GiftCard Partners Blog

Summer gift cards are gaining popularity in the gift market this spring and summer. As individuals look for gifts for moms, dads, grads and newlyweds, gift cards continue to be the catch-all gift that's easy for the gifter and always a pleasant surprise for the giftee. The  infographic below from the Retail Gift Card Association reveals that 80% of gifters want their recipients to have the option to redeem online or in-store, showing that omnichannel flexibility is an overwhelming consumer concern. Since gift cards are flexible in nature, consumers want to ensure that recipients have as much flexibility in how and where they redeem as they do in what merchandise they redeem for.

Ever wondered what employee rewards your staff really want? While you know they may appreciate the sentiment of the reward, and even find the rewards fun, have you ever wondered, if they could pick anything, what the general employee response would be? In a recent study done by The Voucher Shop these hard-to-come-by desires are revealed. Even though these are results from across the pond, there's a lot to be gleaned applicable for American employees and households as well. Here are the top categories employees want to see in rewards from their employers:

You may not have known, but part of Whole Food Market’s mission includes a promise towards the humane treatment of animals and they are winning accolades for their animal welfare practices. The company has been recognized with both the Good Sow Commendation and the Global Good Egg Award from Compassion in World Farming.

Healthcare has once again become the top domestic concern for Americans, with 61% saying they worry “a great deal” about access and affordability, according to a new Gallup report.

As wellness programs become a mainstream part of HR programming, and a sought after employee benefit, it's important to know what you're getting into. Some employers are now building wellness programs to "check the box." Adding a smoking cessation program, or a weight loss group to the office culture to help reduce insurance cost, or satiate the employee desire to get healthier. However, even if you plan to make a small investment in an employee wellness program, it's important that you find the right options for your staff and for your bottom line. Here are a few tips that will help you get your wellness program on track.