InStrabane gift card sales hit £100,000

Sales of the InStrabane gift card have officially surpassed the £100,000 mark, with every penny recycled back into the Strabane economy, supporting local businesses.

The gift card was first set up in April 2018 by Strabane BID and can be spent in a range of stores and sectors within the town centre. The card can be purchased online or in selected Strabane stores at a price range of £5 to £200. The scheme has proved a vital tool in supporting local businesses and jobs by encouraging people to shop local and by driving increased footfall into Strabane.

Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Alderman Graham Warke, said it was a significant and fantastic milestone.

"It's really incredible news to hear that the InStrabane gift card has now reached the £100,000 mark in sales. This six figure sum has been put directly back into Strabane town and into the local businesses to help them thrive and grow.

"Particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, businesses have faced pressures unlike anything they have dealt with before, and the InStrabane gift card has been a huge asset in providing steady income and supporting jobs.

"The scheme is going from strength to strength and with Strabane BID now in a new five-year term it's really exciting to think of how much further the gift card can go in promoting and supporting the shop local message."

Kieran Kennedy, Chair of Strabane BID, added: "This is a milestone that everyone at Strabane BID is absolutely delighted to see achieved. Reaching this important marker is testament to the support that the community has shown to the InStrabane gift card from its inception in 2018. It has proven to be the perfect gift for family, friends and even employers and the wide variety that it offers has been a unique selling point in driving sales.

"We are all committed to seeing a thriving town centre with local businesses at the heart of it. This is a vital time for our economy and I would ask everyone in our community to keep supporting the InStrabane gift card, safe in the knowledge that, in doing so, you are directly helping local businesses and supporting local jobs."

InStrabane gift cards can be purchased instore at O'Neills, Caffe Fresco and the Alley Theatre or they are also available to purchase online at www.instrabane.org