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Supporting local businesses is crucial now in the era of big box chains and convenient online shopping. Cities, Chambers of Commerce, Downtown Associations and Main Streets constantly seek effective shop local campaigns to engage their communities, but with the dominance and convenience of online shopping, this may seem like a challenging task. The truth is that a lot of people would rather spend their dollars at local businesses if there's a program for that. According to statistics, nearly 73% of Americans shop small or at local shops once a month. At the same time, more than 70% of Americans are okay with paying more for products or services if it means supporting a local business.
Yiftee, an organization dedicated to ensuring that local dollars remain local through its Community Card Program, offers a shop local campaign like no other. This article will explore the success stories of communities that have already created a shop local campaign with Yiftee, highlighting the positive effects these have had on local economies.
Local Gift Card Program Case Studies
Here are a few case studies from the 500+ communities supported by Yiftee's Community Card program.
Pandemic StimulusContinues to Engage Community to Shop Local: Del Mar Village Dollars, Del Mar,CA
In response to the challenges posed by the Covid pandemic, the Del Mar Village Association launched the Del Mar Village Dollars Community Card in October 2020. Since then, they have sold over 500 Community Cards totaling $113,000 and a remarkable 80% redemption rate. And these figures don't even account for the additional sales generated through foot traffic. The program's success was further amplified by two highly successful 72-hour flash sales on Black Friday2022 and the following year's Valentine's Day, which brought more customers to local establishments.
Durham's Spendabull Card Provides Cardholders with 52 Choices: Downtown Durham, NC
Downtown Durham, NorthCarolina, was among the earliest advocates of the shop local movement. They launched their community card program, Spendabull Community Card, in November 2019. Since then, the program has attracted the participation of 52 shops and restaurants. In 2022, Durham generated over $50,000 in Community Card sales. This, plus the diverse range of local businesses involved, including bakeries, cafes, fitness clubs, hotels, dance studios ,florists and wine bars, showcases the program's inclusivity and broad appeal.
Local Shops Get a $250,000 Boost in Revenue, Downtown Dayton, Ohio
Downtown Dayton launched the Downtown Dollars Community Card in December 2020. This resulted in over $250,000 in Community Card sales redeemable at 81 local shops and restaurants. To further drive sales, Downtown Dayton ran a successful Buy One Get One promotion in November 2022, where any customer who purchased a $50 Downtown Dollars Community Card received a free $25 bonus gift. The program has attracted bulk purchases from different organizations. It serves as a convenient reward and donation option, demonstrating how versatile and community-impactful the Community Gift Card program is.
Work Remotely and Support Local, Shop Pacifica Hotel Workations
The City of Pacifica is one of the few organizations that has successfully combined remote work and supporting local establishments, thanks to its Shop Pacifica "Workations" program. By embracing the concept of "workstations," the City of Pacifica has attracted professionals to its hotels while encouraging them to explore and spend their money at local shops and restaurants. Having partnered with Yiftee, Pacifica provides Community Cards to its "workstation" guests, which they can redeem at local hotels, restaurants, gift shops, and more. Since the launch of the Shop Pacifica Community Card, the City has generated over $27,000 in gift card sales.
All of these are examples of how the Community Card program continues to benefit local economies. Community Cards are free for organizations to launch and for participating businesses, making them them an easy, cost-effective shop local campaign for any community.
