Select a region
Managers of a St. Brelade café have launched a scheme encouraging islanders to "give to get" by buying vouchers for use at a later date to help local businesses through one of their toughest ever trading periods.
Chlöe Harman and Oliver Ashton, who run the ‘Off the Rails’ café, launched the project with Carl Huelin to support the local small business community.
It comes after Chloë and Oliver had to partly close their café due to the spread of corona virus within the island.
Pictured: Chlöe Harman and Oliver Ashton run the ‘Off the Rails’ café.
They received a message from a total stranger, which read: “Hi, I’d like to support local businesses at this time but would rather not get a takeaway delivered, is it possible to purchase vouchers for later use online?”
The pair were left overwhelmed by what they described as an “amazing act of generosity and kindness”.
After pointing the kind stranger to their café website, which already had a voucher system set up, they were inspired to start the ‘Give to Get’ project.
‘Give to Get’ encourages consumers to support their three favourite businesses by buying an online voucher from them to be redeemed at a later date.
If the business chosen by the consumer doesn’t have a digital voucher system, they are invited to direct the business to the ‘Give to Get Project’ website which explains the simple steps to set up one.
View this post on Instagram
The website also includes a digital toolkit to help businesses share and promote their vouchers.
“The plug has been pulled on revenue streams for many businesses,” the ‘Give to Get’ team said.
“Some have needed to make the painful decision to let go of their trusted staff whilst others have closed their doors for an indefinite amount of time. These are businesses that add colour and life to our communities, they provide employment and enrich our daily lives so we don’t want to lose them.”
“Businesses aren’t charities, so this is a fair exchange of money for goods and services, just a delayed one!” Mr Ashton added.
Pictured, from left: The 'Give to Get' team - Chlöe Harman, Carl Huelin and Oliver Ashton.
The trio hopes the project will stimulate support to local businesses in Jersey and further afield with the aspiration that, when the crisis comes to an end, some of islanders’ favourite places left to enjoy will still be there.
While the team cannot guarantee that all the businesses islanders “invest in” will still be there to repay the support that has been shown to them, they say: “If we don’t utilise the power of our local communities, there may be nothing left for us when society emerges from isolation.”
The Kismet Cabana, based in Ouaisne Bay, has already felt the benefit of opening the channels for support by their customers by installing and promoting digital vouchers, with Summer Lister saying the ‘Give to Get Project’ came at “a critical time” for the restaurant.
Pictured: Kismet Cabana, which is based in Ouaisne Bay.
“We were heartbroken to have had to close our doors but with our loyal customers wanting to support us, having a voucher system in place meant that they could inject some hope into our future,” Ms Lister said.
“We are so grateful for the amazing support of those individuals who have gone above and beyond to help us get through this difficult time - especially the minds behind this heartfelt project.”
“I think we are all realising just how fragile and important our community can be and how one person’s act of kindness can make the world of difference,” Ms Lister added.
“Please, support the businesses you love. They are run by people just like you, trying to provide for their families through the things that they love."
Comments
Comments on this story express the views of the commentator only, not Bailiwick Publishing. We are unable to guarantee the accuracy of any of those comments.