Ima Rix (centre and holding card) helps launch the new Faversham Rewards loyalty card with local traders. Picture: Barry Duffield.

by Adam Williams

Faversham residents can get
their hands on a new loyalty card from this weekend.

The scheme, called Faversham
Rewards, hopes to encourage people to use the town’s shops and
services, in return for discounts and vouchers.

The card costs just £5 and 18
businesses are already signed up. More retailers and traders are
set to join in the coming weeks and months, which is the brainchild
of the Faversham Enterprise Partnership.

Project coordinator Ima Rix
(pictured left) is excited at the card’s potential to boost
the local economy.

She said: "It’s a very exciting
scheme for Faversham to be involved with.

"We want to do everything we can to
make sure the town thrives and survives in very difficult and
turbulent times.

"Faversham is a very special town
with a unique combination of individual, privately owned shops and
some of the more established names. The scheme is there to reward
those people who use the town daily and indeed those who visit from
time to time."

The more people use the card, the
more points they earn, gaining access to each participant’s
individual promotional offers. Smart card technology holds
information on how many points customers earn at each business.

Cards will be handed out at
participating outlets from Saturday, July 4, and Ima Rix believes
they will be snapped up quickly.

She added: "We urge people to take
it up in their numbers, as it will save them a considerable amount
of money in the long term. It will also keep people proud of using
the town."

For more information on how to get your card and where to start earning points, visit www.faversham.org/rewards