Deborah Merkin

Recent Posts
B2B Gift Card Industry Trend Report: Q1 2024
The B2B gift card landscape has continued to evolve rapidly, with the first quarter of 2024 presenting new trends and insights that are reshaping the industry. The holiday season of 2023 was particularly robust, exceeding our expectations in both consumer and corporate sectors. This report provides a comprehensive look at the latest trends, statistics, and projections for 2024, based on recent market data and our proprietary survey results.
Social Media Use, B2B, B2C, and Personal Use
It is no secret that social media use is on the rise. More people are using it, more businesses are using it, and we take it with us wherever we go on our phones all day, every day. Adult social media use is up from 61% in 2010 to 65% this year, and up from 5% in 2005, according to LinkedIn. 43% of American adults say they visit a social media site at lease once a day. As a marketing tool social media is also growing. If there is this large of a captive audience in the social media arena, and since the costs are so low, social media seems like a logical choice. 86% of B2B firms say they use social media as a marketing tool, compared to just 82% of B2C firms, according to socialmediab2b.com. Initially when social media blew onto the marketing scene the popular conclusion was that B2C was the only effective way to use social media communication. But as businesses increase their social media presence B2B communication through social media is increasing. How does your business use social media? If it doesn't, what is holding you back? References:
Adult Use of Social Media Soars
28 Awesome B2B Social Media Statistics
Raises Are Essential—But Not Enough on Their Own
Raises matter. In fact, fair compensation is a baseline expectation for today’s workforce. But if you're relying solely on salary increases to drive satisfaction and retention, you're missing the mark and possibly missing opportunities to strengthen employee engagement in more meaningful ways.
GiftCard Partners' Virtual Workforce Promotes Company Growth and a Healthier Environment
WELLESLEY, Mass., Aug. 16, 2011 /PRNewswire-iReach/ -- Today GiftCard Partners' (GCP) Ed Shulkin and Deb Merkin announced 10 years of vision coming to fruition as their virtual workforce now stretches across all regions of the country. Massachusetts, New York, California, Florida, andOregon are just a few of the company's remote workplace "home" offices.
Gun Buy Back Programs, and other ways to incent desired behavior
The "Kicks for Guns" program in Central Florida, will be held from this weekend in order to get illegal and unwanted guns off the streets of the greater Orlando area. No questions will be asked of anyone turning in a gun, and people who turn in guns will be rewarded with gift card options from select local retailers. These types of buy-back programs are common in communities when local law enforcement is trying to rid the community of certain dangerous materials. Another common buy back program is for old prescriptions. Often in communities local law-enforcement will reward community members with a relevant gift card in exchange for their old prescriptions. This is a way for the community to come together to promote safety and unity, and indulge in the offered rewards. For more information on the
gun buy back in Orlando click here. Have you seen any other buy-back programs? Where and what was the reward? Let us know by leaving a comment.