Introduced fewer than 10 years ago and previously available only to large retailers, gift cards have quickly become a popular trend with consumers and now, an invaluable marketing tool for small and mid-size business of all sorts. Gift and loyalty cards act like mini billboards at the point of sale and within a consumer's wallet. More importantly and unlike paper-based certificates, gift cards provide an effective way to track customer behavior, report purchases and improve cash-flow. New technology has improved the cost effectiveness of such programs and has opened a window for small and mid-size businesses - providing  limitless co-marketing and promotional campaigns that can be run in connection with other complimentary businesses and services.

The Greater Value...

Time and time again, we have witnessed tremendous improvements in sales when businesses implement a card-based incentive program. The positive impact and increasing usage by consumers of traditional gift card continues to amaze us and numerous other industry experts. Taken one step further, consider a program where one business sells its cards at another's location, or where a single card can be used at a variety of different small businesses to  purchase complimentary products or services. Such programs greatly improve the purchasing options and convenience available to the consumer and catapults the value of the card in the hands of your customer. For the business it becomes a measurable way to increase awareness of your brand, improve loyalty and effectively compete with other larger businesses in your industry. Simply put, gift cards create a tremendously valuable opportunity for the small and mid-size business - one that is only limited by the creative marketing mind.

Tailored Business Solutions employs a team of marketing and business development experts that can help you and your business create a card-based loyalty program tailored to your business and industry. If you're a small business that does not have card-based marketing program or if you are looking for ways to improve the performance of your program we encourage you to contact us immediately.

Highlights of Tailored Business Solutions Gift/Loyalty Card Programs

• Easy to implement with out-of-the box solutions available - be up and running in minutes!

• Single or multi merchant programs.

• Pre-designed or custom card development.

• Peripheral marketing materials including card hangers, decals and card stands.

• Detailed online transaction reporting linked to card/cardholder (sales, redemptions, inquires, etc.).

• Cost effective, low transaction fees and card development pricing designed specifically with the small and mid-size business in mind.

• Most popular gift in the US
• $75 billion was spent on gift cards in 2007
• 82% of US consumers used gift cards in 2007
• Average return on an investment for gift cards is over 300%(2007 average of 33% uplift and breakage)
• Birthday's are the #1 occasion for gift cards, - Gift cards are not just for Holiday Season
• $165 - amount that the average consumer spends on gift cards every holiday season
  
• 61% - percentage of the gift cards that have more than the card’s initial value.
• 33% - percentage of lift or uplift on the cards that have more spent than the initial value.
• 52% of shoppers prefer giftcards over all other items
• Consumers purchased an average of 4.83 gift cards in the past 12 months.

  The benefits to you are many:

1. Paper vs Plastic – Experience has shown that plastic gift certificate sales increase an average of 45% over current paper certificate programs. Also, customers spend more with plastic with average sales about 40% more than paper.
2. Will enhance your business’ professional image. Puts you on a level playing field with the major chains that already have this type of program in place.
3. Carrying a plastic card with your logo in their wallet is like having a mini billboard in your customers’ hands every day.
4. Increases profitability – No cash back is given with gift cards, if you desire.
5. You will benefit from the float since you have the funds until the card is redeemed.
6. BREAKAGE-that is the word used to describe the value on the card that will never be used. At this time that number is extremely high, between 12-20% of the value will never be redeemed for a variety of reasons. That alone will pay for the cards (including a tidy profit for you) 
7. Reduces theft potential since cards have no value until activated unlike paper gift certificates that are usually kept under lock and key.
8. Has been shown to reduce shoplifting when a policy to put refunds without a receipt on a gift/stored value card. Discourages stealing and then asking the cashier for cash back. Many national chains have developed this as store policy.
9. You can view and print real-time activity reports from your PC, will receive monthly reports via email, plus you will get daily reports from your terminal.
10. Ease of issuance and redemption – employees just need to swipe the card through the terminal to load or redeem value on the card, which only takes seconds.