As ShopKind Week 2025 launches, the Scottish Retail Consortium (SRC) and trade union USDAW are calling on shoppers to show kindness, consideration, and respect to Scotland’s retail workers.
ShopKind Week is an annual event coordinated by the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS), and supported by the SRC and USDAW, which supports the promotion of kindness of shopworkers, whilst seeking to raise awareness of the growing problem of customer abuse and violence towards shop workers.
The SRC believes the mistreatment of those working in stores is wholly unacceptable and should not be tolerated. ShopKind Week aims to change that by promoting a world where everyone is able to enjoy shopping safely; and help to support the vibrancy of retail destinations across Scotland.
A Parliamentary motion supporting ShopKind Week has been backed by 36 MSPs.
Ewan MacDonald-Russell, Deputy Head, Scottish Retail Consortium:
“Scotland’s 230,000 shop workers go above and beyond every day to look after customers to keep stores stocked and serve our customers. It is appalling that seven colleagues a day are facing assault, with innumerable others the victims of wider abuse.
“The SRC is calling on Scotland’s customers to bring some well-deserved kindness and consideration this ShopKind week. It would be fantastic if we could change the narrative and move to an environment where shop workers could feel safe in stores rather than fearing the next confrontation. Shop worker abuse is not inevitable, and whilst there is a role for businesses and the police, it is everyone’s responsibility to behave with thoughtfulness when shopping.”
The SRC’s call has been backed by USDAW, who will be marking this week with a campaign on July 5th with stalls in Glasgow and Dundee to celebrate national retail workers day.
Tony Doonan, Scottish Regional Secretary, USDAW:
“We fully support the SRC in its plea to the public to show courtesy and respect to shopworkers in what is a growing issue of violence and abuse that shopworkers face when carrying out their role. No one should have to experience threats of violence or intimidation in the workplace.”
James Lowman, ACS chief executive said: “We are proud to deliver the #ShopKind campaign this year and are grateful for the widespread support it has received from across the sector and our customers. We hope that the campaign reminds everyone to be considerate to shopworkers, and that it will continue to raise awareness about the violence and abuse that they face when serving their communities.”
