Following on from the recent launch of the REDS directory - the first comprehensive directory of Scotland’s rural and island businesses - the REDS rural gift card is designed to channel consumer spending directly into Scotland’s rural and island towns and villages in a bid to support and promote the rural economy.

The REDS gift card can be purchased online and can be loaded with funds starting at just £5 up to £500. It works in the same way as a typical store gift card but the recipient can choose to spend the balance with a wide range of participating businesses in rural towns, villages and the countryside across Scotland, either online or in person. The funds are available to spend for twelve months from the date the card is issued.

Jackie Brierton, GrowzBiz CEO, said: “Scotland’s micro enterprises form the backbone of our rural economy and the REDS card is designed to encourage consumers to think local and support the many fragile rural businesses across the country which need our help to survive and thrive. The REDS rural gift card can be spent with more than 120 rural businesses across Scotland, which means consumers have an incredible choice of how and where to spend their money, from experiences and days out to art and crafts, eating out or artisan gifts.”

Scotland’s rural economy is worth around £34.6 billion, which is 27% of Scotland’s overall economy. Thousands of micro-enterprises across rural Scotland have been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and the REDS rural gift card is designed to give these businesses practical support by directing consumer spend directly to where it’s needed.

Shop local campaigns have proved highly successful in recent years, by encouraging shoppers to spend in their local communities, tapping into a growing appetite for socially conscious shopping.

The REDS rural gift card is delivered in partnership with Miconex, who work with towns and cities across the UK to help support successful local economies through its Town and City Gift Card programmes.

In 2015, Miconex developed the UK’s first city-wide gift card programme and have subsequently gone on to help towns and cities across the 4 nations of the United Kingdom to launch their own local currencies using the Mastercard network. The programmes are designed to lock in money for participating businesses, drive footfall and stimulate additional economic activity.

Colin Munro, managing director of Miconex, said the REDS rural gift card can work alongside its town and city based programmes. He said: “Around £650,000 has been spent through our Town and City Gift Card programmes in Scotland since we introduced our first programme in Perth. This is money which is locked into our economy, supporting businesses and jobs. By November, there will be 16 Town and City Gift Card programmes in Scotland alone.

“The REDS rural gift card programme is unique in its rural focus but will complement our city programmes, connecting rural communities to the shop local movement. It is fantastic to see the incredible variety of different businesses that are registering to be a part of the REDS rural gift card programme.

“The average purchase price for a Town and City Gift Card is £34.56 and recipients spend around 65% on top of this. The REDS rural gift card is a powerful tool for rural businesses to attract new customers, and gain a new revenue stream in this challenging economic climate.”

Ms Brierton concluded: “Nine out of 10 rural businesses are micro-businesses with fewer than 10 employees. This high percentage of small businesses means rural communities are dependent upon the continued success of these micro-firms to provide jobs, attract visitors and stimulate the economic activity that supports rural areas. Shopping locally has always been culturally important for rural communities but now, in the wake of the coronavirus crisis, it’s critical to encourage a new drive for local buying.“

“The REDS Card, by definition, encourages card holders to shop locally, and ensures that money is diverted to our rural businesses where there is less passing trade and typically smaller volumes of sales than their urban counterparts. Only rural enterprises can join the card scheme, meaning REDS Card holders can choose from a diverse collection of businesses to spend their card’s credit and know that whatever they choose they are supporting rural micro-businesses and social enterprises.”