A RALLYING call has been issued to Evesham traders to lend their support to a brand new loyalty card scheme for the town.
The ‘Our Heritage’ loyalty card will be officially launched on June 21 at Evesham’s Morris Dancing festival and aims to keep the town’s heart beating.
Devised by members of the popular ‘Real Evesham’ traders group, the card is based on the soaring success of neighbouring Pershore’s ‘Pride’ card and has already seen 70 businesses sign up.
And ahead of the formal launch, traders hope more businesses will show their support and back Evesham’s town centre and its traders.
The scheme will also have a charitable twist as it will help raise cash for the Bell Tower appeal as a donation will be made when each card is completed.
Kim Dunn, from Bonk, said: “The scheme has been designed by the traders, for the traders.
“It’s all for the good of the town, to encourage people to visit shops and businesses, where they can win prizes and support Evesham.”
The idea was the initial brainchild of Dave Purser from the Master Butcher on Avon Street who said the card would be based on the Pride card.
Pershore’s loyalty card allows shoppers and visitors to collect stamps on their card every time they make a purchase of £1 or more from one of the 129 participating retailers in the town.
“We are going to model our card on Pershore’s Pride’s successful formula with a twist.” he said.
“I hope it will be a project that will last for the long term.
“As well as a loyalty card it will be a heritage card, the first in the country as no one has done this as far as we know.
Traders such as Plan B Computers, Bonk, Moulton Hair and Beauty, Amber Cafe Bar, Marilyn’s, Master Butchers,Whimsy Antiques,
Gummy Gumdrops and Cartridge World are already signed up to the scheme.
And to celebrate the tie-up, traders gathered at the Bell Tower on Sunday (June 1) with Fran Webb for a guided tour of the historic venue by the Bell Tower Ringing Master Chris Povey.
‘Our Heritage’ follows the YES card scheme which was set up temporarily in the town as part of a £200,000 package of measures to keep Evesham ‘Open for Business’ during the closure for the Abbey Bridge.
Any traders who would like to sign up are asked to e-mail Dave at Master Butcher on [email protected] or Kim at Bonk on [email protected] for more information.
SO how will Our Heritage work?
* All shops participating in the scheme will have their own unique number
* Shoppers will need to make purchases from five different shops to get the 10 stamps needed to enter the prize draw
* Completed cards can be posted at the Almonry, Evesham Library or Imagine ahead of the draw with a top prize of £25.
* A limited edition gold ‘Ow Bist’ sticker is also among the prizes
* A 1p donation will be made from each completed card to the Bell Tower Appeal.
Traders already signed up the scheme met at Evesham’s iconic Bell Tower. (s)
