Starting a Local Family Discount Card in my Area

localsavermama

Hi all,
I just thought I could do with some feedback on the business service that I am in the process of starting. I already run a local family blog and would like to expand it into a local family discount card program. With Christmas approaching I thought this would be a great opportunity to try in out. Basically what this program will do is give local families access to exclusive discounts provided by family orientated establishments in the area and surrounding areas. Participating businesses incude retail shops, family days out, restraurants, art, entertainment, sports and leisure, travel, educational, parties, kids activities, health and fitness.

I am currently signing up local family oriented establishments and business around the area to offer families great exclusive discounts throughDiscount Card.The Discount Card will be be sold for £6 and valid for a year and will be purchased online or through participating partners. The great thing about this card is that it will be for instant savings on products and services that families use on a regular basis and on yearly spending such as holidays and attractions.
I would therefore like to find out whether you would support such as service in your area and whether you would buy a card. Thanks.

sinizterguy

I would not, unless it really was spectacular ... Which most of these types of schemes are not.

Most discounts that you propose to provide can be gotten through some other means and I am likely to have access to those anyway, probably for free.

localsavermama

Thanks for your reply. I was referring to exclusively negotiated discounts from the participating businesses that are not available to everyone.This will exclude the regular or ordinary discounts.

sinizterguy

localsavermama wrote: »

Thanks for your reply. I was referring to exclusively negotiated discounts from the participating businesses that are not available to everyone.This will exclude the regular or ordinary discounts.

There is no such thing as an exclusively negotiated discount in my experience.

Some other scheme of some sort will be offering the same the discount via them. The business is looking to attract as many customers as possible and to do this they will sell similar discounts to any other schemes.

You don't have large enough numbers to gain exclusivity of any sort.

JimmyTheWig

localsavermama wrote: »

Thanks for your reply. I was referring to exclusively negotiated discounts from the participating businesses that are not available to everyone.This will exclude the regular or ordinary discounts.

Why would any business offer your cardholders a discount that they wouldn't offer anyone else?

E.g. local shop has something up for sale marked at £10.
Shopkeeper knows he will still make a profit if he sells it for £9.
So he offers your cardholders a 10% discount.

I am not a cardholder.
I see a sticker in the shop window that says they offer discounts to cardholders. To me that says that they are happy to give discounts.
"Hello shopkeeper. Will you sell me this for £9?"
What do you think the shopkeeper will say?

Why would I buy a card?


But that's not to say it's a bad idea. Other people may buy a card.

asajj

There is a card called TAG in my city and people do buy it to support independents. Not everyone is bothered to support them but surely it is nice.

When I buy a card, I do calculate the benefits vs cost. I pay for NUS card and it gives back more to me than its' cost.

So yours should be similar. People could or not - also depends on your area. £6 isn't a big deal for some while it is for others.

lincroft1710

No, I wouldn't buy a card. Agree with JimmyTheWig.

localsavermama

Thanks for all of you who've taken time to respond to my post. i really appreciate your opinions - both for and against. The family discount card is based on the principle that as a service provide will negotiate special discount that the public wouldn't otherwise find or access and are only limited to card members. Some businesses aim is not to offer discounts to the general public or everyone who visits them, some businesses would rather offer a discount to members of a certain organisation. It works in organisations such as employee discount cards, students, seniors, so i dont see any reason why it wouldn't work with a group of families in one location - especially it is well executed and better deals are negotiated. Business memberships work that way. So what would stop a group of families to sign up to that?

lincroft1710

localsavermama wrote: »

Participating businesses incude retail shops, family days out, restraurants, art, entertainment, sports and leisure, travel, educational, parties, kids activities, health and fitness.

I am currently signing up local family oriented establishments and business around the area to offer families great exclusive discounts through Discount Card.

How many businesses/organisations have signed up?

localsavermama

Asajj, thanks very much for your post and I've just had a look on that TAG website, nice to get some more inspiration. One thing I've learn in business is that one has to be true to themselves and belief and trust in what they are doing and also offer the best service to people they are catering for and everything will come to be. It's not about who tells you NOT it's about believing in yourself and learning from other people's success and failure. The aim is not to give up easily. Obviously my aim is not to win the whole nation. My goal in life to give a great and honest service to a few people so if a business decide to go outside our agreed boundaries and decide to offer EXCLUSIVE discounts outside our members then they are not worth working with really. It's such kind of behaviour that make someone fail in life as it does not reflect true entrepreneurship. Certain clauses will be put in place and they will take an honest person to stick to them.

LaoCapon

TBH, I would think about it, but only depending on the offers available. I do like to patronise local establishments, etc, so would definitely think about it, as £6 for a whole year isn't bad.