The historic port city of Saint John has upgraded its popular paper Uptown Dollars for a modern Gift Card system.
Over 100 businesses accept the new Uptown Saint John Gift Card, including retail, food and drink, accommodations and services. Gift Cards can be used like a debit card at participating businesses right across the Uptown area.
Uptown Saint John Business Improvement Association (BIA) is behind the new Gift Card system which is designed to make life easier for Uptown visitors and businesses.
Nancy Tissington, Executive Director at Uptown Saint John said: “We’re drawing on the success of Uptown Dollars with our new Uptown Saint John Gift Card. People have one Gift Card instead of carrying lots of paper money, and can spend as they like at participating merchants Uptown, with the balance automatically updated.”
Nancy continued: “We introduced Uptown Dollars in 2018 to boost uptown visits and support businesses, and it was embraced by the public and merchants but it was a very labor intensive system. Merchants had to bring the Uptown Dollars in for payment, and it’s difficult for a business owner to find the time to do that. With the new Uptown Saint John Gift Card, they get paid quickly. As a high tech Gift Card system, the analytics and data capabilities are powerful. I am excited to have a Gift Card program just for our local businesses, so family and friends can continue to lift up local.”
One of the retail businesses which accepts the new Uptown Saint John Gift Card is The Urban Shoe Myth. Shelley DeMerchant is the owner of the shoe store and said:
“The Urban Shoe Myth is an established shoe and accessories boutique located in Uptown Saint John. We carry footwear and accessories for women and men, as well as an extensive giftware selection. We opened our doors in 2011 and love our uptown location and being part of the diverse uptown scene. We so appreciate our community shopping local and supporting independent businesses like us, keeping local dollars, local. By using the Uptown Saint John Gift Card, this is easier than ever. They make fantastic gifts, too!”
Shawn Verner is the owner of The Cask & Kettle Irish Gastropub and said the Uptown Saint John Gift Card will help to keep dollars local:
“The Cask & Kettle Irish Gastropub is all about celebrating our Irish heritage through good food, drink, and entertainment. Our community is very important to us and not only do we appreciate serving visitors to our city, our valued local clientele are like family to us. We acknowledge the importance of keeping local dollars local and the Uptown Saint John Gift Card lets us do that easily and effortlessly. These make great gifts for anyone, anytime.”
The technology for the Uptown Saint John Gift Card is provided by fintech Miconex in association with international payments technology solutions provider EML Payments. Miconex operates its Downtown Gift Card concept in Canada and the US, and over 100 Town and City Gift Card programs in the UK and Ireland.
The Uptown Saint John Gift Card is available to buy now online at https://uptownsj.com/ and in person from the Uptown Saint John BIA office on Canterbury Street.
The Uptown Saint John Gift Card is issued by PACE Savings & Credit Union Limited. Card funds are not insured by the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation (CDIC) or any other government deposit insurer or agency.