The continuing recession and rising unemployment are pushing a growing number of households into financial difficulties. 

In response to this, the NHC has launched a website www.smarterbuys.org.uk which is designed to enable tenants to buy the essential things they need at massively discounted prices AND with access to socially responsible finance through credit unions and other socially responsible finance organisations such as CDFI’s. 

 

Smarterbuys are continually negotiating amazing deals and these are being added every week to the existing offers already on the site.

There are a range of payment options to suit, whether the user has a bank account or not. You can pay with a debit card, use cash, or can access low-interest, affordable finance through credit unions.

 

Smarterbuys offers a credible, responsible alternative to high street weekly payment stores and doorstep lenders. With Smarterbuys, tenants can not only get a huge discount on the products they want, but can get low cost finance too.  It's about helping people to make their money go further - and making smarter buys. 

 

If your organisation has not yet signed up to support Smarterbuys and would like to receive the Smarterbuys marketing pack please email

info@smarterbuys.org.uk

 

 

 

 

 

We are delighted to announce the official launch of our new franchise offer for landlords, The Smarterbuys Store. The concept for this was borne out of the success of the main Smarterbuys website, and the desire to be able to offer something for landlords that had all the benefits of group buying power but could also be customised to their local area. The franchise model has been developed  as a partnership between the Northern  Housing Consortium, Derwentside Homes, and the Prince Bishops Community Bank, and the first sites are expected to go live in Spring 2013.

 

The Smarterbuys Store will enable landlords to offer their tenants and residents affordable, responsible finance to buy essentials for their homes, and promotes a sensible money-management approach, by introducing them to saving at the same time as low-interest borrowing. It will also mean that landlords can signpost tenants to other welfare advice & support in their area, and can promote local businesses and social enterprises.

 

Derwentside Homes’  Chief Executive Geraldine Wilcox said: "We are very excited to be working with the Northern Housing Consortium to launch The Smarterbuys Store.
 
"We have seen from the success of our own initiative The Store that there is a real demand for a service which allows people to buy household items without getting into debt. Many of our customers have had bad experiences with high street weekly payment shops and The Smarterbuys Store will offer them a low-interest alternative.
 
"The scheme also encourages customers to save money and provides additional advice and signposting to other organisations, therefore offering a holistic approach which we believe will have a really positive impact.
 
"There is no denying that times are tough right now, especially with the forthcoming welfare reforms, but projects such as this allow landlords to provide their tenants with help and support they need.” 

 

Jo Boaden, Chief Executive of the Northern Housing Consortium commented, "We are really excited about the potential that The Smarterbuys Store model has. This is a very tangible solution that landlords can access to help their tenants. It's about offering people a viable alternative to high interest weekly payment stores and other high-interest lenders, and it's something that's badly needed at this moment in time.  I'm also very proud that the innovative nature of the scheme has been recognised by both the business and political communities." 

 

Click play below to view a short video featuring Ed Mayo, Secretary General of Co-operatives UK and Stella Creasy MP.

 

For further information on The Smarterbuys Store please contact Tracy Harrison, Head of Commercial Development

tracy.harrison@northern-consortium.org.uk