Local News

General Manager Ashley Lindsay, Tourism Officer Joana Olah and Manager Cultural, Community and Industry Justin Putze, launch LOAD LOCAL LOVE in Grafton CBD. Image: contributed

Load Local Love gift card launched to help customers #ShopClarence

Love shopping locally? It’s time to spread the love with the launch of Clarence Valley Council’s gift card program designed to support businesses across the Clarence.
The Load Local Love gift card is a simple mechanism that encourages shoppers to stay local, while highlighting just how much there is to see and do in the Clarence Valley.

When a customer purchases a Load Local Love gift card, the holder can buy goods or services from any participating business that is part of the program. Because the gift cards will only work at these businesses, you know the money will be spent locally every time a card is purchased.

Customers will be able to purchase cards and load them with local love – with amounts ranging from $10 to $500 – either online or at one of our Load Up stores across the Clarence Valley.
Over 120 businesses have joined the program. There is a list of participating stores, as well as the link to purchase cards, on Council’s My Clarence Valley website.

Clarence Valley Council General Manager Ashley Lindsay said he was delighted by the council commitment to sponsor all program costs for the first three years of the program.

“This comes at a time when small businesses, especially those operating in the tourism sector, are in need of support,” Mr Lindsay said.

“We’re happy to have found a way to offer that support. A #ShopClarence marketing campaign has also been launched to promote usage of the LOAD LOCAL LOVE gift cards.”

Yamba Chamber of Commerce President James Allen welcomed the multiple ways the cards may be used, noting the cards can be used more than once, across multiple stores.

“They are the perfect gift for those hard-to-buy-for friends and family members, particularly in the lead up to Christmas,” he said.
Yamba’s Flots & Jets business owner Meagan Ridgeway agreed.

“Receiving a gift card often prompts someone to treat themselves to a product or experience they wouldn’t usually purchase,” she said.

“It could be dinner with friends, a facial, an art workshop, a canoeing tour, or learning to surf.”
Carol Pachos from Grafton Chamber of Commerce added that it was “a great opportunity for our local community to support our local businesses.”

“Let’s all get behind this initiative and use these cards as much as we can in the coming months.”
LOAD LOCAL LOVE cards are now available to purchase in-store and order online