The new card can be spent in many local businesses, including national brands and independents.
More than 45 shops, restaurants, cafés and salons in the town centre, including at Tommyfield Market and in the Spindles shopping centre, all accept the card, which works like a regular gift card but can only be spent with Oldham businesses to lock spending in the town.
Participating independent businesses include Asiana Beauty, Blooming Dales Florists, Levers and Ian Denton’s Jewellers and national brands include Beaverbrooks, Clarks, McDonald’s, Primark, Pandora, Sainsbury’s, Subway, The Entertainer and Waterstones.
Cards are available to buy online as a physical gift card or as digital version.
Cabinet Member for Enterprise Cllr Fida Hussain said: “We’re proud to see the launch of the Oldham Gift Card in our town which will make it easy to shop local in Oldham, and keep people spending in our town.
“This is a card that can be used for gifts for occasions throughout the year, and that organisations can use for employee rewards and incentives. We now have a viable, local alternative to other gift cards for our town, and I encourage everyone to get behind the card and get behind Oldham.”
To celebrate the Oldham Gift Card, a launch event took place in the town centre on Saturday 31 August, where residents got the chance to win vouchers and find out more about what the card has to offer.
James Hoxworth, Store Manager at Beaverbrooks in Oldham, said: “We’re proud to get behind the Oldham Gift Card. The card gives people a reason to shop local, bringing them into the town centre.”
James added: “The best thing about the Oldham Gift Card is that it gives people the freedom to choose how they spend it, and that choice is so important. Every time you spend an Oldham Gift Card, it can be a different experience. It’s 100-per-cent a good idea for Oldham.”
Ray Aslam, the owner of Kandy Kingdom in Tommyfield Market, said: “First and foremost, the Oldham Gift Card is something good for Oldham. As cards start to be purchased and spent in the town, it’s something positive to look forward to. And whether cards are spent here in my business or in other businesses in Oldham, it benefits everyone.
Colin Munro, Managing Director of Gift Card operator Miconex, said: “It’s fantastic to see the launch of the Oldham Gift Card. Receiving an Oldham Gift Card gives people the chance to explore Oldham with a gift card that offers unbeatable local choice, from the big brands people know to the local businesses they love.”
The brand new Oldham Gift Card is available to buy now at oldhamgiftcard.com.
