How to set up a successful shop local program with Open Rewards

Shop local initiatives are proven to have a significant economic impact on communities by keeping dollars circulating within the local economy. With Bludot’s Open Rewards, we’ve made it easy for communities to launch impactful programs that boost local businesses without creating extra work for business owners. Here’s a look at how your community can implement a successful shop local program and see similar results.

The economic benefits of shop local programs

Local businesses are the backbone of any thriving community. By supporting these businesses through targeted programs, you directly stimulate local job growth, increase local tax revenue, and enhance the overall quality of life. According to studies, for every $100 spent at a local business, approximately $68 stays within the local economy. Shop local programs like Open Rewards drive even more money back into your community by rewarding residents for supporting local merchants.

But what if there was a way to increase that impact without making it more complicated for your local businesses? With Open Rewards, this is exactly what you can do. The platform simplifies the process, allowing your community to manage a seamless rewards program while taking the burden off business owners. No additional effort is required from local businesses—they simply continue doing what they do best, while consumers earn rewards for shopping locally.

Tailored programs to fit your community’s needs

Each community is unique, and the flexibility of the Open Rewards platform allows for customization to match the needs of your area. Let’s take a look at how other communities have successfully tailored their programs to achieve their specific goals:

Community 1: A focus on local growth

• Rewards fund: $10,000

• Rewards percentage: 20%

• Maximum rewards per transaction: $200

• Maximum total rewards: $200

This community leveraged a high reward percentage of 20% to encourage local spending during the holidays. The program runs for an extended period, ensuring residents have time to accumulate and redeem rewards. By offering a high percentage and capping the rewards per transaction, it keeps the program manageable while motivating residents to support local businesses.

Community 2: A gradual approach to engagement

• Rewards fund: $5,000

• Rewards percentage: 5%

• Sign-up bonus: $5 for the first 100 users

• Maximum rewards per transaction: $10

• Maximum total rewards: $250

This community adopted a gradual approach, offering a lower reward percentage (5%) but including a sign-up bonus and capped rewards for each transaction. The focus here was on engaging as many people as possible with a low barrier to entry, which can be especially effective for communities that are just starting out or want to test the program on a smaller scale.

Community 3: Downtown revival through strategic promotions

• Rewards fund: $17,500

• Rewards percentage: 5%

• Voucher codes:

  • 400 codes of $5 reward

  • 6 codes of $25 each

• Sign-up bonus: $10 for the first 200 users

• Maximum rewards per transaction: $100

• Maximum total rewards: $500

This community used a combination of low-value voucher codes and a sign-up bonus to maximize engagement. By offering both smaller incentives and larger rewards, the program attracted a wide range of participants, from those making small purchases to those contributing larger transactions.

Why it’s easier than ever for business owners

One of the key advantages of Open Rewards is that businesses do not need to take any action to participate. The app handles all aspects of reward processing, so there is no disruption to a business’s daily operations. Business owners don’t need to worry about tracking rewards, issuing payments, or handling redemption codes—they simply need to continue providing great products and services, while the app automatically takes care of the rest.

This makes the program incredibly easy to implement and manage for both communities and businesses, allowing them to focus on what matters most: fostering local growth and supporting residents and businesses alike.

Getting started with your own successful shop local program

Setting up your community’s shop local program is straightforward with Bludot’s Open Rewards. Here’s how to get started:

1. Program setup & customization: Work with your project manager to define the key parameters of your program, such as rewards funds, redemption methods, and expiration dates

2. Marketing & promotion: Once the program is set, promote it through social media, local events, and traditional media outlets. Use a mix of digital and in-person methods to reach your audience

3. Ongoing support & reporting: Monitor the program’s success, gather feedback from businesses and consumers, and adjust as needed. At the end of the program, comprehensive reports will help assess its impact on local spending and business growth

Bludot’s Open Rewards platform is designed to empower local governments, businesses, and communities to work together to create meaningful, long-lasting economic change. With easy implementation, minimal effort for business owners, and a customizable rewards structure, your shop local program can be a success from the very first transaction. Schedule some time to see what Open Rewards would look like in your community.