KENDAL is leading the way when it comes to promoting businesses with a range of new initiatives set to hit the high street later this year.

The town's Business Improvement District (BID) board has voted unanimously to trial three brand new projects which will set the town apart from other small towns and keep money in the local economy.

They are:

l a new branded gift card

l an innovative and bespoke scheme to allow businesses to better interact with customers

l 'bubbles' of information to attract shoppers

"A successful member business open meeting heard presentations from the principals of all three projects to explain how the technology works and how Kendal's businesses can take advantage of it," said Daniel Morley, chair of Kendal BID and manager of Beales' department store. "The enthusiastic response from the BID businesses present made it obvious that they were eager to embrace these opportunities, so the board formulated plans to instigate trials to evaluate their value in our town."

Kendal will become one of the first to embrace SWIPII, a unique and fully bespoke loyalty scheme which uses iPad QR code to allow customers to interact with businesses easily and quickly.

The cards, which launch next month, will let business owners choose what to offer to their customers as rewards.

"One business could offer a free coffee with five points while another may let shoppers get their first look at a new clothing range," said Kendal BID manager Sarah Williams.

The town will also become the first town in the UK to have its own branded gift card, when it is launched in September

The gift card will be branded Kendal, redeemable at independent businesses in the town and is not limited to retailers.

Sarah added: "We are also talking to other businesses like hotels and employers, who could offer the card pre-loaded as a gift, an incentive or as part of a package of services. Money should be retained in the local economy and Kendal BID is taking the initiative to offer solutions to make that happen."

The final scheme will see mini beacons of information scattered throughout the town to signpost shoppers to many of the hidden shops in the town's yards. It is planned to launch in July.

Any businesses wanting to find out more should visit www.kendalbid.co.uk.