It’s celebration time in East Ayrshire!

Not only is the East Ayrshire Gift Card turning five this summer, but it’s also Scotland Loves Local Week – and we’re marking the occasion with a fantastic Great Gift Card Giveaway.

From 29 August to 11 September, when you shop at one of the participating East Ayrshire Gift Card businesses, you could receive a special card with a QR code. Scan it for a chance to instantly win one of our amazing prizes – including a top prize of a £300 East Ayrshire Gift Card or one of 20 x £20 East Ayrshire Gift Cards.

It’s our way of saying thank you for supporting your high street. The prize pot has been generously sponsored by the Kilmarnock Business Association and the Cumnock Business Association, who want to reward people for choosing local.

Over the past five years, nearly £450,000 has been spent through the East Ayrshire Gift Card. It’s been used for birthdays, Christmas, staff rewards, and even community support during tough times. And with over 230 businesses accepting it – from shops and salons to cafés and football clubs – there’s something for everyone. You can check out East Ayrshire Gift Card for a full list of where your gift card can be redeemed.

Let’s make this a week to remember. Shop local, scan your card, and you might just win!

Check out the list of participating businesses below!

Auchinleck

Gregor Armour Butchers

Crosshouse

Cameron Butchers

Spar

Crossroads

Ayrshire Food Hub

Cumnock

0290 Clothing

Donsport

Emma’s Boutique

Kenny Kilts

Majical Blooms

Prime Cuts

QBS

Timbermills

Gilliland Gifts

Millies Corner Coffee House

The Coffee Mill

Shaw Eyecare

ChocStop - Cumnock

MASALA

Dalmellington

Doonvalley Pharmacy

Nice Days

Premier

Stewart’s Fruit and Veg

Classic Cuts

Doon Valley Swimming Pool

Dalyrmple

SPAR

Darvel

Wag-A-Lot

Dunlop

Idle Hands Shop and Bakery

Fenwick

The Lairds Table Café/Restaurant

Kings Arms

Galston

2 La Rue Boutique

The Lifestyle Express

The Original Factory Shop

Aroma Coffee Shop

Hollybush

Hollybush Inn

Hurlford

Pricewise Stores

Kilmarnock

Utopia Computers

The Purple Turtle

Titch Coffee Shop

The Long House

Smyths Toys Superstores

R Payne & Daughters

ODEON

Marks and Spencer

Galleon Centre

A L Paint and Supplies

Sonel Afro-Caribbean Mini Market

Park Hotel

Kilmarnock Football Club Shop

WG13

Sinforiani Bros

Willow Tree Aesthetics

Urquhart Opticians

The Garage Leisure Complex

The Duke

Rainbow Ink Co

James Guthrie and Co LLP

Handling Hair

Elizabeth Wallace Bridal

David Faulds and Son LTD

The Coffee Bar by Espressokart

The Personal Touch

The Coffee Press

Serendipity

SemiChem

Scarlet Rose Florist

Rule 42 Boutique

Peacocks

New Look

My Little Gift Box

I love Gifts

Forever young

Courtyard Café

Café Da Vinci

Barrhead Travel Services

Ayrshire Schoolwear

Costa Coffee – ODEON and Portland Street

SPAR Munro Avenue

The Pet Shop

Pollok Williamson

Kings Candy & Vapes

Kev’s Kards

J Lindsay Opticans

D.M Fruit Co.

Knockinlaw Stores

Wellington Gallery

W and D Minto and Son

Scotmid Coop - Dean Street

QuickSave -Auchencar Drive

Premier –Tour Hill Road and Whatriggs Road

Keystore Cameron Drive

Dick Institute

Dean Castle and County Park Visitor Centre and Café

Day- Today – Morven avenue

CentreStage

Brownings Bakers – Dean Street & Foregate

Beth Browning’s Bakery

Café Sala

A Scents of Scotland

A One Tandoori

Kilmaurs

Kilmaurs Village Pharmacy

Premier

The Glasshouse Restaurant – Rowallan estate

Mauchline

RH Therapies

Prime Cuts

Susie and Sam Children’s Shoes Shop

Newmilns

Premier

Bobbin Café

Ochiltree

Ochiltree Community Hub

Patna

Premier

Stewarton

The Cup and Saucer

Specially For You

The Book Nook

Wm. Allan and Son Butchers

Brownings Bakers

Deli at One

The Coffee Pot

The Mill House

Mango Optical

Update Boutique

East Ayrshire Council has made a pledge to boost the region’s economy by choosing to support local businesses whenever it possibly can.

Council leader Douglas Reid has signed the Scotland Loves Local Pledge on behalf of the authority, promising to prioritise spending with enterprises in the region.

It is a statement of intent, ahead of Scotland Loves Local Week starting on Monday, August 26, which further enhances the local authority’s ethos to think local first.

The council’s support for local business already includes using family-run Mauchline organic dairy Mossgiel to supply its school milk.

And it has been a national trailblazer in the use of local gift cards in encouraging residents to spend with businesses in their community.

Councillor Reid said: “We were proud to be pioneers of shop local gift cards. With the changing retail environment it has given all sorts of businesses an opportunity to expand the way in which they carry out transactions, while also allowing them to compete with the online giants.

“With the back up of our community-led regeneration team, and working in partnership with the local business associations, we’ve explored many innovative ways of using the cards, run promotions and competitions and worked with retailers to make the East Ayrshire Gift Cards a success.

"It’s been a joint effort which has paid off, keeping money circulating locally and supporting all types of local business.”

East Ayrshire Council’s signing of the pledge has been welcomed by Kilmarnock Business Association, which has also signed up.

Other organisations, businesses and individuals across the region are being urged to show their commitment to choosing local by following the council’s lead in signing the pledge - then following that with action.

It states: “We will choose local, prioritising the people and businesses around us at every opportunity.”

You can sign the Scotland Loves Local Pledge by going to www.lovelocal.scot/pledge.