Giving Local Businesses A Bump: 'Shop Concord' E-Cards Are Back

CONCORD, CA — Concord and the city's chamber of commerce are coming together to relaunch the city's e-gift card program, which supports the city’s small businesses by encouraging residents to shop locally.

Shop Concord helps local businesses increase their sales while providing a boost to the local economy. The program will start on Nov. 24.

“As holiday shopping starts, we are excited to bring back our popular Shop Concord program to support local businesses and provide a special incentive in the form of a bonus gift card,” Concord Mayor Carlyn Obringer said in a statement.

Shop Concord will supply a bonus gift card with every purchase this year as a result of a $10,000 contribution from the city.

Participants receive a $50 Shop Concord bonus card with every original $100 gift card purchase, a free $25 Shop Concord card with every $50 gift card purchase, or a free $10 Shop Concord card with every $20 gift card purchase.

Gift cards can be used for purchases at participating businesses. The bonus gift cards with purchase are available until the $10,000 is distributed.

The initial Shop Concord program launched in November 2020 with e-gift cards worth $31,020. Since then, more than $342,000 worth of gift cards have been distributed.

The e-gift cards can be purchased on the Shop Concord Yiftee page, which includes a list of participating merchants. This year cardholders can tap to pay by saving their Shop Concord cards in digital wallets. Cardholders can split the original and bonus portions of the digital cards to keep for themselves or gift to others via text or email.

Concord business owners can sign at no cost to participate in the Shop Concord program.