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CITY OF TUCSON ENHANCES LOCAL BUSINESS SUPPORT PARTNERSHIP WITH HOWND TO INCLUDE FREE GUEST WI-FI SERVICE
As part of the City of Tucson’s ongoing economic development initiatives to support the growth needs of local businesses most affected by the pandemic, the City has expanded its partnership with Arizona-based Hownd to bring a high-value Guest Wi-Fi solution to its brick-and-mortar retailers.
Now, in addition to the City covering 100% of the fee that Hownd would otherwise charge merchants to distribute their promotional offers (gift cards, buy nows, and coupons), the City has extended the value of its Hownd partnership to also cover the cost of qualifying local brick-and-mortar businesses that use Hownd’s Guest Wi-Fi service.
Hownd Wi-Fi enables businesses to enhance their guest experience by providing free and easy sign-on Wi-Fi access while keeping guests’ access secure and separate from the Wi-Fi network businesses use for their own purposes. The Wi-Fi service also empowers merchants to display timely promotional offers to guests when they sign up for Wi-Fi access to boost in-store sales in real time.
For merchants that already offer guest Wi-Fi, they may not need to replace their existing hardware because Hownd’s Wi-Fi software is adaptable to a variety of existing hardware devices.
“We are pleased to bring this additional benefit to Tucson merchants as they continue to rebuild their business,” says Barbra Coffee, Economic Initiatives director for the City of Tucson. “The Hownd Wi-Fi service will help our businesses grow their customer base and enhance the customer experience.”
Since partnering with Hownd in May 2019, as the pandemic was starting to take a major toll on our local merchants, more than 170 retailers signed up for Hownd, which resulted in more than 8,000 transactions between consumers and merchants valued at more than $55,000 in new revenue for businesses – at no cost to those participating.
“Tucson is one of Hownd’s shining examples of the numerous municipal partnerships we’ve formed to help directly address the local economic impacts of the pandemic,” says Brandon Willey, Hownd’s founder and CEO. “The success of our Tucson partnership and the many businesses working with us here was the main driver for the mutual decision to extend the value of the City’s sponsorship to also cover our Guest Wi-Fi service fees to further help Tucson businesses generate more customers and revenue.”
Businesses owners/operators within the city limits of Tucson interested in learning more are encouraged to visit hownd.com/Tucson, or contact Hownd at info@hownd.com or 877-394-2410.
About the City of Tucson Office of Economic Initiatives
The City of Tucson Office of Economic Initiatives coordinates the City’s economic development programs for the purpose of attracting jobs and investment to the City of Tucson. It also offers local small business and entrepreneurial assistance and encourages workforce development in order to foster a long term sustainable and diverse local economy. For more information or to contact the Office of Economic Initiatives, visit ConnectTucson.com.
About Hownd
Hownd brings more customers and revenue to brick-and-mortar retailers by making their promotional offers easy for nearby consumers to discover, claim, purchase and redeem. We do this by distributing a merchant’s gift cards, buy nows, coupons, and value-add offers through an integrated set of digital channels, including a merchant’s own website, Hownd websites, email, social media, the MyHownd mobile app, Hownd Guest Wi-Fi, and Hownd Screens (in-store digital signage). Hownd is zero-risk because there’s no sign-up fee or monthly subscription – a business only pays us a nominal, fixed fee when we bring them paying customers. And Hownd does all the work so there’s no marketing or technology savvy needed on your part. Learn more at hownd.com.
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