February 7, 2022
The Murgon Business and Development Association (MBDA) has introduced an innovative “Shop Local” program to encourage more residents to shop in town.
The MBDA unveiled the Murgon Gift Card scheme, run in conjunction with EFTPOS company Why Leave Town (WLT), at the weekend.
The card works like any ordinary gift card but with one significant difference: each card can only be bought in Murgon, and it can only be redeemed at any of the 40 Murgon retailers who have already signed up for the program.
Seventy-five other towns across Australia are already using the same system.
The cards work through EFTPOS machines just like a normal debit or credit card. Multiple purchases can be made at multiple stores until their balance is exhausted.
The card solves the common problem of buying gifts for “difficult to please” relatives and friends; it also provides service clubs, sports clubs and community groups with ideal raffle prizes that ensure prize-winner benefits stay within the town.
WLT gift cards were launched at Narrabri in 2010 and have since expanded nationwide. The company says it has injected more than $15 million back into local communities through selling more than 200,000 gift cards.
The cards are already in use at Crows Nest, Dalby, the Lockyer Valley and the Fraser Coast, but Murgon is the first South Burnett town to introduce the idea.
Residents who would like to buy a gift card can get them at Murgon’s Amcal Pharmacy, Betta Home Living, Murgon Home Decor and Gifts, Robinson’s Newsagency or Struddy’s Sports.
Groups who’d like to buy cards in bulk – or residents who can’t make it to the shops during normal business hours – can also buy the cards online through the WLT website.
They can load the card with any amount between $10 and $1000.
Once it is loaded the funds can be redeemed through purchases at one or more of the Murgon businesses who have signed up for the program, including the card issuing stores.
Each card has a lifespan of three years and card owners can check the balance remaining on their card online at any time.
Card owners can also register their card online to ensure that if it’s ever lost or stolen, it can be cancelled and a replacement card issued.
An email reminder will be sent to registered card-holders when any Murgon Gift Card with an unspent balance is close to its expiry date.
The MBDA has been investigating the gift card concept since late last year.
The group has financed the gift card’s set-up costs and will cover the promotion’s ongoing annual fees.
“We see this as being something that we can give back to our members and the community from their annual membership fees,” MBDA treasurer Lorraine Goodchild said.
“The only stipulation that we have for local businesses to become a Murgon Gift Card redemption store is that they must be an MBDA member, which costs $88 a year.”
- External link: Murgon Town Gift Card participating businesses (150kb PDF)
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