We wanted to say a big thank you to everyone who bought a book last year. We also wanted to say that while we are putting together a new book for this year, we have listened to the feedback both from businesses, the charities and yourselves on the book. We have then tried to make sure that the new book contains new offers as well as addressing concerns that have been raised by everyone in the community.
The biggest problem we have had is that businesses have changed the terms on the voucher or have been unable to cope with demand or have gone bankrupt. We have tried, in the current book to put in place a few items that should address the first two items, the last one is one that is out of our hands, though here too we have put in place something that might help:
A. Terms changing on the voucher & unable to cope with demand (the first tends to lead to the latter)
– Businesses are only paid their share on redemption of the vouchers
– Other business terms have changed on our contract to help enforce our agreement
– Now that we have the redemption rates for different types of business, we are able to tell prospective partners the number of people to expect and we are much stricter on letting people through the door into the book. The aim of the book was always to work with local businesses over chains but unfortunately this can lead to small businesses being ‘emotionally and theoretically’ capable of dealing with demand but when the demand actually arrives not able to deal with it. With that in mind we have approached a wider range of businesses that can cope with demand more effectively than others.
– Most importantly we have spent a significant amount of time with the businesses, going through their offers (we have rejected a lot of new offers this year) to discuss what makes sense for them as a business and what they can actually cope with. The aim of the book is very much a community project, one that raises money for charity, gives the consumer something and as importantly enables the businesses involved to showcase their products to people using the vouchers. With that in mind, we aim to ensure that what a business gives away, it really can afford to (either cost wise or time wise) and that they understand what is happening. While we did this the first time round, because it was a new concept, many people were unsure of the practical outcome of the project.
B. Bankruptcy & sale of a business
– This is obviously something we cannot control, however by paying business on redemption and amending our terms and conditions, we should (we hope) that we will be able to replace a business that ceases to trade with an alternative one because we still have funds available for them.
– Demand for space in the book is higher than we allow, so we will be carrying reserve businesses that might be interested in replacing others in the book if there is a problem for the first ones.
- Like last year, while the book is sold as containing £1,000 worth of experiences, the actual value of the book will be slightly higher.
However the bankruptcy of a business is out of our hands and is something that we would not wish on anyone, however if it happens or if a business is sold we hope that we can replace the voucher with an alternative and will work to but we cannot promise anything.
C. People feeling uncomfortable about using the vouchers.
– This is an unusual problem and one we have discussed with the businesses, that when people use a charity unleashed voucher, they should be made to feel very welcome. The irony of any business not making people feel welcome in this current recession is not lost on us. A Charity Unleashed voucher is rare (we are only printing 5,000 for a city of more than 500,000 people) and it is you that make it important, so please enjoy using them.
D. Businesses being abused
– This is really twofold and linked into the first couple of items that we have investigated. When a business is very busy and is unable to honour a voucher for a specific time or date; there have been instances where people have been upset and taken this out on the individuals within a business. This in turn makes it difficult for other voucher users and for the staff of the business involved. So please do complain when things go wrong but please do not abuse the businesses involved in the book, they are all of them giving away around £5,000,000 worth of product. And they are doing this for two reasons because they want to showcase their services and to have the chance to sell their incredible products to the community and as importantly to help raise money for 2 incredible local charities.
The end of this somewhat long news item….. What we wanted to say was that this is a learning for us and we are working hard to address everything we can so that our 2nd book is a great experience for everyone. So that all involved we can still experience some of the best that Sheffield has to offer. If you want to contact us, don’t hesitate to use the contact us form on the site. We have (sometimes slowly) responded to everyone (I think) and are always happy to meet up.
Thanks again,
The Charity Unleashed Team
