GiftCard Partners Blog

Although we all know that gift cards are nothing new, it's also clear that they're not going anywhere anytime soon. Much of their stable market has to do with the new digital trends and shifts happening within the gift card industry. With these shifts, comes a change in consumer perception of gift cards as well. Gift cards are a way for retailers to appeal to their consumers, making loyal shoppers out of many of their customers through gift card reward programs. But gift cards have also remained popular as purchases for, well, gifts. Much of this is due to convenience, especially with the growth of digital e-cards, which make it simple to purchase and send quickly and without waiting in line. For those retailers  looking to increase their gift card sales, however, they may have to offer a little something extra along with them. According to a new survey,
17 percent of consumers won't buy a gift card until they see a promotion of some sort happening along side it, and 23 percent take promotions into consideration when deciding where to buy their gift cards between competing retailers. But as anyone in retail or the gift card industry knows, no matter how the technology or promotions change, gift cards will always give customers an incentive to visit your store, a gift that's priceless.
Statistics are courtesy of Incentive -- read the full article here.

Mobile payment is an increasingly popular trend. This makes a ton of sense when we look at the increase in overall mobile activity, from sales to marketing to everyday use. But when it comes to mobile payment, the steady rise is sure to affect everyone from retailers and merchants to those in the gift card business. In this
infographic, by e-complish, we can learn a lot about mobile payment trends and growth. In 2012 mobile payments only amounted to $1.5 million, but by the following year, that number had grown to $4.5 million, showing the exponential growth that the mobile payment industry is currently seeing. The U.S. and China are two of the leading countries in mobile use, meaning that they'll also be key countries for growth in mobile payments. Sixty one percent of U.S. adults own a smartphone, meaning that mobile payments will likely spread to many of those 61 percent, if they haven't already. Mobile payments crept into the payment systems and now have skyrocketed in popularity. It has been predicted that by the year 2025, as much as 20 percent of all purchases will be made on a mobile device. Because of the new trend, we're also seeing a growth in mobile payment apps and "mobile wallets." Keep your eye out for larger shifts in technology as we see more and more consumers paying for purchases on their mobile devices.  

Trends in the gift card industry are changing. Many of the shifts are due to new technology and advances in the digital world. Some are based on pure convenience. From social media to e-gift cards, here are some of the largest gift card trends right now:
A Change in Channel Where users buy their gift cards is changing in a big way. In only one year, in-person gift card sales have decreased by 10 percent, from 61 to 51 percent of all card sales. Online purchases, on the other hand, grew by 10 percent, which leads us to believe that those 10 percent who are no longer buying their gift cards in person are now buying them online.
Social Media Gift Cards Although still on the low end, this new way to buy and use gift cards is gaining momentum. You may see these card offerings on Facebook when it's your friend's birthday, or even when you visit a retailer's page who's very tapped in to the social world. There are now several opportunities to both buy and redeem gift cards directly through social platforms, such as Facebook. Now, over eight percent of gift card purchasing is done through social media.
E-Gift Cards Grow E-gift cards are definitely one of the fastest growing trends in the card industry. In just one year, the amount of people who bought e-gift cards grew by 15 percent, from 21 to 36 percent. The growth of this trend makes sense, what with the ease and convenience of digital gift cards. Plus, more and more retailers are now offering these as an option.
Gift Card Apps There is now new technology that allows users to store their gift cards in their phone via app, taking the idea of digital gift cards to a whole new level.

Volunteers are the backbone of many organizations, providing invaluable support without expecting anything in return. Recognizing and appreciating their contributions is essential for maintaining morale and encouraging continued dedication. One of the most effective and flexible ways to show appreciation for volunteers is through gift cards. This blog post explores the benefits of using bulk gift cards as volunteer appreciation gifts and provides insights into the best practices and options available in 2024.

Spring has sprung and the winter is finally melting away. Apparently, along with flowers shooting up toward the sky, so is consumer spending. This month, the 
LA Times published an article about the recent surge in retail sales. According to them, retail sales saw their largest growth in one and a half years during the month of March. It's the best figure seen since September 2012. "'Spring is in the air indeed,' Rupkey said. 'The economy is on firm footing today and the future looks bright,'" wrote the 
LA Times. As tax refunds come through, many experts believe that we'll only see a continuous rise in retail spending. Data showed that retail sales, with the exception of automobiles, gas stations and restaurants, went up by 0.8 percent in March over February. According to the Commerce Department, seasonally adjusted retail sales grew by 1.1 percent last month.
The growth in retail sales means good things for businesses all around. It's a sign that the economy is on the rise, as consumers are spending more freely. It's also great for those with loyalty and rewards programs, who now have bigger budgets and more customers than ever to work with. There's no doubt about it, things are looking up for all of us!
Read the full article in the LA Times.