THE latest Swan Hill Inc initiative has proven to be a hit with hundreds of Swan Hill gift cards sold in the lead up to Christmas.
As of last Friday, 297 gift cards had been sold, coming to a value of just over $30,000.
“Everyone keeps saying what a great idea it is for keeping money in the town,” Swan Hill Inc marketing co-ordinator Kaylee Whitfield told The Guardian.
“We’ve now got over 100 businesses on board and it’s proven to be extremely popular with local retailers and shoppers this Christmas season.”
The Swan Hill gift card program allows people to purchase the card as a gift, that can then be redeemed at any participating local stores.
Ms Whitfield said she wasn’t surprised by the popularity of the program, that comes at no charge to local businesses.
“We wanted to make it as easy for the businesses as possible,” she said.
“Similar programs have rolled out successfully in New South Wales towns in recent years.
“Knowing how passionate the Swan Hill people are about their community and supporting small business, I was always confident this initiative would be a success.”
Ms Whitfield said the gift card had a long list of benefits and surrounding areas such as Lake Boga and Kyalite had recently jumped on board.
“It’s the perfect gift if you don’t know what to give someone and can be spent anywhere,” she said.
“And it’s not just Swan Hill, it reaches out to the surrounding smaller areas.
“Every dollar spent locally circulates around the local economy several times, to the extent that $100 spent locally ends up having a $180 impact in the community.”
While the release of the gift card has been timely in the lead up to Christmas, the Swan Hill gift card is a year-round promotion and the funds on the card do not expire for three years.
“It’s not just a Christmas promotion, it is here indefinitely,” Ms Whitfield said.
“The card can be used for any event whether it is a congratulations, wedding anniversary or birthday.
“Recently, a whole heap of employers have made bulk orders to give the gift card as a bonus or end-of-year gift to their employees.”
The gift card can be purchased online or at participating local stores including the Swan Hill Newsagency, Swan Hill Disposals, Stihl Shop Swan Hill, Syd Wilsons, Northern Shoe Store, Lake Boga Metro and the Swan Hill Region Information Centre.
To find out more about the Swan Hill gift card, visit the Swan Hill Inc website www.swanhillincorporated.com.au/ and click the ‘Swan Hill Gift Card’ blue button or call 0407 826 177.
