Local Loyalties program gets under way

$50 annual fee promises savings for you, help for local businesses

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – There's a brand new way to save in Jacksonville. It keeps money in your wallet and also helps local businesses. From discounts at restaurants, cheaper clothes for the kids, even a percentage off for botox.

"Local Loyalties" is a new membership program that's free to business owners. All they have to do to take part by offering a discount to card carrying members.

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With the Local Loyalties program, members pay $50 a year in order to take advantage of special deals. Co-founder Celeste Ayers said they made sure the membership fee is well worth it. She said it will pay for itself in no time.

"The membership equates to four dollars and18 cents a month. Just by using the card at one merchant like Sunrise Surf Shop, you will get 20 percent off. That equates to 15 dollars off a swimsuit or pair of baggies."

With more than 100 merchants on board already, Ayers said the list of where you can save continues to grow.

"We are relatively grass roots but we have a great selections of restaurants right now and they are offering some great deals."

Billy's Boathouse at the beach was one of the first to join. They're offering five dollars off a $25 bill or ten dollars off of $50.

Owner Billy Cissel said, "I've been in the restaurant industry at the beach since 1988 so local business to me is just everything."

Cissel has found a lot more people coming in because of the Local Loyalties card.
"It's very trackable. I can easily go back and tell you what it's done. I've seen a great repeat business from the people who weren't aware of Billy's Boathouse Grill."

Each year, Local Loyalties plans to put a percentage of their profits toward local charities.

To find out more about the program and businesses involved, check out www.LocalLoyalties.com.