A campaign delivered by TDA and Maybe* on behalf of Torbay Council will create a network of connected traders to support and promote shopping locally in Torbay. 

By encouraging safe shopping and giving customers rewards when shopping locally, both online and offline, the campaign will help consumers to ‘Discover your Town’ and drive spend to local companies.

Businesses that sign up will be part of Local Rewards directory, populated with local business listings and rewards that shoppers can claim and use. The businesses will also receive training to drive engagement on social media and create sales.

Connecting businesses with their local communities and being able to connect businesses together will complement projects TDA are delivering to drive town centre regeneration.

Councillor Swithin Long, Torbay Council Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration, Tourism and Housing, said: “We are working hard with businesses to provide every opportunity for them to trade safely and successfully. As we start the economic recovery process from COVID-19, campaigns like this will help amplify our messages to shop local and support local businesses wherever possible. As we plan to reopen our high streets safely, it is exciting to see initiatives that reward consumers for shopping locally and create a network of businesses that will benefit from being connected. We will continue to work with our business community to ensure this campaign achieves the desired impact we all want to see.”

The objectives of the campaign include increasing the number of businesses in Torbay who have social media accounts, and increasing how active they are on social media.

Sara Bond, Non-Executive Director at TDA, said: “There is a real opportunity to encourage more businesses to use social media to bring businesses together and safely invite consumers back to the high street. By working together, and adding the local rewards incentive, we can help increase sales and measure which promotions work. Through local chambers and business organisations we will share this exciting opportunity with as many businesses as possible and strongly encourage participation to give our local businesses a welcome boost.”

Maybe* is part of the UK Government’s High Street Task Force which supports communities and local government to transform their High Streets. Through Maybe* Local Rewards every transaction creates another opportunity to boost sales locally.

CEO and Founder of Maybe*, Polly Barnfield, OBE, said: “Our platform provides a virtual High Street Guide that showcases live content from local businesses. It enables shoppers to see businesses near them and view their social media content, engage and shop with them. Once the High Street is reopened it will also allow businesses to connect with shoppers when they are nearby. Every purchase by a registered shopper in participating businesses reveals other nearby businesses. It does not require any apps to be downloaded and is completely free for shoppers and businesses to access. It makes it super simple to support local businesses.”

Businesses and shoppers can sign up for the virtual High Street Guide here: www.localrewards.chat.

This project has received Reopening the High Streets Safely funding from the England European Regional Development Fund as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020.

For more information about the Reopening High Streets Safely project in Torbay go to www.torbay.gov.uk/reopening-high-streets-safely.