Shopping in SLO? Here’s how to get a $25 gift card
Want to get a free gift for shopping local?
Just in time for the holidays, the city of San Luis Obispo’s Buy Local Bonus gift card program is back, offering incentives to those who shop at local businesses.
Anyone who purchases $100 worth of items starting Nov. 15 at qualifying small businesses in the city is eligible to receive a $25 gift card.
To earn gift cards, shoppers can email receipts to supportslo@slocity.org or drop them off in-person at the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center at 895 Monterey St. between 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday.
Those who return their receipts may choose from a selection of gift cards from participating businesses.
“The ‘Buy Local Bonus’ program will continue until the funds are exhausted,” the city of SLO noted on its website. “Shoppers are allowed to qualify up to three separate times to receive a $25 gift card. Other rules and restrictions may apply.”
The city of SLO launched a similar program in 2020 that resulted in $728,000 in direct local spending after it gift cards from 146 unique businesses.
“Our goal when we created this program was to positively impact our local businesses and reward locals for investing in our community,” said Derek Johnson, SLO city manager, in a news release. “As a city, we are thrilled that the shop local program accomplished this goal.”
The city has increased its incentive from last year’s program, which offered a $20 gift card per $100 in receipts.
How businesses can participate
Molly Cano, city tourism manager, said the program is rolling out with $90,000 to purchase gift cards from local businesses. It could release more money in successive rounds, and the program could last beyond Christmas.
To qualify, businesses must:
▪ be a local retail, restaurant, fitness or personal service business in the city of SLO
▪ hold a current San Luis Obispo City business license
▪ have a physical location or storefront within city limits
▪ have the ability to sell and redeem gift cards.
Stores may not include big box convenience or drug stores, groceries of supermarkets; lodging; and fueling or gas stations.
This year, the city will purchase 25 gift cards from the qualifying businesses that amount to $625 in value. The city’s purchase of the cards goes directly to the business, which helps attract customers who often spend more than the the gift card amount, according to program coordinators.
“San Luis Obispo steps up to support each other through tough times, and the community showed us that again by shopping locally and investing in our local businesses,” said Jim Dantona, President/CEO of the SLO Chamber, in the release.
The city is using Measure G sales tax revenue to allocate funds to the Buy Local Bonus program.
Anyone with questions may email supportslo@slocity.org.
This story was originally published November 17, 2021 at 10:00 AM.
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