A loyalty card scheme is being promoted in one Kent town in a bid to reward shoppers returning to stores when non-essential outlets reopen on Monday.

As the easing of lockdown continues, retailers are preparing to welcome back customers.

And in Tunbridge Wells many stores are hoping a loyalty card giving shoppers the chance to be in with the opportunity of winning a £100 voucher will act as a 'welcome back' incentive.

The Loyal Tunbridge Wells cards will be handed out to customers with a stamp being earned for each purchase made in the town. When ten stamps are collected, customers will go into a draw for the prize, which can be spent anywhere in the town.

It is part of a project promoted by Royal Tunbridge Wells Together - the company delivering the town's Business Improvement District (Bid) initiative.

Ross Feeney, chief executive of Royal Tunbridge Wells Together, said: “If the lockdown has shown me anything, it is that ‘non-essential retail’, is actually really very essential indeed. The impact of the ‘stay at home’ guidance has been felt across almost all of our businesses, as well as our loyal community. We are therefore hoping to support the much anticipated return with a warm ‘welcome back’ message, on-hand ambassadors to provide welcome information and a call to our community to ‘shop local, to support local’.

"We are committed to working together with our businesses to try to encourage everyone back to Tunbridge Wells. By helping to drive footfall and redefining customer experience, we are hoping businesses will be able to make up for some lost time with a safe, social and successful return.”

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