Scarborough Gift Card gives much-needed boost to town's businesses

Following the first easing of lockdown restrictions on April 12, businesses in Scarborough have been booming.
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One initiative helping to drive sales and high-street recovery post-lockdown as well as encouraging people to shop locally is the Scarborough gift card, which has seen nearly £50,000 worth of gift cards purchased so far.

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The gift card, which was launched in November to provide a boost for businesses in Scarborough, is open to all businesses in the town for free and has had more than 70 businesses, such as Bike and Boot Hotel, Forget Me Not Florist, Crafty Creations Café, sign up so far.

Sue Anderson-Brown, manager at the Brunswick Centre.Sue Anderson-Brown, manager at the Brunswick Centre.
Sue Anderson-Brown, manager at the Brunswick Centre.

The Scarborough Gift Card can be spent on retail, food & drink, health & beauty and leisure, in the town centre and is part of efforts to protect town centre revenues and keep money locked into Scarborough.

It is being spearheaded by town-centre retailers and supported by the Town Scarborough and District Chamber of Trade and Commerce, Town Centre Team, Yorkshire Coast BID, York and North Yorkshire Growth Hub, Scarborough Borough Council and the Brunswick Centre.

Business owner, Silvia, who runs Florio’s gift shop said: “The gift card is an absolutely brilliant idea.

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“It is working very well for us even if we are only working as a Take Away at the moment.

"The customers are enjoying it too and we are very happy to have taken part in this great initiative.”

Mo Driffield, Store Manager for Marks & Spencer and Director for Yorkshire Coast BID, said: “It’s essential that we support our Scarborough businesses as they begin to reopen after what has been an incredibly tough year for the high-street and local retailers and the Scarborough gift card is a great way to do that..

“With businesses able to sign up to be part of this fantastic initiative for free, we encourage all of them to take part and help in their own recovery, we also urge everyone to go out and support the local businesses as they really are the beating heart of the community.”

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Sue Anderson-Brown, centre manager at Brunswick, one of the partner organisations supporting the scheme added: “Supporting your local high street is more important now than ever and the Scarborough Gift Card initiative is powerful way of encouraging people to spend locally and keeping cash in the town.

“Every gift card that is bought is investment back into Scarborough and the 70 local businesses who are signed up.

“It’s so much more versatile than a generic voucher for just one shop, and I would encourage local shoppers to consider buying a gift card for presents as a way of paying it forward to Scarborough.”

Gift cards can be purchased from the Brunswick Centre or online.

Visit https://www.yorkshirecoastbid.co.uk/scarborough-gift-card/ to find out more about the Scarborough Gift Card.

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