Amazing milestone: ShopLK gift card sales boosts local economy by over €4million

In times of challenging economics and calls to support the local economy, ShopLK, Letterkenny’s shop local initiative, has achieved another amazing milestone, by topping the €4million mark for the first time.

In what was another record-breaking year annual sales of ShopLK gift cards exceeded the €4m mark for the first time.

And as ShopLK gift cards are only redeemable in Letterkenny, this brings profit to the town and supports local jobs. Records show that at least one third of customers using the card, often spend up to four-times times the value. 

Kristine Reynolds, Chamber President expressed her delight:

€4 Million Euro plus - the figure announced for the Letterkenny Shop LK 2022 sales at the announcement were Clare McNickle, Christine Reynolds, President Letterkenny Chamber, Jimmy Stafford, Donal Mandy Kelly, Cathaoirleach Letterkenny Municipal District and Anne Louise McClintock. Photo Clive Wasson

“Each year since our ShopLK gift cards were launched, we have been delighted with the increasing sales levels, this increase of 34% exceeded all our expectations. 2021 sales were €3,028,446 and this year they reached an incredible €4,066,695.

“We have seen corporate sales increase year after year as businesses increasingly chose the ShopLK Gift Card as a reward for their employees. The ShopLK gift card is redeemable at over 240 member outlets, which gives customers endless choice and good value. ShopLK is all about supporting local shopping, sales of this level shows that the message has got through. Customers love the variety and the support it offers in their favourite outlets.”

First established in 2004 by Letterkenny Chamber as a local shopping initiative, it has gone from strength to strength. Since moving to the gift card in 2015, gift card sales have increased year on year with customers seeing a ShopLK Gift Card as the gift of choice for any season and as the best employee reward around. 

Toni Forrester Letterkenny Chamber CEO explained how ShopLK is more than just a gift card:

“ShopLK is about promoting Letterkenny as a retail destination and the commercial hub of the county. Being a ShopLK member gives businesses another promotional platform and encourages them to increase their own brand awareness and stand out in a competitive market.”

"We also pay thanks to the many businesses and customers who buy the cards in their thousands. By buying the ShopLK Gift cards they are benefitting the domestic economy directly."

Acknowledging the support of Donegal County Council, Kristine Reynolds said “The financial support that we have had from the Donegal County Council, Letterkenny Milford MD, has really enabled us to elevate ShopLK and engage more fully with businesses and with consumers. It has allowed us to promote Letterkenny across Donegal and the Northwest. We would also like to thank The Bookmark outlet at The Courtyard Shopping Centre who also sell our ShopLK Gift Cards directly to the public. This has greatly benefitted the initiative, most especially during peak sales periods.”

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''We're thrilled to have enabled our client Letterkenny Chamber to empower the people of Letterkenny to invest over €4 million+ in small businesses in their local community in 2022 through our gifting solution, which is a terrific boost for the locality for the new year,'' added Ailie Kofoid, Group Executive, Gifting at EML Payments.

Letterkenny Chamber concluded by saying it could not run the highly successful initiative without the support of DSP Community Employment programme through which the Chamber is staffed. 

It is the frontline staff in the Chamber that provide the much-needed resources throughout the year to make ShopLK such a success and the support of the Department of Social Protection is very much appreciated.