Local Loyalty makes more cents

Across Ireland communities are seeing small local businesses struggling to remain competitive against larger chain stores that are popping up everywhere. While many are lamenting the loss of local businesses few are doing anything about it.

However, independent businesses in Carrigaline, Co. Cork have decided to group together and do something to keep the local economy thriving.

Businesses have taken the initiative to launch Ireland’s first town-wide Loyalty Card. Cardholders can use one card to collect points in multiple local businesses and redeem them for a range of rewards.

The more the customer uses the card the more points they earn and the greater the reward they get. As the business is not giving a discount to every one-time visitor who walks through the door they can give bigger rewards to their most regular customers.

Local resident Theresa Woods said of the new initiative: “It’s always nice to get something back when you shop locally and it’s good to see businesses in Carrigaline doing something to keep the town going.”

The Carrigaline card is operating under the localrewards.ie banner. This is a service which has been specifically set up for town cards by myrewardcard.ie, the Cork based developer of the technology.

CEO of myrewardcard.ie, Brian O’Connell, said “It was obvious that smaller businesses would benefit from a reward system that showed them the same sort of transaction patterns that the big supermarkets see.”

The resulting service makes advanced Loyalty Card programmes available to the smallest businesses. It requires only an internet connection and browser to operate and removes the need for clients to update software or make database backups.

The Carrigaline programme is starting with eight independent businesses covering a wide range of markets including bookshops, shoe stores, tyre centres and pet shops.

Small local businesses need to work together and create a sense of community if they want to compete with the larger chains. Initiatives like this one allow them to remain competitive and encourage locals to remain loyal.

What do you think of this initiative? If you are a local business owner would you consider setting up something like this in your community?

Other communities that are promoting local shopping include: Bray, Letterkenny, Dundalk, Waterford, Castlebar, Ennis, Kells and Naas.