BID and town centre businesses celebrate £250K Ballymena Gift Card milestone

(L-R) Valerie McLernon (Fairhill Shopping Centre), Aileen McGarry (Primark), Roy Smyth (Outdoor Adventure), Alison Malfatto (Tower Centre)

Ballymena is celebrating a major milestone as the town’s local gift card has surpassed £250,000 in sales in just over two and a half years.

Since its launch in November 2022, the Ballymena Gift Card has become a favourite among shoppers, businesses, and organisations alike.

The card, which can be spent across a wide range of local businesses, offers recipients flexibility while keeping money circulating within the town. Sales remain strong in 2025, with gift card sales already 35% ahead of the same period last year.

Shoppers can purchase the Ballymena Gift Card at kiosks in Fairhill Shopping Centre and Tower Centre, online with home delivery, or via local Click and Collect.

Alison Malfatto (Tower Centre)

A digital e-card option is also available, compatible with digital wallets for convenient tap-to-pay usage.

Organisations can order Ballymena Gift Cards in bulk for employees, with the option to schedule digital card delivery thanks to new technology introduced in 2024.

Backed by Ballymena Business Improvement District (BID), the Ballymena Gift Card is designed to make shopping local simple. Initial funding for self-service kiosks in 2022 was provided with support from the Department for Communities and Mid and East Antrim Borough Council.

(L-R) Emma McCrea (BID Manager)  Clare Moore (Engagement Officer)

Emma McCrea, Ballymena BID Manager, said:

“Passing the quarter of a million mark shows just how much people value the Ballymena Gift Card. It is a success story for our town, locking in money that might otherwise have been spent elsewhere and directly supporting our business community.

“It is fantastic to see how people use their card from nights out to beauty treatments, new tyres to fashion, jewellery and more. And when people redeem their card, they often spend more than its value which means the true impact for Ballymena’s economy exceeds £250,000.

“We are grateful to the many organisations who choose the card for corporate gifting, and the Fairhill Shopping Centre and Tower Centre for their continued support in being local sales points.

“One of the real strengths of the scheme is that independents and nationals have come together to accept the gift card, giving huge choice for shoppers while keeping money local.”

Ballymena BID Chairman, Roy Smyth (Outdoor Adventure)

Roy Smith, Outdoor Adventure and Chair of Ballymena BID, added:

“This milestone shows the strength of Ballymena as a shopping and leisure destination. The gift card is about more than just sales, it is about uniting our businesses and giving people another reason to choose Ballymena.

“Reaching a quarter of a million in just over two and a half years is proof that local people and organisations believe in our town and want to see it thrive. This is just the beginning and we know the Ballymena Gift Card will continue to grow.”

Valerie McLernon (Fairhill Shopping Centre)

The Ballymena Gift Card forms part of the award-winning Town and City Gift Card concept from Miconex, which operates across the UK and Ireland.

Colin Munro, Managing Director at Miconex, said:

“Organisations in particular are increasingly choosing local gift cards, like the Ballymena Gift Card, because the card offers unbeatable local choice for their teams and the chance to actively support the local economy too.

“Our investment in digital gift card technology not only aligns to key industry trends, with digital gift cards overtaking physical for the first time in 2024, but it is key to our mission of helping organisations to make the move to local so we can help local economies to thrive.

“We encourage all local organisations to give the card a try.”

For more information, visit: www.ballymenagiftcard.co.uk