State Representative Timmy Beson of the 96th House District and Madison Jarmon Community Affairs Manager of Consumers Energy deliver a check to MI Table from the "Our Town" BOGO gift card promotion. Photo provided by the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce and Bay Future.
BAY CITY, MI - A gift card stimulus program gave Bay County’s small businesses a boost during the 2021 holiday season.
The Bay Area Chamber of Commerce and Bay Future released a statement on Tuesday, Dec. 21 that stated the “Our Town” buy-one-get-one gift card program from earlier this month had an over $55,000 direct impact on small businesses in Bay County.
“We were overwhelmed and appreciative of the immediate success of the program and support provided to Bay County small businesses by community residents,” said Ryan Tarrant, president & CEO of the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce.
The program, which was done in coordination with Consumers Energy, allowed shoppers to a purchase a $25 gift card from a participating small business and receive a free $25 gift card for the same business.
Consumers Energy financially supported similar promotions in 63 communities across the state, with the company providing a dollar-for-dollar match for the gift cards that customers bought through local chambers of commerce and downtown organizations.
Bay County’s businesses then received a check for the full amount of the gift cards as an injection of cash into the businesses.
The gift cards were in high demand with them selling completely out of stock within 10 minutes once the purchasing portal launched online, according to the Chamber and Bay Future.
“We knew the program would sell out quickly, as it did in 2020, and we’re very grateful for that,” Tarrant said.
The gift cards were available on a “first come-first serve” basis while they were available. Shoppers were able to purchase the gift cards through special link that was posted on the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce and Bay Future Facebook pages at noon on Dec. 7.
However, heavy demand reportedly overwhelmed the online platform, according to the Chamber and Bay Future, making it difficult for shoppers to snag the cards.
“We’re hopeful that those who weren’t able to purchase gift cards through this promotion still chose to spend their dollars locally this holiday shopping season,” said Bay Future president & CEO Trevor Keyes. “We know that there are small businesses who are still hurting and need our support.”
Riding on the success of the Dec. 7 launch, Consumers Energy provided funding for a second BOGO promotion on Dec. 20 that was made available only for Bay Area Chamber of Commerce Members and Bay Future, Inc. Investors.
The second round of BOGO gift card sales sold out in less than one hour, according to the Chamber and Bay Future.
Last year’s Buy Local Buy BC gift card program went live in June, 2020 and the Bay City Times previously reported that it supported over 70 businesses in the retail, restaurant and service industries and nearly 5,000 electronic gift cards were sold.
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