List your shop on CLocal, free, and you only pay when someone actually walks in
CLocal is a way for independent Belfast shops to be found by people nearby, without buying ad space or paying for a listing up front. You post a LocalGem, a timed offer like 10% off breakfast or a free coffee with lunch, live for a window you choose. A real customer shows up in person and redeems it at the till. CLocal only takes a small share when that actually happens, never for simply being listed, and never if nobody takes the offer up.
How it works, step by step
Posting a LocalGem takes about a minute from your phone. You write what the offer is, a quick photo, how many can claim it, and the window it’s live for: an hour, an afternoon, a weekend. It shows up to nearby shoppers browsing CLocal. When someone wants it, they come in and show their code at the till. You mark it redeemed, and that’s the only moment CLocal earns anything.
Free to join, paid only on results
There’s no subscription and no card required to list your shop. No cost for a quiet week where nothing gets redeemed. The incentive is built to point the same direction as yours: CLocal only makes money when a real person actually walks through your door, so there’s no reason to pad the numbers or dress up the listing. You set the cap on how many people can redeem an offer, so a LocalGem can never bring in more than you’re ready for.
No chains, on principle
Big chains already have marketing budgets and loyalty apps behind them. CLocal only lists independent, locally-owned businesses. That’s a rule the app is built around, not a slogan. It keeps CLocal a place where an independent Belfast shop is actually competing on a level footing, not buried under a chain that paid for the top spot.
Where things stand right now
CLocal is launching in Belfast first, and independent shops are being added now, ahead of the app opening more widely. Joining the waitlist as a business gets you in early and means you’re one of the first Belfast shops real customers see when it opens.
Questions
What does it cost to list my business on CLocal?
Nothing to list. There’s no subscription and no card needed to join. CLocal only takes a small share when a real customer actually walks in and redeems a LocalGem, never before that.
Why not just post on Instagram or TikTok instead?
Different intent. Someone scrolling Instagram or TikTok at home is usually checking what their mates are up to, not standing there ready to spend money, and nothing rewards them for watching. Everyone opening CLocal is already looking for somewhere nearby to spend money right now, and earns real rewards for actually showing up and redeeming an offer. It’s a smaller audience, but one that’s already in buying mode.
What if nobody redeems my offer?
Then you pay nothing at all. The whole model is built so CLocal only earns when your till actually rings. There’s no cost for simply being listed or posting a deal that doesn’t get taken up.
Will this just cannibalise my regulars?
A LocalGem is timed and limited, not an everyday discount. You set the window and how many can be claimed, so it’s built for filling a quiet Tuesday afternoon or introducing new faces, not discounting people who’d have come in anyway.
Can I control how many people redeem it?
Yes. You set a cap when you post a LocalGem, and it stops the moment that’s reached. No surprise rush you didn’t plan for.
What if I want to stop after trying it?
You can pause or stop posting LocalGems whenever you like. There’s no contract, so there’s nothing to cancel.
Do I need a website or professional photos?
No. Posting a LocalGem takes about a minute from a phone: a quick photo and a few details about the offer is enough to get started.
Why doesn’t CLocal list chains?
Because chains can already afford to buy their way to the top of the big directory apps. CLocal only works for independent, locally-owned businesses. That’s a rule built into how it works, not a marketing line.
Is CLocal actually live in Belfast yet?
CLocal is launching in Belfast first, and independent shops are being added now, ahead of the app going fully live. Joining the waitlist gets you in early, before it opens more widely.