Deborah Merkin
Recent Posts
As Unemployment Drops, Employee Retention Becomes Crucial
This interesting Canadien article pointed out a seemingly obvious but interesting point. As unemployment rates drop employees gain an advantage over employers in terms of the job search. Employers find during these times of transition, when the unemployment rate is dropping and employees tend to start to look around the job market, that they need to ensure that their employees stay happy. How to keep employees happy? Incentive programs! A poll of 429 businesses found that more often than not, business owners count on employee incentive programs to draw and maintain motivated employees. Increased employee motivation is the top priority of 88% of respondents. Gift cards are an incredibly effective way to motivate your employees. They are easy to administer and use, they hold trophy value, and show true thought when given from employers to employees. How high on your priority list is employee motivation this year? How do you incent your employees?
For more information on employee motivation in the coming year click here.
Potential Pitfalls of the Daily-Deal
Daily deal sites are increasingly popular with consumers across the country, however they are posing increasing problems with the retailers who offer these "too good to be true" deals. Be careful how your company interacts with daily deal sites so they attract more customers, and don't cost your business too much potential revenue. For example, if you give gift cards away at a discount is that too much free money? Here are some tips to success in the daily deal arena:
Interesting Ways to Engage Customers or Promote Products with QR Codes
QR Codes, originally created in 1994 by the Japanese corporation Denso-Wave, have become a ubiquitous tool in modern marketing. They effortlessly bridge the gap between physical and digital realms, allowing businesses to deliver messages, coupons, gift cards, or direct links to websites. As their usage continues to rise, let’s explore some innovative ways QR Codes can engage customers and promote products.
Local Gift Cards – Explore “______” (Insert Your Town)
Gift Cards for a Local Cause - Sewickley, PA
Downturned since 2007, our economy has left many towns around the country in need of public building refurbishing, amenity face-lifts, main street store tenants, employers…it’s not hard to look around and see how our home-towns have been effected. For many regions and towns, recovery is on its way, while others are in need of fresh ideas and advocates to arouse the local economy.
Historic Sewickley, PA has some pretty passionate advocates looking to breathe life back into their region. They’ve created an “Explore Sewickley” campaign complete with a website, Facebook presence and “Explore Sewickley Gift Cards” to promote shopping at the local shops, boutiques and restaurants. Businesses and corporations can also infuse the local economy, helping local businesses thrive, when they provide local-centric gift cards like these as motivation, incentives and rewards.
What a fresh use of gift cards!
Community Revitalization with Local Gift Cards
In an era where communities are striving to boost their local economies and foster vibrant town centers, the innovative use of gift cards has emerged as a powerful strategy. Local towns and cities across the globe are harnessing the potential of gift cards to attract tourism and drive business to local shops. By offering town gift cards or city-wide gift cards, municipalities are creating opportunities to engage both residents and visitors in exploring all that their communities have to offer, thereby revitalizing local businesses and enhancing community vitality.
These town and city gift cards function as versatile tools, allowing recipients to redeem them at a variety of participating businesses, from charming boutiques to cozy cafes and artisanal shops. This flexibility not only encourages individuals to support local enterprises but also promotes a sense of community pride and connection.
For tourists, these local gift cards serve as gateways to authentic experiences, offering a curated selection of establishments that capture the essence and character of the destination. Whether it's savoring regional delicacies, discovering unique artisan crafts, or immersing oneself in the local culture, town gift cards provide visitors with the opportunity to create lasting memories while supporting the local economy.
Moreover, the widespread adoption of digital gift cards and online platforms has further expanded the reach and accessibility of these initiatives, enabling individuals to purchase and redeem gift cards conveniently from anywhere in the world. This seamless integration of technology into traditional gift card programs not only enhances convenience for consumers but also amplifies the marketing and promotional efforts of participating businesses and local governments.
By leveraging the collective strength of town and city gift cards, communities can cultivate a thriving ecosystem where businesses flourish, residents take pride in their local identity, and visitors are welcomed with open arms. As these initiatives continue to gain momentum, they underscore the profound impact that simple yet innovative solutions can have in shaping the economic and social fabric of our towns and cities.
Through the strategic implementation of town gift cards and city-wide gift card programs, local municipalities have the opportunity to unlock the full potential of their communities, fostering a spirit of collaboration, creativity, and resilience that will endure for generations to come.
Improving Employee Health & Increasing Performance
In today's competitive workplace, the performance of employees is crucial for the success of any organization. However, what if I told you that one of the reasons for underperformance could be related to the physical or mental health of employees?
