Big Issue vendor becomes first to sell magazines via chip and pin

A London Big Issue seller is the first UK streetpaper vendor to sell his magazines via a portable card reader. Simon Mott, who sells the magazine from his pitch in South Kensington, used his initiative to find a profitable solution to the problem of living in an increasingly cashless society. “I got a Smartphone in April, specifically with the purpose of getting a card reader attachment,” says Simon. “It’s also useful to find out what’s going on in the area or answer people’s queries when they come up to me on my pitch.”



The 49-year-old Big Issue vendor has sold the magazine close to the Science and Natural History museums for two and a half years. As one of London’s busiest tourist hotspots, he quickly noticed that it was often a lack of cash that prevented many people from buying the magazine. “There were many times where people were saying to me, ‘Oh, I’d like to buy the magazine but I haven’t got any change. Or: ‘I’ve only got a £20 note’,” he says. Having always had an interest in the latest trends in technology, Simon investigated portable card readers online.

“When I was working, I used to have the latest cameras and phones,” he says. “There’s so much technology around now. If you have something you need to do, there is probably some sort of technology out there to help you do it.” Eventually Simon came across the Swedish company iZettle and their card reader device which enables payments to be taken securely by chip and pin. After contacting the company and explaining his situation, iZettle were keen to get involved and helped Simon set up a system that worked for his situation.


YouTube link.

Simon expects about four copies of the magazine to be sold by chip and pin each week. “My sales vary because obviously the Big Issue magazine is predominantly a cash business, so it doesn’t occur to most people to think that they could pay by card.” 2013 has been a busy year for Simon. In addition to a regular volunteer role at the gay, lesbian and equality charity Stonewall, Simon also successfully found private rental accommodation in January this year and launched an Ebay shop. “People say that you can be just three steps away from homelessness,” Simon says. “I wanted to say that you can sit down and do nothing about it, or you can get up and sell the Big Issue. Give yourself some purpose and meet people while selling every day who put you back in touch with reality.”