Looking for a handy Christmas present while supporting Sheffield businesses? The Sheffield City Centre Gift Card, which has now received a ‘digital makeover’, could be the perfect choice!
Managed by Sheffield Business Improvement District (BID), the physical card has been hugely popular in recent years, providing access to a wide range of retailers, restaurants, leisure and entertainment venues across the city centre.
This year, in spirit of moving with our increasingly digtised times, the phyiscal card option will be complemented by the digital card option, which can be sent instantly, making it the perfect last-minute gifting solution.
Digital wallet payments in the UK made up around 10% of payments in 2022 and it is estimated that they will account for 21% by 2026. 61% of consumers now feel confident enough with digital wallet payments to leave their home with just their phone, with this figure rising to 77% of Generation Z (18-24).
The introduction of the digital gift card comes at a time where more people are thinking about their gifting habits and increasing numbers are looking to support their local areas, in particular local businesses.
According to latest research, ‘support for local’ is higher than ever with 98% keen to support local this Christmas and 87% saying supporting local businesses helps to keep them open.
Diane Jarvis, Head of Business Operations at Sheffield BID, said: “We’re really pleased to launch the digital version of our popular city centre gift card in time for Christmas 2023. It’s the perfect time to introduce this new product.
“We’re confident it will complement the existing physical card, meaning that even more city centre businesses will benefit.
“We want to see more people supporting local by choosing to buy the city centre gift card this year, whether that’s the traditional physical card, or this new digital card. Every card that is purchased is a statement of support for city centre businesses.”
Sheffield BID is also keen to see more city centre businesses join the programme and accept the gift card as a means of payment.
The Sheffield City Centre Gift Card can be purchased via the Sheffield City Centre Gift Card website, www.sheffieldgiftcard.co.uk. Cards can be loaded with values between £10 and £500 and recipients have a minimum of 12 months to use the balance on their cards once they are activated. A full list of businesses (currently around 85) accepting the Sheffield City Centre Gift Card can also be found on the website.
