Fintech Miconex has launched the Spend It campaign across its 60 plus Town and City Gift Card programmes in the UK and Ireland, encouraging consumers to get out and spend local gift cards to support businesses reopening after the latest lockdown.
The programme aims to lock in money locally for participating businesses. It drives footfall and stimulates economic activity, in effect creating a local currency through the Mastercard network. Each gift card can be spent with a variety of businesses in a particular town or city; from retail and leisure to hospitality and services.
Over 47,000 Town and City Gift Cards were purchased in 2020.
The campaign also asks consumers to share where they have spent their local gift card; to like or follow Town and City Gift Cards on Twitter or Facebook as well as tag the company on their photo to be put into a prize draw to win a £100 Town and City Gift Card of their choice.
One business that has seen spend through their local gift card is Javelin Retail in Bury St Edmunds (pictured). “The gift card has been a success in-store thus far. A lot of customers are eager to shop in a family-run, local business after months of lockdown,” says Javelin Retail’s Jess Simms-Baalham.
“As lockdown drove all non-essential retail online it seemed to signal the death of the high street. Instead, the opposite is happening now. It seems shoppers are keen to get back to their local indies and support real-life people. Spending the gift card with us keeps the community spirit alive.”
The popularity of Town and City Gift Cards is attributed to the rise in the use of multi-store gift cards and local shopping.
Colin Munro, managing director of Miconex, comments; “Customers have taken the first step and purchased a local gift card, now is the time to spend it. A Town and City Gift Card is a piece of potential.
“The potential to support a small, independent business that has struggled through the last year. The potential to keep money locked into where you live and the potential to safeguard jobs, livelihoods, and the vibrancy of where you live. Now is the time to get out and spend locally.”
For further information on the Town and City Gift Card programme, please click here.
