A brand-new gift card that can be spent in many of Bristol’s independent, high street and hospitality outlets has launched, with the aim of offering a unique gifting option that supports the city centre economy. The Love Bristol Gift Card has been created by Bristol City Centre BID, Redcliffe & Temple BID and Broadmead BID, and is available to buy online as either a physical or digital card.
With more than 60 businesses across the city including retailers, restaurants and service providers signed up to the gift card scheme, people can give a gift that feels very 'Bristol' to their friends, family and colleagues. The recipient will be able to pick a new outfit, enjoy a meal out or buy something nice for their home from one of their Bristol favourites, knowing they are support local businesses at the same time.
Steve Bluff, Head of Redcliffe & Temple BID, said: “Bristol City Centre BID, Redcliffe & Temple BID and Broadmead BID are excited to launch the ‘Love Bristol Gift Card’ for our city. It can be used for a variety of purposes, from gifts and employee rewards to tourism. This is a card for eating out, for shopping, for activities and wellbeing.
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"It’s a card for treats and essentials, for national brands and unique independents. We all want to see our city prosper, and the Love Bristol Gift Card is a way that Bristolians and visitors can show their support for Bristol and make a tangible difference to our local economy.”
Some of Bristol’s well-known and much-loved independent businesses are signed up, including Oak & Reed plant shop, Four Wise Monkeys, Bella Vista, Anytime Fitness Clifton, The Lost & Found, Bocabar, CLOTHINGXCHANGE and Mud Dock Cycleworks. Several national brands with Bristol outlets have also signed up to the gift card scheme, including Clayton Hotel, Starbucks, Whittard of Chelsea, Piccolino and Mountain Warehouse.
Mila Plants is one buisiness that has joined the new initiative and Owner and director Sam McKay, says he believes that the gift card will keep money locked in Bristol, and bring new money in too. “Mila Plants started in lockdown and was named after my little girl because it’s a place of joy and happiness.
"As a queer-owned business, it’s also a safe space for all. Bristol is different to many other cities thanks to our independents.
"We joined the Love Bristol Gift Card because it’s a way of showing what we have here in Bristol - the vibrancy and personality that you can’t get anywhere else. It's time for us to champion our small businesses. The Love Bristol Gift Card will keep money here in Bristol and bring money in, strengthening our local economy and making our city thrive.”
Specsavers in Broadmead have also joined, with Retail Director Mark Walker saying that he thinks the gift card is easy for customers and businesses. “People do want to support local more now, and the good thing about the Love Bristol Gift Card is that it can be used in lots of different ways.
"You can get your hair done, get your eyes tested, go shopping, have a meal; it’s Bristol on a plate. The world we live in now means that card payments are the norm.
"Customers can use their Love Bristol Gift Card like any other debit or credit card, so it’s easy for them to spend the card around the city. It’s going to be a winner for customers and businesses.”
Working through the Mastercard system, the Love Bristol Gift Card can be spent like a debit card. Physical gift cards are sent by post and digital gift cards are sent as a text or email.
The recipient can then add the balance of a digital Love Bristol Gift Card to their digital wallet and make their purchases in-store, using their phone or their physical gift card.
Andy Hills, Store Manager at model and hobby shop Antics Online, who are also a part of the Love Bristol Gift card scheme, believes the gift card could encourage tourism, saying: “We believe the gift card will help to promote Bristol. There is so much happening in the city, Bristol is a fantastic place to visit.
"The digital side of the card is important, people pay with their phones and watches more and more now, and as a university city, parents can give their child a digital Love Bristol Gift Card, and it’s a way that they can explore their new city. It will help students to realise what’s on their doorstep.”
The Love Bristol Gift Card is part of the award-winning Town & City Gift Cards initiative from Miconex and Colin Munro, Managing Director of Miconex, said that Bristol is one of the first cities in the UK to launch its own physical and digital gift card. "Multi-venue gift cards like the Love Bristol Gift Card continue to rise in popularity, representing 38% of sales in 2021.
"Sales of physical gift cards increased in 2021 but digital conversion is rising with 27.5% of gift card buyers converting to digital gift cards in 2021. 40.8% of consumers expect all gift cards to be cross channel in the future.
"The new Love Bristol Gift Card offers the ultimate choice for customers, in how they buy their gift card, and where and how they spend it.” Gift cards can be purchased at https://lovebristolgiftcard.co.uk/ and businesses can join the scheme for free by visiting: https://bit.ly/LoveBristolGiftCard or emailing: supportuk@mi-cnx.com.
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