A DIGITAL gift card scheme supporting traders has been launched to encourage people to shop local this Christmas.
The new Malmesbury Gift Card is accepted in over 34 local shops, restaurants, attractions, salons and service providers in and around the town.
The gift card locks in local spend in Malmesbury with traders including Malmesbury Abbey, Jackdaws Coffee House, The Wild Food Company, The Kings Arms and Sassy and Boo.
The initiative has been implemented by Malmesbury Town Team, a voluntary organisation working in collaboration with the Town Council.
The team say that Malmesbury is one of the first towns in the UK to use this kind of technology, allowing shoppers to send a digital gift card in seconds using the Love Local app.
Campbell Ritchie from Malmesbury Town Team said “One of the Town Team’s goals is to make shopping local a way of life.
“Having the ability to send a digital Malmesbury Gift Card instantly, for the recipient to load it into their digital wallet and pay using their phone, makes the gift card even more fun to use.”
“The introduction of this new gift card in Malmesbury shows you don’t have to be a big city to utilise technology which enhances shop local efforts, and makes convenient digital gifting a reality.”
Shoppers can send an e-card to the recipient’s phone as either a text or email.
Using an app, the recipient can then add the e-card balance to their digital wallet, and make purchases using Apple Pay or Google Pay, either online or in-store.
A physical gift card was previously launched 2019.
One trader who is already accepting the new digital gift card, is Emily Hepworth owner of florist Persephone Violet.
“We’ve been part of the physical gift card scheme from the start,” she said.
“It’s like our own currency for the town, encouraging money to remain within our town.
“It also brings people into the shop that maybe wouldn’t have shopped with us at Persephone Violet before.
“As a small market town, Malmesbury has already done well by having its own gift card.
"This new digital gift card is even more amazing and another string in Malmesbury’s bow.
“I think the real benefit of the digital Malmesbury Gift Card is it will make it easier for people to spend them.
“You’re not going to lose a digital card, because it’s there on your phone.
For more information about the new digital gift card visit - www.malmesburygiftcard.com
Shops and traders in the Malmesbury digital gift card scheme include:
- Athelstan Museum
- AR Woodward
- Beauty by Hand
- caerbladon CIC
- C H White and Son
- Clear Cut
- Cuttin-Um Palace
- E andS Shops Ltd
- Foxley Road Nurseries and Landscaping
- Frangipani Home
- French Grey
- Jackdaws Coffee House
- Knees Home and Electrical
- La Campagna
- Malmesbury Abbey and Cafe
- Malmesbury Garden Centre
- Malmesbury Opticians
- Malmesbury Tourist Information Centre
- Michael Thomas Butchers & Bistro
- Nimble and Wild Pilates
- Persephone Violet
- Renew Malmesbury
- Salon Forty Seven
- Sassy and Boo
- Shipton Mill Ltd
- Teasel Floristry
- The Abbey House Gardens
- The Cake Tin
- The Grooming Room Boutique and Spa Malmesbury
- The Kings Arms
- The Malmesbury Clinic
- The Old Bell Hotel
- The Summer Cafe
- The Wild Food Company
- Walker Leonard
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