[OMS_MANAGERS] Downtown Dollars

Thu Jul 9 12:50:11 PDT 2020

We recently set up a virtual gift card program with Yiftee after vetting
several options. Unique Eugene has been using it for three years and highly
recommended it.

https://app.yiftee.com/gift-card/downtown-hillsboro-hillsboro
https://app.yiftee.com/gift-card/unique-eugene-card-eugene

It was the only one we found that didn't cost us anything, besides
registering businesses and promotions. Here are some high/lowlights:

   - This is a closed-loop MasterCard gift card - meaning that it can only
   be used at approved businesses. We have invited all of our retail, dining,
   entertainment, and personal services to be in the "loop".
   - There is a administrative fee for the purchasers, including us if we
   want to use it as a give-away (i.e. Downtown Dollars) or for volunteers.
   But since our primary audiences were determined to be business buying them
   as client or employee incentives, we decided this was a much better option
   than us having to pay a monthly or annual fee. Yiftee will also negotiate
   fees for large purchases.
   - It is an "eCard" so recipients can either show the card on their
   mobile phone or print it out.  Either way it gets entered as a credit card
   (MasterCard). Because they are still a few months away from having it sync
   with eWallets (i.e. Apple and Google Pay) businesses will need to pay the
   No-Card-Present fee, which runs between 05-2.0% depending on their merchant
   services provider. Our research found that 59% of gift card users spend
   more than the value of the card and our marketing is directed towards
   potentially new Downtown customers, so a majority of our businesses didn't
   seem phased by the NCP fee.
   - The customer service from Yiftee has been great so far, and Eugene
   said that they have not had any issues.
   - Again, the no cost to us and the minimal work on our part to manage
   were the selling points. Not including the research, it will have taken
   approximately 12 hours of my time to set it all up and run the promotions,
   $400 for the graphic design and promotional materials, and 8 hours of
   volunteer time to go door-to-door to set up businesses to accept the card.

*Elisa Joy 'EJ' Payne* *| *Executive Director
*| Hillsboro Downtown Partnership *| *Cultivating a vibrant community.*
*|* *o.* 503-640-6145* | **m.* 503-341-8639
*|* *e. *ej at downtownhillsboro.org *|* *w.* downtownhillsboro.org

Follow what's happening Downtown on INSTAGRAM
<https://www.instagram.com/dwtnhillsboro/>.

On Thu, Jul 9, 2020 at 12:08 PM W Darin Rutledge, Executive Director <
darin at downtownklamathfalls.org> wrote:

> Looking forward to hearing from others – I did some research a while back
> but we haven’t had the capacity to pull the trigger on anything yet. I did
> find one program that seemed to be a good model in terms of reasonable
> administrative lift, technology, and a “credible” look and feel. Details
> are here: https://downtownsantacruz.com/downtowndollars
>
>
>
> There’s always the old school method – print the $, get businesses on
> board, then simply have them submit for reimbursement when the certificates
> are tendered. There’s a lot to be said for that, however; programs like the
> above require a business to be on board with not only the concept, but also
> with an additional point of sale process, up front registration, etc.
>
>
>
> Let me know what you settle on!
>
>
> *W. Darin Rutledge*
>
> Executive Director
>
> Klamath Falls Downtown Association
>
> darin at downtownklamathfalls.org
>
> 541.539.6212
>
>
>
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> *From: *OMS_MANAGERS <oms_managers-bounces at omls.oregon.gov> on behalf of <
> director at coosbaydowntown.org>
> *Reply-To: *Oregon Main Street program managers <
> oms_managers at omls.oregon.gov>
> *Date: *Thursday, July 9, 2020 at 11:55 AM
> *To: *"oms_managers at omls.oregon.gov" <oms_managers at omls.oregon.gov>
> *Subject: *[OMS_MANAGERS] Downtown Dollars
>
>
>
> Hello,
>
>
>
> I was hoping that some of you have worked with "Downtown Dollars" in your
> downtowns. If so, could you let me know how your program works? We are
> wanting to have some downtown dollars made for the holiday season that we
> have printed and then customers can get an extra 10% off when they use them
> at stores. How are you doing this? Any information is welcome.
>
>
>
> If it is easier to call me you can reach me on my cell: 541-294-2349.
>
>
>
> Thanks,
>
> Holly
>
>
>
> Holly Boardman
>
> Executive Director
>
> Coos Bay Downtown Association
>
> 320 Central Ave. Suite 410
>
> Coos Bay, Or 97420
>
> 541-266-9706
>
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