We are assembling the founding trade & services categories for IBSC Harrogate District.

Only one business per category will be allocated locally.

Some categories already allocated:

Category: Bathroom Renovator/Fitter

Category: Fencing & Landscaping

Category: Plastering & Rendering

On 01 August 2026, you may request a full refund of the £99 if Buddy Card has not met your expectations.

In that case, access is simply removed and the exclusive IBSC category position becomes available to the next business in your category.

That includes:

• 100 printed Buddy Cards

• Buddy Hub digital setup

• Working system live for your business

No contracts.
No hidden fees.

An active Buddy Card account

– £99 for the rest of 2026

How Do You Qualify?

It will connect local residents with just one trusted business per trade category until 2028.

Founding Partners are secured before launch.

IBSC (Independent Business Supporters Club) Harrogate District launches on 01 August 2026

What is IBSC Harrogate District?

To secure your category, all that’s required is:

Turning finished jobs into local visibility online, client endorsements and a steady stream of Google reviews

What is Buddy Card?

Buddy Card is a practical tool for a wide range of trades contractors and service providers.

You hand a happy customer a printed card at the end of a job.

All without any awkward asks or chasing later for reviews and referrals that all too often just don't happen.

No “marketing”. No faff.

Just a simple nudge at the best moment — when the happy customer is naturally pleased with the finished job.

(not actual size representation - Buddy Card is 3" x 4" - fits easily into your pocket)

The card gently prompts them to scan the QR code and:

✅ share a photo of the finished job on Facebook (optional)

✅ leave a Google review (optional)

✅ recommend you privately via WhatsApp or SMS text (optional)

Buddy Card works at the moment a job is completed.

Why this works

Many customers are happy to show off a great result

a new bathroom, a perfect plastering finish, a beautiful fence, a stunning new kitchen, a freshly power washed patio etc

(in plain English)

Buddy Card simply makes it easy to do by framing it as supporting your local ndependent business

— and helps your craftsmanship get seen by local residents in a genuine endorsement-style way.

Social shares like this get significantly more views and engagement than a business posting on their own page.

Facebook algorhytm favours personal posts being visible over business posts - because Facebook wants businesses to buy paid Ads

Buddy Card gets around this while still being 100% Faceboook compliant and ethical.

Who is Buddy Card Perfect for?

Projects that are transformational or just cool (or both) are a perfect match for Buddy Card.

If the finished result has your customers having a 'WOW moment' you have something valuable that can be captured at the optimal time of job completion.

The Problem Nobody is Talking About

You're doing beautiful work, but hardly anyone is seeing it

It's not your fault - it's partly the Facebook algorithm that throttles business posts.

Facebook throttles business posts because they want you to buy paid Ads to get more reach - it's that simple.

Also people don't engage so much with posts made by a business - it’s seen as self-promotion

People scroll past because it just sounds like 'Look at my work' and people are busy, distracted with short attention spans.

You can post until the cows come home - at best you might get a few Likes and a comment or two.

But even then it's the same people - your followers -your shouting inside a bubble and on the outside nobody can hear you.

Most contractors and services eventually give up concluding it's not worth their time - while some battle on, but still it's blowing your own trumpet to a limited audience of tired ears.

When a customer posts the exact same image…

Now it reads as:

“Look what happened to my home.”

That changes everything.

Because now it’s:

Pride

Social proof

Lifestyle

Personal story

People engage with people, not businesses.

The Solution: What Nobody Has Told You - Until Now

Your photos don’t get engagement because they’re coming from you.

The same photos get engagement when they come from your customer.

We trust peer posts more than business posts

We comment more on friends’ homes than on company pages

So when a homeowner posts:

“Finally finished our kitchen! 😍”

The comments roll in:

“Wow!”

“Love this!”

“Who did it?”

“Can you share the fitter?”

The friends of your customer Liking, Hearting and Commenting on your work - they are fresh eyeballs outside your social media bubble, and your business is being endorsed in the most natural way.

Cool bonus #1

On Facebook when your customers 'Check in' - suddenly you have a steady stream of authentic content available to your business page.

Customer generated posts praising your work mixed in with your own posts - even Facebook pages long since given up on can have a new lease of life.

If you keep a Facebook page up to date - great, but customer shares available for your page adds variety on top with no effort on your part - and you can pick and choose what goes onto your page.

Buddy Card flips the script by prompting your happy customers to share photos of your projects instead of you - and all the fresh eyeballs sees your business at the centre.

Cool bonus #2

If you are say a plumber or electrician - true enough your installations don't get the same reaction as say a new kitchen or bathroom.

What if my work doesn't have a WoW moment?

• Plumbing

• Electrical

• Patio doors and windows

  and more

Buddy Card helps more of your clients go down the path.

However, you would be pleasantly surprised to see shared photos of your work by your customers getting praise for a job neatly done.

Many happy customers want to support good independent businesses - they just need to be asked.

What to expect from Buddy Card:

• Facebook shares of completed work in front of fresh local eyeballs in an authentic endorsement way

• Local “word of mouth” reactions (likes/comments/hearts)

• More Google reviews at the right moment

Plus additional exposure to local resident 'Supporters' from IBSC Harrogate District

Is Buddy Card pushy?

No. Buddy Card is a gentle, optional prompt at the natural end of a job.
There’s no pressure, no obligation, and nothing that puts customers on the spot.

Used properly, it won’t make you look awkward — it makes you look professional and organised.

Do you guarantee new work?

No — and we’re upfront about that.

Buddy Card is designed to increase visibility, social shares, and Google reviews over time.
Results vary by business, location, and the type of work you do.

Why is there a refund option?

We want you to feel comfortable trying Buddy Card properly, without risk.

A full refund can be requested between 01 August and 31 August 2026, with no questions asked.

If a refund is taken, Buddy Card access is simply switched off.

We don’t expect many refunds — the option exists purely for peace of mind.

What does exclusivity mean?

During the launch and Supporter base (local residents) growth phase through to 31 December 2027, you will be the only business in your Category using Buddy Card and holding an exclusive position within IBSC Harrogate District.

From 01 January 2028, category availability will expand to a maximum of four businesses per Category, keeping competition low and manageable.

There is no obligation to continue — the choice is entirely yours.

Frequently Asked Questions

🚫 Bathroom Installer

✅ Drainage / Leak Detection Specialist

✅ CCTV / Alarm Installer

✅ Car Detailing

✅ Electrician

✅ Cosmetic Dentist

✅ Exterior / Pressure Washing

✅ Garage Door Installer

✅ Joiner / Carpenter

✅ Kitchen Installer

🚫 Landscaper / Fencing

✅ Loft Conversion Specialist

✅ Painter & Decorator

✅ Professional Cleaner

🚫 Plasterer

✅ Roof Cleaning / Moss Removal

✅ Roofer

✅ Stonemason

✅ Solar Panel Installer

✅ Window & Door Installer

Slot allocated to:

Fox Fencing & Landscaping

Slot allocated to:

Leeds Plastering Contractors

Slot allocated to:

Grout King LTD

✅ Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner

✅ Power Washing

✅ Car Dealership

✅ Auto Body Repair

✅ Auto Glass Repair

✅ Sign Company

✅ Bicycle / Ebike Shop

✅ Blinds Installation

✅ Bouncy Castle Hire

✅ Boutique

✅ Car and Van Rental

✅ Car Wash

✅ Carpet Fitter

✅ Catering Services

✅ Chimney Cleaning

✅ Concrete contractors / suppliers

✅ Damp Proofing Specialist

✅ Deck Builder

✅ Handyperson Services

✅ DJ Services

✅ Appliance Repair