Loyalty support for local business

Scottish firm launches new scheme in Perth

Colin Munro
Miconex founder Colin Munro makes a purchase at a local Mi Rewards business

A LOYALTY scheme that rewards consumers for shopping local launched in Perth last month, with over 50 local businesses signing up to the scheme.

The brainchild of Scottish tech firm Miconex, the new Mi Rewards platform links with shoppers’ credit or debit cards, assigning points whenever they spend in local businesses.

Mi Rewards points are then logged automatically and consumers can convert these into gift cards to be used in the scheme’s participating businesses. Registered users will also be offered occasional perks such as event tickets.

Following the launch in Perth, Miconex plans to expand across the UK with cities including Glasgow, Edinburgh, Salisbury, Bath and Sheffield top of the agenda for the coming months.

In each location, Miconex hopes to sign up a wide variety of business types, with the Perth launch featuring a broad range of stores and entertainment venues.

Businesses on the books in Perth at present include McCash’s Country Store, Simon Howie Foods, and Willows Coffee Shop & Restaurant, as well as Perth Concert Hall, Tayberry Gallery and The Black Watch Castle and Museum.

Speaking at the Mi Rewards launch, Miconex MD Colin Munro said: “As a city, we wanted to reward people for spending money in Perth. The Mi Rewards programme enables the businesses here to give something back to the people that are supporting them in the form of points which can be exchanged for town/city gift cards and also perks for being part of the programme.

“This is not about pitching one business against another, this is about everyone working together to make the customer feel valued.

“By making business communities more competitive and rewarding consumers for spending on their doorstep, we’re helping to build better local economies and creating stronger places.”