About The Program
Business Singleton, in partnership with Singleton Council, recently launched the ‘Spend in Singleton’ initiative,. As part of the ‘WhyLeaveTown’ program, Spend in Singleton gift cards are available for purchase and use at any participating local businesses. The WhyLeaveTown program is a gift card system which originally launched in Narrabri to drive local business and generate revenue throughout the entire community, ensuring local dollars remain local. Since its inception, the program has been adopted by more than 20 towns in NSW and QLD.
Spend in Singleton gift cards can be purchased from one of several ‘load-up’ stores/outlets and can be redeemed on purchases at any participating business.
The non-rechargeable gift cards can be loaded with funds from as little as $10 up to $1000 and are valid for three years. Cards are used in standard eftpos machines and funds can be spent all at once or used multiple times in different places. Gift card holders can conveniently register cards, check card balances and request replacements for lost cards online or by phone.
Award-winning local gift card program injects almost $1million into Singleton economy
A hugely successful Singleton Council and Business Singleton program that has injected almost $1million into the local economy has taken out a top gong in the 2023 NSW Local Government Excellence Awards.
The Spend in Singleton gift card program, which has seen over $998,000 flow into the local economy through 16,000 loaded gift cards, won the Support Local Enterprise category of the Awards held in Sydney last night.
Spend in Singleton is a unique and convenient gifting solution that supports the local economy.
The program ensures local dollars remain local by enabling the gift of boutique shopping or dining experiences to friends, family members or colleagues to over 140 local retailers.
Alison Bodiam, Council’s Acting Director Organisation and Community Capacity said in just three years, the program has been firmly established within the community and has delivered significant benefits to Singleton businesses.
"Spend in Singleton is a fantastic program worthy of recognition, but the real achievement is how our community have taken up this initiative and have chosen to spend their dollars locally,” she said.
“More than a shop local program, Spend in Singleton has been a catalyst to activate local expenditure, develop resilience against multiple economic impacts, provide community support and educate Singleton’s community to re-connect with local business.”
Initially driven in response to feedback from businesses for a shop local initiative to build resilience and recover from the 2019-2020 bushfire impacts, the Spend in Singleton gift card program was developed through COVID-19 and five flood events during 2020-2022.
Part of the Why Leave Town program, Spend in Singleton has a significant redemption rate of 75% and is the fifth most successful program from 80 operational in NSW.
President of Business Singleton, Danny Eather said Spend in Singleton was an overwhelming success, achieving objectives to increase local expenditure, build business resilience and create connections within the Singleton community and local businesses.
“Business Singleton’s partnership with Council has enabled a local support program that has exceeded expectations and has brought benefits to over 140 local business,” he said.
“We’re extremely proud of what the partnership has achieved and humbled by requests from other business chambers on the partnership model and program.”
Council’s award-winning Shark Tank initiative, a proactive approach to eliminate or minimise risk across Council’s many business activities, was also a finalist in the Risk Management category of the Awards.
The NSW Local Government Excellence Awards celebrate outstanding achievements and promote innovation and continuous improvement within NSW local government.
SINGLETON COUNCIL NEW RELEASE - JUNE 2ND 2023
Participating in Shop Singleton
One of the benefits of being a member of Business Singleton is your free inclusion in the Shop Singleton program. If you are a member and interested in taking part in this business boosting initiative, contact us and we’ll get you started.
Shop Singleton competion
We would like to thank all our local business who were apart of our Spend Local Competition and Light up your Business for 2023.