GiftCard Partners Blog

Working in the B2B and corporate side of the gift card industry, this story caught my eye as it’s a clear indication of the power of gift cards as a consumer promotion and spending incentive. As a wanna-be power-user of my loyalty rewards and savvy consumer, I’m drooling over this story. Here’s what Cardratings.com has to say about recent gift cards offers as loyalty rewards & credit card promotions.“Bonus offers on credit cards have never been juicier, said Cardratings.com founder Curtis Arnold, who has followed the industry for about 10 years. Arnold said he was "blown away" recently by an offer he received -- and quickly snapped up -- for the American Express Business Gold rewards card. He'll get $500 in gift cards if he charges $2,000 in the first three months, plus the card's $125 annual fee is waived for the first year.” Beyond how cool it is to get a free $500 gift card bucks, I know when I am given gift cards as an incentive or request them through my loyalty & rewards programs, I truly feel like it’s a “gift for ME”. When I receive and spend credit card style gift cards (open loop) cards, I tend to spend them on practical items, like food shopping or gas or not remember where I spent them or on what. For this reason, I much prefer closed loop or brand/retailer specific gift cards. This is likely why Amex offers gift cards from specific retailers, rather than just their own…they are much preferred by employees as incentives, loyalty rewards program users, and consumers for incentive and promotions. For more on
how credit card companies are using bonuses like gift cards to woo new customers, click here.    

QR Codes, originally created in 1994 by the Japanese corporation Denso-Wave, have become a ubiquitous tool in modern marketing. They effortlessly bridge the gap between physical and digital realms, allowing businesses to deliver messages, coupons, gift cards, or direct links to websites. As their usage continues to rise, let’s explore some innovative ways QR Codes can engage customers and promote products.

This is a great example of using gift cards to smooth over a customer service nightmare . Approximately 8,000 Hawaiian Electric Co. customers went without power earlier this month. HECO will soon issue $50 gift cards and formal letters of apology to many of their customers who went without power for an extended period of time. Many companies say “Thank you” to their customers with gift cards via loyalty and rewards programs. Will saying “Sorry” with gift cards keep customers loyal? Let us know what you think by leaving a comment. Read the full story:
http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/Global/story.asp?S=14259331

In today’s fast-paced, mobile-driven world, the convenience of mobile gift cards and the rise of QR codes have revolutionized how businesses connect with consumers. QR codes, those small squares with black and white pixels, have become ubiquitous across industries—from product packaging to restaurant menus—and are increasingly tied to marketing and consumer engagement strategies. As the gift card industry continues to evolve, QR codes offer new opportunities for companies looking to innovate in how they deliver value to customers and employees alike.