Discount card to help Southampton recover from pandemic
Residents will be offered discounts when shopping local
Southampton residents are to benefit from promotions and discounts when shopping local this summer.
Residents and people who work in the city are set to receive a card which will enable them to have discounts or access to special offers when shopping in Southampton from June 1 to August 31.
The “SO card” is expected to be delivered to all Southampton households in the coming weeks.
It comes as part of a project run by GO!Southampton – the Business Improvement District (BID) - and Southampton City Council to support local businesses.
The card will be a physical card which customers can show in a business when ordering, at the till or when pre-booking packages or experiences and receive discounts or offers.
Residents will be able to use the card in any business that decides to adhere to the initiative, with the full list set to be published on June 1.
GO!Southampton said residents will be able to use their cards straight away without having to download an app or sign up
Giles Semper, executive director at GO!Southampton, said: “It’s really easy to use the card and there are no fees or apps involved – simply hand it over to the participating business and take advantage of the offer. There’s something for everyone, from hospitality and retail to leisure and health and beauty. There will be a range of offers, packages and experiences available to residents from some of Southampton’s much-loved businesses and attractions, as well as a few well-known national chains.”
The cards are expected to be delivered to 117,000 households in the next few weeks.
The BID said more cards might be distributed around the city centre and to businesses while a digital version that customers can show on their phone or download and print off will also be available.
The initiative is set to be rolled out across the summer but GO!Southampton said the scheme will be reviewed every month and it may be expanded later in the year, depending on feedback.
“The idea forms part of a wider initiative to offer people a welcome return to the city centre and encourage them to come back to the businesses that have suffered from long closures during lockdown,” Mr Semper said.
Cllr Dan Fitzhenry, who is set to be the new council leader in the city, said: “It is an exciting initiative and it is what’s needed to help us get Southampton moving. We are very happy to support GO!Southampton and our local businesses to promote their products and offers.”