Christmas is well behind us but there's another year of special events and celebrations ahead of us. When it comes to buying a gift, it can be difficult to choose. But did you know that Fife has its very own gift card that makes it easy to support Fife businesses and to shop local?
The Fife Gift Card is the ultimate multi-store gift card, providing customers and employers with an easy way to choose local, and is a proven way to drive footfall and spend with local independent businesses.
Working in the same way as any other gift card, but instead of having to shop in one place, it opens up a range of businesses locally and with a fantastic range of independent businesses, from hair and beauty salons to family-owned bars and restaurants and unique gift shops, Fife has a lot to offer. Businesses have welcomed this initiative that is backed by Fife Council to provide business support that makes ‘buying local’ easier.
There are many reasons for joining and spending in Fife. First and foremost, it's free to join and supported by Fife Council as part of the #ScotlandLovesLocal campaign. For new businesses joining, it's easy to accept and it works on the Mastercard payment platform so there’s no requirement for new equipment. And as well as retaining spend in the local economy and encouraging customers to #thinklocal and #supportlocal, it opens up the possibility of new business with 50% of customers taking the chance to visit a participating Fife business for the first time. This can generate increased sales especially when gift cards are redeemed, customers spend up to an additional 65% of the card’s value.
The gift card keeps people shopping local and protects local jobs. A number of local independent businesses are already signed up and all of those participating have the opportunity to be featured in marketing and promotional opportunities. Recent new independent businesses recruited to the programme in the latter half of 2024 include:
- K9 Active, Rosyth
- Bonkers, St Andrews
- AYT Foods, Dunfermline
- Foursticks Framing and Gallery, Falkland
- Khee, Leven
Are you a local retailer that is interested in accepting the gift card? Or treating someone to the gift of local? Sign up your business, buy it and load it with the value of your choice or see where to spend it at www.fifegiftcard.com.
