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.”