Help Croydon's small businesses & creatives

Set up five years ago, East Croydon Cool is a community marketing platform that showcases great things to see, do and experience in Croydon - giving local businesses, charities, and residents a space to be seen and heard.

The platform helps promote local organisations by connecting them to a wider audience via its website, social media channels, event programme and network of journalists and bloggers.

From writing blog posts, running competitions and organising in-person and online events to co-ordinating volunteers, creating social content and securing press coverage; East Croydon Cool has helped increase awareness of (and spending at) local businesses - from independent bars and cafes to fledgling online businesses run by local creatives.

Marketing aside, the platform has encouraged residents to engage with local issues and helped foster a sense of neighbourhood pride and belonging.

But we know we can do so much more!

We reckon, the East Croydon Cool community has the knowledge, skills and connections to help Croydon at a time it needs it most. The platform makes a modest amount of money by selling merchandise and marketing packages but this income has obviously been impacted over the last few years.

Intermittent lockdowns and reduced revenue, have made it hard for small businesses and creatives to invest in marketing so we've run a number of free projects to help promote them during this time. These include a series of online events (such as a yoga class with Croydon Hot Yoga, coffee workshop with Mr Tinto and Pilates sessions with Fitness with Fernando), a social media campaign (that highlighted different ways residents could support over 40 businesses while they were closed including Chatsworth Bakehouse, Muddy Trowel, Cronx Brewery, Mr Fox, The Lollipops, Rosie Girl, MyPT and The Ludoquist), collaborations (such as a manicure package with Atara Nail Bar which included a donation to Croydon Voluntary Action centre and an Isolation tips project with local graphic designer), PR Support (for a group of local creatives from TMRW co-working space who were joining forces to secure work) and as lockdown started to lift, we held a series of 'Table for Six' small events (to bring locals back together and into local hospitality venues such as The Store, Matthews Yard and Basil & Grape). 

By securing Donations, we could help more local businesses and creatives by providing them with free PR and Marketing support as well as revenue opportunities -

If we reach £1000: we will offer paid packages to 20 Croydon businesses/creatives
If we reach £3000: we will provide PR support to 2 Croydon businesses/creatives
If we reach £5000: we will work with local creatives and venues to run 5 free wellbeing events for community groups and residents  

We're also offering up our usual Paid Packages as Rewards (so if there's a specific local business or creative you’d like to support, you can buy a Paid Package for them and you/your organisation will be credited in the promotion as a Crowdfunder supporter). It's a great way for large local corporate companies to show some love for the smaller ones (whilst also getting some recognition on the East Croydon Cool channels!) 

In summary, we all know it's been a tough time for local businesses and creatives and the financial impact of Covid has been compounded in Croydon with a flailing High Street and bankrupt Council. BUT the Croydon community remains it's strongest asset! 

So if you’re keen to show your support to local businesses and creatives in 2022, please do consider donating and helping us bring these projects to life.

Thanks
Maddy

Local Resident and Founder of East Croydon Cool