Letterkenny retail scheme goes from strength to strength
ShopLK, the shopping voucher scheme for Letterkenny, has reached an important milestone just 16 months after its launch, with sales hitting €3 million.
Letterkenny Chamber created the ShopLK brand way back in 2004 and added the vouchers in 2006. Since then sales have increased year on year as Letterkenny people get behind the local shopping initiative and, since moving to the gift card, sales have gone from strength to strength.
Letterkenny Chamber President Gerard McCormick said: “We moved from the paper based system to the gift cards in December 2015 and in the first few months we had smashed all our previous sales records. We knew from the reaction of businesses and the general public that we were on to a good thing but reaching €3m worth of sales in such a short time is way beyond even our expectations.”
He continued: “This is by far the most successful town scheme in the country and we are also outstripping shopping centres with similar gift cards. The cards can only be spent in Letterkenny and we know that at least one third of customers using the card almost always spend more than the value of the card itself. This is a huge amount of money to be circulating in Letterkenny. It not only puts money directly into the hands of local businesses but in turn plays its part in supporting local jobs.”
Welcoming the news, Mayor of Letterkenny Municipal District, Cllr. James Pat McDaid said: “The Council has been supporting Letterkenny Chamber in the retail promotion initiative for five years now and we are delighted to see ShopLK and Letterkenny being put on the map as a commercial hub and retail centre.”
ShopLK Gift Cards are accepted in over 160 outlets ranging from hardware stores to beauty salons. You can spend them on your groceries, an oil fill, new tyres, a meal out or even for that special holiday. The list of outlets that accepts the cards continues to increase and all types of outlets are welcome.
Chamber CEO Toni Forrester explains how the gift cards sales have worked: “ShopLK gift cards are bought throughout the year by individuals, groups and businesses whose staff have opted to have them instead of cash bonuses. As people are aware many businesses give ShopLK gift cards as bonus payments and we have definitely seen these sales increase over the last few years. However, we are seeing new customers from every walk of life, every week as they realise the potential of the card as a gift.”
Shop LK is more than just the gift card. It’s about promoting Letterkenny as a retail destination, the commercial hub of the county. With financial support from Donegal County Council, Letterkenny Chamber through ShopLK has been able to elevate the ShopLK brand, publicise it across the north-west and get local people recognising the value and choice right on their doorstep.
Pictured: Mayor of Letterkenny Municipal District, Cllr. James Pat McDaid with Letterkenny Chamber President Gerard McCormick