Newark begins downtown gift card program

Under a new program launched last month by the Downtown Newark Partnership, Newark shoppers can purchase gift cards they can use in many downtown Newark businesses.  These gift cards were created to replace the old gift certificate program began in 2003, and have thus far been successful with the businesses and customers.

The DNP will be setting the cards up in business around the city so that they are only valid in downtown Newark locations.  Any place that accepts MasterCard or Visa will be able to accept these cards.

"By the middle of January, the cards will be up and running in full scale," said DNP director Maureen Feeney Roser, "We want 75 to 100 percent of all downtown Newark businesses to use these gift cards"

There is no charge to the merchant for using this new program as well as no extra fees charged to the customer.  A customer will only be charged a monthly fee if the card remains unused for more than a year.

The old gift certificate program was popular when it started, said DNP director Maureen Feeney Roser, but today, most businesses are switching to gift cards and the antiquated paper gift certificates were inconvenient for merchants and customers.

Merchants had to wait up to two weeks to receive their money due to the logging and monitoring of the gift certificates, and most customers preferred to not receive cash back when they were not finished with all the money left on their certificates. 

Under the new program, merchants are able to receive their money right away, and customers can keep their gift cards with money on it after it has been used. 

The gift cards also allow customers to place more money on them than they were allowed to place on the certificates.  The new gift cards can accommodate anywhere from $10 to $500, as opposed to the maximum of $25 allowed under the old program.

"More money will be circulating downtown as well as staying downtown with these new gift cards," Feeney Roser said.

Reaction to the new program was mostly positive among Main Street businesses.

"Great, convenient, easy to use, and excellent replacement," said Georgia Wampler, an employee of The Learning Station. "We swipe them just like we would swipe any regular Visa credit card."

Brett Tunstall, manager of Home Grown Café, said the cards are more convenient.

"Paper cards can easily get lost, and the customers can now use specific amounts of their cards which will be better for them in the long run," Tunstall said.

Bob Baker, manager of Klondike Kate's, agreed.

 "So far so go" Baker said. "The gift cards are much more modern and easier to use for our business.

Feeney Roser is optimistic about the new gift cards. Since Dec. 17, approximately $3,400 in gift cards have been purchased. 

So far, 50 locations around Newark are set up to accept the cards.

The cards are available for purchase at the Newark Municipal Building on Elkton Road and the downtown parking office on the second floor of The Galleria or they can be purchased online.