An exciting new initiative to encourage more residents and visitors to use our village centre shops, pubs, cafés, restaurants, takeaways and other traders will launch at the start of next month. The Ruddington Loyalty Scheme comes as high street retailers everywhere are facing more challenging trading conditions in these increasingly internet-dominated times.
The introduction of the village loyalty card was on the agenda at a special meeting for local businesses last night (18th September) organised by the recently formed Ruddington Village Centre Partnership (RVCP) group. It was hosted by Julie Smith from the Black Cat Café, Ruddington Postmaster Soham Patel, Sally Beards of Phoenix Flowers and Parish Councillor Mark Pinks. The gathering (pictured top) was to tell village retailers more about the new card – but also to get feedback on other proposed RVCP initiatives to increase footfall on High Street and Church Street. Ideas include occasional late night opening, a regular market on The Green and freeing up more daytime parking spaces for shoppers. This will include a consultation with Nottinghamshire County Council about revised parking restrictions to benefit short term visitors, traders and local residents in our village centre. Watch this space!
The launch of the Loyalty Scheme and its promotion have been funded initially by Ruddington Parish Council with the dedicated card (above) designed by Ruddington based Wig Wag Creative – based on their popular village gateway signs. This card will be FREE to pick up by anyone who shops, drinks, eats or uses services here. It will then be useable at all of the retailers in Ruddington who have agreed to join the scheme by promising to have monthly #RUDDYGOODOFFERS for their customers – in the form of a discount or other loyalty bonus.
RVCP Chair Mike Ader said: “The Loyalty Card is the first initiative by the Ruddington Village Centre Partnership and I’m delighted that over two dozen Ruddington businesses have already signed up. I would like to think that Ruddington residents will want to actively support these businesses, and thereby the village, by using their loyalty card regularly!”
RUDDINGTON.info
will be the place to find details of all the participating traders and each month’s offers. We’re also continuing to work with Nottingham City Transport as part of their #RuddyGoodDayOut campaign to encourage bus use in Ruddington. The next edition of the bus operator’s printed village guide booklet – which is due out in October – will include all the participating retailers. Keep an eye on our website for more details, coming soon!
The Ruddington Loyalty Scheme is set to run for an initial trial period of three months up to Christmas. If it proves successful then it’s hoped funding can be found to keep it running indefinitely.
