The end of the school term has seen a spike in purchases of the new Ilkley Town Centre Gift Card, suggesting local teachers could be spending their summer holidays on local shopping sprees!
Ilkley BID (Business Improvement District) says 55 of the new gift cards were bought in a single day this week at the town's Visitor Information Centre, and that sales are increasing exponentially.
Sarah Lyles, owner of Attic Womenswear boutique in the Crescent Courtyard, recently accepted a £100 gift card as payment when parents of a local school clubbed together to buy a gift card for a special teacher instead of individual presents. The teacher, who lives outside Ilkley, was reportedly delighted with her gift and happy to be able to choose something special for herself.
The aim of the Ilkley Gift Card, an initiative by the Ilkley Business Improvement District with technology provided by FinTech Miconex, is to lock in spend to the town by encouraging consumers to shop locally, making the local economy more resilient and sustainable.
A total value of over £7,000 has been spent on gift cards to date which can be redeemed in 77 local participating businesses which include shops, restaurants, bars, cafes, hair and beauty salons.
Lisa Drake, Project Coordinator for Ilkley BID, said: “The introduction of our gift card is fantastic for the town and will enhance the shopping experience for locals and visitors alike. It’s a great gift to give and receive and we’re delighted that it’s proving as popular as we had hoped, with residents and visitors fully embracing the concept and showing support for the town and its amazing array of businesses.
“The recent influx of sales for teachers’ presents shows the flexibility and scope of the gift card and we are delighted that it is resulting in consumers from outside the town visiting our shops and businesses, some for the first time.
“Furthermore, the choice of retailers participating in the scheme demonstrates all that Ilkley has to offer, from places to visit like Ilkley Manor House, things to do like Clip ‘n Climb, places to eat and drink like Bettys Café Tea Rooms, independent bakeries, bars and delis, plus our unique boutiques and shops.”
You can buy a card pre-loaded with any value from £5 to £500 at the Visitor Information Centre or you can pick up a card at selected retailers to load at home - as well as buying online at ilkleygiftcard.co.uk.
All the details can be found on the Discover Ilkley website at discoverilkley.co.uk.