Wagga businesses welcome gift card campaign after difficult 18 months

To encourage the community to get out and support the "amazing" selection of businesses across Wagga, the chamber has launched a gift card campaign.

The eftpos-based gift cards can be loaded with anything between $10 and $1000 and are available to purchase across six locations - the Wagga Home Centre, Ted & Olive Boutique, the Visitor Information Centre, The Charles, Wagga Phone Dr and Wagga Supps.

The chamber's business manager Serena Hardwick said there are roughly 45 businesses on board with the campaign, offering a wide range of items and services - not just in retail and hospitality.

"Especially after the 18 months that we've had, it's been a really challenging time for businesses," she said.

"This is designed to directly support them."

Ms Hardwick said that the impact of supporting local businesses can be felt across the community.

"For every $100 we spend locally, the impact is nearly $180 because at least 40 per cent of that purchase ... will be used at another local business at least seven times over," she said.

Business owner Joo-Yee Lieu of Wollundry Grove Olives said the program couldn't have come at a better time, with the recent lockdown impacting stock and raising freight costs.

"When this gift card came in, we thought we better [get involved] because it is important to spend your money within the community," she said.

Her business has mainly been impacted on the tourism and restaurant side, with retail more promising. She said the gift cards will hopefully provide a much-needed boost.

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Dale Allison of Allison Music in Wagga said pre-sales through the buy local gift card have exceeded expectations so far, calling it a "great initiative" by the chamber.

He also said the COVID pandemic and subsequent lockdowns made shopping local easier and quicker for most people, making more people aware of the benefits of supporting businesses within your community.

"I think during the pandemic there was a big campaign to make people aware of the benefits of shopping local," Mr Allison said.

"The community really got behind local businesses and supported [them] to try and help them through the whole pandemic ... and I think [the gift card is] just a continuation of that."

The full list of participating businesses can be viewed online.

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