Bellefonte launches community-wide gift card program to support small businesses
Shoppers in Bellefonte will now have an exciting new way to support small businesses. Downtown Bellefonte Inc. will launch a community-wide gift card — The LoveBFT Card — on Small Business Saturday (November 27).
The digital gift card can be purchased on Downtown Bellefonte Inc.’s website and delivered to the recipient of the purchaser’s choice. It then can be redeemed at any Downtown Bellefonte businesses participating in the program. It works just like a MasterCard.
“We’re excited to launch this new program in an effort to keep local dollars local,” said Ellen Matis, Board President for Downtown Bellefonte Inc. “The opportunities for our community through this card are endless,” she said.
The digital gift card, powered by a platform called Yiftee, makes for an excellent gift during this holiday season. Give it to a friend or family member that’s hard to shop for; or to someone that loves supporting small businesses.
On Small Business Saturday, shoppers in Bellefonte can stop by the Downtown Bellefonte Inc. welcome table at the corner of East High and Allegheny streets to be entered to win a LoveBFT gift card. Starting at 10 a.m. and running until 3 p.m., DBI will announce the winner of a $30 gift card every 30 minutes, powered by sponsor Arize Federal Credit Union. As a way to thank shoppers for supporting local that day, Arize is also covering transaction fees on the card during the event. At the end of the town-wide shopping event, Downtown Bellefonte Inc. will choose a winner of a $500 LoveBFT gift card — great for a shopping spree to finish up your holiday gifting with local products, or to gift to a friend. Learn more about Small Business Saturday and a full list of events and activities at downtownbellefonteinc.com.
As time goes on, the nonprofit organization hopes to see the gift card used in creative ways to drive more traffic to downtown businesses. The card provides an opportunity for large businesses to reward their employees with the gift card as a performance bonus, or as a thank you gift during the holiday season.
“Downtown Bellefonte Inc. would love to see the gift card used in creative ways by businesses in the community,” Matis said. “A bed & breakfast could include a card with a guest’s room booking, encouraging local shopping downtown during their stay; or a retail business could reward their best customers with a gift card that can be spent at their favorite Bellefonte coffee shop. There are so many possibilities.”
Sales of the gift card will start on November 27, 2021, on downtownbellefonetinc.com; or can be purchased on Small Business Saturday at the Downtown Bellefonte Inc. table.
Downtown Bellefonte Inc. is a Community Partner member of the Wilds Cooperative of PA. View DBI’s profile, and leave a review or recommendation, here.
