The Grande Prairie Downtown Association is attempting to make it easier to shop local during the holidays as it enters its second year of the new gift card program.
Last November, the based organization replaced the paper system it used for more than 20 years with cards that work more like a debit card. Executive Director Wendy Bosch says before making the move to the new program, the organization looked for something that met the criteria of being reliable, along with protecting both customers and businesses. With that, it landed on a program that is based out of Sweden.
“We were one of the first in western Canada to get this off the ground, and it’s a fantastic process. It’s far less cumbersome than the paper gift cards we had in the past.”
Bosch adds when a gift card is purchased, it can be used at businesses in the City Centre, including traditional places such as clothing or goods stores and coffee shops, but also non-traditional places such as a counselling or chiropractic office.
“It’s a tangible investment in our community, it’s supporting local, it’s a local currency that is reliable and protected, so everyone feels comfortable using it,” she adds.
Bosch adds when someone purchases a gift card, they are helping support local businesses and giving those businesses the ability to go up against the Amazons of the world.
Gift cards can be purchased online or in person at the Downtown Association office.
