EAST LANSING, Mich. — Supporting local businesses in Downtown East Lansing has never been easier, at a time when they need support more than ever, with the help of the new Yiftee eGift Card Program and web app.
Are you looking for a fun way to support local merchants while also receiving gift cards for free? Look no further than the Downtown East Lansing gift card program. In response to the devastating business impacts of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the East Lansing Downtown Management Board[cityofeastlansing.com] (DMB) has launched the Yiftee eGift Card Program for Downtown East Lansing businesses.
Through a second-round of promotional programming, customers can go online and purchase Downtown East Lansing gift cards to be redeemed at 30 downtown businesses. If you spend $25 or more, you receive a $10 gift card for free; if you buy $50 or more, you receive a $20 gift card for free; and if you buy a $100 or more, you receive a $40 gift card for free.
As a part of the initial launch, the DMB allocated $3,000 for the first round of bonus gift cards for early buyers and, within 29 hours, the promotion had sold out. To date, a total of $12,095 dollars in gift cards (including the bonus gift cards) have been purchased in support of downtown East Lansing businesses.
“Participating in this program means supporting the heart of what makes our community unique and supporting our local businesses at a time when they need it most,” said East Lansing Community Development & Engagement Manager Amy Schlusler Schmitt. “We do hope that community members will consider giving the gift of shopping and dining local this holiday season and beyond.”
Community members can visit https://app.yiftee.com/gift-card/east-lansing[app.yiftee.com] to learn more about the Downtown East Lansing Yiftee eGift Card Program and how it works, view a list of the participating businesses where the gift cards can be used, and purchase and send gift cards with a personal message for family, friends, co-workers and other recipients.
“While it has been a strange year for us, the silver lining is that we have had the chance to meet some new local customers and neighbors that may not have come downtown as much under normal circumstances,” said Owner of Campbell’s Market Basket[campbellsmarketbasket.net] Ken Campbell. “We have a great market and love to be the place to stop by for essentials, a quick bite and some Christmas sunrises.”
Campbell’s Market Basket is among one of many East Lansing locations available for Yiftee eGift cards. Others include restaurants, retail stores and shops.
East Lansing is also focusing its efforts on sharing information about the Downtown Merchant Community in a new and interactive way. The City has launched Explore Downtown East Lansing, a new web app that allows community members to find the location, business name, address, block number and website for each business using an interactive map. The app also has a featured section to highlight business stories and information about COVID-19 recovery activities and safety measures. To access the web app community members can visit https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/401b0d86c9414811a5387550774a2e6e/page/home/?data_id=dataSource_7-BusinessDT_4083%3A509&draft=true[gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com]
In addition to these programs, Downtown East Lansing has contact information and websites for businesses on its website at www.downtownEL.com[downtownel.com]. Community members can reach out to businesses or visit websites to find out what services they are currently offering, from delivery to curbside pick-up, shipping and more. Information about local stores, bars, restaurants and other businesses is also shared on its social media channels by searching Downtown East Lansing or @DowntownEL, or visiting:
- https://www.instagram.com/downtowneastlansing[instagram.com].
- https://www.facebook.com/DowntownEastLansing[facebook.com].
- https://twitter.com/DowntownEL[twitter.com].
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