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Tips on Distributing the Leaflet

To Shops

• Be polite. I find it useful to smile at the shopkeeper as I enter the shop. I have in my hand a small pile of the leaflets, between 10-20 depending on type of shop.

• I first request permission, holding up the front of the small pile of the leaflet, "Would you be willing to have a little pile of these on the counter for customers to take?" I find it useful to lower the pile to where I believe would be a good place to put them.

• I might then (depending on the interest shown intheir response, explain the reason I am offering the leaflets, such as something like:

  "The reason I am going round with these leaflets
  of my own initiative,
  is because most people (80%) are concerned about climate change
  ([for 2026:] especially with the summer we have just had!)
  yet most politicians are not really interested in climate change
  - not even the Greens -
  and some are even against climate responsibility.
  So we the people need to keep the conversation going."

• I found that people often respond positively to this. If they are especially positive, then I might add a few more leaflets to their pile, with "Shall I give you some more?" or "I'll give you a few more, because I have short-changed you" or similar.

• Which shops? I aim at shops that are likely to be visited by local people. Hairdressers and the like, and lunch / coffee bars, are shops that many people visit, and might read the leaflets while waiting. I tend to seek out little clusters of 'local' shops. In town centres, I usually omit chain stores because they often say "We are not allowed to take them here." Instead, go into smaller or individual shops. I make a point of visiting 'unlikely' shops, such as tyre bays, car parts shops, tool and building supply stores especially those that have a counter rather than checkout tills. And pubs - where I can offer strike up a light-hearted conversation with drinkers or other clients.

• How many leaflets? Depends on how many people might visit the shop. For frequently visited shops, maybe 20-30, for infrequently visited shops like estate agents, maybe 6-10.

With such an approach (I don't really know to what extent this approach is the reason) I have found very positive attitudes. Some are