Preston launches its very own gift card to keep it local

Preston Business Improvement District (BID) has launched the scheme, with over 50 popular businesses already signed up to accept it.

The concept is simple; the customer purchases a pre-loaded gift card from the card’s secure website, between £10 and £500, which they can then use themselves, or give as a present to a colleague, friend, family members... or anyone they like!

The card can then be spent just like any other card allowing the customer to spread their spend across as many participating businesses as they wish. They will also be able to add to their gift card value by spending over the amount and paying the difference themselves.

The Preston Gift Card will only be able to be spent in the city centre. The aim is that the card will be accepted in over 100 city centre businesses within the next few months.

Jonathan Halton from Preston BID, said: “It’s important that we work with loyal local people to keep spend circulating in their city centre economy, whilst also providing a wide choice of where to spend their well-earned money.

“The Preston Gift Card card will give shoppers a powerful alternative to existing national cards, especially that are tied to one outlet, and will be a key factor in encouraging people to continue supporting their local businesses, in the recovery from this crisis, and beyond.

“We’re absolutely committed to helping to drive local spend and consistently promoting a ‘shop local’ message. Our focus remains on helping city centre businesses recover from the Covid crisis, and flourish beyond.

The Preston Gift Card will be accepted by popular independents and national brands we all know and love.

Omar Mitha, from Ocean Designer Menswear on Cannon Street, said: “We’re really proud to be the first independent business in Preston to sign up to accept the Preston Gift Card. We’re passionate about Preston and to see our great city succeed.

“We’ll be accepting the card as a payment method and would encourage other businesses to back the BID and sign up to accept it too, so we, as a community, can see more monies kept within our local community”.

Lush on Fishergate, is also on board, and general manager Danielle Smith said: “As a national brand, we’re passionate locals too. The Preston Gift Card is a great idea to support local businesses whilst giving customers the freedom on where to spend their gift card. We’re proud to be the first national brand to sign up to accept the gift card, and look forward to swiping lots of them, as we head towards Christmas”.

Michelle Ragozzino, general manager of popular late-night venue, Baker Street, said: “We jumped at the chance to be one of the city’s first bars to sign up to accept the Preston Gift Card. We think it’s a great idea, to keep money circulating in the local economy at the same time as providing a brilliant gift for people to spend in lots of great places in our fab city centre, including Baker Street”.

With over 50 local gift card schemes already in operation in places such as York, Edinburgh, Bath and Sheffield, Preston is the first destination in Lancashire to launch its own card to keep spend local and support its city centre.

The design for the gift card, and associated imagery, was produced by city centre design agency Freedom of Creation.

To find out more, and purchase your card, visit: PrestonGiftCard.co.uk