The summer may be over for tourists, but for locals it’s just begun thanks to La Jolla Village Merchants Association’s La Jolla Savings Pass.
Running through October, the free Savings Pass app offers special deals throughout La Jolla Village.
The approximately 1,300-member Association is a local Business Improvement District contracted by the City of San Diego to support regional commerce and promotion in its 30-block commercial area.
The group’s mission is to aid Village merchants through marketing, events, advocacy and programs. That is exactly what the Savings Pass app is designed to do: give San Diegans the chance to rediscover La Jolla’s beaches, restaurants and shops during its Locals’ Summer promotion.
Central to Locals’ Summer is the new La Jolla Savings Pass, a free app featuring special offers, discounts and perks from participating La Jolla Village businesses.
The program offers discounts from participating merchants as well as a shot at winning a “Perfect Day in La Jolla” gift basket.
“We love our visitors, but after a busy summer, it’s time to give San Diegans a little extra love,” said Jodi Rudick, the Association’s executive director. “Locals’ Summer is an invitation for all San Diegans to come back to La Jolla and rediscover just how much there is to do right in our own backyard. We’re also thrilled to offer all who download and use the app the chance to win incredible prizes.”
Rudick said Savings Pass users will have an opportunity to win a $1,000-plus “Perfect Day in La Jolla” Basket filled with shopping, dining, and other favorite La Jolla activities and experiences, courtesy of Stepanie Silverberg of Compass Realty,
Launched Sept. 4, the La Jolla Savings Pass is already winning over local merchants. “As the owner of FACE FOUNDRIÉ La Jolla, I was encouraged to participate in the La Jolla Savings Pass, and I’m so thankful I did,” said Monika Garratt. “We welcomed our very first client from the program just minutes after it went live. Thank you for creating such a great way to connect local businesses with both visitors and the La Jolla community.”
The goal of the new Savings Pass is to “get locals to be more loyal to their neighborhood shops and stores,” said Rudick.
Regarding creating the free Savings Pass app, Rudick pointed out it was a “natural extension” of previous smaller-scale efforts encouraging La Jollans to shop local.
“So, now what we’re doing is using this app as our lighthouse to promote outside La Jolla,” Rudick said, adding it gives merchants a very “action-oriented way” to attract and engage clients.
“This has become such a wonderful option for those merchants willing to offer a little perk to get people to try them out.”
Savings Pass discounts cover everything from brunches and dinners to salons and bridal boutiques. “It’s a very important part of our mission to bring a diverse audience of people from outside La Jolla to enjoy all that La Jolla has to offer, not only our natural resources but our shopping, dining and sunsets,” said Rudick.
Of the potential of the Savings Pass promotion, Rudick concluded: “No matter how much you have or need, everybody is looking for a bargain. Everybody loves getting a good deal that makes them feel like friends and family. That’s really what we want to do.”
