Deborah Merkin
Recent Posts
Improving Employee Health & Increasing Performance
In today's competitive workplace, the performance of employees is crucial for the success of any organization. However, what if I told you that one of the reasons for underperformance could be related to the physical or mental health of employees?
Keeping the Office Vibrant Throughout The Summer
As the warmth of the sun permeates the air and the allure of beach vacations beckons, the atmosphere in workplaces undergoes a subtle transformation. Fridays, typically synonymous with hustle and bustle, seem to shrink in duration as employees find themselves lost in daydreams of sandy shores and rolling waves. Consequently, the rhythm of the office slows down, mirroring the relaxed pace of the season. Yet, amid this seasonal shift, lies a golden opportunity for businesses to reinvigorate their workforce and reignite productivity through innovative incentive programs.
Summer Gift Card Incentives for the Workplace
During the peak of summer, when sales and productivity often experience a dip, businesses can leverage strategic incentive programs to counteract this lull effectively. One such strategy involves the implementation of enticing rewards, such as gift cards, designed to motivate and engage employees. By offering gift cards for employees to enjoy quality time with their families, whether it's a sumptuous meal at a restaurant or a beautiful bouquet of flowers, businesses can inject just the right amount of excitement and incentive to propel productivity, even during the languid months of July and August.
Engaging Customers with Summer Gift Cards
Moreover, the concept of incentivizing extends beyond the confines of the office and into the realm of retail environments. In instances where foot traffic dwindles due to customers indulging in outdoor activities like beach outings or gardening, businesses can capitalize on this trend by rolling out promotions that foster customer loyalty and drive sales. For instance, a promotion that rewards customers with a $20 gift card to 1800-flowers for every $100 purchase not only incentivizes spending but also cultivates a sense of appreciation and goodwill among patrons.
More Summer Business Engagement Strategies
To further amplify the buzz in the office and maintain customer engagement throughout the summer, businesses can explore a myriad of additional strategies tailored to their unique circumstances and target audience. These may include introducing flexible work arrangements to accommodate employees' desire for work-life balance, organizing team-building activities to foster camaraderie, or launching seasonal marketing campaigns that resonate with the spirit of summer and capture the attention of customers.
In essence, while the summer season may present challenges in terms of maintaining momentum and customer traffic, it also offers a canvas for creativity and innovation. By embracing the opportunity to implement inventive incentive programs and adapt to seasonal trends, businesses can infuse their workplaces with renewed energy and ensure sustained success during the warmer months. For more insights on maximizing productivity and customer engagement throughout the summer, explore our comprehensive guide here.
Virtual Wallets: What are they…Really?
This post might look familiar to you; we've added an update further down the page. Wikipedia outlines a “Virtual Wallet” as a hybrid checking/savings account with 3 components: a "Spend" account (checking), a "Reserve" account (backup checking, incurs interest), and a"Growth" account (savings). This is a pretty narrow view of a virtual wallet (note to self, update Wikipedia).
Virtual wallets are cropping up not just from banks for online banking; they are being offered by credit card companies, SmartPhone providers, and there are even free versions that stores, manages, and organizes digital versions of store membership cards, coupons, loyalty cards, virtual gift cards, or any other piece of information that you store in your traditional wallet. Windows even offers a PC software version of a virtual wallet, but it’s more focused on protecting all those passwords, account numbers, and access codes vs. making purchases and using your loyalty rewards points or gift cards.
GiftCard Partners feels the Virtual Wallet that will not only change our way of shopping, paying, and redeeming, but will also combine the best of the above types and allow us to:
Healthy Babies, Happy Moms: Family Wellness Incentives
In 2011, Cumberland County, NJ, grappled with an infant mortality rate of 8.9 per 1000 births, attributed to missed prenatal doctor's visits. To combat this, the county initiated the Baby Love program, incentivizing prenatal appointments with gift cards. This initiative aimed to ensure the health of both mothers and babies, especially in areas with limited access to proper prenatal care.
Fast forward to 2024, the program has evolved, integrating innovative strategies and partnerships. With updated statistics showcasing the program's impact, insights into its effectiveness have emerged. New initiatives, such as universal newborn home visiting programs, complement Baby Love, fostering comprehensive maternal and child health.
Parallel to corporate wellness trends, where incentives drive healthy behaviors, Baby Love aligns with health and wellness initiatives like office weight loss programs. The CVS/Pharmacy Select Card, designed for health and wellness, exemplifies the synergy between corporate and community health efforts.
Workplace wellness programs play a crucial role in fostering a culture of health-consciousness and proactive healthcare engagement among employees. By promoting healthy behaviors and providing incentives for participation, these programs not only improve physical well-being but also empower individuals to take charge of their health. This empowerment extends beyond the workplace, influencing employees to prioritize regular medical care, including prenatal checkups. By instilling a mindset of preventive healthcare, workplace wellness initiatives encourage individuals to seek timely medical attention, address potential health issues proactively, and adhere to recommended healthcare routines. In this way, the efforts of workplace wellness programs contribute to not only the overall health and well-being of employees but also to the broader community by promoting a proactive approach to healthcare utilization.
As communities embrace collaborative approaches to health, sharing experiences becomes pivotal. Have you participated in similar programs? Share your insights and experiences in the comments.
Get more information on Cumberland County's Baby Love program and its journey.
New Research Reveals Cards Drive Increased Spending, Visits and Willingness to Support Social Marketing
It isn’t new for us to hear that prepaid cards are great motivators and incentives. But a new loyalty and prepaid survey reveals just how much prepaid has affected consumer spending habits and long term adoption when used in the B2B space as incentives. Here, we outline some of the most interesting tidbits and pair them with our market observations and viewpoints. Let us know your thoughts via the comments field.
