Discover Ottawa Addresses What Consumers Want
OTTAWA, ILLINOIS | NOV. 11, 2024 | The Ottawa Downtown Association announced that the Discover Ottawa Gift card now offers a diverse range of restaurants, retailers, and services from 27 different merchants in the community, all accessible from one digital gift card. This makes supporting local businesses as quick and easy as shopping online.
Discover Ottawa is a favorite gift because recipients get to choose where to use it. They can spend it all in one spot or multiple times in many different places. For example, you could give the gift of a “Morning on LaSalle Street” where your loved one starts with a coffee from her favorite barista, pops into a boutique, and then meets a friend for lunch – all using the same Community eGift Card.
In the Right Place at the Right Time
Recent holiday shopping trends related to 1) local businesses, 2) gift cards, 3) online shopping and 4) overall spending suggest that the Discover Ottawa is in the right place at the right time. Lasting effects from the pandemic have heightened consumer interest in shopping local. According to a recent study by ActiveCampaign, a company specializing in customer experience automation, 84% of consumers said they plan to shop small during the holidays.
Moreover, gift cards have been consumers’ top choice holiday gifts for many years, but generational trends and consumer preference for choice have caused even more growth in gift cards’ share of holiday spending. According to a Blackhawk Network report, consumers plan to spend 48% of their holiday budget on gift cards, up from 39% in 2023. Being an all-digital gift card, the Discover Ottawa Gift Card also leverages the growth in online shopping, providing a 24/7 sales channel for local businesses who may or may not have their own e-commerce site.
Finally, based on the National Retail Foundation’s (NRF) 2024 winter holidays survey, consumer spending on holiday gifts this year will reach a new record: $902 per person, up $25 per person from 2023. By giving the Discover Ottawa Gift Card, you are keeping that revenue in our community and giving people what they want, all while supporting the local merchants that make our community unique.
About the Ottawa Downtown Association
Our mission is to champion and nurture the heart of our city. We are dedicated to fostering a thriving, dynamic downtown community, empowering local businesses, and supporting exceptional events and activities for residents and visitors alike. Through collaboration and innovation, we aim to create an inclusive and vibrant core that reflects the spirit and diversity of our beloved city.
About Yiftee, Keep Local Dollars Local
Yiftee is the leading provider of Community Gift Cards with more than 600 communities and 20,000 merchants throughout the United States. Yiftee partners with Chambers, Main Streets, Downtowns and Cities in each community to brand and market the cards locally. There is no cost to the organizers or merchants for the program and set-up is fast and easy. Yiftee also provides custom-branded cards for individual merchants, franchises, and chains. More info at Yiftee.com, email: [email protected].
