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Frequently asked questions
Clear answers for the road ahead.
Start with the audience that sounds like you. If your question is not here, write to roadtrip@localstash.com and a person will respond.
Visitors
What is a Stash?
A Stash is a locally owned place worth knowing along the way. LocalStash selects Stashes through human review. Stash status is not a visitor rating or review score.
What does the Backroad Club card provide?
Backroad Club cardholders receive 10% off at participating Stashes. Show your digital or printed card when ordering or checking out.
How do I get a Backroad Club card?
The card is free and available from LocalStash in digital and printable formats.
Does the discount cover an entire group?
The cardholder receives the 10% benefit. Each Stash handles group purchases and separate checks according to its own checkout practices. Traveling together? Each person can download their own free card before the trip to keep separate checks simple.
Businesses
What is a Founding Stash?
A Founding Stash is an approved locally owned business that helped open a LocalStash market. All currently published Stashes hold permanent Founding Stash recognition.
What does Backroad Club participation require?
Participating Stashes provide cardholders with 10% off when they show a digital or printed card. A Stash may offer additional promotions at its own discretion.
What does it cost to become a Stash?
Each new market begins with a limited Founding Stash allocation. Later approved Stashes pay the current one-time $197 activation fee. A submission never creates a charge or guarantees acceptance.
How does LocalStash help people find my business?
LocalStash connects an approved business to its Town and relevant Journeys, then publishes useful HTML, structured JSON and clean Markdown that people, search engines and AI assistants can understand. LocalStash does not guarantee a particular search ranking.
Will every Stash receive a Spotlight article and original images?
No. Every approved Stash receives its dependable LocalStash presence and connections. Custom business stories, Spotlight inclusion, original business imagery, magazine placement and social promotion remain selective editorial opportunities.
What are Post and Event Echoes?
Echoes are human-approved, timely updates connected to a Stash, Town or Journey. Post Echoes can share current news. Event Echoes can surface time-sensitive activity during its useful public window as Echo publishing opens.
Communities
Who can become a Founding Community Partner?
Chambers, Main Streets, visitor centers, tourism organizations and similar community-serving groups can begin a partnership conversation with LocalStash.
Is a fee required for a Founding Community Partnership?
No. A Founding Community Partner can receive acknowledgement without a required fee. Organizations that want broader visibility or wish to support the work may separately become Sponsors.
What does LocalStash create for a Town?
A developed LocalStash Town can include a source-backed Spotlight, original destination imagery, geographic orientation, Journey connections and a curated network of Stashes and Sponsors. These connected pages create useful content for visitors, search engines and AI assistants.
Everyone
Does AI decide what gets published?
No. AI can assist with discovery, organization and drafting, but a person approves material participation decisions and public content.