TRADERS in Pershore are celebrating three years of the town's loyalty scheme Pride, which has been so successful it's been replicated around the country.

Pershore Chamber of Trade launched the town wide loyalty card in April 2012 after business owners in the town decided there was a need to promote the shop local campaign.

Pride was designed to encourage residents and visitors to explore the town, collecting reward stickers as they shop, eat and drink and because the scheme is lead by the traders for their customers, it plays a huge role in highlighting Pershore’s renowned sense of community.

Chairman of Pershore Chamber of Trade, Peter Dann, of Clifton-Crick Sharp & Co, has been impressed with Pride’s success.

He said: "Pride was developed and launched three years ago by Fiona Abbott, then Chair of Pershore Chamber of Trade, with the support of Wychavon District Council.

"Immediately successful, it promotes the use of local traders and builds the bonds between the shopper and retailer. While most prize winners live locally, visitors to the town are also regular winners. Widely admired, the scheme concept has been replicated across the country."

Fiona Abbott, who owns Three Little Pigs gift shop said she was delighted with the scheme's success.

"I am pleased Pride has proved such a success although I never imagined we would be approached by other towns also looking for ways to support their High Streets," she said. "It’s been a fun three years.

"We were very fortunate to have the financial backing and support of Wychavon District Council."

Since its launch, there have been many draws with even more prize winners.

Joan Albutt, from Pershore, is one of those winners: "I feel it is so important to support our High Street shops. I have always believed that we must ‘use them or lose them’. By using the loyalty card, you can't lose. And like me you may win."

Another winner is Richard Baker, from Pershore, who said: “I think the loyalty scheme is an excellent way to encourage people to patronise their local shops."

Pershore Chamber of Trade hopes to secure the future of the scheme by obtaining further funding but for now, traders are going to enjoy celebrating 3 years of Pride and ask their customers to do the same.

To celebrate the anniversary there three prizes available to win in Aprils draw.

For more information visit pershorepridecard.co.uk.