Preston firms urged to give city gift card as staff gift

With less than three months until Christmas, Preston BID has revealed new research showing that gift cards are the top choice for employee rewards.

Research from Preston BID has found that over 53 per cent of employees would prefer to receive a gift card from their workplace for Christmas 2022, over a cash gift (33.1 per cent).

The Preston Gift Card was introduced by Preston BID in 2020 as a means to drive local spending and encourage shopping locally.

The BID says that the shop local ethos is as strong as ever with over 80 per cent of organisations and 90 per cent of employees saying that support for local businesses was important to them for Christmas 2022.

A spokesperson from Preston BID said: “Choosing the Preston Gift Card for rewards and incentives is a simple way in which organisations can transform the desire that employees have to support local businesses into a tangible action that benefits our local community.

“Other key findings from the research include the move towards multi-store gift cards like the Preston Gift Card.

“Over 73 per cent of employees said they would prefer to receive a multi-store gift card from work, instead of a single retailer gift card. The main reason for this was the enhanced choice on offer with this card.

“Over 45 per cent of people say they are either slightly or significantly worse off this year. In our research, 72 per cent of employees said they would use their gift card on something practical.”

The BID spokesperson added: “The great thing about our very own gift card is that it can be spent on a groceries or clothing, as much as on a meal out or a trip to the salon. It puts that choice in the employee’s hands.

“Another finding from the research was that employees wanted to receive a gift card rather than cash as part of their salary.

“A big reason for this was because cash as part of the salary tends to get used on day to day expenses, whereas a gift card gives an employee permission to treat themselves, and is more interesting to spend.

“We also found that 79 per cent of employees who receive a gift card through work make a specific visit into the town or city to spend it, with 47 per cent spending their cards within three months.

“Choosing the Preston Gift Card for their staff, volunteer or even customer rewards and thank you gifts, is a way that organisations can drive spend to our local businesses, and be a local hero this Christmas.”

To find out more visit: Preston Gift Card.

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Have you ever received a Preston Gift Card? What do you think of the latest research? Let us know in the comments below.