Carleton University Students’ Association (CUSA) launched a new student discount card on Oct. 1 that gives students up to 20 per cent off at 37 participating businesses across Ottawa.
The association’s focus was to support students and local businesses with the project, according to CUSA vice-president of finance Samuel Easby. Businesses include restaurants, cafés, gyms, hair and nail salons including Reflections Hair Salon, For God Shakes and Stella Luna Gelato Café.
Easby said he allowed businesses to decide what they could offer based on their margins, with most offering 10-per-cent discounts.
The discount card costs $10 and can be purchased at the CUSA office at 401 Nideyinàn. Easby said his goal was to have 10 per cent of the Carleton student body using the card.
“If you go to a restaurant once a month that happens to be on our program, you can already make your money back within two months,” Easby said. “Even after a few uses, if you’re already saving money … I think it’s worth it.”
“Small businesses really do need the support of a local community and thrive on that,” Michelle Louis-Jean, the founder of Luxe Blooms said. “You’re supporting someone’s original dreams and personal goals.”
Luxe Blooms, a flower shop and café located in ByWard Market, will be offering card-holding students 10 per cent off all purchases.
As a former Carleton student herself, Louis-Jean said she believes the card will drum up business.
She said Luxe Blooms welcomes any Carleton student and encouraged students to try their upcoming Christmas-themed menu.
Par-Tee Putt, an 18-hole mini-golf course run by general manager Trever Proulx, is another business on CUSA’s card.
Open on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Proulx said the course aims to create a “positive, shareable experience.” With CUSA’s card, Par-Tee-Putt offers a 2-for-1 deal, which gives 50 per cent off of an 18-hole game.
“I find people are looking for more activities these days,” Proulx said. “They don’t want to just go to a bar and just drink and have a conversation, they want to be doing something.”
Easby said he’d like the discount card to grow and reach out to more businesses.
“Using the success of this year, we will communicate with the businesses that we work in partnership with to see potential improvements [and] what their thoughts are on it,” he said.
Easby said he’d then use the data to communicate with future businesses about the program. He said CUSA is open to introducing larger corporations on the card, but it’s more important to support local businesses because they understand Carleton students better.
“Our focus is to incentivize local spending, local purchases at businesses, and just helping out in the community,” he said.
Featured graphic by Alisha Velji.
