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Downtown Garden City is looking to the future as they launch a new Gift Card that can be spent with stores, restaurants, salons and more across the downtown core.
A vibrant retail hub, the Garden City Gift Card is designed to showcase the city’s unique mix of local businesses and bring people downtown to experience them, supporting a ‘shop local’ ethos.
Driven by Garden City Downtown Vision, the Garden City Gift Card is part of the Downtown Gift Card concept from Miconex in association with EML Payments, and is the first digital Downtown Gift Card program in the USA. A physical version of the Garden City Gift Card will also be available.
People will be able to buy the digital Garden City Gift Card online (feature coming soon).The recipient can then upload the digital Gift Card to their digital wallet and tap to pay using their phone. Physical cards can be purchased online with delivery direct to the recipient.
Janet Burr, Executive Director for Garden City Downtown Vision said: “We started out with a check program but quickly realized we needed a shop local solution that is progressive and will position our city for the future. We’re excited to have the first digital Downtown Gift Card program in the USA and to use this cutting edge technology to benefit our whole downtown core and put us in a place where we can compete with the big box stores.
“Many people only pay with their phones now, and being able to load a Garden City Gift Card right into their digital wallet is convenient and will support our mission to encourage even more people to shop downtown. As a retail hub for the area, people travel from a 2 hour radius to experience our culturally diverse, heritage and unique businesses. Our Gift Card will showcase the local food, the local stores and the flavours of the community.
“Our new Gift Card will also enable corporate sales. The paper checks had to be used in 6 months and when giving a gift to an employee, that timeline isn’t ideal. With the Garden City Gift Card, organizations can give their people the opportunity to shop and experience lots of small local businesses with one card, and show their support for the whole downtown area.”
A business set to accept the new Garden City Gift Card is Corner on Main. Andrea Kirchoff is co-owner of Corner on Main and said: “We are a third generation gift shop that has been located in downtown Garden City since 1996. We offer a range of products, including home decor, candles, specialty foods, baby and children’s gifts, bath and body products, and jewelry.
“Downtown Garden City is a special place that we are fortunate to be a part of. With a variety of unique shops, activities, and events, there is always something happening downtown. We are excited for this new Gift Card program, as it will give customers the ability to shop and dine where they choose, while supporting our downtown business community.”
Patrick Dugan’s Coffee House is also part of the new Gift Card. Manager of Patrick Dugan’s, Mia Bernal, said: “Patrick Dugan’s is an independent small business. We serve handcrafted coffees and many other things like smoothies, hot coco, chai, teas, and assorted pastries and breakfast sandwiches. We have been a downtown staple for almost 16 years now and some would say we are the heart of downtown Garden City.
“We are a part of the Garden City Gift Card program because we believe it will help drive sales for businesses by keeping our customers shopping downtown and shopping local. I think it will give people reasons to try out places they haven’t been yet and if they find something that they like, whether it be us or another local business, they will keep coming back for more.”
Salons and service based businesses are also accepting the new Garden City Gift Card like N Style Salon in Downtown Garden City. Owner Savannah Brungardt said: “I’ve owned the salon since 2014 and we specialize in special occasion hair and make-up. I am excited to be a part of the new Garden City Gift Card because it brings an exclusivity to the area, and will open up the public to all of the different service and retail businesses downtown.
“I think the Gift Card will bring more business from our community because people will want to spend their Gift Cards once they receive them. I also think people will be more adventurous with their Gift Card and explore the many businesses who are part of the Gift Card, which will be great for downtown.”
The Garden City Gift Card is issued by Pathward®, N.A., Member FDIC. Funds do not expire. Non-reloadable and no cash access. For Cardholder Agreement or Customer Service: www.getmybalance.com or 1.833.558.1088.
Pathward®, N.A., a national bank, is a subsidiary of Pathward Financial, Inc. (Nasdaq: CASH). Pathward is a U.S.-based financial empowerment company driven by its purpose to power financial inclusion. Pathward strives to increase financial availability, choice, and opportunity across our Banking as a Service and Commercial Finance business lines. The strategic business lines provide end-to-end support to individuals and businesses. Learn more at Pathward.com.
