Scottish retailer pioneers sanitary product giveaway initiative

Scottish retailer Natalie Lightfoot is going above and beyond to provide free sanitary products to her local community.

The owner of Londis Solo Convenience in Baillieston, Glasgow teamed up with Snappy Shopper for International Women’s Day on 8 March, to give shoppers the chance to secure free sanitary products.

“On the day, customers had to just select them on the app, and they would then be added to their basket,” she said. “We would then add them to their order.”

Lightfoot went one step further, and pledged at the start of the initiative, that she would double the total number of products given away using Snappy Shopper, and donate them to causes in the local area.

This resulted in donations of 254 products, given to Sandyhills Larder, FARE and Community of Helping Hands. However, Lightfoot wanted to ensure she was able to help members of her local community access free sanitary products, long-term, not just for one day.

As a result, she is looking to create baskets to place in public spaces, like restaurants for customers to use. “We are planning on creating a leaflet with a QR code that can be put into each of the baskets,” said Lightfoot.

“It will have a QR code on it, so when someone uses product, they can donate a small fee to reimburse the product used, so someone else can use it.”