Award-winning gift card program injects $1million into Singleton
Published on 02 June 2023
A hugely successful Singleton Council and Business Singleton program that has injected almost $1million into the local economy has taken out a top gong in the 2023 NSW Local Government Excellence Awards.
The Spend in Singleton gift card program, which has seen over $998,000 flow into the local economy through 16,000 loaded gift cards, won the Support Local Enterprise category of the Awards held in Sydney last night.
Spend in Singleton is a unique and convenient gifting solution that supports the local economy.
The program ensures local dollars remain local by enabling the gift of boutique shopping or dining experiences to friends, family members or colleagues to over 140 local retailers.
Alison Bodiam, Council’s Acting Director Organisation and Community Capacity said in just three years, the program has been firmly established within the community and has delivered significant benefits to Singleton businesses.
"Spend in Singleton is a fantastic program worthy of recognition, but the real achievement is how our community have taken up this initiative and have chosen to spend their dollars locally,” she said.
“More than a shop local program, Spend in Singleton has been a catalyst to activate local expenditure, develop resilience against multiple economic impacts, provide community support and educate Singleton’s community to re-connect with local business.”
Initially driven in response to feedback from businesses for a shop local initiative to build resilience and recover from the 2019-2020 bushfire impacts, the Spend in Singleton gift card program was developed through COVID-19 and five flood events during 2020-2022.
Part of the Why Leave Town program, Spend in Singleton has a significant redemption rate of 75% and is the fifth most successful program from 80 operational in NSW.
President of Business Singleton, Danny Eather said Spend in Singleton was an overwhelming success, achieving objectives to increase local expenditure, build business resilience and create connections within the Singleton community and local businesses.
“Business Singleton’s partnership with Council has enabled a local support program that has exceeded expectations and has brought benefits to over 140 local business,” he said.
“We’re extremely proud of what the partnership has achieved and humbled by requests from other business chambers on the partnership model and program.”
Council’s award-winning Shark Tank initiative, a proactive approach to eliminate or minimise risk across Council’s many business activities, was also a finalist in the Risk Management category of the Awards.
The NSW Local Government Excellence Awards celebrate outstanding achievements and promote innovation and continuous improvement within NSW local government.