New app will support independent businesses in Frome

A NEW app which rewards customers for spending their money in Frome’s independent businesses will launch in Frome  this month.

The app, called Pixie, has been developed and trialled in Bath. The innovative new payment method has been met with enthusiasm and approval by the independent retail community in Bath. The app is downloaded to smartphones, and customers can add money to their in-app account which they use to pay for goods in participating independent shops and cafes.

The app allows customers to discover independent businesses as well pay for goods and services but, most importantly, they also earn loyalty points as they shop, just as they would through well-known big brand loyalty card schemes. The key difference however, is that points earned by shopping in one independent shop can be spent in any other participating independent business  in Frome or Bath. Pixie’s aim is to strengthen the communities of independent businesses in towns like Frome, by encouraging a greater number of residents and visitors to use independents in this way.

Pixie is run by a small team of Bath residents, who are passionate about creating a more local world and supporting independent businesses. They are also big fans of Frome and are excited to be launching at The Frome Independent market on Sunday 1st October.

For businesses, there are no set up fees or contracts, the only costs are a 1.5% transaction fee, plus a 1% contribution to the Pixie loyalty scheme. As an introductory offer, Pixie have pledged that independent shops and market traders signing up before October’s Frome Independent will not have to pay the 1.5% transaction fees for the duration of the market day on 1st October.

For customers, the benefits are clear. You’re earning points that translate into savings whilst you spend money with your favourite Frome and Bath independent businesses. Pixie run time-limited offers and bonus rewards for customers too, to encourage you to pay through the app as much as possible.

Greg Barden who heads up Pixie says that his team are driven by their commitment to supporting small independent businesses.

“We developed Pixie because we wanted to give the powerful multinationals a run for their money, and reward our fellow consumers for choosing to support local businesses in their community,” he said. “We love Frome and are excited to be working with its great local businesses and with The Frome Independent.”

Tabitha Clayson from The Frome Independent believes that paying through smartphones has the potential to benefit the market’s traders and customers, as well as Frome’s independent shopkeepers.

She said, “We are finding that an increasing number of traders and market-goers are looking for an alternative to cash payments – not least because the town’s cashpoints seem to run out of cash on busy market days and there are always long queues at all of them! It’s great that Pixie have found a solution to this need, but especially impressive that it’s one which benefits customers and businesses alike.”

The Frome Independent’s October market takes place on Sunday 1st October from 10am – 3pm across Frome town centre.