Bus scheme gives businesses boost
TRADERS in the Cynon Valley say a new scheme has been good for business.
Hop, Shop and Save offers high-street discounts to bus users thanks to a partnership between the council and Stagecoach.
It launched in September, providing residents and visitors to town centres in Aberdare, Mountain Ash, Pontypridd, Porth, Treorchy, Tonypandy and Ferndale the opportunity to save up to 20% at local shops by showing a valid Stagecoach bus ticket.
Antiques Arena on Oxford Street in Mountain Ash is offering 20% off all antique items through Hop, Shop and Save.
Owner Walter O’Neil said: “I have had over 40 customers who have presented a valid Stagecoach bus ticket upon purchase since October last year.
“Roughly half of these have been brand-new customers and faces that I’ve never seen in my shop before.
“I have one weekly user who uses their 20% off discount with their bus ticket. I have had one customer who travelled all the way from the Rhondda valleys on the bus to my shop, just to get the 20% off discount. This particular customer purchased over £1,500 worth of products in two different visits to the town – within a fortnight of each other in December.
“I regularly hear people say they have seen my advert on the Stagecoach buses. The 20% discount is very popular with the gold and silver jewellery that I sell, as the majority of the time customers are saving hundreds of pounds. I have recently expanded my business and feel as though the Hop, Shop and Save scheme has contributed to my expansion.”
Bradley’s Coffee on High Street in Aberdare is offering a 20% discount off hot drinks across its locations (including Peppers Restaurant in Aberdare and Talbot Green). The business has seen more than 250 customers present a valid Stagecoach bus ticket since September – and about 35% were new customers.
Owner Jim Bradley said: “We have invested in the scheme because it makes sense on many levels; not least, it has opened encouragement to visit the high street in a planetsaving way.”
Councillor Robert Bevan, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s cabinet member for enterprise, development and housing, added: “Attracting more visitors to our town centres continues to be a priority for the council, and this unique scheme in partnership with Stagecoach gives an incentive for residents to shop locally. The experiences shared by local businesses suggest that Hop, Shop and Save is making a real difference within our communities.
“The scheme has many benefits – from boosting trade for local shops and for Stagecoach, to encouraging more people to visit town centres and promoting public transport as a more environmentallyfriendly option than driving.
“Hop, Shop and Save is one of a number of ways we are trying to boost trade in our town centres – including the recently extended Town Centre Maintenance Grant to improve property fronts, free or reduced parking across all council-owned car parks, and free publicaccess wi-fi which will be rolled out across Rhondda Cynon Taff over the course of this financial year.”