Bristol Pound scheme to expand

By Cheddar Valley Gazette  |  Posted: June 01, 2014

 Comments (0)

THE team behind Bristol's own currency are working with counterparts in Devon to launch an online local shopping service, with the aim to launch similar schemes across the UK.

The Bristol Pound is a local currency designed to support independent Bristol businesses and bring them more custom.

The team behind it have announced they will work with the team behind a similar venture in Totnes to build a one-stop online shop giving retailers a way of selling online and accepting electronic payments in local currency.

A click-and-collect service will mean customers are still drawn to the town's high street, rather than it becoming a ghost town as more retail transactions go online and deliveries are made to people's homes.

The ability to incorporate reward programmes and special offers means the electronic currency will be designed to act as a marketing and loyalty tool for independent traders.

Bristol Pound has been able to take on the partnership thanks to funding from the Technology Strategy Board.

Graham Woodruff from Bristol Pound said: "The Bristol Pound is showing the potential of electronic local currency to support independent traders and we have been approached by many other towns and cities in the UK and beyond wanting to set-up something similar.

"We are delighted to be partnering with Totnes in this project after being so inspired by the Totnes Pound in our original decision to launch a currency in Bristol."

Launched in September 2012, there are about 350,000 Bristol Pounds in circulation with more than 600 businesses in Bristol using them to varying degrees.

Read more: http://www.cheddarvalleygazette.co.uk/Bristol-Pound-scheme-expand/story-21172792-detail/story.html#ixzz35ZMxMgC