What’s in your wallet?
Since this is Westport, probably a gold card, at least. Plus platinum.
Maybe even osmium, iridium, palladium and ruthenium.
Why not a Westport Card, too?
Just in time for the holiday season, it’s the newest venture from the Westport Downtown Association and Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce.
But it’s not entirely new.
During COVID, WestportMoms launched the “Local Love” card. This builds on that.
Recently, WDA member Lee Shufro and his son Jake — a Staples student, and part of the Westport Youth Commission — worked with Chamber director Matthew Mandell on business-building ideas.
Mandell proposed repurposing the card to be more inclusive, for all Westport merchants.
Westport Downtown Association president Maxx Crowley loved the idea. Like Mandell, he too is a champion of all local businesses.
More than 3 dozen merchants quickly signed on. More join daily. The list includes clothing, gift, toy and liquor stores; restaurants; galleries; fitness centers; spas — even the Westport Country Playhouse. Click here for the full list.
Savvy + Grace is one place to use The Westport Card …
The Westport Card can be purchased in typical gift card denominations (plus a $2 fee). It works like a normal gift card, at participating businesses.
It can be sent electronically (email or text) as a gift, too.
“This is a win-win-win,” Shufro says.
“It’s great for merchants, great for residents, and great for Westport. Why buy a generic gift card like Amazon, when you can buy the Westport Card and keep it local?”
Statistics bear Shufro out. Studies show that local independent retailers recirculate 47% of their revenue back into the community; only 14% of national chains’ revenue stays there.
Meanwhile, local restaurants recirculate 73% of their revenue back to their community; the figure for national chains is 30%.
… and Don Memo is another. (Photo/Katherine Bruan)
Which card do you want in your wallet?
Gold or platinum? Or the one that’s even rarer than rhodium, tellurium and rhenium: the Westport Card?
Click here for more information, and to purchase the Westport Card.
(Speaking of Westport: “06880” is your hyper-local blog, featuring all kinds of news you can use. Please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
