GiftCard Partners Blog

New research suggests that the best companies (top 20%) are a third more likely to use non-cash incentives, such as travel, merchandise, and gift card awards, in their sales incentive programs.  The study, which was unveiled last week, indicates that these awards are critical in getting the best performance out of sales teams. The respondents surveyed were asked to identify their top three choices that are most effective at yielding the strongest sales performance.  While financial compensation is still tops, the trend has really changed over the last year.  Back in 2012 98% of respondents preferred financial compensation, compared to just 76% this year.  The impact of financial compensation is being considered less of a dominant “no-brainer” in sales.  The runners up include the non-cash incentive programs, gift cards, travel, merchandise, etc, designed to augment the financial leverage that employers have over their front-line sellers. The highly successful organizations recognize that today’s sales personnel and account managers require a far more complex managerial landscape than their predecessors.  They are aware that there is a need to manage on a more holistic level and not just consider meeting quota expectations.  

Every organization has a variety of employee performers. There are over-achievers, those who put in the work 9-5 and play their role and then the under achievers who could maybe put some more work in more of the time. Ensuring that your employee rewards match each type of performer and each individual employee's performance. Here are 3 tips to keep your employee rewards program in line.

In the gift card industry we know gift cards are awesome. Gift cards are flexible for recipients, easy for gift givers and ensure that the end recipient gets the gift they ultimately want. Now, the consumer public is showing that they agree with us. A recent survey by the Retail Gift Card Association shows that over two thirds of the U.S. population plans to buy gift cards through the spring and summer gift period. Here are a few other highlights from the RGCA survey.

Millennials, those who currently are in the 18-33 age range, will make up 75% of the workforce by 2025. This generation posses an entirely different outlook on workplace culture than the generation before them. Technology is the primary Millennial influence, both in and out of the workplace. What are the best incentives for millennials to be motivated? Growing research shows that point system incentive programs have the highest success level, especially with Millennials. These employees want to not only be recognized, but they also want choices in how they are rewarded as well. Points programs are virtually foolproof, easy to understand, appeal to the interests of many different types of participants, tend to have higher participation rates, and are just plain fun! One amazing employee points program incentive model is the Values In Action program at CVS/pharmacy. An online rewards system where colleagues and managers can recognize one another by granting points that are redeemable for merchandise, travel vouchers, gift cards, and even the option to make a charitable donation. While points programs work best for Millennials, they can be customized for any diverse workforce. 
For more information on why points programs are so popular check out this article by Quality Incentive Company.

The 2014 Loyalty Guide is out and full of stats, insight and industry knowledge. One of the featured chapters this year is 60 "loyalty lessons." This is a retail focused look on how loyalty can affect your business and how your customers purchase your products. A strong loyalty program can boost your customer return rate and raise each consumer's life time value, while a bad loyalty program can be detrimental, even in the best economic climate.
Here are three of our favorites from the chapter but all 60 employee and customer loyalty lessons can be found here.