A new loyalty card has been launched in Sutton Coldfield as retailers combat tough times for the high street.
The new Rewards In scheme – which launches next week – will give people using shops, eateries and businesses in the town centre the chance to earn rewards and special deals. Retailers continue to find the going tough – as highlighted by the collapse of underwear chain La Senza this week – but the town is focusing on attracting return visits.
The card, which can be used as either a physical card or a smartphone app, is entirely free to use and will see users receive discounts, special offers and freebies from dozens of businesses.
Already more than 40 national chain and local businesses in Sutton Coldfield town centre have signed up to the Sutton Coldfield Town Centre BID scheme, including Don Diego, Co-operative Travel, Nanpan, Apollo 2000, and Paperchase.
John Cutler, who is BID vice-chair and strategy director of Rewarding Visits, said: “Our vision is that anyone giving their custom to a business in the town centre, whether that is a coffee shop, a retailer, or even a service provider, will be rewarded and encouraged to return. This is an entirely new scheme, developed and built here in Sutton Coldfield and it therefore felt right that our home town should be the first to benefit. We believe the Rewarding Visits concept has great potential beyond Sutton Coldfield and anticipate other towns, regions or groups following Sutton’s lead in the near future.”
The scheme has been developed by a new Sutton Coldfield-based business, Rewarding Visits, alongside the business improvement district (BID).
It becomes the first town in the UK to have such a scheme.
To begin with, businesses based in the BID area, stretching from the Empire Cinema to Birmingham Metropolitan College on Lichfield road, are participating in the scheme, but it is anticipated additional businesses will be able to sign-up in the near future.
Town centre manager Mike Bushell said: “We believe that by giving people an additional incentive to give repeat custom to businesses in their own town, we can contribute towards the creation of a more prosperous and vibrant town centre.”
Cards can be obtained from the participating businesses.
