OFFiGO to launch after pilot success

A Blackpool-based website and app which puts consumers in touch with local shops, restaurants and places to visit is planning a full launch following the success of its year-long trial period.

OFFiGO has been promoting daily offers and events since September 2017 and has received a total of 1.2 million page views.

The venture won awards from Geovation and Ordnance survey, and was recently given access to $120,000 in support funding by IBM to help with the development of the version 2 platform.

OFFiGO was founded by CEO Dave Preston, who said: “The pilot proved that consumers are interested in local information on their high street with over eighty thousand different people visiting the site who collectively viewed over 1.2 million pages promoting local businesses sharing reasons to eat, drink, shop and have fun locally.

“We had a number of test businesses that were really pleased with the footfall they received and the stats that backed it up that it came from promoting their business with OFFiGO."

OFFiGO 2.0 is a total revamp providing geo-location features providing consumers with information that is local to them shared by local businesses.

There are plans to implement artificial intelligence software so that consumers find what interests them most, personalising the experience for each user.

With the expansion into other towns more people will be able to access their local high street together online and when they visit other towns on OFFiGO they will be able to access what is available to them that day in that location also.

Places such as Morecambe have asked to be part of the expansion with the local bid actively wanting to bring their high street together online as they see the benefits it can bring.

Dave added: “The high street isn’t dead, it needs to evolve and that needs to include digital. We see a future high street with online businesses opening brick and mortar stores. “Hopefully over the next 12 months OFFiGO can be that link to helping bring the consumers back to spending in local stores as we will be giving businesses the platform to connect with them."