Goodybag Launches Local Loyalty Program With Philanthropic Twist

Co-founder Jay Panchal demonstrates the Goodybag system with a card and tablet

You’ve probably walked into a local business and seen an iPad by the register, giving you the chance to earn points or save money by swiping a rewards card. There are a handful of these loyalty programs on the move in Austin, but only one of them was founded here: Goodybag.

If you’re the one oddball Austinite opposed to our mantra of “keeping it local,” Goodybag has something else going for it. Every time you “tap in” at a business through Goodybag, 5-10 cents is donated to a local charity of the business’ choice. Ten cents is donated if your Goodybag account is connected to Facebook, five cents if it isn’t.

To date, Goodybag has donated more than $3,000 to Austin Pets Alive!, HAAM (Health Alliance for Austin Musicians), Austin Children’s Shelter, Austin Humane Society, Please BE KIND to Cyclists, and Meals on Wheels and More.

Over 250 businesses have partnered with Goodybag to make these donations happen. A few that you might recognize are Opal Divine’s, Uncorked, Austin’s Pizza, Clay Pit, Veggie Heaven and I Luv Video.

Company Culture Counts

Goodybag’s 30+ employees operate out of two offices. Visit either one, and you’ll quickly sense that these people like each other, and they love what they do. They’re happy, energetic, having fun and working hard.

The Goodybag Team

The Product Team works out of what I call the “Goodybag Pad,” and the Tech Team will be joining them there soon. This large house in Allandale is also home to the four founders of Goodybag and three others on the team. The rest of the group works close by near 2222 and N. Lamar.

Big Developments Coming This Spring

If all goes as planned, Goodybag will be rolling out a suite of bold, new features before Summer 2013. Goodybag co-founder Jay Panchal says that his goal is to “revolutionize local retail commerce.” Though this young start-up is reaching for the sky, they might just have the tools they need to make it happen: a cohesive team, talented developers, a strong work ethic, seasoned advisers and a delicate balance between vision and business sense.

When we visited the Goodybag Pad, Jay gave us a sneak peak into the next version of Goodybag. Think Foodspotting, starting with food, but eventually expanding to other products like fashion and home decor.

Jay lets us in on some of the features of the next Goodybag

Without ruining the surprise, the coming changes give unique value to consumers and businesses. Goodybag will give consumers the chance to “collect” physical things that they’ve experienced, in digital form. Those of us who have experienced Pinterest know how addictive it can be. This is even more true when the images we’re compiling are things we’ve physically experienced (dishes of food at a new restaurant, a dress we tried on at the mall).

Two Product Team members working on the next iteration of Goodybag

Get Your Goodybag On

Your Goodybag card/keycard (you can choose how you want to carry it around) is free to you, and available at any of the local businesses that use the program. By getting involved, you’ll be saving money, earning rewards and supporting non-profits. Plus, you’ll be in the know when the new Goodybag launches in the next few months.

Make sure you check out the Goodybag website to see the latest innovations from this forward thinking company!

@QuasiBrit asks:

Do you use Goodybag or another program like it?