'Struggling' businesses say local card boosts sales

Shops in a Surrey town have credited a gift card scheme for helping to boost sales during a pressured time for the high street.

Introduced in November, more than 40 businesses have signed up for the Love Oxted Gift Card, which allows money to be spent in various shops in the town.

Among those is lifestyle shop La Maison Boutique, which took about £3,000 in sales shortly before Christmas using the card, according to manager Janene Stavert.

"The most important thing is that, because it's a Love Oxted card, every penny is going back into Oxted," she said.

Stavert said she believed the initiative was particularly important because "businesses are suffering".

Tom Barrs, company director at Paul James Jewellers, said that the high street had "found it a lot more difficult" in recent times.

"I've been here for 26 years, and I think that anything that helps people, draws people into the community and into our shops, is good," Barrs added.

Adrian Pointer, owner of Simply Sports, said the gift card sparked interest when it came out.

"Lots of children got the cards for Christmas and they were very excited to come in and spend them and see it swipe though the machine, and see how much money they've got on it, and how much money is left," he said.

The initiative is supported by the Oxted business improvement district (BID).

Sophie Martin, BID manager of Love Oxted, said the main challenge was "getting around to all the businesses, explaining how it works and actually physically getting them on board".

A comparable scheme in Lewes, East Sussex, ended last year after close to two decades in operation as those running it "ran out of steam", they said.

The Lewes pound, a voucher which people could spend at more than 100 shops in the town, was launched in 2008 to champion independent businesses.

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