On the Cards

I hope I haven't been disparaging towards the Cerdyn Bro Rhuthun Card scheme. That was not the intention. While still feeling that the offer needs improvement and expansion, let's look at the incentives currently available, as published in the Clwyd Connection. Note that I am aware of others but for some reason they aren't yet live, so it would be wrong to publicise them in case they don't materialise or they're changed. Or may be thy will only be known to those who have or are willing to give an email address. There need to be other ways of communicating, perhaps via a periodic good press release or information available at the library. Not everyone has an email or is willing to share it, no matter the security promises given.

Remember, too, that these are *initial* offers and more will follow, in September.

• 10 per cent off all "in stock" items at Homewood Bound, Rhewl.

A good start. That's exactly the sort of offer for which I was hoping. Unambiguous and simple.

• A three course pre-booked Sunday-Thursday evening for the price of two at Manor House (Manorhaus), during August.

Easy to criticise as not offering enough incentive but restauranting is what Manor House does. It's a good way of selling space at less busy times and is similar to the way in which the railway and Easy Jet promote and market themselves by selling seats more cheaply at slacker times. Equivalent to at least 10 per cent off (more like 20 per cent, in fact).

• Buy five ready meals and get one free at Leonardo's.

OK, so it's not 10 per cent off across the range but it does equate to 17 per cent, if you like ready meals (or Leonardo's ready meals).

• 60 per cent off original, marked prices on a selection of items at the Montecito sale.

Not 10 per cent off all stock, admittedly, and available on slelected items only but better than half price, for sale items. Won't suit everyone but seemingly a bargain. What is the reduction for those without a Cerdyn Bro Rhuthun Card?
One interesting facet which I hadn't initially noticed was that the loyalty card scheme isn’t simply available to locals. When the publicity states "local and loyal" to Rhuthun it really means "local or loyal". Loyalty need not be from those who live locally. Not so much a reward for those local people the Bro Rhuthun group is trying to encourage but a general product available more widely. Could I therefore get the equivalent loyalty scheme card in Dinbych (if one were available) and isn't that somewhat self-defeating?

Lastly, I liked Gavin Harris's comment that "We'd love to come and chat with every shopkeeper but thankfully there are still too many in Ruthin so we have to rely on modern communications." Long may there be many shopkeepers in Rhuthun… but never *too* many… with the help of the expanded and refined Cerdyn Bro Rhuthun Card, perhaps.