GiftCard Partners Blog

The holiday shopping season is already here and we thought it would be helpful to show how to incorporate gift cards, the most popular gift for both consumers and B2B organizations, into your holiday strategy. Here are 3 ways to incorporate gift cards into your holiday program.

Moments of recognition are powerful, they give us a feeling of purpose, a sense of accomplishment and an undeniable drive to produce our best work. Recognition is continuously proven to motivate employees by allowing them to see and feel their personal value.

December is flying by and if you’ve been too busy to get serious about corporate gift giving in the workplace, don’t worry! You’re not too late and definitely not alone.
Incentive Magazine reported that spending on corporate holiday gifts will be higher in 2013 than it has been the last five years, with gift cards being a top choice. A study from the Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI) found that companies plan to spend an average of $44.98 per employee gift and $33.92 per client gift. The study noted that gift cards were gifted by 42.4% of responders. It’s not too surprising that gift cards were a top choice for employee and client gifts. Small denomination gift cards are a simple yet practical way to thank both employees and clients alike. But think beyond the gift and make sure to pay attention to the message and the presentation. When respondents were asked about the best corporate gift they’ve ever received, they appreciated a simple, thoughtful approach, such as a handwritten thank-you note…which is a nice way to package up and deliver the gift card. So remember, when thinking about employee gifts this month you don’t have to think big, just think thoughtful. And happy holidays! Read on about the ASI 2013 Corporate Gift Spending Survey from Incentive Magazine
here.  

The Retail Gift Card Association (RGCA) recently released their Holiday Gift Card Trend Tracker Survey results, and there are some great notes for our retail and merchant clients, and for our B2B gift card customers as well. How are retailers approaching this year’s news that consumers will spend less during the holidays  this year than last? The RGCA states, “…despite the tight wallets, there is a silver lining for many retailers: retail gift cards.” They found in their survey that 73% of consumers will spend less this holiday shopping season, while 74% will buy and give at least one, and as many as five, gift cards as gifts. GCP’s customers, B2B gift card buyers, purchase gift cards in bulk and can also be pleased with these trends. Whatever consumers are doing, B2B buyers will want to be aware of and follow suit.
  Whether you are a retailer looking for the latest gift card trends or a B2B gift card buyer, you’ll want to
check out the RGCA’s Full White Paper and Report.  

It is the most wonderful time of the year, or the most confusing. Figuring out your employee gifting/holiday bonus program can be a real pain. How to be fair, how to reward the hardest workers, how to keep everyone happy. Here are a few tips to get you through the employee gifting cycle without a scratch.