The Southport BID are launching a new initiative this summer designed to boost local shopping and keep customer spend in the local economy.
The Southport Gift Card will be launched in June as a town wide gift card initiative that keeps spend local and at the same time gives the recipient far more choice then a generic single store gift card.
Southport BID has partnered with Miconex to deliver the pre-payment gift card with the aim to have it accepted in over 150 stores, hospitality venues or attractions.
The new scheme works exactly like any other shop gift card scheme. The purchaser can pre-load from £10 up to £200 on a card that they give as a present to colleagues, friends or family members. The card can then be spent just like any other debit card and they can purchase from any venue accepting it and spread their spend across as many venues as they wish.
All you, as a business needs to do to accept the card is have a till system/PDQ that accepts Mastercard.
Once we can visit you, we will swipe a card for a declined transaction to link your EPOS and then you will be ready to benefit. As a BID we will be promoting the card and there will be a dedicated website for people to buy it securely – with each business accepting it listed. There are no charges other then a normal Mastercard processing fee from your merchant services provider.
Click here to read the full merchant brief
Businesses will be provided with window stickers and till talkers to help promote it in store and there will be social media assets businesses can send out across their channels.
With over 40 schemes across the country now active, business participants nationally include both high street chains, independent shops, restaurants, pubs, cinemas and hotels.
BID CEO Rachel says of the scheme, “The aim is to give shoppers choice while protecting local spending. Credit on the card will be redeemable through multiple transactions at participating businesses within the Southport BID area.
The Southport gift card will provide shoppers a great local alternative to existing national cards, and represents an important development for local businesses helping harness the sense of supporting local in the recovery from this crisis and beyond.
Together with a far stronger website and campaign for southportindependents.co.uk we want the card to help drive local spend and a shop local message”
To register to accept the card please complete the simple form here: https://airtable.com/shrqM2cf42tgGdfko
Find answers to all merchant FAQs here: https://southportbid.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Southport-Gift-Card-Merchant-Brief-.pdf
OTS News on Social Media