Gift Cards Gain Momentum as Incentives
Incentive marketing suppliers are expected to sell a record number of gift cards to corporate customers this holiday season and beyond as part of employee recognition and motivation programs, according to the Incentive Gift Card Council (IGCC), a strategic industry group within the Incentive Marketing Association.
According to some studies, overall corporate and consumer gift card spending could rise from an estimated $400 billion this year to as much as $600 billion in 2010.
“Make no mistake. Gift cards are and will continue to be an extremely popular — if not the number one — choice in incentive, reward, loyalty and recognition programs,” said IGCC President Andrew Dodge. “Incentive professionals have come to know that gift cards are ideal for corporate clients looking for a meaningful gift that gives the recipient some personal choice, and are easy to buy, receive and distribute in a timely manner.”
When giving gift cards this year, the IGCC recommends taking come precautions, however. The organization offers the following tips for incentive professionals who are marketing gift cards as part of a reward or incentive program:
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When buying gift cards from a retailer that has experienced store closings, ask for the reasons behind them. There may be financially sound reasons for select store closings, but it is smart to inquire in detail about store closings, as well as any scheduled new store openings.
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Ask the retailer how many store locations will accept the gift card, if they are conveniently located near the intended recipient, and if the gift cards are redeemable at the retailers’ “e-store” websites.
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Communicate to the recipient the terms and conditions of the gift card, including any fees, the card’s potential decline in value over time and any expiration dates. Buyers should be aware that “open-ended” cards issued by banks, shopping malls and credit card companies are more likely to have expiration dates and added fees. However, gift cards issued by the nation’s 25 largest retailers do not expire, and 84 percent of them have no fees, according to the National Retail Federation.
“The vast majority of gift card issuers are reputable retailers with strong histories, customer loyalty and financial resources,” said Dodge. “IGCC’s intention is to advise and educate incentive marketing professionals on any potential problems which could occur as some retailers deal with some very hard choices in the months ahead.”
For more information, visit www.incentivemarketing.org or www.usegiftcards.org.