It is now easier than ever to shop for giftcards online. There are giftcards availabel at almost every online retailer and there are many online giftcard shopping portals available as well. And with the new giftcard regulations in effect you can shop with ease knowing your purchase and your reciprients giftcard is more secure than ever.
Giftcards can be purchased online and shipped directly to anyone. Traditional plastic giftcards are available from all your favorite shopping places. Gift cards are also available from restaurants and movie theaters. Along with iTunes giftcards, these make great stocking stuffers. And you can also “be green” with your giving and email a gift card to someone. No plastic cards, no paper packaging, etc. It really is easier than ever.
Results of the Accenture Holiday Shopping Survey were revealed in a press release published on Oct. 21, 2009 by Reuters.com
Holiday trends for 2009 indicate that shoppers will continue to look for discounts and merchants will continue to push the beginning of the shopping envelope earlier and earlier. One trend that continues to grow is the purchase of gift cards. What is changing in the gift card world is how recipients are using those gift cards.
“Consumers have gone cold on “hot” gift items with only 27 percent of respondents
having one on their shopping list this year. Gift cards, on the other hand, are
gaining momentum as nearly four out of five respondents (79 percent) say will be
buying gift cards this holiday season. Troubling for retailers, however, is the
survey finding that 44 percent of gift card recipients will maximize the value
of the card by purchasing discounted items and a quarter (25 percent) will use
their gift cards to buy regular, staple products rather than treating themselves
to something more expensive. This is the exact opposite of the trend of the
previous two holiday shopping seasons.”
The survey points out further results with these statistics:
“Gift Cards are a Must-Have, MP3 Players are not
* The gifts that top holiday shopping lists are gift cards (59 percent), apparel
(56 percent) and toys (44 percent)
* Lower on the shopping list were video games consoles (30 percent), food and
spirits (22 percent) and MP3 players (15 percent)
* Three-quarters of consumers (76 percent) will spend the same for a gift card
as they would a gift for someone
* 71 percent of gift card recipients plan to spend their gift card within three
months or less”
(You can check out the entire story here:
http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS120868+21-Oct-2009+BW20091021)
This survey seems to suport what we here at http://www.shopforgiftcards.com have maintained all along – gift cards make great gifts because they allow the recipients to use the gift for whatever items they may choose. And in our current economic times that can be a big plus. If you know what basic needs someone has you can purchase a gift card for a specific merchant or store. Gas cards and specific grocery outlet cards might be the welcome gift someone needs. On the other hand, bank card or “prepaid gift cards from Visa©, Mastercard©, or AmericanExpress© which are generally accepted everywhere may be used without the possiblity of embarrasment or injuring of pride.
