Preston’s BID encourages people to spend locally this Christmas and support Preston businesses
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Research from Preston BID has found that over 53% of employees would prefer to receive a gift card from their workplace for Christmas 2022, over a cash gift, and Preston BID hopes people will consider the Preston Gift Card, introduced in 2020 as a means to drive local spends.
The BID says that the shop local ethos is as strong as ever with over 80% of organisations and 90% of employees saying that support for local businesses was important to them for Christmas 2022.
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Hide AdA Preston BID spokesperson said: “Choosing the Preston Gift Card for rewards and incentives is a simple way in which organisations can transform the desire that employees have to support local businesses into a tangible action that benefits our local community.”
Other key findings include the fact that over 73% of employees said they would prefer a multi-store gift card, like the Preston Gift Card, to a single retailer gift card. Meanwhile, 45% said they are either slightly or significantly worse off this year, and 72% said they would use their gift card on something practical.
The BID spokesperson added: “The great thing about our very own gift card is that it can be spent on a groceries or clothing, as much as on a meal out or a trip to the salon. It puts that choice in the employee’s hands.
“Another finding from the research was that employees wanted to receive a gift card rather than cash as part of their salary. A big reason for this was because cash as part of the salary tends to get used on day to day expenses, whereas a gift card gives an employee permission to treat themselves, and is more interesting to spend.
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Hide Ad“We also found that 79% of employees who receive a gift card through work make a specific visit into the town or city to spend it, with 47% spending their cards within 3 months. Choosing the Preston Gift Card for their staff, volunteer or even customer rewards and thank you gifts, is a way that organisations can drive spend to our local businesses, and be a local hero this Christmas.”