Downtown Districts FAQ'S

1. Must I be a downtown district in order to participate?
   No. We have several business improvement districts (BIDs), Main Street organizations, and chambers of commerce participating in a StoreFinancial gift card program. The only requirement is that your merchants exist within a defined geographical area.
2. How does the program work?
   Gift cards are bank issued and process via a global bankcard network. Merchants simply run the gift cards through their existing credit card machine for customer redemptions.
3. Can the selective authorization gift cards be used outside of my downtown district?
   No. The StoreFinancial gift card program operates under selective authorization. This restricts card redemptions to only your participating merchants, keeping all funds with your retailers and encouraging repeat business.
4. Are there any fees for my merchants wishing to participate in the gift card program?
   There are no fees to participate. The gift cards are a form of payment identical to a credit card payment.
5. Is it easy for merchants to use?
   Absolutely! Gift cards are processed through your merchants existing POS registers. Additionally, if merchants encounter any issues, they can contact StoreFinancial’s live client support at any time.
6. How does my staff learn how to sell gift cards?
   StoreFinancial’s Implementation Team will be on-site prior to the gift card launch to train your office staff and merchants.
7. What equipment are we required to buy?
   None! You simply need a PC, Internet access, and a printer.
8. How long does it take to get the gift card program started?
   Once a contract is signed, the launch of your gift card program takes between 8-12 weeks. Creating art for your card front and printing cards is typically the most time intensive part of the process.
9. What if my merchants or I have questions after the program starts?
   Anyone from your property, including office staff or merchants, is free to contact StoreFinancial’s live, multi-lingual client support.
10. Where can I sell gift cards?
    Guest services, management office, etc. Gift cards can also be sold online.
11. Are there any additional income opportunities available for my downtown?
    Yes! You are free to charge activation fees at the time of purchase. On average, most clients charge between $1.50 - $2.00 activation fee with each purchase. The revenue from the activation fees go directly back to your downtown district. Upgraded gift card packaging, such as gift bags and gift boxes, provides additional income opportunity for your downtown district.