Grá Macroom gift card set to boost ‘shop local’ sales across Mid-Cork

An initiative adopted by 10 Mid-Cork towns and villages and aimed at generating over €500,000 in ‘shop local’ sales will launch this month.

The initiative, entitled Grá Macroom Gift Card, is a new hi-tech gift card for the Lee Valley region, aimed at driving in-person sales for businesses in Macroom, Clondrohid, Béal Átha an Ghaorthaidh, Baile Mhúirne, Guagán Barra, Inchigeelagh, Coachford, Dripsey, Lissarda, and Kilmurry.

Backed by Macroom Business Association, the card will replace the paper Macroom shopping voucher, offering significant benefits for users and businesses accepting the card.

All businesses including shops, restaurants, attractions, pubs, and cafes will be eligible to accept the card, commission-free, using their existing payment systems.

Cardholders will be given the option to use the card in its physical form or download it to their digital wallet.

Cards will be available to buy in person from Killian Lynch Auctioneers Macroom, Cooney’s Garage in Coachford, Connections in Macroom, Dromeys Centra in Ballymakeera, and Daybreak in Béal Átha an Ghaorthaidh as well as online at www.townandcitygiftcards.ie.

No brainer

Macroom Business Association chairman Killian Lynch said the new card will be a “no-brainer for businesses”.

“Macroom will be the first town in Co Cork to utilise Town and City Gift Card technology to create our own high-tech physical and digital gift card,” said Mr Lynch.

“We’re extending the initiative to our surrounding villages in the Lee Valley region, which has a population reach of around 15,000 people.

“We expect to generate around €500,000 to €1m in sales annually for our gift card programme, money that is ringfenced into the Lee Valley/Muskerry region.

“The new Grá Macroom Gift Card will be as easy to spend and accept, with the balance automatically updated and businesses getting paid quickly.

“Our intention is for it to become the default gift card for the Lee Valley — it’s a no-brainer for businesses.

“We have spoken to most of the businesses across Macroom and surrounding villages, and all are delighted to accept the card.”