Local gift card scheme gives Glasgow economy £7.5m boost

“The day that the gift cards arrived in the post to residents, we were inundated,” said George Gilmour, owner of David Cox Butchers in Bridgeton, which participated in the Glasgow scheme. “We’d posted on our Facebook account to say that we accepted the gift card, but it was mainly word of mouth and customers coming in asking if they could use the cards with us.

“As well as regular customers using their cards with us, we also saw lots of new faces, people who were choosing to shop local as a direct result of the gift card. And the great thing is that we’ve seen these people back in the shop, choosing to shop local, even once their gift card has been spent. I think the gift card has done what it set out to do, to show people they can get really good quality products and great service when they shop local. Every business should get involved because it’s a way to help their community; it’s a no-brainer.”

“Glasgow’s innovative use of the card has not only provided lifeline support to households during a cost-of-living crisis, but a multi-million injection into the city’s economy”

The Scotland Loves Local Gift Card is an extension of the wider Scotland Loves Local campaign, spearheaded by Scotland’s Towns Partnership, encouraging people to think local first and support businesses in their area.

Kimberley Guthrie, interim chief officer of Scotland’s Towns Partnership, added: “Glasgow’s innovative use of the Scotland Loves Local Gift Card has not only provided lifeline support to households during a cost-of-living crisis, but a multi-million injection into the city’s economy, generating trade for local businesses as well as supporting jobs.

“This goes to show the true power of the Scotland Loves Local Gift card as a force for good locally – benefiting businesses and the people they serve, and showcasing the versatility of the card as a local currency. Money spent locally in Glasgow stays local for longer.”