By Dylan J Stone
Broken Hill businesses have been invited to register to join the NSW Seniors Card Program and at the moment registrations are low which could mean local businesses are missing out.
It appears not one single Broken Hill business is registered with the program.
Service NSW says “around 90% of the over-60s in NSW have a Seniors Card and they show their appreciation with their dollars”.
Clearly it is a large demographic and Service NSW is urging business to register to help boost their income.
Around 7000 new seniors join the program each month, and that means those with a Seniors Card can locate a registered business by searching for discounts and deals on the online Seniors Card map, which provides free advertising to participating businesses.
Businesswoman Gigi Barbe, who received an email from Service NSW reviewed the local list of participating businesses, and said she was surprised to see no local businesses listed.
“If local businesses are offering Senior Card deals and bargains, they are not listed on the website and so they could be missing out on potential customers,” she says.
Co-owner of Alfresco’s Cafe on Argent St, Mark Perry, said while his business does offer a seniors discount, they haven’t registered with Service NSW.
Mr Perry says his seniors discount, which is generally 5% off a purchase, is advertised internally and throughout local advertising channels, and, “we just haven’t worried about registering our deal”.
Other businesses have indicated they offer seniors discounts, but similarly, none have registered their promotions with Service NSW.
Broken Hill Small Business Association Secretary, Jack Dickson, says the program is an excellent way for businesses to promote themselves to the community.
“The program enables businesses to advertise to a particular market, and you have a free audience of thousands and thousands of people waiting to see your offerings,” Mr Dickson said.
Service NSW says businesses eager to register for the program must be a business that operates in NSW with a valid Australian Business Number (ABN) or Australian Company Number (ACN), and they have to agree to offer a discount of at least 10% (or a benefit) to NSW Seniors Card members.
Mr Dickson said the eligibility criteria was fit-for-purpose, because, “the idea of a Seniors Card is to ensure those members of the community who have contributed to our communities for many years are rewarded for their hard work, while ensuring businesses can maintain the offerings and promotions provided to card-holders.
“It’s a balancing act between providing program users with benefits while ensuring the business can maintain their financial positions.”
Business owners who would like to register to be part of the Seniors Card program, or would like more information, can contact Service NSW on 13 77 88 Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm, or can go to
https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/register-be-nsw-seniors-card-program-participating-business
