May 25, 2016
An ambitious project to encourage South Burnett shoppers to “shop local” was launched at a series of business breakfasts across the region last week.
The breakfasts, organised by the South Burnett Regional Council’s peak economic development body South Burnett Directions, were held in Wondai, Murgon, Blackbutt, Nanango and Kingaroy.
Guest speaker Tim Hill, founder of electronic marketing company Rewardle, was introduced at each breakfast by SBRC Economic Development Manager Phil Harding and Economic Development Officer Sharyn Garrett.
Mr Harding told about 50 businesspeople gathered at a breakfast at the Oasis Motel in Kingaroy on Friday that the new “shop local” program was not just about putting a sticker on a window or a new slogan.
“This is a very detailed, well-researched program, unique to the South Burnett and something that has never been done before throughout Australia,” he said.
“We’re very excited about that and we’ve had a great response at all the breakfasts.”
Mr Hill said the “shop local” program would involve businesses inviting their customers to join a loyalty program to gather points for special offers.
The customers would be given a plastic card with a unique QR Code (a two-dimensional barcode), or could choose to download an app, which includes a QR Code, to their smart phones.
The card – or the smart phone app – would be then be waved in front of small tablet placed on the counter of businesses which choose to take part.
Incentives to shop at that business, or with other businesses taking part in the program, would be offered.
Advertisements for businesses taking part in the program would also be displayed on each tablet.
Ms Garrett said the aim was to get shoppers to change their habits over time.
Mr Hill said more than one million Australian shoppers already had a Rewardle card, including one in four Queenslanders.
The card or app can be used across multiple businesses, unlike regular rewards programs.
What is unique about the planned six-month “shop local” campaign in the South Burnett will be the level of co-operation between the local businesses.
Businesses would be supplied with the tablet, an unlimited number of cards, and technical support for $49 per month.
Shoppers will have the chance to win $100 gift vouchers every time they swipe their cards.
Ms Garrett said there would be two levels of entry into the program – one for retail and one for non-retail businesses.
The plan was for the campaign to run from September 2016 to February 2017, with the competition running from September to November.
Once a week, shop owners would upload information from their tablets via wi-fi to the “cloud”.
This would allow South Burnett Directions to gather important data about economic activity across the region, although shoppers’ individual details would not be collected.
After the campaign ended, businesses could continue to be part of the Rewardle program or hand back their tablets.
I would shop local if shop assistants/businesses weren’t so rude, arrogant and disrespectful towards their customers / local residents.
I would like to apologise on behalf of all the local business owners who also run their businesses. Most I hope are like myself and do really see taking care of their customers as the most important issue for their business to continue trading.
Sometimes it seems a business that is owed by a chain or corporation do have staff who are not well treated and of course develop a don’t care attitude to customers. This is unfortunate and please don’t tar all local businesses with the same brush. Some of us do really try hard to help people get the best product at the best price.
I agree. I am all too happy to keep my purchases local even if it means spending more but only as long as I am treated right and my business is appreciated (which I am glad to say that generally it is apart from a few select business that seem to think they are too good for most of us!)
If only we could go elsewhere when it came to dealing with public servants and government departments.