€2.5 million Mullingar paper voucher set for an upgrade to high-tech physical and digital gift card

Plans have been unveiled for a new digital gift card for Mullingar to replace their popular gift vouchers. In circulation since 2012, over €2.5 million of Mullingar Gift Vouchers have been sold to date, with over €500,000 of the paper vouchers sold in 2024 alone.

Led by Mullingar Chamber, a wide variety of Mullingar businesses are eligible to accept the card including shops, restaurants, pubs, attractions, salons and hotels. Businesses who are part of the Chamber can accept the card commission free.

The forthcoming Mullingar Digital Gift Card will be available as either a physical or a digital gift card. It will work with merchants’ existing payment terminals, with no additional equipment required.

Mullingar Chamber says the move to the high-tech gift card offers a number of improvements for local businesses, customers and organisations.

James Bourke, president at Mullingar Chamber said: “The paper gift vouchers have been very successful for our economy with €2.5 million in sales to date. Every euro spent locally is worth €4 to the local economy, so that €2.5 million has benefited our economy to the tune of €10 million. Of course, there are the usual drawbacks of paper vouchers, such as people not being able to get change from their paper voucher and the administration involved for businesses in getting paid.

“Our forthcoming Mullingar Gift Card will be easy for customers and organisations to use as gifts, and businesses to accept, making the initiative even more appealing and helping us develop our strong ‘shop local’ ethos in Mullingar further. People want to see the businesses they love open and busy, and our new gift card is essential to helping Mullingar to thrive.

“We encourage all retail, hospitality, and service providers to register to accept the new gift card prior to its launch so they can benefit from the footfall and spend the initiative will bring.”

The Mullingar Gift Card will be part of the multi-award-winning Town & City Gift Card concept active across Ireland in Ballinrobe, Carndonagh, Cavan, Donegal Town, Drogheda, Kilkenny, Letterkenny, Limerick, Sligo, Tipperary, Waterford and County Wexford.

Colin Munro is the managing director of Miconex and said: “Merchants can register to accept the forthcoming Mullingar Gift Card with a simple one-time registration. We’ve supported a number of towns and cities in Ireland making the move from paper vouchers to a high-tech gift card and the feedback from merchants, consumers and organisations is incredibly positive, with all appreciating the ease of use, support for local and choice.”

Businesses looking for further information can email: Lauren at  office@mullingarchamber.ie

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