VillagePod platform set to launch
A NUMBER of retailers in north Wicklow have signed up to use the ‘VillagePod’ platform, which allows consumers to pay with their smartphones.
Retailers can accept payments with a small tablet or a staff phone.
Launching in early November, after a short pre-launch campaign, the platform has over 60 retailers on board in Bray, Greystones and the surrounding areas, including hairdressers, beauty salons, coffee shops, bars, restaurants, hardware stores and gyms. Some of the businesses are in Enniskerry, Kilcoole and Newtownmountkennedy.
‘VillagePod was born from a frustration of seeing local businesses lose out to large multinationals who can make huge investments in IT and marketing by virtue of their size,’ said founder Cormac McKenna. ‘We believe that we can help to strengthening our communities and boost sustainability by helping people think local first. We can do this not by simply repeating a “shop local” message but by making people feel good every day about spending local.’
The platform will support payments to retailers and from person to person, and will integrate loyalty features for retailers and digital gift cards which will allow retailers to sell gift cards from social networks like Instagram. Each retailer nominates a local ‘cause’ to support each time a consumer makes a purchase.
Causes include local schools, sports clubs and registered charities. Overall costs for business are competitive with a typical charge for accepting a credit card.
‘We are very excited about being able to bring this technology to local retailers and have been blown away by the goodwill that exists for this initiative,’ said partnership manager Louise O’Neill. ‘Retailers are particularly excited about opening up the digital gifting market which is a huge area that most of them just can’t tap into right now. We’re going to change that!’
Pending the launch of the app, residents can join the waitlist at start.villagepod.app/launch. Businesses can join by emailing hello@villagepod.app.