Businesses can treat clients and colleagues this Christmas, to a gift card that lays a whole city at their feet.
Unlike traditional gift cards, which can be redeemed at specific retail outlets, the Sunderland Gift Card can be spent across the city.
And not only does that make it the ideal corporate gift but, by boosting business in Sunderland, it helps support the local economy.
The Sunderland Gift Card scheme, created by Sunderland BID and Sunderland City Council, allows recipients to redeem the cards at a wide range of venues, from retail and hotel stays to meals out, entertainment and hair and beauty treatments.
Around 70 businesses are so far supporting the initiative and that number is growing daily.
Among them are SAFC and restaurants Asiana, 2 Church Lane, The Looking Glass and tea room Crumb On In, along with stores such as Marks & Spencer and Primark, jewellers Pandora, Collinson’s and Nominations and furniture store, Harrison and Brown.
Ibbitson’s and Thorburn’s fruit and veg are also on board, as are bars Chaplins, Ttonic, The Live Lounge and the Roker Hotel, including the hotel’s Let There Be Crumbs tearoom and Poetic License distillery.
City clothes shops backing the campaign include Aphrodite, Port Independent, Bou-Chique, Designer Childrenswear and Dr Funkenstein along with Reynold’s Outdoors and AndyMan UpCycling in Jackie Whites Market.
Sharon Appleby, Head of Business Operations at Sunderland BID, said: “We realise what a difficult year this has been, but we are hoping that companies in the city, which won’t be able to hold their usual staff Christmas party or may be looking at a small gift they can give to their team, will consider buying a gift card.
“This is not only a great way to reward staff loyalty or thank clients, but it comes with the bonus of supporting businesses in our city.
“Shop local is an even more important message this year than ever before and we are hopeful that this exciting new scheme will make that much easier to do.”
The Sunderland Gift Card is part of the Reopening High Streets Safely project, which is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund.
The cards, which are valid for 12 months, can be purchased in values from £5 to £500, with the added benefit that employers can give their staff non-cash gifts of up to £50 without paying tax under the UK trivial benefits scheme.
To purchase, or for more information, contact giftcard@sunderlandbid.co.uk