A new app designed to increase footfall and boost business in Kendal town centre is about to be launched.
The dscvr Kendal app, which is entirely funded by Kendal Business Improvement District (BID), will highlight the shops, food and drink establishments, businesses, attractions and varied things to do in the town.
“It is like having a digital tourist information centre in your pocket,” said Simon Thomas, project manager of Kendal BID.
“The dscvr app, which is free to download, includes specialist local knowledge which enables visitors to find out more than by just looking at a website or tourist guide because they can see where the locals go to shop, eat and drink and they can discover the town’s hidden gems.”
The app is divided into sections, such as eat and drink, shops and things to do and these are sub-divided so that health and beauty, for example, includes hairdressers, nail salons and physiotherapists. Each entry includes a short description of the establishment – where it is, what it does, a link to its website and information such as newly-arrived stock and special offers and promotions.
The dscvr team has created content, including photographs and logos, for local businesses to approve – but owners can write their own entries if they wish.
“We are proud of the huge range of independent shops in Kendal and this is a concrete way of supporting them by directing people to them and their online sales platforms,” said Simon.
The app is searchable so a user can type in a restaurant’s name, ‘food and drink’ or a phrase like ‘great breakfasts’ and find what they are looking for. “It is as easy as tapping into local knowledge by asking someone on the street,” said Simon.
The app can also guide users using a map. “I have lost count of the times people have stopped me in the street and asked me how to get to Kendal Castle,” said Simon. “The app uses your location and provides you with the best route to where you want to go.”
Other features include town trails, historical information and the flexibility to create information which only remains on the app for the duration of a specific event, such as a weekend festival.
There is a section aimed at people who might be thinking of moving to live in Kendal, which includes entries about estate agents, solicitors and property surveyors. There is also information about how best to reach popular Lake District places like Windermere and Keswick.
The dscvr app is already active in numerous other towns and cities including Leeds, York and Barnstaple and downloading it gives users access to content in those areas too.
Simon said the app, which will be honed and expanded organically, was probably the most important initiative Kendal BID has launched. “We’ve done it because Kendal has no tourist information centre and we want to highlight what the town has to offer,” he said. “It is aimed primarily at visitors but will also be interesting for locals and might well introduce them to some of the town’s hidden gems.”
He said that Kendal, like other towns, had gone through tough times for a couple of years because of restrictions associated with Covid-19. “We are recovering now, there are a lot of new businesses opening and the app will help to get the word out that Kendal is open for business and is worth visiting.”
He added that what made Kendal extra special was its combination of history, a strong mixture of independent shops and national retailers, its festivals and great cultural attractions, including live music, theatre and museums.
ParkingPerx, a loyalty app that rewards customers with free parking when they spend in local shops, was launched during October in partnership with Kendal BID and supported by South Lakeland District Council.
The app registers what is spent on a card as customers shop at participating businesses in the town centre and converts their pounds to Perx, which can be used to pay for parking at the end of their trip, or banked for a future visit.
