GiftCard Partners Blog

Work has become a thing people do, and less a place where employees go. Work-life balance is disappearing due to our constantly connected society. So how can you keep employees happy, keep stress low and maximize engagement? Believe it or not, a virtual office environment might be the best solution. Here are three unique advantages to running your organization from virtual offices.

Effective September 1^st, a new gift card cash back law will go into effect in the state of Texas.

Texans will be allowed to receive cash back on gift cards or gift certificates that have a balance of less than $2.50 starting September 1, 2015. In order to receive the remaining amount on the gift card, the transaction must take place in person. The law will not apply to prepaid calling cards, cards issued as part of a loyalty or rewards program, gift cards issued as a refund for returned merchandise (store credit), cards issued by a bank or an airline, and cards initially worth $5 that cannot have any value added to them. Republican State Representative and former business owner, Dwayne Bohac, was the law’s author and "...penned the bill to strike a balance between the rights of consumers and retailers."

Employee wellness programs are becoming a bigger part of the workplace. Employee wellness programs are part of benefits packages, they are mutually beneficial to employees and employers and employees love them.

As the days get longer and the temperatures rise, summer presents the perfect opportunity to show appreciation to partners, program members, employees, and colleagues. Gift cards are increasingly becoming the go-to gift, offering flexibility and the ability to choose the perfect present. In 2023, the Retail Gift Card Association (RGCA) reported that 70% of shoppers planned to buy gift cards for special occasions like Father’s Day, weddings, graduations, and birthdays. If you're considering giving a gift card this summer, here are some top ideas that will make your recipients' summer even brighter.

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.