Newgiftcard launchedinCrieff

Traders have been urged to sign-up to a new scheme which it’s hoped will help champion the cause of businesses in Crieff.

A gift card was this week launched by Crieff Succeeds Business Improvement District (BID) as part of an initiative designed to ensure money spent in local outlets stays within the town’s economy.

The Crieff Card allows recipients to spend in a range of town businesses, with a number of the town’s retailers already registering an interest and many more expected to get involved.

The Mastercard-based gift card works in the same way as store gift cards but can be used across the whole town.

From mid-May, it will be available to buy from either the Red Squirrel Café, Fun Junction or online at a dedicated website.

With similar schemes elsewhere in the UK, organisers hope it will encourage cardholders to spend more than the card’s value.

Karen Christie, owner of Fun Junction and Paul Attewell – owner of The Red Squirrel Café – helped launch the Crieff Card with Neil Combe from Crieff BID.

Karen said:“We are delighted to play such a crucial part in this scheme.

“Being great believers in promoting the‘shop local’ethos and encouraging independent businesses and the town centre to thrive, we think this initiative will really succeed at doing both.”

Paul continued:“Being one of the first businesses to offer a point-of-sale in the town gives us a great reason for more people to not only visit us, but to also cross-promote the local businesses in Crieff.”

Neil Combe, manager of Crieff BID, said:“We’re expecting the cards to become a popular birthday present or a simple way to say thank you for a good turn.

We also think they will help take the pain out of Christmas shopping, with all the signed-up businesses benefiting.”

Stickers will be displayed in the windows of the businesses that accept the card.

The BID will also promote the card as a great gift for people who live elsewhere but have relatives or friends in Crieff. They will be able to go online, order the Crieff Card and have it sent to a local address.

The Crieff Card forms part of the wider‘JustOne’promotional drive – which comprises a print, social media and internet advertising campaign and aims to shine a spotlight on the area and stress the potential advantages of people who run businesses making attempts to build on events and initiatives happening around them.

For more information, see www. crieffsucceeds.com or send an email to neil.crieffsucceeds@gmail.com