York gift card firm generated £70k in 2021

York is one of 10 areas of the UK with the highest gift card sales in 2021, says fintech Miconex, as local gift cards widen their appeal across the UK and across the generations.

York, Aberdeen, Enniskillen, East Ayrshire, Cambridge, Belfast, Barnsley, Perth, East Lothian and Kirkwall recorded sales of over £1.2m for their local gift cards in 2021, a 32 per cent increase on 2020.

Carl Alsop, Operations Manager at York BID said: “The York Gift Card launched in 2019. We achieved almost £70k in sales in 2021, an increase of 47 per cent on 2020 and we’re very proud of that. In 2021 we introduced a second card design, offered free postage on gift cards, and continued to add on businesses.

“Over 300 businesses now accept the York Gift Card now, making it the biggest in the UK. When you look at the range of businesses, you understand that it can be bought by, and enjoyed, by anyone, no matter their age, and this is reflected in the 2021 sales data, showing the appeal of local gift cards right across the generations.”

“When we started the gift card, we thought it would be a card primarily for residents, but it really is a card for all. We’ve had York Gift Cards purchased from as far away as Australia, and for such a wide range of reasons, from winning a pumpkin carving competition, thanking someone for taking care of them during lockdown to a gift for a staycation in York.

Carol concluded: “In 2022 we’ll continue to innovate and grow the York Gift Card, there really is no end to the potential of a local gift card, it can always be developed with new businesses joining and new customers using the card.”

Miconex increased the reach of its Town & City Gift Card programme to 70 UK and Irish places in 2021. Analysis of 2021 data shows universal appeal for its local gift cards across the age brackets for both the initial sale of gift cards, and the value of that initial gift card sale.

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