South Ayrshire gift card scheme to be extended despite low public take-up since launch

dailyrecord.co.uk:

South Ayrshire Council’s gift card scheme will be extended – despite shoppers buying fewer than 200 of the 5,000 available.The scheme, run by the council and Scotland’s Towns Partnership, works similar to the gift cards you can buy in shops; loading money on to them and then using them like a debit card.The key difference is that the money can be spent at any of the local businesses signed up to the scheme.By April, 112 businesses had signed up to the project.However, the uptake by the public has been less impressive with 196 cards purchased since the launch in South Ayrshire last November.A total of £9,640 was put on the cards which works out at just under £50 per card.The Ayrshire Live app is available to download now.Get all the local news in your area – plus features, football news and the latest on the coronavirus crisis – at your fingertips 24/7.The free download features the latest breaking news and exclusive stories while you can customise your page with the sections that matter to you.The Ayrshire Live app is available to download now on iOS and Android.The initial funding for the scheme came from the Scottish Government but there has been no confirmation that this investment will continue beyond September.A report to cabinet stated: “Local businesses participating in the gift card initiative have the potential to unlock a new level of local spending which is important as businesses recover from the impact of the pandemic.“The gift card can be used in any type of business, and online or offline – so long as the merchant has a ‘bricks and mortar’ presence in the area.”One of the first authorities to operate the scheme was neighboring East Ayrshire, which launched its card in August 2020.In the first year of