The loyalty scheme Wetherby Phlok has been awarded the category winner for North Zone innovation in the Towns Alive Awards 2014.
Phlok is a new rewards scheme in Wetherby that encourage sconsumers to shop local more often. It has won the Innovation Category in North Zone of the Towns Alive Awards.
Phlok is based on a social networking platform. Consumers collect Phlok points, a virtual currency that can be spent in any participating Phlok business: encouraging shoppers in the local community to rediscover and use local independent businesses more regularly.
Wetherby has embraced Phlok as a method of promoting and incentivising the use of their local independent businesses. The local business community and not for profit organisations have successfully worked together to bring Phlok to Wetherby and over 7800 consumers have signed up to use it. Not only have transactions to the value of £30,000 been made through Phlok, but it has provided a catalyst for marketing, and brought local businesses together to collaborate.
Alongside Phlok the town’s twitter hour, #wetherbyhour, has diversified from a successful twitter campaign into a monthly ‘live night’ – bringing people together virtually and physically.
Towns Alive is the operating name of Action for Market Towns, a national charity dedicated to putting the life back into our towns and cities. They have a national network of members, and work with local authorities, town councils, community and town partnerships, emerging Local Enterprise Partnerships, business improvement districts, and independent / selected partner businesses.
Judges’ comments: Excellent example of harnessing technology and social media to benefit a town and its communities.
