CHICO, Calif. — Two brothers from the Chico area have created a smartphone app that helps local businesses market to customers at no cost, while providing users special discounts on products and services.
This was not the original plan for JJ Arciga, as he was set on becoming a veterinarian after graduating from Chico State. Yet due to financial reasons he pivoted and when his brother Emmanuel showed him the smartphone app ‘Dibbs’ he knew there was potential for a new line of work.
The app allows local businesses to advertise to their customers at no cost, while giving users unique discounts on products from those same businesses without having to pay a fee.
“Instead of paying the full amount on our app you only pay ten percent on that deal to claim dibs on that deal,” said Arciga. “Then you go into that store to pay the remaining ninety percent, so that way we’re never holding on to the store’s money and they’re not waiting from a check from us and they get paid directly in person.”
The brothers currently have thirty businesses on board and in partnership with the application. Arciga hopes it will provide an increase towards residents putting their money towards local businesses in the area.
“I think this is a really great avenue for people to start supporting local businesses in a way they maybe didn’t know was available,” says Arciga.
The app currently has partnerships with over 30 different small business in the Chico area, and the brothers hope one day they can expand and branch out to different cities in the state.
—