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A venture aiming to encourage locals to support Holywell businesses has achieved a sell-out with more than £4,000 injected into the town’s economy – and new customers secured.

Holywell Town Council’s voucher scheme, where residents would get £2 to spend for every £1 spent, up to a limit of £20, saw a total of £4,025 pumped into the Holywell economy across the months of May and June, with more than 95% of vouchers redeemed.

More than 100 residents purchased vouchers from the council – which funded the project – under the system, with 15 businesses benefitting from the boost to footfall and sales.

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There are hopes this will bring longer term benefits too with shoppers continuing to support the high street.

One of the businesses to benefit from the scheme was salon Beauty by Beth, which saw an increase in regulars opting to select a wider range of services, as well as an expansion of its customer base through use of the vouchers.

Beauty by Beth owner Beth Mearns (pictured) said: “This last year has been quite difficult for many businesses, including our own; we were still recovering from the salon being damaged in a fire when Covid hit and forced businesses to shut, so the voucher initiative has really helped us get back on our feet and regain those customers we may have missed before.

“Many of our regulars who purchased the vouchers ended up using them with us to treat themselves to an extra service outside of their regular treatments, so it was encouraging to have that additional support as well.

“We had at least five new customers become regulars and we’ve seen a steady increase in bookings and demand for services over the last couple of weeks.

“The voucher programme has been invaluable for the business.”

A pair of butchers also saw an upturn in sales, with Danny’s Family Butchers and FR Kennedy & Son Butchers both benefitting from the campaign.

Mayor of Holywell Town Council Councillor Ted Palmer said: “Since the beginning of the pandemic, it has become clearer than ever how important backing our local businesses is and the overwhelming success of the voucher scheme is a testament to the wonderful spirit and support shown by the community to local owners.

“We would like to thank everyone who took part in the initiative, whether as a company owner or as a
customer who has helped our
town’s high street and surrounding shops.

“The Council are also considering plans to expand the scheme across neighbouring villages in the future.”

Holywell Town Council will continue to encourage shoppers to get out and support local businesses over the month of August through the running of a raffle, with the prize winners to be drawn by Cllr Palmer in September.

Customers who spend £5 or more at participating organisations throughout the town will be entered into the raffle, with prizes ranging from store vouchers to meat trays, a hydrating facial and pedicure, and a hamper packed full of local produce which has been donated by the town council.