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Spending boost revealed as City Council signs Scotland Loves Local Pledge and residents are urged to get behind businesses in their community
More than £8m has so far been spent with Glasgow businesses using a gift card which locks money into the city’s economy.
There are just over 950 businesses across the city where the Scotland Loves Local Glasgow Gift Card can be spent.
And there are hopes that millions of pounds more could follow as more businesses are urged to use the cards as staff rewards – and people are encouraged to continue embracing them as traditional gifts.
Almost £7.6m of the £8.2m so far spent followed a Glasgow City Council initiative which used the gift card to provide financial support to 85,000 low-income households at the peak of the cost of living crisis two years ago. They could only use that to shop with city businesses.
The figures have been revealed as Scotland Loves Local Week highlights the critical need for people to ensure the survival of local businesses – and the vitality of their home communities – by getting behind them.
Glasgow City Council has also highlighted its commitment to choosing local and supporting city enterprises whenever it can by signing the Scotland Loves Local Pledge.
Councillor Susan Aitken, Leader of Glasgow City Council, said: “The Loves Local scheme has been a great success in Glasgow, with around 1,000 city businesses and 80,000 households directly benefiting over the last couple of years.
“Buying local helps support Glasgow’s businesses, creating and protecting jobs – so using the Loves Local cards is great for the city’s economy.”
Other organisations and businesses across the city are being encouraged to follow the council in signing the Scotland Loves Local Pledge – demonstrating their commitment to choosing local.
It states: “We will choose local, prioritising the people and businesses around us at every opportunity.”
The gift card and pledge are extensions of the wider Scotland Loves Local initiative, spearheaded by Scotland’s Towns Partnership (STP) and supported by the Scottish Government to help build stronger futures for communities by supporting the businesses in them.
STP Chief Officer Kimberley Guthrie said: “The success of the Scotland Loves Local Glasgow Gift Card is a powerful demonstration of the positive impact on local jobs and the economy from choosing local.
“Not only has it been used to help people and businesses when they needed that most, but it has laid the foundations of further success for the city.
“Using the gift card as a corporate reward, for example, is a fantastic way for local businesses to demonstrate their support for each other.
“We are delighted to have worked with Glasgow City Council to launch the gift card programme and to have its continued support in encouraging everyone to choose local.”
The Scotland Loves Local Glasgow Gift Card programme is delivered by Perth-based fintech Miconex.
Managing Director Colin Munro said: “What makes the Scotland Loves Local Glasgow Gift Card stand out is the immense choice on offer. No other gift card can offer that level of choice combined with support for local.
“And, as consumers and organisations alike choose the Glasgow Gift Card for gifts, rewards and incentives, the impact for city businesses is significant. Businesses tell us that the cards bring new customers through their doors with money to spend, with many going on to become regular customers. Every Glasgow Gift Card purchased is an investment in the city.”
You can sign the Scotland Loves Local Pledge by going to www.lovelocal.scot/pledge
