NORWICH – It started with a simple concept. The idea was to offer Chenango County business owners and their customers a unique online community where they can browse local places, products, events, menus and deals from their computer, tablet or cell phone.

From there, the concept grew into a reality and was given a name, Swelby... easy to remember and a little catchy. Since its official launch in January, Swelby has become a place to turn to for all things local and transformed the Norwich business landscape by offering consumers an endless supply of coupons, discounts, loyalty programs and other promotional offers at their fingertips.

Now, Swelby is taking its original concept one step further by introducing the new Swelby kiosk, a user-friendly tablet that rewards customers for shopping local via a simple card scan right at the check-out counter. Just as the Swelby app has done for thousands of subscribers, the new Swelby kiosk gives reason to shop local by providing discounts, instant prizes, birthday gifts, reward points and other incentives tailored to the needs of individual businesses and their customers. It’s all the timely benefits of clipping coupons but with a 21st century spin.

Several downtown businesses are already on board with the new Swelby kiosk and dozens more have taken notice. Given its early success, hopes are to have the device in scores of other small businesses in Otsego, Delaware and Madison counties in the not so distant future.

Swelby Founder and Vice President Joe Root said the kiosk is just one more fun and innovative way Swelby is able to reach out to the small business community. “Our goal with the kiosk is to bring the most important aspect of business relations with consumers directly into a business owner’s shop,” he said. “This is really a win for businesses because they can now engage customers in new ways. And it’s a win for customers because they are rewarded for shopping locally.”

Each time someone uses their Swelby member pass to check in, they receive a point, explained Root. Points are then used for rewards. The more points one has, the greater the reward.