What UCAB - Union des Commerçants et Artisans de Belley does

UCAB — Union des Commerçants et Artisans de Belley — is a private, non-profit merchants' and artisans' association (union commerciale) founded in 1977 and headquartered at the Belley City Hall annex (11 Boulevard de Verdun, 01300 Belley, France). It unites more than 130 local merchants, artisans, service professionals, and liberal professions in the Bugey Sud territory, governed by co-presidents Loïc Kata and Delphine Graciotti with a small officer team (treasurer, secretary, gift voucher referent, commerce animator). Its core purpose is to promote and animate local commerce in competition with e-commerce and large retailers.

The association operates three interconnected commercial offerings. First, the Carte Belley+ loyalty card, launched in 2022, gives consumers 1.5%-2.5% cashback at 19 participating merchants, with 80% of accumulated points redeemable at the issuing merchant and 20% across the collective pool. Second, Chèques Cadeaux UCAB are €10-denomination gift vouchers valid for one year at roughly 50 partner businesses, sold online (with €4.50 postal delivery or free pickup at Bijouterie Lançon) and offered in corporate bulk orders with social-security exemption for employee rewards. Third, UCAB organizes signature community events including the annual Marché de Noël de Belley (25th edition, December 11-13, 2026) at €150 per booth and the Bugey'Expo artisan trade fair.

Underlying technology is modest: a WordPress website at belle-commerces.com with Google Analytics traffic measurement, SSL encryption, Facebook/Instagram integration, and a basic WooCommerce-style gift voucher shop; no mobile app, no public API, and no disclosed AI capabilities. Revenue streams combine recurring membership fees, gift voucher sales commissions, one-time Christmas market booth rentals, and event co-sponsorship with municipal and chamber partners (Ville de Belley, Région Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, CCI, CMA, Département de l'Ain, CCBS, Office de Tourisme Bugey Sud Grand Colombier). Go-to-market is event-driven and community-led rather than sales-led, with member acquisition primarily through local visibility, institutional referrals, and the annual event cycle.

Name

UCAB - Union des Commerçants et Artisans de Belley

Legal name

Union des Commerçants et Artisans de Belley

Website

https://belley-commerces.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

UCAB is a Belley, France-based merchants' and artisans' association uniting 130+ local businesses since 1977. It operates the Belley+ loyalty card, Chèques Cadeaux UCAB gift vouchers accepted at ~50 partner businesses, and signature events including the annual Christmas Market and Bugey'Expo craft fair.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Belley

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership fees: Local merchants, artisans, and service professionals pay membership fees to join UCAB and receive benefits including loyalty card participation, gift voucher acceptance, visibility on website and social media, and participation in events and games.
2. Gift voucher sales commission: UCAB sells gift vouchers (Chèques Cadeaux) at 10€ denominations. Merchants can purchase vouchers online or at partner jewelry store. UCAB takes a margin on voucher sales. Also available for corporate bulk orders with social security exemption.
3. Christmas market booth fees: Exhibitors pay 150€ for either outdoor chalet (3m x 2m) or indoor stand at the town hall. Includes participation in the 25th Christmas market edition (December 2026).
4. Event sponsorship and partnerships: Partnerships with local institutions (Ville de Belley, Région, CCI, CMA) and businesses for event co-organization including the annual Bugey'Expo artisan fair.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

UCAB is a local commerce association that represents 130+ merchants, artisans, and liberal professions in Belley, France. It delivers value through three core offerings: the Belley+ loyalty card program (1.5%-2.5% cashback), UCAB gift vouchers valid at ~50 partner businesses, and signature community events including the annual Christmas Market and Bugey'Expo craft fair. The association also provides a searchable online business directory and member visibility services.

Product overview

UCAB operates as a local business association (chamber of commerce) for Belley, France, offering three interconnected services: (1) the Belley+ loyalty card program enabling customers to earn cashback at 130+ member businesses, (2) UCAB gift checks (chèques cadeaux) in 10€ denominations accepted at approximately 50 partner establishments, and (3) organization of community events including the annual Christmas Market and Bugey'Expo crafts fair. The association serves as a B2B2C platform connecting local merchants, artisans, and professionals with consumers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Carte Belley+: Loyalty card program rewarding customer fidelity with 1.5%-2.5% cashback on purchases at participating local businesses.
• Chèques Cadeaux UCAB

Products and services

• Carte Belley+ (Belley+ Loyalty Card) A free loyalty card program allowing customers to earn 1.5%-2.5% cashback on purchases at participating Belley+ merchants. Accumulated rewards can be spent 80% at the same merchant and 20% at any other Belley+ partner.
• Chèque Cadeau UCAB (UCAB Gift Check) Gift checks available in 10€ denominations, valid for 1 year, accepted at nearly 50 Belleysannes partner businesses. Available for purchase online with home delivery (letter followed La Poste) or pickup at Bijouterie Lancon.
• Marché de Noël de Belley (Belley Christmas Market) Annual Christmas market held over three days featuring artisanal products, animations, and children's activities. Participants register for booth space at 150€ per outdoor chalet (3m x 2m) or indoor town hall stand.
• Bugey'Expo Annual crafts and artisan trade show organized by UCAB, promoting local craftsmanship and commerce in the Bugey region.
• Annuaire des Adhérents UCAB (UCAB Member Directory) Online searchable directory of 130+ UCAB member businesses across 25+ categories including food, retail, services, artisans, and professionals in Belley and surrounding areas.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2.5% cashback on purchases for non-food commerce via Belley+ card
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered major, flagship, core and minor.

• Région Auvergne-Rhône-AlpesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional council as major institutional partner supporting UCAB's local commerce promotion activities and events. Logo displayed on UCAB website as partner.
• CCI (Chambre de Commerce et d'Industrie)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChamber of Commerce and Industry as institutional partner providing support for local commerce development and business networking.
• Ville de BelleyflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity of Belley as primary institutional partner. Co-organizes annual Christmas market with UCAB, provides headquarters annex space, and supports commerce promotion activities.
• CMA (Chambre des Métiers et de l'Artisanat)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChamber of Trades and Crafts as institutional partner supporting artisan members and craft fair organization (Bugey'Expo).
• Office de Tourisme Bugey Sud Grand ColombiercoreGTM or Marketing PartnerTourism office partnership for cross-promotion and joint events including Christmas market promotion to visitors.
• CCBS (Communauté de Communes Bugey Sud)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity of Communes Bugey Sud supporting local commerce development across the territory.
• Département de l'AinmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDepartmental council providing institutional support for local commerce and artisan promotion.
• Ballad'AinminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal journal as media partner for news coverage and promotional content about UCAB activities.
• Cinéma l'ArlequinminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal cinema as community partner supporting local commerce through joint promotion and visibility.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• CCI Ain (Chambre de Commerce et d'Industrie de l'Ain): Chamber of Commerce and Industry serving the same Ain department geography as UCAB. Confirmed institutional partner, providing broader commerce support services while overlapping in trade promotion and business networking mandates.
• CMA Ain (Chambre des Métiers et de l'Artisanat de l'Ain): Chamber of Trades and Crafts for Ain department and confirmed institutional partner of UCAB. Co-organizes the Bugey'Expo artisan fair and serves an overlapping constituency of local artisans.

Direct peers

• Kadéos (Up France): Multi-brand gift voucher platform operated by Up France, offering B2B corporate gift solutions accepted across French retail networks. Directly competes with UCAB Chèques Cadeaux in the corporate gift voucher use case, and is already accepted at some UCAB members like Yves Rocher.
• Les Vitrines de Lyon: Federation of Lyon shopkeepers and artisans running loyalty, gift voucher, and event programs for local commerce. Closest direct analog to UCAB in terms of membership-based local commerce association model in France.
• Cadhoc: French B2B gift voucher company offering corporate employee reward and client gift solutions. Competes with UCAB's Chèques Cadeaux for the same HR/corporate purchasing budgets, and is also accepted at UCAB member merchants.

Regional players

• Office de Tourisme Bugey Sud Grand Colombier: Tourism office operating in the same Bugey Sud territory and confirmed UCAB partner for cross-promotion including Christmas market visitor traffic. Adjacent function (visitor economy) but shared regional focus and audience.

Emerging players

• Smile & Pay: French fintech providing local merchant tools including payment terminals, loyalty programs, and digital commerce solutions for small retailers. Overlaps with UCAB's Belley+ loyalty offering and serves the same SMB merchant segment.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ucabcommercesdebelley
• Instagraminstagram.com/ucabbelley
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ucab-union-des-commer%C3%A7ants-et-artisans-de-belley

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about UCAB - Union des Commerçants et Artisans de Belley