At the beginning of the week, the Chamber of Commerce launched the “Cashback” campaign. A 20 percent bonus was paid to the buyer for every voucher bought in regional retailers.
By early Monday afternoon, the funding pot of one million euros was exhausted. On Wednesday it was replenished – by another million. That too was gone after a few hours. The action is therefore over. “Cashback” has fueled the purchase of vouchers, but the willingness to buy vouchers varies depending on the industry. We asked whether voucher purchases were booming before Christmas.
“More vouchers only since Monday”
Karl Mayr, Managing Director of Fussl Modestrasse, Ort iI
“It was only at the beginning of this week that the increased purchase of vouchers became noticeable. That probably has to do with the Chamber of Commerce’s cashback campaign. Before that, the business with vouchers was rather small. But we do believe that business will be better than last year. Our focus at the moment is on the end of the lockdown, which I think is inappropriate at this length. I think business will be fine again from Saturday. Consumers are now in solidarity with the regional stationary trade and see that not everything should be ordered online from anywhere. People want to shop again too and enjoy the feeling of shopping. So I’m optimistic. “
“Second currencies” are very popular
City currencies, “Mattigtaler” and “Brückenzehner”
Since the introduction of the euro, the city of Mattighofen has had a second currency: the Mattigtaler. It has been popular as a gift idea from the very beginning. There are currently Mattigtalers worth 600,000 euros and “almost all of them have already been sold,” says Kaufmannschaft Chairman Günther Ringeltaube. In Braunau and Simbach, the “bridge ten” is very popular. An increase of 50 percent was already recorded last year, and this year there is already a lot of orders. Among the buyers are many companies that compensate for the canceled Christmas party with more generous employee gifts. This regional voucher form can be redeemed across borders in more than 100 member companies of Shopping in Braunau and the Simbach advertising community.
New: Voucher for direct marketers
Georg Gumpinger, project manager “How does the Innviertel taste”
The direct marketing association “Wie ?? s Innviertel tastes” recently launched shopping vouchers in time for the pre-Christmas period. These can be redeemed in all 50 member companies. “With the vouchers you are definitely giving away 100 percent Innviertel cuisine. You can be sure of supporting local direct marketers and food producers from the region, ”says project manager Georg Gumpinger. The club will draw an initial assessment of how well the 10 euro vouchers are being received at the beginning of next year. “There are already some inquiries, mainly from companies. But end consumers are also a few among them. The first reactions are definitely very positive. “
“Are hardly any vouchers bought?”
Manuela Eibl-Macala, Eggelsberg Cosmetic Studio
Manuela Eibl-Macala has been running her own cosmetic studio “magique cosmetique” in Eggelsberg for many years. In her case, there was no question of a coupon frenzy, the sales figures were sobering in view of the lockdown: “Far fewer coupons are being bought than usual. People are used to simply walking into the shop and picking up a voucher, ”says Eibl-Macala. In lockdown, however, the studio is closed. Vouchers are of course still available: “However, people have to call in advance and we have to arrange a pick-up time – and only very few do that.” Basically, a voucher is a popular Christmas present, this year it is different depending on the situation.
A third of sales
Stephanie Haidenthaler, owner of Salon Haarreformer, Gurten
“We are happy that we can unlock again. Our big problem is that we were actually fully booked until Christmas and it is now practically impossible to process all appointments on time. I’ve been on the phone for many days to reschedule appointments. The vouchers are very popular with our customers. Seen over the year, this makes up more than a third of the monthly turnover. Demand is greatest before Christmas and before Mother’s Day. The buyers are not all men. Entrepreneurs also reward their employees with vouchers and many daughters also reward their mothers. “
No more than usual
Hubert Aspöck, owner of the “Bücherwurm” bookstore in Ried
“At the moment I don’t see any big differences compared to other times, and there are no more vouchers being bought at the moment. I have – maybe that’s because of that – a very loyal and very pleasant regular customer audience that has developed over the past few years, and my customers now order in lockdown by phone or email. Even now I am very satisfied with the course of business and have nothing to complain about. I can’t find any special or noticeable trends in books for my customer area this year, books from all genres are being bought. “
The demand is increasing
Christoph Vormair, Centermanager Weberzeile, Ried
“The demand for the Rieder Schwanthaler Zehner has increased significantly in recent years. Not only has sales at the visitor service in Weberzeile increased, but also the purchase of vouchers by regional companies has increased significantly. The sale of vouchers was also extremely positive this year. Despite the longer lockdown in December compared to the previous year, we are currently above the record year 2020. The company acquisitions in particular are extremely positive, with many companies buying special bonuses in the form of vouchers for employees instead of the Christmas party. With the Rieder Schwanthaler Zehner, purchasing power remains in the region.
Boom before Christmas
Hans-Peter Obermayr, Managing Director Star Movie
“The constant closings are grueling. We hope for good business in the coming weeks. Two thirds of the vouchers are sold in the period before Christmas. However, very many with the box office open, that was not possible now. But we expect business to be as good as in previous years. Many grandparents buy vouchers for their grandchildren, but a romantic evening at the cinema is also in for couples. And cinema vouchers are also very popular with companies. Safety is very important to us, we have increased the distance between the seats again a little to give visitors even more protection. “
Source: Nachrichten
