Buy it Downtown has introduced 24-hour shopping options and 24-hour customer service "to make it as easy as possible for shoppers to buy local from downtown merchants this season," Founder/CEO Amy Walker Cherry said.
Buy it Downtown sells a prepaid shopping card that can be used just like a gift card at over 60 retail stores, restaurants, spas and other popular locations downtown.
“It’s like a mall card, but for downtown,” said Ms. Walker Cherry.
She said, “Our phones are ready for your sales orders or customer questions around-the-clock, seven days a week. Additionally, we now offer online card purchasing, so you can place your order on the web anytime it’s convenient for you.
”These expanded sales and customer options are expected to benefit people who can't make it to one of the six retail card sales locations or for persons living out-of-area who want to give a gift to someone in Chattanooga.
"Buy it Downtown believes adding 24-hour convenience for shoppers, similar to national catalog and online companies, makes buying its downtown cards even more attractive to shoppers and helps to benefit more local merchants. Over 90% of locations on the downtown card are locally owned and created. Currently 100% retain some level of local ownership.
“Bottom line, with these enhancements it’s easier than ever for shoppers to give a great gift, but also keep their dollars local.
"The impact of buying local to our Chattanooga economy is tremendous. As the entire world grapples with economic fallout, consumers can make a positive difference on our local economy by buying from more locally owned merchants this season. Dollars spent with a local merchant can yield up to three times more positive impact on the local economy and help to grow local jobs and businesses.
"Our Buy it Downtown card helps Chattanoogans support the great stores and locations in our downtown and also helps to accelerate the economic recovery of our city.”
About Buy it Downtown
The goal of the Buy it Downtown public-private partnership is to keep more consumer dollars downtown and to strengthen the success of local merchants in the downtown corridor. Primary efforts are focused on growing patronage of its downtown shopping card program. Over the next few years, the goal is to see a million dollars being spent on Buy it* Downtown shopping cards by employers, residents, other large groups and the general public for gifts, employee incentives, client gifts and more. The Buy it Downtown program hopes to raise awareness about consumer spending habits and the impact that making a choice to keep consumer dollars local can make on small business owners and the health of the local economy.
Additional information about Buy it Downtown can be found at: http://www.buyitdowntown.com