New shopping scheme celebrates century landmark

Buy photos » Les Taylor, owner of Bridge Street store Abbey Hardware, has given his thumbs up to Evesham’s new loyalty card scheme. (s)

A NEW drive to attract shoppers into Evesham has exceeded all expectations after more than a hundred businesses signed up to the scheme.

The new loyalty card idea, known as the Your Evesham Shops or the YES campaign, was set up earlier this month to encourage shoppers to spend their money in the town's shops for a chance of winning £1,000.

Funded by Worcestershire County Council, Wychavon District Council and Evesham Market Town Partnership, the scheme has now beaten its target of getting 100 businesses to join up.

Shoppers' loyalty cards receive a stamp for every transaction of £1 or more in any participating business. Once ten stamps are received the owner of the card then can fill in their details and enter the card for the month's prize draw.

And the first ever loyalty card prize draw will take place on Saturday, November 17 - the same day Evesham celebrates its Christmas Lights switch-on event. One card will be drawn out at random with the winner receiving £1,000 in gift vouchers.

Following twelve monthly prize draws there will be a special Grand Finale draw in November next year when all cards from the year will be included and the lucky winner will scoop a luxury cash prize of £3,000.

Shawn Riley, Evesham Market Town Partnership manager, said: "We now have around a third of town businesses signed up and that is tremendous within the first month. I think this shows a great spirit among the traders to work together to boost the town.

"Local people have also been backing the YES campaign too and we have had plenty of entries already. Feedback across the board has been really positive and we wish good luck to everyone in the first prize draw next month."

The latest shop to sign up to was Abbey Hardware who became the 101st company to join the YES campaign. Shop owner Les Taylor, who has run the Bridge Street store for 21 years, said he was delighted to be taking part.

"While I was considering signing up I had quite a few customers come in and ask me if we were taking part, which helped me make my mind up," he said.

"We need to attract as many people as possible to the town centre and I am happy to be part of any initiative that supports my customers and Evesham."

To sign up to the loyalty card scheme visit www.eveshamloyaltyscheme.co.uk while participating stores can be seen at www.eveshamtown.co.uk/index.php/enjoy/loyaltycard.

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