PIONEERING Perth businesses have launched a new gift card in a bid to keep money in the local economy.
The card, believed to be the first of its kind in Scotland, is already making a huge difference to independent local firms during the January.
The Perth Gift Card programme allows users to spend their pre-paid money at some of the best-loved local retail and hospitality businesses that the city has to offer, with over £4,000 worth of cards already being sold, helping to boost the post-Christmas sales rush.
The innovative scheme works like any other gift card but gives users the flexibility of spending however much they want in various different shops and restaurants, whenever they want.
Leading Perth names to sign up to the gift card include McCash’s Country Store, Blend Café, Charlie Taylor Hair and Beauty, Exel Wines, Scone Palace and one of the city’s oldest independent department stores McEwen’s.
Russell Wallace, general manager at Exel Wines said: "The Perth Gift Card was an instant must for Exel Wines to get involved in.
“The basic concept just seemed so innovative yet simple and ultimately useful for customers as a whole.
“Within the first few days, 22 people bought the card just from us, and we are certain there will be many more to come.
“We are really excited to see this project expand from its initial successful launch and be a boost to independent businesses in Perth.”
Similar projects in Scandinavia have generated as much as £500,000 to the local economy.
Perth & Kinross Council’s city development team has been keen to support the project and helped fund some of the initial cost for the businesses involved and much of the initial marketing expenditure.
David Littlejohn, head of planning and development at Perth and Kinross Council, believes the gift card has already hugely benefited the independent business in Perth and the local economy.
He said: “I’m really pleased to hear of the instant impact that the Perth Gift Card has had for such important local businesses.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here