The lewes Pound - not such a stupid idea...?

[Sam]

http://thelewespound.org/

take a look.

The Lewes Pound

Supports local traders

Keeps money circulating in the Lewes Economy

Helps to cut CO2 emissions

The Lewes Pound is a creative yet practical way for local people to make money work for Lewes. Money spent locally circulates and benefits the local economy, where as money spent in the national chain stores doesn't. The Lewes Pound encourages demand for local goods and services. In turn this builds resilience to the rising costs of energy, transport and food.

The Lewes Pound is a complementary currency intended to be used alongside pounds Sterling.

You can use it for goods and services wherever you see the Lewes Pound sign.



LATEST UPDATE

As a result of the overwhelming levels of interest in the Lewes Pound, almost all 10,000 have been sold. Could this be the first time in history that a run on the bank means people keen to put their money IN to it?

One of the reasons for this success is that the LPs are so admired and inspiring that everyone has wanted to get their hands on them, and not just in Lewes. That's great, but for this initiative to succeed and benefit our community, people need to spend their Lewes Pounds, not frame them!

So, as a member of this community, the best thing you can do to support this initiative is to spend, spend, spend your Lewes Pounds as soon as possible! This is getting easier every day. As of today we have over 85 traders on board, as well as the Lewes Farmer's Market.

If you haven't got any yet, the best way to get Lewes Pounds is to ask for them in your change and ensure anyone with Lewes Pounds spends them with any of the local traders!

The Lewes Pound Group is working hard to ensure that everyone who wishes to buy Lewes Pounds will be able to do so as soon as possible.

 

[Robot Chicken]

Sounds rather similar to the Disney Dollar. I bought one purely as a souvenir when I went to Disney World years ago and I still have it. License to print money etc.

Worthwhile getting hold of one as an investment

 

[Easy 10]

The Lewes Pound encourages demand for local goods and services. In turn this builds resilience to the rising costs of energy, transport and food.

I must be being really THICK here.
HOW does the Lewes Pound "encourage demand for local goods and services" ? People who make a concious decision to spend their money in local Lewes businesses rather than, say, Tesco, can do exactly that with their sterling cash, and it would make no fiscal difference whatsoever. So WHY would they BOTHER going and buying Lewes Pounds to go and do exactly what they were going to do anyway ??

Unless someone can answer that for me, I'm afraid this just seems to me to be a gimmick which will soon fade once the press get bored and the novelty wears off.

 

[The Spanish]

if you are selling drugs or running knocking shops for lewes pounds would you still get done?

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

They looked well nice on the Beeb national news this morning. Tho they added that they were going for thirty quid a throw on ebay. So that's that idea dead in the water then. Not that it wasn't a crap idea to start with

 

[dougdeep]

Hundreds of people will buy them and never use them. Instant profit.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Hundreds of people will buy them and never use them. Instant profit.

Tho about thirty times less instant profit than flogging them online

 

[Gary Leeds]

Sounds rather similar to the Disney Dollar. I bought one purely as a souvenir when I went to Disney World years ago and I still have it. License to print money etc.

Worthwhile getting hold of one as an investment

Judging by these prices I wish I had bought all 10000 of them

http://shop.ebay.co.uk/items/_W0QQ_fromZR46?_nkw=lewes+pound&_fromfsb=0&_trksid=m270.l1313

 

[Vatican Citys No.2 Keeper]

The Only use i would find with a Lewes pound would be to burn it.

 

[jakarta]

Harveys Quids In: Special Brew to Celebrate the Lewes Pound

Local Brewery Harveys has developed a special edition beer to celebrate the launch of the Lewes Pound. Appropriately named Quids In and with a label to suit the occasion designed by celebrated local designer and illustrator Neil Gower (the man behind the Viva Lewes covers), it was in hot demand at the launch of the Lewes Pound on Tuesday evening.Given the success of the Lewes Pound and of the beer itself, Harveys are even considering a commercial launch of Quids In this Autumn.


Harveys Managing Director Hamish Elder says:" Harveys is very happy to support the Lewes Pound with our special Quids In brew and after a sell out of the first batch we are planning t o extend its availability as soon as production allows in the coming week or two. This bottled beer is a golden Summer Ale with an Abv of 4.3% which is best served chilled. The half pint returnable bottle (5p deposit) is intended to sell at one pound + 5p deposit - but we will sell it at One Lewes Pound inclusive when bought with the local currency"

So there you are, finally a purpose for the things.......

 

[trueblue]

Sounds rather similar to the Disney Dollar. I bought one purely as a souvenir when I went to Disney World years ago and I still have it. License to print money etc.

Worthwhile getting hold of one as an investment

Pretty little field on that note. Can we build a stadium on it?