While Gift Cards in the Golden State cannot expire, my guess that technically what Riv was offering was store credit? Probably not the same thing legally.

that rear derailleur probably hoovered up a bunch of capital. Financial planning is tough.
As to going to a Bankster for funds, Banks are very willing to loan at prime plus X if you do not need the money. A business needing funds? Too risky even with a good track record of supplier payments.

I did not apply for a PPP loan during the pandemic. I should have but so it went. A large customer took my work inside soon after, they needed 6 times the labor force to do that and wasted lots of materials, but that was the price to present they were vertically integrated. The biz sold in 2022. The private equity firm that bought them is not achieving what they want yet.