A wish list and digital gift voucher project designed to support local independents has been given a boost by Warwickshire County Council’s £80k town centres Tech Challenge fund.
The Tech Challenge fund, launched by the county council in November 2020, is supporting three digital initiatives (two in South Warwickshire, one in North Warwickshire) which will boost support for town centre businesses.
One of these initiatives is Myndy.co.uk (from ‘my indie/independent’) which targets independent businesses in Kenilworth, Leamington and Warwick. Myndy brings local businesses together with those who want to help keep their local business communities alive.
Myndy is receiving funding of £31,600 to help speed up the rollout of the new platform that makes it easy to create a wish list of your favourite local, independent businesses, services and trades to share with friends and family.
When a gift voucher is purchased from Myndy, the money goes directly to the local business. Gift vouchers are easily exchanged in store with a quick scan of a mobile phone. It’s a no set-up cost, low transaction fee system, that helps local independent businesses compete with global online giants.
Almost any business can be added to a wish list, as long as they are a local and independent. This includes services that you might not typically think of as gifts – from cleaning, gardening and decorating, to a haircut, a chiropractor or physiotherapy appointment, or simply buying someone a coffee at their favourite café.
Myndy is being developed by a small team of local creatives and developers based in Leamington. The pilot project covers Warwick, Leamington Spa and Kenilworth, and the aim is to expand the project to cover independents across Warwickshire and then nationwide.
Pentlands client and project lead, Liz Katz, says: “We are very grateful for this cash boost from Warwickshire County Council. We are passionate about encouraging people to keep buying and spending locally – supporting our high streets and our local economy. Local businesses are not just another shop or service, they’re people’s livelihoods and they’re what makes our neighbourhoods uniquely ours.
“So, instead of an Amazon wish list, why not make a Myndy List – for Christmas, birthdays, weddings, new arrivals, friends, family or colleagues, or just to share your favourite local businesses and services in one place?”
For more information the Myndy website
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