Christmas has come early to those who rapidly respond to a new initiative from the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber and the Greater Bridgman Chamber & Growth Alliance called the Buy Local Bridgman Community Gift Card.
In an effort to inject money into the local business economy at a critical time, the two organizations are excited to announce the launch of the new Buy Local Bridgman Community Gift Card.
The brand new community gift card, unlike reloadable Visa debit cards, ensures the money spent stays completely local. It’s also not store-specific, which means it can be redeemed at a number of participating Bridgman merchants who have signed onto the program.
While monitoring the continued impact that COVID-19 has on businesses, representatives from the Bridgman CGA Board spoke up about wanting to do something specifically for their business community. Brett Boyd, current Board Chair for the Bridgman CGA tells us, “After reviewing multiple options, this was the easiest and most effective way to infuse Bridgman businesses with extra funds in an effort to sustain them.”
Additionally, the Bridgman CGA has generously promised a dollar-for-dollar bonus match for all gift cards purchased for a limited time. That means if you buy a $25 gift card, they’ll send you another $25 free. If you purchase a $50 gift card, you’ll get $100 worth of purchasing power. The offer is only available for a short time and is limited to one (1) per person, regardless of recipient. Additional promotions will be announced as the program progresses.
Sarah Spoonholtz, Director of Membership and Events with the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber, says, “The Bridgman community has seen amazing growth over the last few years, and we cannot risk losing that momentum.” She adds, “Our #buylocalberrienchallenge on social media has shown how impactful a dedicated consumer spending campaign can be for local businesses. We hope to move the needle once more by launching this gift card and helping our beloved Bridgman merchants return to the pre-COVID revenue that so many are in desperate need of.”
Consumers can purchase these community gift cards online from SMRC program partner Yiftee by visiting http://www.smrchamber.com/bridgman. They are all digital, so customers can either print them out or save them directly to their mobile device. From there, they simply need to present the card to a participating merchant who will process it like any other manual entry Mastercard transaction.
Current participating merchants include:
- Accents at Himalaya Textiles
- Haymarket Brewery & Taproom
- Paws to Wash
- Small Town Grounds
- Tapistry Brewing
- The Sandpiper
Additional Bridgman Merchants may opt in at any time through the Yiftee purchase portal or by contacting Spoonholtz directly at sspoonholtz@smrchamber.com or 269-932-4040.
