By Joseph M. Morgan
joseph@southerntorch.com
FORT PAYNE, Ala.—The Native Rewards app reached its 1,000th download last week, and to celebrate the milestone, Native Inc. awarded the individual who was the 1,000th person to download the app, Lori Griggs of Collinsville, with $1,000 in cash. They are now working on android application development to expand their user base and make it available to Android users.
The locally owned marketing strategy and software development company launched the Native Rewards app on March 15, 2016.
Griggs downloaded the Native Rewards app to shop at Fort Payne Footworks in order to receive the 20 percent discount the local retailer offers exclusively to those who shop in their store using the app.
Native Director of Business Relations Ryan Tramel said the Native Rewards app is helping provide a connection between local business owners and consumers. The app rewards consumers for shopping locally while helping the 60-plus local merchants from DeKalb County and Jackson County expand their customer bases.
Tramel said the app levels the playing field for national chains and small local businesses. The app utilizes technology to allow local merchants to connect directly with their consumers. Crowdsourcing provides the network with pooled funding that makes it possible for small business owners to thrive in the global marketplace.
The app allows shoppers to save and win money just by shopping at local businesses. While the $1,000 awarded to Griggs was a one-time special promotion to celebrate the 1,000th download, Native does award $100 each week to one lucky Native Rewards app user.
“All you have to do is show the app on your phone at the register to be entered in one of Native's $100 a week Fortune drawings,” Tramel said. “Native is giving away $100 in both Jackson and DeKalb Counties each week, and Fortune winnings can be spent at businesses that use Native in either county. Shoppers will also gain access to personalized deals from local businesses, just by having the app.”
The Native Education Rewards program provides a way to connect local business to your local school, ensuring that businesses and schools retain a close partnership. Simply by downloading the app and filling out the online form at $0.25 is given to your school of choice in DeKalb or Jackson County.
"I grew up here, and I know that it's the local businesses that are supporting the band, and the softball team, and coming out to the homecoming parade," said Marketing Director Ashley Stanford, "We can't lose sight of the bond between local businesses and the school system. This is how we can reward both for being the fabric of the community."
More than 60 local merchants have joined the Native Network since March, and the company hopes to reach 500 merchants by Christmas 2016. The Native Rewards app is free to download on the App Store for iPhones.
