May 27, 2008
Spending money downtown
I’m back after a long Memorial Day weekend, and I hope your weekend was enjoyable.
I recently found out about a new way that Downtown Roanoke Inc. wants to draw people to spend money, and it will kick-off this summer.
Beginning in July, this organization will be selling gift certificates for use at certain downtown shops and restaurants. You won't be able to cash in these certificates, but if you spend some of the value, you’ll receive the remainder back in cash.
Once the certificates are turned in for redemption, DRI will pay merchants the face value in cash. The certificates will expire after one year.
You can buy them from DRI and possibly at other locations, though the group doesn’t yet know what those will be yet. I'll let you know the locations once they're announced.
Comments
[May 29, 2008 11:04 AM]
Bill JoppichI've read about places, Ithaca New York as an example, where in the past they have printed their own local currencies that is sold and used in only by participating retailers. This is probably better than gift certificates that expire after a year, and would work well with good participation from local retailers.
[May 29, 2008 12:02 PM]
KaraI have hear of programs that Bill mentions too, and this new DRI program reminds me of that. A DRI money program sounds more fun than a simple gift certificate. Can't you just buy gift certificats at those shops anyway?? I am not sure that I see the point...
[May 30, 2008 11:02 AM]
JennyBill and Kara, That money program sounds interesting. I could see it working well in downtown Roanoke. Kara, I know that some of these retailers do offer their own gift certificates. Perhaps DRI figures that it would be more convenient to have a gift certicate that covers a variety of businesses. The certificates, for example, would cover some farmers market vendors.