Ireland’s first SmartNetTown™ heralded as the answer to keeping customers in towns nationwide

DUN LAOGHAIRE, Ireland - April 29, 2014 - PRLog -- Media release

Issued by Value Nation™

29^th April 2014


The first SmartNetTown™ in Ireland was officially launched by An Tánaiste Mr Eamon Gilmore, TD recently.  SmartNetTown™ is the name given to any town where merchants are using Value Nation’s™ customer loyalty engagement programme and LolliPoints™.

Launching the SmartNetTown™, An Tánaiste Mr Eamon Gilmore, TD said, “The concept of the SmartNetTown™, which brings local retailers and service providers together under one multi-store loyalty scheme, is both innovative and ground-breaking.

The idea of a town-branded loyalty scheme, using a smart phone app, is a simple one. But it is precisely the kind of initiative that we need to encourage, to help to bring Ireland forward. As the economy continues to recover from the economic crisis, and as confidence continues to grow, it is vital that we encourage this kind of entrepreneurial spirit, which will help to create more jobs and to breathe life back into the towns of Ireland”.

He also commented that this was something that every town in Ireland should consider as a tool to help them keep customers in the town.

Speaking about the new SmartNetTown™, Mr Eamonn Dawson, Value Nation™ CEO said, “We are proud to see a concept become a reality. The launching of the first SmartNetTown™ is actually the fulfilment of part of our long-term goals and embodies, at the same time, the beginning of a new chapter in retailing customer engagement which will be long and successful. We truly believe in our products and the further applications it can have to promote local business. We are currently in discussions with other towns in Ireland and the UK to implement our technology and, in fact, in other territories you actually won’t even have to use another card.”

The “test town” was Dalkey in Co. Dublin, where merchants in Dalkey are using LolliPoints™ (a currency), in retail outlets for almost three months now, and the Dalkey Business Group believes that the Value Nation™ programme is a really exciting opportunity for the town to encourage shopping locally.

During the past three month trial in Dalkey, the total amount spent in Value Nation™ transactions, using the Value Nation™ app, is €653,000.  The current number of people  in Dalkey using the Value Nation™ system is 2852. The average total spend for customers during the period in the participating stores is €229.  €39,700 has been awarded in LolliPoints™ - the currency used by Value Nation™ for customer rewards. Just under a third of this (€12,300) has been redeemed by loyal customers. While at the start of the trial there were just a few merchants on board, this has grown to an impressive 20 merchants for the Dalkey area at the time of launch.

The aim of Value Nation™ is to support local merchants and retailers by providing them with a customer loyalty scheme. The customers use only one card (or App) in several shops and collect LolliPoints™ while buying goods or services that can be redeemed in the same shops to receive discounts and special offers. Dalkey is the first town where merchants have come together to equip themselves with the LolliPoints™ scheme. There are merchants nationally using LolliPoints™ too and the same card (or App) can be used everywhere.

Talking about this project, Nicky Logue, Chairman of the Dalkey Business Group said, “When Value Nation™ first approached us about its platform, we (Dalkey Business Group), believed it was a great opportunity for our members to strengthen their businesses and enjoy greater loyalty with their customers by understanding their needs and rewarding them. There is also an important human dimension around this initiative: it allows the Dalkey merchants to integrate more with each other and exchange analytics in order to work together. This project unites the different retailers of our town and shows to everyone the Dalkey cohesion. Thanks to the uniqueness of this initiative, we are proud to be the first SmartNetTown™ ever in the country and because we love our town, we are delighted to offer this rewards scheme to the Dalkey citizens.”

Value Nation’s™ goal is to roll out the platform nationwide in the short term and in the long term across Europe and beyond. Implementing the Value Nation™ platform on an international scale could help local merchants from Ireland and abroad to strengthen their local position and provide great value to their customers in a convenient and innovative way.

.

         -  Ends -

For further information please contact:

Frank Cronin or Sharon Plunkett, Plunkett Public Relations, Tel 01 280 7873 / 087 222 7200 / 087 820 6833