Herriman Bucks return for round two

By Justin Adams | [email protected]

Herriman residents who were big fans of the city’s Shop Around program can rejoice: the mini-stimulus initiative with a local focus is coming back for round two. 

This June, Herriman City leaders mailed out a new kind of currency to its residents: Herriman Bucks. The small paper gift certificate entitled residents to $10 off a purchase of $20 at participating Herriman businesses. The businesses could then turn the gift certificates in to the city to get refunded. 

The program was a remarkable success according to Assistant City Manager Tami Moody, who came up with the idea. She said that just between the top three stores, Herriman residents spent $23,000 on purchases using the Herriman Bucks. One of the more successful cases she pointed out was American Burger.

“They were so great about the program; they were really excited,” she said. “They thought it really enhanced their business. A lot of the comments they got from people is that before the program, they didn’t even know they were there.”

Nearby, the relatively newly opened ACE Hardware store appreciated the program as well. Store manager John Powell said he saw people coming in to use the voucher on all kinds of purchases, from household necessities to new barbecues to an American flag.

“I think it was just a good incentive for people to get out and shop local,” Powell said. “For us, it was great. We took in a couple hundred of them.” 

For some residents, the hardest part of the whole program was just deciding which local business to support with their Herriman Bucks. The second time around, they’ll have a little more flexibility with that decision. 

“Instead of sending out one $10 Herriman Bucks card, we will be sending out three $10 Herriman Bucks cards,” Moody said. That way, residents can use one card at three different businesses if they want. 

Even better, there may be additional businesses who didn’t participate in the offer during the first go-around that will now opt in after seeing how successful the program was. Moody said many home-based businesses were hesitant to become a participating business the first time but may change their minds now.

Residents will also have a little more time to use their additional Herriman Bucks. Rather than the one-month window for the first round, the second round will run for a month and a half, from Aug. 1 to Sept. 15.