One On Us
Luke, founder of One On Us

Founder · Hockley, Essex

Hi, I’m Luke.

I’m building One On Us to help independent businesses keep their regulars.

▶ Watch my story in 60 seconds

Meet the founder

My story in 60 seconds.

From a garden shed to a road trip across America, and why I’m building One On Us for the high street.

Why I’m building it

I’ve always lived in Essex. My partner and I started our first business straight out of college, selling army surplus online from our garden shed. Over 15 years we grew it into a 4,500 sq ft unit with a small team. So I know what it takes to run a small business, and how hard it is to compete with the big names.

The idea for One On Us came to me ten years ago, travelling across America on a budget. We were hunting for good deals and places the locals recommended, and I kept thinking: what if one loyalty card worked at all the independent places, not just the big chains? Back then, building an app like that cost a fortune, so I shelved it. But I never let it go.

I grew up loving the high street. Family trips away at Christmas meant independent shops, and that’s what made every trip feel special. Now I watch great local businesses close every week, while the supermarkets and big brands keep their customers with slick loyalty apps. Independents have been left behind.

Why now

Technology has finally caught up. What was out of reach ten years ago can now be built for a price a café or a barber can afford. So I’m building it, from scratch, myself.

I’m a dad of two young children, and I need this to work, just like every small business owner who opens their doors each morning. That’s what connects us. I’m a small business too, and I’m sharing the whole journey.

The long-term vision

A family day out on the high street.

This is the picture I’ve had in my head from the very start: one app that makes a family’s Saturday on the high street a little better for everyone in it.

  1. Reward used
    Stop 1

    The nail salon

    Saturday starts at Mum’s favourite nail salon. The app tells her she’s reached her sixth visit, so today’s gel polish comes with a free hand treatment. She scans the code at the counter, and it’s on the house.

  2. Visit collected
    Stop 2

    The barber’s

    Two doors down, Dad and their little one are in for trims. He scans at the till and collects another visit. His card shows he’s just two visits away from a free haircut.

  3. Offer used
    Stop 3

    The café

    Their teenage daughter heads to her favourite café. They sent her an offer this morning: half-price matcha, today only. One scan uses the offer and adds a visit to her card.

  4. Welcome reward
    Stop 4

    Somewhere new

    When they meet up, the little one wants cake. Dad opens the app and finds a bakery round the corner they’ve never tried, with a free slice of cake on the first visit. They love it, and the bakery has a new regular family.

Four local businesses. A reward, a visit, an offer and a welcome reward.

A day out that costs the family a little less, and four businesses that each win a regular. That’s the high street worth bringing back.

Building it in public

How it’s coming together.

  1. About 10 years ago

    The idea, on a budget road trip across America. Building an app cost a fortune back then, so it went on the shelf.

  2. September 2026

    Building begins: the app, the counter screen and the business dashboard.

  3. 27 September

    The name: One On Us. Because the reward is on us.

  4. 29 September

    The logo, after five rounds of drafts: a ticket being handed over.

  5. 30 September

    The website goes live in preview, and the sales brochure is printed.

  6. 1 October

    Restaurants, pubs and small chains: lunch and dinner hours, table service and one card for every branch.

  7. 2 October

    One On Us Ltd is registered, and the social channels start.

  8. Next

    The App Store and Google Play. Then the first businesses on the high street.

Read the full journey, with every step and video →
How we designed the logo
Where we’re at

From the early days

What it looked like before.

Nothing starts polished. Here are some of the first drafts, kept exactly as they were.

Before it had a name: the first brochure just said “Loyalty”.
26 SeptemberBefore it had a name: the first brochure just said “Loyalty”.
The first app screens, with letters where the logos would go.
26 SeptemberThe first app screens, with letters where the logos would go.
The first business dashboard.
26 SeptemberThe first business dashboard.
Round one of the logo: six very different ideas.
27 SeptemberRound one of the logo: six very different ideas.
The smiling ticket nearly made it.
28 SeptemberThe smiling ticket nearly made it.
Round four: stamp or ticket? The ticket won.
29 SeptemberRound four: stamp or ticket? The ticket won.

What we promise

A fair price

One simple monthly price, no contract and no kit to buy. Built for what an independent can afford.

Customers’ data is never sold

Businesses see visits and rewards, never a customer’s email. We don’t sell data, to anyone.

Made for independents

Not for the supermarkets and big chains. For the cafés, barbers and shops that make a high street.

A real person behind it

Email us and you’ll hear back from me. No call centres.

Say hello

Run a local business, or just love your high street? I’d genuinely like to hear from you.

hello@oneonus.co.uk
For businessesFor customers