Buy Local card proving popular on the Fraser Coast

Fraser Coast residents and businesses are being encouraged to keep supporting Council’s Buy Local campaign with new statistics showing more than $61,000 worth of local gift cards have been bought in the past seven months.

Mayor George Seymour said the Fraser Coast Gift Cards – the cornerstone of Council’s Open for Business Buy Local campaign - were now accepted at 180 businesses across the region.

“Buying local is the best way for people to support Fraser Coast businesses, it’s great for local jobs and great for our local communities,” he said.

“Every $100 spent locally provides at least a $180 benefit to the local economy through the multiplier effect so that’s why we’re urging everyone to get behind this campaign and support local businesses.

“Of the $61,000 in cards bought, $34,000 has been redeemed so there is still $27,000 in the community ready to be spent.”

The program, which has been running since December 2020, encourages residents and visitors to shop locally to help build a stronger united Fraser Coast business community.

“When we delved into the statistics to we found that more than $18,000 has been spent in participating Maryborough businesses, with $14,500 being spent in Hervey Bay businesses and just over $1,000 spent in participating Tiaro businesses,” Deputy Mayor Darren Everard said.

“The statistics show that we like to party with 36 percent of the cards redeemed in locally-owned pubs and clubs.

“Overall, the stats show that the cards are being used at a variety of businesses, so we’d love even more local businesses to get involved.”

The Maryborough Chamber of Commerce is thrilled to see the support the program, Chamber President Michelle Clunn said.

“We congratulate Council for their development of this initiative and their commitment to the business community.”

The ‘Open for Business Buy Local’ campaign was developed following feedback from local businesses and was part of the Council’s efforts to stimulate the Fraser Coast economy following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Businesses interested in joining the program can sign up through the Council webpage via frasercoastgiftcard.com or email economic.development@frasercoast.qld.gov.au.

“The gift cards are great for Mothers’ Day, Fathers’ Day, Christmas and birthdays,” Cr Seymour said.

“Anyone can buy a card at any time. Grandparents and relations who are unable to visit the Fraser Coast to celebrate a birthday, wedding or engagement can buy a card online to send to their grandkids, nieces, or nephews to spend in Fraser Coast shops.

“People living here can give them to each other as gifts for birthdays and clubs could use them as raffle prizes.”

For more information including a full list of participating business and reload stores go to - frasercoastgiftcard.com.

Participating businesses by location

• Hervey Bay: 93, 52%
• Maryborough: 79, 45%
• Tiaro: 5, 3%.

Number of participating businesses 177

• Total value of cards loaded in program $61,396
• Total value of cards redeemed in program $34,027
• Total value not yet spent in program $27,369

Businesses

• 36% pubs and clubs
• 16% butchers, seafood and grocers.
• 14% with specialty retailers,
• 11% with restaurants,
• 10% with locally owned cafes and takeaways,
• 9% with locally owned hardware, trades and mechanical businesses and,
• 4% with locally owned fashion, hair and beauty businesses.