Whistler locals about to be hooked up through discount card program
"Locals' discounts" have been a part of ski towns practically since the dawn of time, but starting in August, one Whistler resident hopes to formalize the process and better promote deals offered by individual area businesses.
Founder Julia Cochrane is currently in the planning stages of launching a locals' discount card allowing residents of Whistler to earn access to special store discounts.
Cochrane has recently spent time contacting not-for-profit and charity groups in Whistler to feel out their potential interest, and starting next week she plans to approach businesses with the idea.
Residents would be able to learn about special discounts and events through the program's website, whistlerlocalcard.com, as well as through social media outlets Twitter, Facebook or weekly e-mails. Participating local businesses featuring a storefront will receive a green sticker alerting residents they belong to the program.
Prices charged to for-profit businesses will range from $199 to $1,500 to be part of the program.
Cochrane said during the first year of the card in Park City, Utah, the locals program resulted in nearly $4.8 million in sales revenue for businesses. About $1.8 million was passed back to locals in discounts.
Noting the success of the card, it has been introduced throughout several communities in the United States, including Aspen, Vail, Boulder, Palm Springs, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz and Monterey. Plans are in the works to expand the card to the Netherlands and Australia.
To further reach out to the community, Cochrane has decided to let nonprofits and charity groups sign up for the program for free. The groups can then use her advertising venues to promote their programs and events.
So far, the Whistler Adaptive Sports Program (WASP) and the Big Brothers and Big Sisters Sea to Sky Chapter have agreed to participate, said Cochrane.
While other local card programs have been tried in Whistler in the past, but none have been successful, Cochrane believes with strategic use of social media, that the card can be a smash hit.