GiftCard Partners Blog

Holiday marketing season is in full swing! Consumers are planning their holiday shopping, if they have not started already, and retailers are planning their big holiday marketing and promotional push. If you are looking for some innovative ways to stretch the last piece of your 2012 budget check out these 5 ways to execute a holiday marketing campaign with a limited budget.

As the holiday season approaches and the holiday shopping season descends consumers are spending more than they have in recent memory, but they are still looking to save and add value whenever possible. Adding a loyalty program for your consumers, your employees, or both can add measurable value to your business. Adding a loyalty program for consumers will keep them coming back throughout the holiday season, and an employee loyalty program will keep employees satisfied and motivated during a busy time of year. Loyalty programs can take a variety of forms, from a points system in which consumers or employees can accrue points over time based on purchases or a job well done respectively,  to a rewards based system where consumers or employees receive rewards, such as gift cards, for these same behaviors. According to Mark Johnson, CEO of Loyalty360, "From a data/analytics/insight perspective, the generic branded, especially the reloadable cards are more important [for brands] and you glean more insight into the interests of the consumer." Johnson goes on to note that the ease of use gift cards provide to both consumers and employees makes them very valuable in the context of loyalty programs. During the holiday season as people become busy and very budget conscious, gift cards help ease the burden on necessities such as clothing from
The Limited or
The Children's Place, or gifts for others from retailers such as
1-800-Flowers. The flexibility of gift cards offers employees and consumers the flexibility to use the loyalty rewards gifted to them on gifts for others.  
For more information on gift cards as loyalty rewards check out this article from BizReport.

Retaining employees and creating a community with a loyal dedicated workforce doesn't have to be expensive. Optimizing your rewards budget, and leveraging non-monetary employee recognition can help you achieve these goals without breaking your budget. Here are 3 effective tips for retaining satisfied and devoted workforce for less.

Using a total reward system for employees can benefit an employer as well. Offering rewards and incentives, as well as professional development opportunities for employees, helps control employee rewards cost as well as enhancing employee satisfaction. Incorporating even small rewards such as gift cards for a family meal at the Cheesecake Factory, or a shopping trip at Whole Foods Market or CVS/pharmacy, in addition to regular benefits and compensation can go a long way in keeping employees satisfied and content in their jobs. Here are 4 ways a total rewards strategy can benefit your employees, as well as your business.

Helping employees realize their dreams and achieve personal goals will help your organization form a meaningful relationship with its employees. Employees want to feel support from their employers, and helping employees accomplish career goals and professional dreams will make them more loyal to your organization and more dedicated to your cause. Keep these 4 tips in mind when assessing how to motivate and support your employees: