GiftCard Partners Blog

In our recovering economy it sometimes seems like there will always be more candidates than jobs. In some industries today that is already not the case. A talent war is looming, a time when companies are poaching each other's human capital and when employee loyalty should be at the top of your HR Strategy agenda. Here are three ways to build, maintain and teach loyalty in your organization.

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.

At GiftCard Partners, one of the nation's largest developers of corporate gift card programs, we form deep rooted partnerships with our clients to help them build robust loyalty, reward or incentive programs. We offer gift cards to many of the country's leading brands, including Speedway. Speedway is the fourth largest gas station chain in the country, operating over 1,400 different stores. But Speedway offers more than gas. With a whole chain of convenience stores connected to the fuel stations, Speedway sells everything from snacks to important, everyday buys. Speedway gift cards are one of our most popular brands for employee incentives, fundraising and loyalty rewards programs. From gifts to giveaways, loyalty rewards to sales promotions, everyone loves to fuel up their programs with the Speedway Corporate Gift Card Program. With our Speedway Corporate Gift Card Program, we offer you:

For the last several years, Boston Market has worked to create a menu that boasts more nutritious selections while still offering the same great taste. In a campaign committed to reducing sodium levels by 20% in their menu items, they removed salt shakers from their tables in 2012. While the sodium levels dropped in menu staples, 26% in mashed potatoes, 20% in stuffing, gravy by 50% and cornbread by 30%, sales have not.* The holiday sales this year increased 17%.