Loyalty card for local shoppers
We're always being told how many green brownie points we can earn by shopping locally, but what about loyalty points? Supermarkets may be evil corporate giants in some people's minds, but let's face it, they offer value for money. And free stuff on our trusty reward cards.
The Wedge card is set to change all of this. Introduced by Diana Bird, daughter of Big Issue founder A. John Bird, it offers discounts and freebies in participating local shops. But it differs from most supermarket loyalty cards in that it also helps local charities, and was conceived out of Bird's passionate belief in local networks and our need for a sense of community - especially in large cities. Bird believes that many people who never had the benefit of good local shopping facilities are now drawn towards the idea, and that the trend towards malls and other retail monstrosities is beginning to reverse.
A sizeable list of traders - covering everything from baby clothes to wine - would seem to agree, having already signed up to the scheme. Look out for the Wedge logo next time you're on the high street!
