Most retail businesses know that returning customers are the be-all and end-all of their continued success. And most companies find consistent advertising an expensive but necessary part of their marketing campaign. But what if there was a much cheaper way to get more customers, more often, without spending a fortune on advertising?
Well there is a way and it involves acquiring a plastic gift card printer, usually an acrylic gift card printer, then designing great steam gift cards looking gift or loyalty cards and selling them to customers in the store, possibly at a discount! There are many benefits to doing this and in this article I will cover the three main ones: no additional advertising costs, increased exposure and brand awareness among customers, lost loyalty cards and finally lower transaction fees. let me explain.
No additional advertising costs
Sure, there is an upfront cost when buying a plastic or PVC card printer, and the cost of designing great-looking cards. But beyond that, you’re essentially marketing to your most loyal customers, and unlike marketing to prospects, plastic loyalty/gift card marketing is completely free of advertising costs.
Increased brand awareness
This is where the quality of the graphic design comes into play. The higher the quality, the more likely it is that the customer will keep the card over the other cards. This will keep brand awareness high and likely encourage the customer to visit your store more often. In addition, the customer cards offer the chance for viral marketing. No one knows better what a friend wants for Christmas, so loyalty cards are becoming more and more popular as Christmas gifts.
Lost gift/loyalty cards
One of the main reasons gift cards are so popular with businesses is the curious fact that 10% of all gift/loyalty cards are never used. That’s a huge percentage and will definitely offset your cost of making the cards on its own . Knowing this allows you to offer discounted gift/loyalty cards right off the bat.
Lower transaction costs
Transaction fees charged by Visa, MasterCard, Discover and AMEX can be significant, particularly for businesses that typically generate a large number of small value transactions, such as coffee shops, but also for other businesses. Then imagine if you only pay a fixed transaction fee when the customer buys the gift/loyalty card instead of paying the fixed transaction fee over and over again when the customer uses a credit card. There are absolutely no transaction fees when using gift cards. And gift cards can be easily added to any point-of-sale system that accepts credit cards.
Why get prepaid gift cards for Christmas 2010 – and how to save with them
As Christmas 2010 approaches, most of us are just beginning to get into Christmas shopping mode and figure out what Christmas gifts to buy for everyone on our lists. An increasingly popular option is Christmas gift cards, which are a simple, budget-friendly, and ideal Christmas gift idea for just about anyone. But if you’re still wondering whether you should buy one for the 2010 holidays, here are a few reasons to consider.
Gift Card Statistics For The 2010 Christmas Season
If you think gift cards are one of the best gifting options, you’re not alone – 69% of shoppers surveyed in Javelin Research’s recent Holiday Spending Index said at least one of their gift purchases this year was a gift card 74% of shoppers say they would buy one for the holidays.
And it’s a gift favored by shoppers across the board, with both high- and low-income survey respondents saying they plan to buy at least one for the 2010 holiday season. Specifically, 63% of shoppers whose household income was less than $25,000 and 76% of those with annual household incomes of $100,000 or more said they would receive a Christmas gift card.
The Perfect Christmas Gift Idea
There are many reasons why gift cards are so popular: convenience and budget-friendliness, to name a few. Check out this detailed list if you need more convincing:
Perfect for the pickiest people:
Whether you’re shopping for your Aunt Sadie or your fashionista girlfriend, you’ll never have to worry about gift cards being returned or being the wrong style or size! Just make sure you find out some general details about what your recipient likes, or choose a card for a store that sells a wide range of products, such as B. JCPenney.
Wallet:
If you only have $100 to spend on your brother’s Christmas present, but he’s into expensive electronics or is in the middle of a home improvement project, load that specific amount onto a card and you’re good to go – no overspending! steam gift cards for freeFor additional savings, get an email gift card because you don’t have to pay shipping costs like you would with a physical card. And remember that there are often many deals to help you get them cheaper during the holidays; Keep an eye out for coupons, mail-in rebates, and cash back rewards to maximize your savings.
Get it for yourself:
A prepaid gift card is perfect for treating yourself or to help you keep track of your own holiday spending. If you’re worried about blowing your entire budget at that one business you love, simply load a set amount onto a gift card, leave your credit cards at home, and quit as soon as your card balance runs out.
Don’t forget to make sure your card doesn’t have an expiration date or charge you an inactivity fee if you haven’t used it for a while, as some retailers have hidden dormancy fees that can drain your balance.
