The Winterville Chamber is excited to highlight MAPZ, a locally started platform built to connect people with small businesses while helping customers save money along the way. MAPZ allows local businesses to create a profile and choose three discounts to offer MAPZ cardholders. Customers can then use the MAPZ app to discover participating businesses and show their digital card when they shop, eat, or use local services. Businesses maintain control over the discounts they offer while also being able to track customer activity, sales, and the impact MAPZ is generating. The idea began as Moms and Popz before officially becoming MAPZ LLC in 2025. The inspiration came from the owner’s own experience operating a moving and selling business for about 10 years. That experience provided a firsthand look at the challenges small businesses face when trying to attract customers, gain exposure, and compete with larger companies.
While discounts are an important part of the platform, MAPZ was created with a larger goal in mind. By giving customers an incentive to try a local business, the platform hopes to build stronger connections between communities and the people behind the businesses that serve them. That community focus also extends to MAPZ’s involvement with local business owners, networking groups, and community organizations. The goal is to introduce people to businesses they may not have discovered otherwise and encourage more spending within their own communities. For MAPZ, success comes when both sides benefit. Cardholders save money while participating businesses gain customers and generate additional sales. Seeing those results is what makes the work especially meaningful for its owner.
