Walk-In Health Care Clinics, like CVS/pharmacy's MinuteClinic, on the Rise
It's no secret, people get sick and when battling a painful sore throat or ear infection waiting is NOT an option. Hence the growing popularity of walk-in health care clinics. CVS/pharmacy, the largest retail clinic operator in the Washington area, has more than 800 clinics nationwide, with plans to add more that 150 additional clinics by the end of 2014.
So what's the driving force? Several factors come into play fueling the trend of these walk-in health care clinics, one of which is the Affordable Care Act...sound familiar, you may have heard of it? With millions now being provided insurance through Medicaid, private plans or under their parents plans until age 26, getting in to see your primary care doctor quickly will be more difficult. This, along with a number of other factors, has allowed the perfect forum for retail clinics, like MinuteClinic, to take center stage. The clinics are staffed by nursed practitioners and physicians assistants and can treat anything from pink eye to strep throat, to sinus infections and minor injuries. Gift cards are even available at all 800 MinuteClinic locations and discounts are available on volume purchases. Learn more about buying MinuteClinic gift cards and giving the gift of health
here. Read more from The Washington Post about the growing trend of health care clinics
here.
Employee Rewards Targeting Women in the Workplace
You have heard the expression
Dress for Success - well many companies are putting a whole budget behind that movement in the form of employee rewards. With the average employee spending 40 hours a week in business attire why shouldn't more emphasis be put on what you wear? It’s no secret that many women are very aware of their office attire and many retailers cater to this very fashionista. Lane Bryant is a great example of a brand showing their high fashion side for women in the workplace. An
article in Bloomberg Businessweek discusses the brands shift to appeal to a younger audience in the “plus size” category, with “some 57 percent of U.S. women wear some clothing in size 16 or above, according to a recent survey by the online apparel store ModCloth
1,” the market is definitely present for it. Gift cards to retailers like Lane Bryant, The Limited and Burlington Coat Factory are a perfect fit for your office fashionistas without having to devote a huge budget.
Find out more about buying gift cards in bulk and saving with GiftCard Partners.
The People are Speaking – Boston Market IT IS
As you commit to volume gift card purchases for your loyalty & rewards programs or corporate employee programs, you want to know that the public thinks highly of the brands you include.
Boston Market is ranking high on the list of fast-casual restaurants this holiday season and it’s sure to hold strong into 2013. Check out Boston Market’s recent record sales news:
Home Style Restaurant Chain Achieves History-Making Sales During Its Busiest Week of the Year and you will see not only great sales results for the company, but the value they offer to families across the U.S. In an effort to support the New York and New Jersey victims of Hurricane Sandy, Lowe’s distributed more than 22,000 FREE family meals from Boston Market, serving 136,000 people affected by the storm. This resulted in Boston Market’s single largest order in their history. GCP is proud to offer Boston Market gift cards to those buying in bulk.
eGift Cards Show “No Sign of Slowing Down”
“The most popular gift on the planet…the gift card”, says the NECN Business video story on CashStar. Nice video story about the rise in eGift cards. More and more companies are gifting these cards as incentives in their company rewards programs, like sales incentives, health and wellness rewards, and for increasing workplace safety. The B2B gift card marketplace is indeed growing with the help of innovations from companies like CashStar.
NPR's: New Jersey Law Causes Companies To Pull Gift Cards by Joel Rose
American Express has taken a landmark step in their fight to oppose the New Jersey law that would allow the state to claim unused gift card balances after two years. A recent National Public Radio (NPR) broadcast discussed Amex’s gift card product pull from shelves, and also noted Blackhawk’s threat to pull their 3
rd party gift and prepaid cards. InComm, the other major 3rd party gift card play is also planning to follow suit.
Listen to NPR's Morning Edition interview.
