Shop Local Loyalty Scheme

What is it?

A wide range of local businesses have signed up to Swale Borough Council's Shop Local First incentive card scheme which is formally launched on 18 May 2010.

What incentives are there / How do I get them?

From 10% discounts, buy one get one free to exclusive special offers - using your incentive card not only rewards you for shopping locally but it also helps to support our local businesses.

The incentives offered by the businesses are very varied. You will need to show your Incentive Card to receive the incentive and meet each business's terms and conditions. There may be terms linked with some offers such as a minimum spend or the offer may be valid only on certain days. All businesses reserve the right to withdraw their incentive at any time. Please refer to this schemes terms and conditions.

How do I get my Incentive Card?

• Participating stores should have stocks of the Shop Local First scheme leaflet. The card is simply pushed out of the front cover
• Cards will also be handed out in busy public places and to local employers
• The cards can also be picked up in local libraries and council offices

Can my business be a part of the scheme?

Swale Borough Council will continue to accept businesses into the scheme. If you want your business to be part of the scheme, simply Complete this registration form today and return it together with your business discount offer and a registration fee of just £25 (made payable to 'Swale Borough Council'). The annual fee is a contribution towards the supporting media advertising.

Which businesses are offering incentives?

The following businesses are offering incentives, the table has been split into three; Shops and Restaurants, Business Service providers, and Learning and Skills providers.

Why Shop Local First?

Shopping locally keeps money in the local economy and local people in jobs. Local businesses also sell a wide range of great products that are more likely to be sourced locally and at affordable prices.

Swale can not only offers great local shopping incentives, our residents and visitors can enjoy regular local events. Our markets offer a wide range of great bargains. A twice weekly market in Sheerness is held every Tuesday and Saturday in Rose Street car park, Sheerness. In Sittingbourne the weekly market is held in the Forum car park, Sittingbourne every Friday.

Tourism and events - whilst on Sheppey more local information can be obtained from the tourist information point in Sheerness which is situated in the Blue Town Heritage Centre in Blue Town High Street or call 01795 662981.

What are the features and benefits of the scheme for local businesses?

By joining the scheme, your business will benefit from the following marketing and promotional opportunities:

• Listing your business name, nature of business, location, your incentive and contact details including your website link on this web page
• Promotion of all the shopping areas and types of businesses in our printed Shop Local First leaflet
• Promotion of the scheme in our council newsletters
• Mentions in local media through a series of adverts

The type of incentive you might offer your customers could be:

• 10% off (you could include a minimum spend)
• Added extra free - this could be extra flowers or larger soft drink
• A special discount on a certain day in the week
• A free gift when a customer spends over a certain amount
• Buy one get one free offer
• Reduced estate agent or professional fee
• Free soft/hot drink with a meal

How do the cards work?

Businesses will receive a pack which includes a window sticker and an incentive poster to display. This poster should be used to promote the incentive on offer so that customers know what they can expect. For customers to receive the incentive they will need to show their card at the time of purchase to get the incentive. Businesses are able to change or withdraw their incentive at anytime, all we ask is that any changes or withdrawals are made in writing to Swale Borough Council with seven days notice and a new poster is displayed that informs your customers of the changed incentive.

How do customers receive the incentive cards?

We will be producing 30,000 leaflets with cards attached to start the incentive.

• Businesses on the scheme will be given leaflets and cards to pass on to their customers
• Cards will be handed out in busy public places and to local employers
• The cards can also be picked up in local libraries and council offices

It would be really good to get as many businesses joining the scheme as possible and we hope you decide to join.

Given this very encouraging interest, Swale Borough Council will continue to accept businesses into the scheme. Simply Complete this registration form today and return it together with your business discount offer and a registration fee of just £25 (made payable to ‘Swale Borough Council’). The annual fee is a contribution towards the supporting media advertising.

Terms and Conditions for Shop Local First

Swale Borough Council has set up the Shop Local First campaign to support local businesses across Sheppey. All the businesses have entered the scheme in good faith and we would ask that the following conditions of use are followed:

Shop Local First - Businesses

Each business that has joined the scheme will need to clearly display an 'official' window sticker which is proof that they have paid £25 for annual membership to the scheme, this contribution assists in the funding of media advertising of the scheme.

It is up to the business to promote their incentive in their shop using the official posters provided by Swale Borough Council. However, the business reserves the right to withdraw or change their incentive at any time. They do not need to give a reason for their withdrawal or change. We ask that businesses who change or withdraw their incentive offer should contact the Council's Regeneration Project Officers for Sittingbourne and Sheerness in writing allowing seven days notice.

A business will have their own conditions of use for the incentive offer - you may need to spend over a certain amount of money in the business to claim the incentive. If a sale is on in the businesses, the offer may not be valid on sale items - so please check with the business to avoid disappointment.

Shop Local First - Customers

You will need to show your card to receive the incentive in the businesses.

You may also need to meet each businesses separate terms and conditions, such as spending over a certain amount, using the card on a certain day of the week or not using the incentive in conjunction with another offer.

Please check with the business what their terms and conditions may be.

Important: The business can withdraw their incentive offer at any time.

If you lose your card and need a replacement please pick up a replacement at all participating retail outlets or the Councils Offices in Sheerness and Sittingbourne.

Comments, requests or questions?

Should you like to make any comment or request with regard to the scheme your feedback is most welcome, please write to:

Jill Read Town Centres Officer,

Email: jillread@swale.gov.uk or Call: 01795 417592