Chamber launches SpartanBucks initiative

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Spartanburg area employers have committed to purchase more than $80,000 to date in SpartanBucks, an eGift card program launched by the Spartanburg Area Chamber of Commerce to direct spending to local merchants.

Five of Spartanburg County’s employers, representing about 20,000 workers across the county, have committed to using SpartanBucks for employee rewards, customer appreciation and other reward programs, according to a news release.

“As we grow employer participation, we’ll be able to say, ‘we kept $100,000 or $200,000 in spending local,’” said John Kimbrell, Spartanburg Area Chamber of Commerce executive vice president, in the release. “We believe this can grow and make a valuable impact on local businesses.”

SpartanBucks can be purchased online and then sent to anyone via text or email. The card value can be chosen and the recipient can then use that value to make purchases at SpartanBucks’ participating merchants, the release said.

"We're excited about the possibility SpartanBucks presents, to keep money spent in Spartanburg as local as possible,” said Molly Cashman, owner of Blue Moon Specialty Foods, in the release. “From our perspective as a small family-owned business, SpartanBucks is a great way to expose our business to more people in and around Spartanburg and we are thankful for the opportunity to participate.”

A handful of local merchants began accepting SpartanBucks during a test phase. Other Spartanburg County merchants are encouraged to register to accept SpartanBucks before the holiday season.