profits in creating positive social change through supporting small artisan businesses, and revitalising towns and villages, and bringing communitites together through the delivery of markets.



Why buy from a Social Enterprise?

In recent years social enterprises have expanded from service-based initiatives to commercial products that promote social good. Similar to ourselves. Originally we offered services to businesses and local authorities etc, but with recent diversifications including our 'Seasons of the Glens Farm Shop', 'The Artisan Market Online', and 'Devils Churn Caramel Sauces' we are now also offering products directly to the consumer, which meet our social mission and help generate profit for good in our communities!


Profits from NNCG, The Artisan Market Online, Seasons of the Glens Farm Shop and Devils Churn Caramel Sauces are reinvested to help bring about change, to deliver markets, bring people together, make people happier, support businesses, and in a nutshell help make the world a better place!

Everyone will have their own reason for 'Buying Social' but below are a few examples of why some customers 'buy social' - I feel like I'm giving giving something back to society - and BONUS I'm getting something directly in return yourself - Social Enterprises put people before profit in a reasonable and responsible way - I get a sense of Happiness that I've contributed to something good. - Buying from social enterprises is a way to turn my consumerdom back into citizenship - If I'm going to buy something anyway, why not buy from an organisation that are giving back to society - I've been directly touched or involved in the social cause dealt with by the social enterprise I'm buying from.

Whats Our Social Mission?

Naturally North Coast & Glens C.I.C is a Community Interest Company - a not for profit social enterprise committed to supporting small businesses and revitalising urban and rural towns through the delivery of artisan markets All profits from all our activities are reinvested to help us meet our mission:

  • Provide artisan producers with the services, support and opportunities to develop their businesses

  • Create welcoming, wholesome, educational, cultural and inclusive events that will positively improve the quality of life in our local communities.

  • Contribute to local economic, tourism and community development.

  • Create and deliver activities and events in disused or underused urban and rural spaces to lead to lasting positive change and community led revitalisation.


How can you help?

We generate our income through the hire of pitches to makers, producers etc at markets, hire of services to local groups, authorities etc, and now also through the sale of goods via the Artisan Market Online and Seasons of the Glens Farm Shop, and Sale of the Devils Churn Sauces.


If you're a trader hiring market pitches from us, or our market services, or even just supporting a local market you're helping make a difference.

Every purchase from the Seasons of the Glens Farm Shop, The Artisan Market Online and of Devils Churn Caramel Sauces also helps us make a difference!



You can find out more about our mission, aims and objectives HERE. You can read about our Social Impact HERE








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