OTW x The TN Card

Jess (The TN Card) and Kerrie (OTW) at Chapel Place, Tunbridge Wells

The TN Card launched in February this year, a local loyalty scheme designed to reward its customers and bring our community together. It’s Founder, Jess Gibson is passionate about bringing independent businesses and individuals together by highlighting unique offers, new brands, and products. We met Jess to chat about her business, its mission, and where she’ll be shopping for Christmas gifts this year…

Tell us a little bit more about you:

I’m married to Neil who’s South African and we have four sons aged 9, 8, 6, and 3. Besides running thetncard, I’m a social media manager and support several small businesses and charities in Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge. I also write a local parenting blog, @abouttheseboys.

What is your connection to Tunbridge Wells?

I lived in Tunbridge Wells ten years ago and am now in Leigh. I’m in town four or five days a week though with thetncard - I can’t support the High Street unless I spend time meeting and getting to know our small business owners.

You’ve recently launched thetncard, what’s it all about?

It’s a loyalty reward scheme, designed to encourage us all to support local in Tunbridge Wells, Southborough, Tonbridge, and our nearby villages. We have so many incredible independents in Tunbridge Wells and it always surprises me when people don’t know about them - I wanted to help spread the word about them and give locals another reason to support them. 

Anyone can join as an annual member and it costs less than a coffee each month. Membership unlocks hundreds of rewards at independent and community-focused businesses in and around town. The hope is it then encourages us to spend our money a bit more consciously and visit our independents more often. Businesses join free of charge and can choose whatever reward they’d like to give members – whether that’s a discount or a complimentary gift or drink is up to them.

At the same time, the scheme supports West Kent Mind with 10% of membership sales going to the charity to support their work in our community. I also do what I can to raise awareness about them and the resources available to people needing help.

The Cove, Tunbridge Wells, Kent

What inspired you to start the business?

I was working with many of our local businesses through my work as a social media manager and through my blog, which talks about family life in Tonbridge.  I was approached by a county-wide attraction pass to manage their scheme, and it made me question why there wasn’t something similar for our towns.  A few months later thetncard launched and it’s been going ever since.

What’s your brand ethos?

Community, passion, responsiveness, adaptability, and honesty.  We’re environmentally aware too – our reward cards are eco-friendly and we’re proud to support our local zero waste stores in Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge.

Do you shop locally?

Yes! And through thetncard I’m discovering so many independent gems which I wasn’t previously aware of. The Cove is my new go-to for gifts (you can’t go wrong with flowers, candles, and gin) and I picked up some beautiful Lena Hills candles from The Green Duck Emporium last week - they’re hand-poured in Tunbridge Wells and smell amazing.

I visit Jeremy’s Home Stores and Trevor Mottram for homewares and I love Bod & Ted and Gray & Co. for clothes – both are great for high quality, on-trend yet classic pieces.

We’re starting to think about Christmas, will you be investing in local suppliers?

I’ll be shopping for my boys at Whirligig on Mount Pleasant Road which sells toys for children to ‘make and do’. On my list, this year is Rolife wooden 3D puzzles, Timberkits, and craft kits. They’ve got some great retro stocking fillers too. 

The Pantiles, Tunbridge Wells

We know this year has been tough but what positives have you learned from lockdown and living through the pandemic?

This year has shown the very best of our community as we’ve rallied to support the most vulnerable, and many of our independents have gone above and beyond - like Vittle & Swig on Camden Road who joined Open Kitchens, preparing hundreds of meals for NHS staff and local charities while their restaurant has closed. The pandemic has brought home how much we need to support our local independents, and if our shopping habits have changed for the better hopefully this continues once lockdown is lifted.

Framptons, Tunbridge Wells, Kent

What’s on the horizon for your brand?

The past eight months have been about establishing the brand and building trust with our members and business partners. The scheme has been adapting throughout the lockdown to support our partners as effectively as possible – and as it grows the ways I can do this will also expand. Next year I look forward to member events and exciting partner collaborations - an original vision for the scheme that’s temporarily on hold. And as new members join there’s plenty we can do to improve our member experience - from an App Store to email alerts and a member login on our website. I’m excited about the future for the scheme and the ways it can be used to support our town.

How can we purchase thetncard?

You can join thetncard online at thetncard.com or via our website app. You can also pick up a card at Biggie Best and Whirligig Toys on Mount Pleasant Road, Geography on the old High Street, and The Nail Workshop on Nevill Street near the Pantiles.

⭑ THE TN CARD x OTW COLLABORATION ⭑

EXCLUSIVE OFFER FOR OTW READERS - We love the scheme Jess has created and will continue to support it, in hope that it brings our community together and encourages us all to shop locally. She has very kindly offered OTW readers 10% off when signing up for an annual membership. Use code ‘OTW10‘ at the checkout (£18 for 12 months, normally £20). Click here to BUY. Offer expires 30.11.20

thetncard is proud to support West Kent Mind. £2 from every individual membership and £4 from every business membership goes to the charity to support their work in our community.

For more information about The TN Card click the links below: Website Instagram Facebook App

Photography by Mollie Manning | Thank you to Hoopers Tunbridge Wells for loaning us pieces from their AW20 collections for our photoshoot.