The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) is encouraging retailers to get involved with the ShopKind Week campaign, which begins on 9 November.
ShopKind is a campaign within the retail sector that aims to raise awareness about violence towards shopworkers, while also acknowledging the essential role they play, reminding customers to #ShopKind when visiting stores.
Distressing figures
Figures from the 2026 ACS Crime Report, issued earlier this year, found there were over an estimated 67,000 incidents of violence towards shopworkers, and almost a million incidents of verbal abuse.
Plus, if you’re short on ideas on how to help spread the ShopKind message this year, the ACS can help.
It suggests sharing the downloadable #ShopKind assets across your social media platforms, putting ShopKind posters up in store, getting your staff involved with the campaign with ShopKind badges, or even nominating someone in your organisation to be a ShopKind Champion.
Downloadable assets
You can download the free materials on the official National Business Crime Centre website here. There are assets to help you prepare, such as posters to print outs and social media graphics you can share online to promote the campaign.
You can also develop your own assets, but these must follow the brand guidelines.
For the first time this year, ShopKind Week is also set to be part of a wider co-ordinated campaign to promote colleague safety messages.
The week of action will also include the National Business Crime Centre’s Safer Business Action Week, the Retail Trust’s Lets Respect Retail Week, and shopworker union USDAW’s Respect for Shopworkers Week.
Feel safe
ACS chief executive, Ed Woodall, said: “Shopworkers and convenience retailers have the right to feel safe when they’re serving their communities and should never be subject to abuse.
“This campaign acts as a reminder to customers that it’s important to treat everyone with kindness and respect.
“We’re pleased the ShopKind campaign continues to grow and we need your help in ShopKind Week to ensure the messages behind the campaign continue to be heard.”
As part of the campaign, the ACS is also looking for ShopKind Champions, who will be responsible for sharing the campaign’s message through all communications and will receive a digital ShopKind Champions Pack.
If you’re interested in becoming a ShopKind champion, or would like more information about ShopKind Week, email Daniel.askew@acs.org.uk.
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