GiftCard Partners Blog

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.

In today's dynamic work environment, motivation is crucial for driving performance and achieving organizational goals. However, several misconceptions persist regarding incentive programs and their effectiveness. Let's explore these workplace myths and discover why gift cards emerge as a superior solution for motivating employees.

Visit our Twitter page
http://twitter.com/GiftCardPartner#  to begin receiving our timely tips, gift card ideas, updates from our brands & B2B gift card news. As you know, a successful Twitter program is a mutual effort; We will also promote & re-tweet our customer & partners’ news through Twitter. Let’s work together to share & spread our brands’ news & information. GCP will be launching a new website in the coming weeks, join us as we ramp up our Twitter presence. Also, let us know where you live on Twitter & we’ll join you.
www.giftcardpartners.com

Today, the Associated press announced: Trenton, N.J.:  A federal judge has temporarily stopped the state of New Jersey with their plan to profit from money left on gift cards. The state worked to legally seize unused money on gift cards and travelers checks. The state's retailers would have been required to begin collecting the zip codes of gift card buyers starting today Tuesday February 1st, 2011. If this effort was not blocked and a gift card has remained unredeemed after two years, the state could seize the money left on the cards if bought by NJ residents. The Associated Press states : "The state expects to raise about $80 million from the unspent cards to help balance the state budget. New Jersey Retail Merchants Association, the New Jersey Food Council and American Express sued to block the law. A federal judge granted the temporary injunction on Monday pending a more detailed review." Are the details of this legal issue of interest to you? Visit Legalbytes.com for more:
http://www.legalbytes.com/2010/08/articles/promotions/gift-cards-in-new-jersey-its-complicated/ A perspective from NJ.com: 
Should New Jersey cash in Aunt Betty’s gift to you?

The 
2nd Annual Prepaid Card Congress, taking place on February 15-17 in Las Vegas, brings you cutting edge methods for utilizing gift cards in your incentives and loyalty programs.  The conference will include 2 top associations, 16 leading brands, 7 regulatory experts, 5 groundbreaking technologies, 4 industry watchdogs, and the leader in market research. 
GiftCard Partner's COO Deborah Merkin will be leading a panel discussion about mobile gift card technologies; GiftCard Partners is CVS's B2B gift card program provider.
Get all the details on the speakers, the sessions, and how to register. Check back here after the conference; we'll upload presentations & information from the conference.