Look for GCP and innovative insights at the IMA Summit
Next week at the Incentive Marketing Association Annual Summit look for GiftCard Partners' Cheif Operating Officer Deb Merkin to moderate a panel entitled: "Challenges of Moving Bulk eCerts/mCerts Through the Distribution Pipeline." The session will discuss the challenges and benefits of eCert and mCert technology and how they can and are expanding the incentive gift card market. Deb will be moderating a panel of industry experts in discussion on this cutting edge topic. The session will take place on Tuesday August 9th from 1:45 until 2:45.
For more information check out the IMA Summit schedule here.
Trend Watch: National Retailers Convene at World's First Digital Gifting Event
GiftCard Partners' Deb Merkin attended the CashStar Digital Gifting roundtable and said it was jammed packed with great market research and the roundtable discussion was invaluable. CashStar’s Retailer Roundtable brings together leading analysts, technologists, thought leaders and a myriad of retailers to discuss the future of digital gifting.
CVS/pharmacy and
Brinker, 2 of our clients will be present and taking part in this roundtable! Digital gifting has altered the way the B2B gift card market progresses, with efficiencies for the retailer, buyer and the end consumer, while directly tying in with mobile and
social media initiatives… We look forward to seeing the results of this meeting in the coming weeks. PORTLAND, Maine, Jul 14, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- CashStar, the digital gifting and incentives company, today announced that it has brought together the industry's top influencers and retailers for the world's first event exclusively focused on the e-gifting industry. Taking place today in CashStar's headquarter city of Portland, Maine, the CashStar Retailer Roundtable has brought thought leaders together to brainstorm the future of digital gifting with a focus on mobile and social channels.
Click to read more about this landmark digital gifting event.
Prepaid Expo: Social Media Critical to Growth of Prepaid
You are likely either a marketer or involved with the prepaid & gift card industry OR BOTH (like me). We love this video and we love how the Prepaid Expo is looking beyond traditional information sources and prepaid to bring us their take on the next generation of prepaid.
Getting ready for IMA Summit - Selling and marketing in the new economy
The GCP staff is excited for all the insights, collaboration and networking to be had at the upcoming 12th annual IMA Executive Summit 2011, August 7-9. The theme: Learn, Connect, Benchmark and Deb Merkin, Ed Shulkin, Melina Balboni and Diane Freeland will be on-hand at the event.
Prepaid Congress Debrief: E-Certs
GiftCard Partners attended the 2nd annual Prepaid Congress this week, so over the coming week or so we will be posting information from the Congress. E-certifications, are an emerging closed loop gift card technology within the incentive industry that allow retailers to instantly deliver incentives to their customers through either cell phone technology, or online. According to the Mercator Group 33% of retailers in the U.S. currently offer e-certification incentives. E-certifications can save incentive companies fulfillment charges, and provide instant gratification to the customers receiving the incentives. E-certifications are opening up new markets for retailers who are able to participate because e-certifications are opening up new avenues to contact customers and deliver marketing messages. Some studies even suggest that e-certs are more effective at delivering memorable long lasting marketing messages than physical gift cards.
