GiftCard Partners Blog

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.  

22% of employers who use financial incentives in their health and wellness programs are structuring them as penalties. After all the studies done over the last few years proving that "carrot" incentives are more effective at motivating employees to a healthy lifestyle than stick deterrents." Still stick incentives are up 4% from 2013 and employees with extenuating health circumstances risk a steep tax penalty from the Affordable Care Act, along with the penalty from their employer. Employees with minor health issues like decreased lung capacity from asthma cannot change how their lungs work. Their condition cannot be improved through exercise and won't change no matter how healthy their diet is. So is it fair to potentially tax them and charge them organizational penalties? This is one of the ways carrot incentives help drive employees to their best state of health. Incentivizing health improvement shows support of employee efforts regardless of if they are in perfect shape. It shows appreciation for the effort as well as the result. If you are considering  health and wellness incentives, consider a carrot over a stick and reward your employees' healthy efforts all year round.
For more information about stick deterrents and carrot incentives check out this article from 22WWLP.

The weather is getting warmer and employees minds are starting to wander to that summer vacation to the beach or the lake. Springtime is the perfect time to devise a way to keep employees focused and motivated from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Variety is the name of the game with employee motivation, the key to success is finding a reward that everyone likes. Here are a few ideas:

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.