Hownd, the foot traffic generation platform, has announced that its merchants have received more than US$1.5m in proceeds from the purchase of vouchers by consumers.
The Arizona, US-based company recently temporarily pivoted its business model toward support voucher sales to help generate immediate cash for local brick and mortar merchants during the pandemic.
“While this is definitely the most challenging time for local brick and mortar businesses, the fact that nearby consumers have stepped up in such a big way by purchasing support vouchers is encouraging and humbling,” said Hownd's CEO Brandon Willey.
Shortly after Covid-19 began forcing closures, Hownd quickly adjusted its usual distribution of local merchants’ promotional offers and created its Buy Now, Visit Later Support Voucher program. These are essentially non-expiring gift cards consumers easily purchase from their favourite local merchants through several digital channels, including the MyHownd mobile app.
The merchant immediately receives the proceeds, which is the cash lifeline many of them have needed and will continue to rely on to sustain their business until they can reopen – and after reopening as well – and consumers come back through their doors to redeem their vouchers.
“The program is producing exceptional results for family entertainment centres, salons and spas and restaurants, all of which have taken a hard hit from the pandemic and comprise the core of the businesses that Hownd serves,” Willey added.
As part of Hownd’s initiative to help local businesses navigate their way through the pandemic and experience successful reopenings, the company has also published its Raise the Sails Reopening Marketing Guide. The guide features many of Hownd’s own proven best practices as well as those contributed by its partners, including 4Media Marketing, Ironwood Venture, and Trustworkz.
