Local's loyalty card that fights hunger in third world
Stampify is a non-profit that allows users to swap loyalty stamps for meal donations in the developing world.
The brainchild of Geashill's Conor Leen and Tullamore's Stephen Flynn, the pair have signed up five local businesses to the Stampify app, including Conway and Co, The Foxy Bean, The Square Café, The Hairy Barber and The Bridge House.
The Stamify loyalty card for charity works very similarly to traditional loyalty systems, where you collect stamps with every purchase, and after a certain amount of purchases you receive a complimentary gift.
This loyalty card has some key differences, however. Stampify can be used across different businesses, and when you complete the card instead of you receiving a complimentary gift, the business makes a donation to charity.
So, for every stamp you collect a partner business donates two meals to children in their place of education in the developing world.
"Our model is simple – Buy one. Feed two," explains Conor. We want to make changing lives as easy as ordering a coffee," he says, adding that Stampify has partnered with international aid charity Mary’s Meals to deliver meals to 19 countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America, Eastern Europe and the Caribbean.
Conor came up with the idea of Stampify when he encountered a homeless man and gave him a burrito, which he was able to do so for free as a result of a loyalty card.
"I was struck by the inequality of the situation, I could have paid for the burrito and to be honest didn’t realise it was free until I checked my loyalty card. However, there are people out there who are not as fortunate as I am and for whom that meal could mean so much more."
Stampify initially launched a prototype paper loyalty card in 2018 to test the concept, and while it was a hit with customers and businesses alike, having grown to over 100 locations the team realised that they needed a more scalable product.
They decided to build an app that uses QR technology to allow users to collect stamps by scanning codes, and launched the app on March 7 in 30 locations. However just the following week Ireland went into lockdown due to COVID-19 and all of their partner businesses were forced to shut their doors.
“COVID-19 disrupted the launch of our app, and of course meant the supply of meals from our amazing partners was reduced. The timing couldn’t have been worse” adds Stephen Flynn, director of operations.
The Stampify team remained determined to build towards a brighter future, and used the downtime to apply for charitable status, upgrade the interface of the app, and prepare to relaunch. Not deterred by the obstacles they have faced, they are excited to start growing their social enterprise again.
Outside of Offaly, partner businesses can be found on the Stampify app and mainly consist of independent retailers in Dublin, including Dublin Barista School, Cocu, and Foam CoffeeHouse.
"We have donated over 120,000 meals to children in the developing world in a little under two years. That has acted as a big motivator for us in continuing to work on Stampify despite all the obstacles we have faced," continues Conor.
The Stampify app is available to download for free on iOS and Android devices. If you are a business who is interested in working with Stampify you can email info@stampify.ie for more information or go to www.stampify.ie.