Retailers boost weekend promotions as smaller vouchers slow redemption

The citywide consumption campaign is showing signs of uneven impact on local retail activity, with smaller voucher denominations contributing to weaker redemption momentum.

According to a Macao Daily News report, several merchants have reported that, while overall foot traffic remains higher than pre-program levels, recent weekends have seen slower customer flow compared with earlier in the campaign, prompting retailers to introduce additional promotions to attract shoppers.

A local pharmacy noted that when the program launched in early September, residents were enthusiastic, partly due to the distribution of larger-value vouchers, which spurred more active spending.

“Many customers now draw vouchers worth only MOP10 or MOP20,” said a store representative. “The incentive to redeem is lower – if it were a larger voucher, people would definitely use it.”

Data from the past two weekends indicate that store traffic has fallen by about 10% compared with the program’s early phase, though it remains above levels before the initiative.

To counter the dip, retailers are offering weekend discounts and special displays designed to capture attention and encourage purchases. Early results suggest these strategies are moderately effective in sustaining engagement.

Coffee shops, in particular, report quieter weekends compared with weekdays, despite the presence of vouchers.

One café owner explained that coffee remains a staple for working residents, with weekday takeaway and dine-in sales performing well, but weekend patronage is lighter.

To adapt, the shop is planning “small-voucher packages” that combine beverages with baked goods, aiming to better match the lower-value coupons and maintain sales. “Business cannot remain static,” the owner said. “We need to constantly refresh promotions to keep customers interested.”

Other retailers emphasize the importance of product diversity.
Staff at a home goods store noted that weekend shoppers continue to visit in healthy numbers, purchasing items according to voucher value – high-value coupons tend to go toward skincare and health products, while smaller denominations are spent on everyday items like tissues or cotton swabs.

According to early government data, the first three weeks of the initiative generated MOP110 million in redeemed vouchers, quadrupling local consumption.

The city is currently running the program until November 30, aiming to boost economic recovery.

The campaign encourages residents to make e-wallet payments of MOP50 or more on weekdays to be entered into weekly lucky draws for e-vouchers worth MOP10 to MOP200.

However, the Taipa and Coloane Community Service Consultative Council has previously proposed that the redemption period for the consumption vouchers begin on Friday evenings to encourage more spending and enhance the campaign’s effectiveness.

The council cited residents’ feedback indicating that in the past, whether spending MOP100 or MOP1,000, they received vouchers of the same value, which discouraged higher spending.

The initiative is supported by a budget of MOP485 million and aims to stimulate local spending, especially during the off-peak tourist season.