PASO ROBLES — The Paso Robles Chamber of Commerce has partnered with GiftUp! to help local businesses and aid the community during the COVID-19 pandemic.

PRCC Chief Economic Director said that the organization examined various gift card platforms that would best suit the needs of the community. The Chamber found that the app GiftUp! allowed customers to purchase gift cards remotely, thus keeping with social distancing, but also help local companies generate revenue immediately.

“In many of the gift card programs,” Sloan said, “the merchant receives the revenue at the point of redemption, which could be three to six months from now, and our idea was to develop a cash flow bridge to help to get money to businesses now.”

During the pandemic, the company GiftUp! decided to waive its usual 3.49 percent fee on the first $5,000 each business generates in gift card sales. Setup is free and the company does not require monthly fees or contracts.

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The Chamber also launched the PasoStrong.org website to serve as a hub for businesses and community members to come together during this time of need as well as a resource for finding economic aid that includes disaster assistance loan programs.

Businesses wishing to set up an account can go to giftupapp.com. To create an account, applicants will need to do the following;

  • • Verify their email address
  • • Add their business details (name, address, etc.),
  • • Set up items to sell in their gift card checkout
  • • Attach their preferred payment gateway account (gateway fees will still apply)
  • • Get their unique checkout code to post on their website or share with your customers

“It takes five minutes,” Sloan said. “It’s super easy, and we’ve all gone through it to practicing setting up little businesses.”

The Chamber is in the process of building a “Gift Card Hub” to showcase all members with online gift card capabilities. Businesses are invited to contact the Chamber at PasoStrong@pasorobleschamber.com with their new ‘GiftUp!’ link so that it can add it to our Gift Card Hub or if they have any questions regarding sign up.

Sloan agreed that over the years, chambers have sought to find new ways to keep current and relevant in the ever-changing economic landscape and that this type of response to a crisis is an amazing testament of the value that chambers can bring to cities and local businesses, he said.