Many people in Ross have been urging residents to buy from local businesses, especially now that Christmas is on the way, to support the town’s independent shops and cafes which make Ross diverse. The Truffle Card has been introduced which is designed to offer customers exclusive treats and offers across a range of Independent Herefordshire Businesses, so that more people choose to shop locally.

Knowing that residents and visitors can choose to shop anywhere, the card is designed to try encourage buyers to opt to buy from independent traders instead of national companies. Creaters of the card say: “Truffle promotes Herefordshire’ Independent Businesses and helps them to flourish.”

It is free for customers to sign up.

Truffle Herefordshire works by emulating ‘Martin’s Money Saving Tips’ and voucher codes. There are monthly emails detailing offers that come from the participating businesses, which are collated by Truffle Herefordshire, and sent to cardholders. This scheme has been funded and administered by Herefordshire Council and Hereford City Partnership.

Customers are able to sign up for the scheme right across the county at any of the 303 participating shops, restaurants, bars, pubs, nightclubs and many other outlets. The aim is to engage as many businesses as possible across Herefordshire.

The organisers of the scheme are proud to say that it is the first scheme of its kind in the UK where cardholders get exclusive treats and offers only available to them, along with invitations to new product launches as well as exclusive Truffle Cardholder events.

The initial concept came from Heather Gorringe, of Wiggly Wigglers, Herefordshire, Luke Conod, from FIT, Hereford, James Smith, of Stagecoach Restaurant, Hereford, and Maurice Jones, of Philip Morris & Son, Hereford. It has also been driven forward by the Private Sector.

Truffle targets local busineses as well as local people. Independent businesses that are operating within Herefordshire can sign up with the scheme and pledge to accept the Herefordshire Truffle Card.

Truffle itself uses local businesses where possible. For example, the leaf photograph used on the logo was taken by a local rural photographer and digital artist. The cards and literature were designed and printed by a local company, as was the website design and development.

Participating businesses will be sent a selection of POS materials to promote Truffle Herefordshire. Additional materials are available to download and images are available to add as links to your website. Please see the Point of Sale page for details.

Those who are interested in having a card are able to sign up at www.truffleherefordshire.co.uk and their card will be sent to them in the post. They can fill in the application form in the comfort of their own home and post it to Truffle Herefordshire’s Free Post address.