Newport Now is about to launch the perfect gift card - one which can be spent on almost anything, anytime, anywhere in the city centre.

We’re all familiar with gift cards. Most of us have probably received one at some point in our lives.

There’s not much not to like about a gift card - except, perhaps, being restricted to spending it in just one outlet. Or maybe - if you run a city centre business - the fact that people spend them in out-of-town stores, driving footfall away.

The ideal gift card for members of the Newport Business Improvement District would be one customers could only spend right on your doorstep at any number of outlets - to buy clothes or jewellery, get their hair done, or to take a friend out for lunch.

Well, Newport Now will be launching that gift card in time for Christmas.

Customers can purchase the card online and then that special person they’ve bought it for can only redeem it with BID members, at the fantastic selection of shops, restaurants, bars and salons in our city centre.

They can’t go and spend it at the retail parks, or in another town, or online. This is the BID gift card and it can only be spent exclusively with city centre businesses that sign up to accept the card.

There is no cost to BID members who accept the card. All you need is a Visa machine.

If you want to know more about the gift card, or you’d like to be among the BID members ready to accept the card, get in touch with BID manager Kevin Ward on 07824 472543.

The more BID members signing up to accept the card, the more attractive it will be for your customers.