As the roll out of the £100 High Street Scheme continues, people across Northern Ireland have been supporting businesses by spending local and the benefits have been felt across all regions.

The Minister said: “We are hearing from those working in the retail, hospitality and service sectors across Northern Ireland that the High Street Scheme is helping to turn their businesses around after the pandemic. But there is ground still to cover until we reach recovery. That is why it is important that everyone spends every last penny on their £100 pre-paid Spend Local card in their local businesses.”

Lorna Pegg is from family owned business Sew’n’Knit in Lisburn which was first established over 30 years ago. They have seen an uplift in customers using their Spend Local cards.

Lorna said: “I have had a lot of customers using their High Street voucher towards new sewing machines. This is great to see as a sewing machine is a one off purchase.

“There is a buzz in the city centre as people seem to be generally happier when out and about spending their hundred pounds High Street voucher.”

Minister Lyons said it is important that people activate their cards and spend their £100 in full. He emphasised once again that the objective of the scheme is to stimulate recovery in local businesses by spending in bricks and mortar shops rather than online.

Buzz

Brent Kieran from Edge Hairdressing in Newry has seen customers use their cards more frequently in recent weeks.

He said: “We have noticed customers using their £100 cards to treat themselves and we hope that in the run up to Christmas this will continue and customers will buy gift vouchers for other people.

“It’s great to see the buzz in the salon and things feel positive for the rest of the year.”

The scheme closure date is the 14th December. To date over 1.36 million Spend Local cards have been dispatched with over 1.1 million activated and in use.

Killyhevlin Lakeside Hotel & Lodges in Enniskillen are encouraged by the number of customers using their cards across their facilities.

General Manager, David Morrison said: “As a local family run hotel for 45 years, it is fantastic to see people choosing to use their Spend Local Cards to ‘Make Memories by The Lakes’, guests are using their cards towards a lakeside staycation in our luxury hotel guestrooms as well as our self-catering stay lodges; others are choosing to enjoy lunch and some are enjoying some much needed relaxation with an Elemis treatment at Kalm Spa.

“The scheme has been a welcome pre-Christmas boost to business.”

The Minister concluded: “It is fantastic to see local businesses benefit from the scheme as the public use their cards on their local high streets, I would urge people to continue spending and supporting local business ahead of the scheme closure date on 14th December.”

Anyone who applied for a Spend Local Card but has not received any communication from the Department regarding the status of their application should contact SpendLocalNI@economy-ni.gov.uk.

The post Economy MInister Gordon Lyons urges Spend Local cardholders to ‘spend it now and spend it all’ first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.

The group teamed up with Economy Minister Gordon Lyons MLA to launch the campaign which encourages the public to make a special effort to use their £100 ‘Spend Local’ pre-paid cards with independent retailers. 

More than one million applications have been made to date, with the Spend Local Pre-Paid Card.offering consumers an opportunity to support the work of independent retailers and give hard-hit local traders a much-needed boost.

Retail NI says local independent traders are the cornerstone of Northern Ireland’s communities and after the toughest year in a generation for our local high streets, supporting local has never been more important.  

Revitalising communities

Whether consumers use the card in their local convenience store, butcher, baker, or barista bar, ‘spending it independent’ will help revitalise local communities, towns and city centres and maximise the Scheme’s impact on the Northern Ireland economy.

Retail NI Chief Executive, Glyn Roberts, said: “The High Street Scheme is a very welcome step in the long road to recovery for Northern Ireland’s independent retail sector. Local traders are the backbone of local communities and contribute significantly to the Northern Irish economy. 

“The last 18 months have posed enormous challenges to local retailers, and by spending it independent, you are maximizing the impact that the High Street Scheme will have on the local economy.”

“When using the Spend Local card, it must be remembered that a little spend will have a big effect. For every £1 spent in an independent retailer, for example, 70p is recycled around the local economy. 

“By using your £100 to support local traders, you are ensuring that every penny goes towards boosting your local community, high street, or town centre.

“With the £100 Cards starting to be delivered to households across Northern Ireland, I would encourage everyone to Spend It Independent and give local independent retailers the support and boost they truly deserve.”

Spend Local

Economy Minister, Gordon Lyons MLA, said: “As the Spend Local cards start to land in homes across Northern Ireland, my message to everyone who receives theirs is ‘spend local’. Please use your card to support your local shops, hospitality and other services which have been most affected by the Covid-19 restrictions.

“The objective of the £145million High Street Scheme is to boost local businesses following the drop in footfall brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic. 

By giving everyone aged 18 and over in Northern Ireland a pre-paid card worth £100 to spend in local high businesses, we will encourage many more customers back through the doors of local retail, hospitality and services”

“By applying, receiving and ultimately spending your Spend Local card in local businesses such as shops, hospitality and other services before November 30, you will be doing your bit to support your local businesses.”

The post Retail NI urges shoppers to spend £100 vouchers in the independent sector first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.