GiftCard Partners Blog

This is an incentive and gift card blog, but at the heart of our industry is full of interesting stories about businesses, how they start, and what makes them keep on ticking. Check out Anthony Tjan’s post on
Harvard Business Review:
Great Businesses Don’t Start with a Plan to learn how GiftCard Partners was started and what makes it tick. Ed Shulkin’s post (Eshukin on the blog) is a great reminder of why we are all in business. Enjoy!

This health and wellness incentives article caught my attention since it’s such an important channel for our gift card sales, but what kept my attention was Ken Baker’s sense of humor and fun approach. Baker, CEO of NewAge Industries “is willing to do whatever he can to encourage his employees to live a healthier lifestyle — including making bribes and bets.” His approach is more sophisticated than that statement leads one to believe. There are many cute snippets in this story, like, if Baker’s sales manager Mike Allard lost 40 pounds in 2 months, he’d produce and wear a t-shirt printed with “The Man” in honor of him…if he failed to lose the weight, Allard would wear a shirt decrying defeat. It worked! The crux; motivation and incentives work to build a healthier workforce. “The programs, while voluntary, can offer financial benefits, including lower insurance premiums, gift cards and employer contributions to health savings accounts.” states
Phillyburbs.com in Inspiring employee healthy lifestyles with employer incentives. NewAge Industries is just the kind of company that is taking advantage of federal health care reform policies that offers qualified companies grant money and tax credits to help such companies launch health and wellness programs. “By 2014, companies will be able to offer rewards of up to 30 percent of the total cost of an employee’s insurance coverage.” Small to medium sized business owner and not yet conducting your own health and wellness program? Read on, this is a great overview with interesting context and facts:
Inspiring employee healthy lifestyles with employer incentives.

Gift Cards for a Local Cause - Sewickley, PA

Downturned since 2007, our economy has left many towns around the country in need of public building refurbishing, amenity face-lifts, main street store tenants, employers…it’s not hard to look around and see how our home-towns have been effected. For many regions and towns, recovery is on its way, while others are in need of fresh ideas and advocates to arouse the local economy.

Historic Sewickley, PA has some pretty passionate advocates looking to breathe life back into their region. They’ve created an “Explore Sewickley” campaign complete with a website, Facebook presence and “Explore Sewickley Gift Cards” to promote shopping at the local shops, boutiques and restaurants. Businesses and corporations can also infuse the local economy, helping local businesses thrive, when they provide local-centric gift cards like these as motivation, incentives and rewards.

What a fresh use of gift cards!

Community Revitalization with Local Gift Cards

In an era where communities are striving to boost their local economies and foster vibrant town centers, the innovative use of gift cards has emerged as a powerful strategy. Local towns and cities across the globe are harnessing the potential of gift cards to attract tourism and drive business to local shops. By offering town gift cards or city-wide gift cards, municipalities are creating opportunities to engage both residents and visitors in exploring all that their communities have to offer, thereby revitalizing local businesses and enhancing community vitality.

These town and city gift cards function as versatile tools, allowing recipients to redeem them at a variety of participating businesses, from charming boutiques to cozy cafes and artisanal shops. This flexibility not only encourages individuals to support local enterprises but also promotes a sense of community pride and connection.

For tourists, these local gift cards serve as gateways to authentic experiences, offering a curated selection of establishments that capture the essence and character of the destination. Whether it's savoring regional delicacies, discovering unique artisan crafts, or immersing oneself in the local culture, town gift cards provide visitors with the opportunity to create lasting memories while supporting the local economy.

Moreover, the widespread adoption of digital gift cards and online platforms has further expanded the reach and accessibility of these initiatives, enabling individuals to purchase and redeem gift cards conveniently from anywhere in the world. This seamless integration of technology into traditional gift card programs not only enhances convenience for consumers but also amplifies the marketing and promotional efforts of participating businesses and local governments.

By leveraging the collective strength of town and city gift cards, communities can cultivate a thriving ecosystem where businesses flourish, residents take pride in their local identity, and visitors are welcomed with open arms. As these initiatives continue to gain momentum, they underscore the profound impact that simple yet innovative solutions can have in shaping the economic and social fabric of our towns and cities.

Through the strategic implementation of town gift cards and city-wide gift card programs, local municipalities have the opportunity to unlock the full potential of their communities, fostering a spirit of collaboration, creativity, and resilience that will endure for generations to come.