TOOLKIT
On this page we have listed ideas and tips on how to plan a successful Buy Nothing Day event.

Your event can be anything from staying at home with a good book to organising a free concert. If this is your first time its best to set your sights on something easy. Ask friends to help - groups spring up just for Buy Nothing Day, so keep checking the EVENTS page.

PLANNING IS THE KEY
Planning your event is key to its success. Hold a few meetings with friends before the day. Ask friends to take on responsibilities i.e. making posters leaflets and banners - costumes (if needed) and get someone to deal with the publicity and press etc. Let the press and local radio know what you are doing - customise the BND PRESS RELEASE to suite your event. DOWNLOAD posters and leaflets - distribute lots of them.

IMPORTANT
Make sure your event can take place at your chosen location and isn't on private property - its pointless working hard at organising and publicising an event only to find you're asked to leave after 10 minutes.

On the day - check everyone has your contact details. Pack some coloured marker pens - biros - paper - blunt ended scissors - sticky tape - double sided tape. Balloons for handing out (write Buy Nothing day on them). Make sure you have plenty of leaflets. Take a notepad to get contact details of fellow BNDers. Take lots of pictures with a digital camera or mobile and send them to us. Check the weather and dress for it. Remember to pack something to eat and drink.

The public generally love the idea of Buy Nothing Day and many of the events tried over previous years have been well received. Your event should be fun and engaging. Humour works in a big way - the sillier the better. Why not organise a ZOMBI£ MOB! In our absurd consumer society we are becoming zoned out zombies, shuffling from shop to shop chanting BUY, BUY - BRANDS, BRANDS!

Some will argue that this method of campaigning won’t capture the public’s attention and we're laughing in the face of the more important issues. However, we're culture jamming - if people laugh at the ingenuity and genius of Buy Nothing Day then we've got their attention - we're opening the door to the important issues.

... And don't forget!
Your event shouldn't hinder people going about their daily business - blockading doors or silly stunts don't work - many people don't have a choice about participating in a consumer society. Ultimately, shoppers won't listen if you treat them like the enemy.

Below are some ideas, which have worked in the past...

SHOPPER FREE ZONE
Mark out a public area and fill it with people playing games, listening to music and chilling out on sofas or chairs (inflatable furniture is good). Hand out balloons with Buy Nothing Day written on them to the bemused onlookers.

CONSUMER MONSTER!
Join the Consumer Monster Challenge - take to the streets with a video camera and your own www.consumermonster.com activist puppet to spread consumer awareness. Learn how to make your own puppet on the site - Get sewing!

SWAP SHOP
Fairly simple idea. Set up a table and ask people to do swaps. Just for fun - leave a set of bugus Porsche keys and see if anyone notices?

CHICKEN or COW?
YOU'll need to borrow a chicken outfit for this one. Visit fast food outlets with a banner saying 'YOU'RE NOT HAVING MY CHICKEN WINGS!' Works well if there's a large flock of chickens. Or hire a cow costume and shout 'STOP EATING MY FRIENDS!'

TEMPER TANTRUM!
Re-live those childhood tantrum moments - except this time you're all grown up and should know better. Sit on the floor in any shop with a friend and chuck a mental. Shout things like 'I don't want anything anymore!' or 'You've got more shopping than me - that's not fair you pig!', anything really - just be a BIG kid.

BANNER DROP
Slightly more adventurous - you'll need a big sheet. Paint on a BND slogan like 'The more you consume the less you live!' and see if you can get it put up somewhere in your local shopping centre.

CONGA TIME!
Top off BND with a classic conga. Chant, sing songs and get everyone to join in. It's a great way to end Buy Nothing Day!

HAVE FUN and HAPPY BUY NOTHING DAY...