Tenterfield Chamber of Tourism, Industry and Business president Vince Sherry said the chamber is happy to comply with any legislated changes extending the expiry on its Tenterfield True gift card to three years, but would be even happier to see every gift card dollar spent in a local business.
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While the change means the chamber may see less expired funds returned to it – and for it take longer to receive them – he said the chamber has not budgeted to receive any expired funds, and would prefer not to.
“We’d like to see the money spent locally,” Mr Sherry said.
“That’s the most important part.”
After the card’s launch at a chamber business breakfast on September 27 Mr Sherry said 10 local businesses have put up their hand to be a card load-up site, with 45 businesses so far to be involved as redemption sites.
The process to validate the EFTPOS machines in these sites will start in around a fortnight’s time, with the system to go ‘live’ mid-November.
He said if the project is a success – and he’s confident it will be – the chamber will be inviting businesses to support the next Why Leave Town project which involves sponsoring the gift cards with the inclusion of their logo.
Mr Sherry also stressed that under the Why Leave Town auspices all unredeemed gift card money is held securely in trust, so there’s no risk of cardholders being left with a worthless card should a retailer go bust, as in the well-publicised case of Dick Smith Electronics.