Gift cards are a common practice in physical stores, especially in ready-to-wear shops and department stores.
But the digital gift cards are also growing rapidly, and e-commerce sites should not miss this opportunity to generate additional sales, especially as the holidays approach.
A growing interest in digital gift cards
According to a BlackHawk study, 55% of consumers surveyed said that giving or receiving a digital gift card would interest them.
And interest in gift cards is even more visible among Millennials:
- 69% of them might want to give one;
- 67% might want to receive one.
Moreover, smartphone users are three times more likely to be interested in a digital gift card than others.
The profile of gift card buyers
The study provides more detailed information about the profile of gift card buyers:
- 94% of them are married or living as a couple;
- 89% are between 18 and 34 years old (Millennials);
- 94% are members of a loyalty program ;
- 94% earn at least $40,000 a year;
- 96% have children under 18 in their household.
Purchase trends
- 42% of surveyed consumers immediately use the gift cards they were given;
- 42% of respondents say they have already bought gift cards for themselves to earn points as part of a loyalty program ;
- 59% of people surveyed generally spend more than the value of the card.
Contextual commerce
Giving consumers the ability to make purchases from their favorite social networks: that's what is called contextual commerce.
And this concept seems to be closely linked to that of online gift cards:
Indeed, 60% of 18-34-year-olds say that receiving a card via a social network like Facebook would interest them (54% might want to give one that way).
Customize gift cards to attract customers
Personalization is a major advantage of digital gift cards.
Offer customers the ability to add messages, choose designs, or even include animations.
These options make the experience more engaging and increase the perceived value of the gift.
Promote gift cards across your communication channels
Use your newsletters, your website, and your social media to showcase your digital gift cards, especially during key periods like holidays or birthdays.
Don’t forget to include clear calls to action and to highlight the benefits for both the buyer and the recipient.
Implement gift cards on your online store
If you need to set up gift cards on your online store, hire a freelance e-commerce developer on Codeur.com
That way you can easily offer gift cards to your customers before the end of the holidays.
