Reasons You Should Have A Gift Card Program

Gift card programs have garnered over $100 billion in sales from each of the last couple of years. Additionally trends are showing that people who receive gift cards are holding on to them longer, and are less likely to use up the full value in the first month. And once they do bring them in, 61% of gift card holders spend more than the amount on the card.

And since 20% - 50% of purchases made with gift cards are higher than average purchases, it’s a great way to move high end items or sell premium services. Research suggests that users of gift cards are less aware of inflated prices, as well. 56% of gift card users actually want to reload a card after they’ve used it.

Gift Cards - Not Gift Certificates

It is estimated that 10% - 15% of gift cards are never used. 30% of card value is never used! That’s pure profit! All the retailer has to do is buy some ten cent cards and rake in the cash. And consumers are ten times – ten times! – more likely to purchase a gift card over a paper certificate. Paper certificates also require returning cash for the unused portion, whereas gift cards retain value to be used at a later date.

Wal Mart may have close to $1 billion worth of unused gift cards in circulation. Wouldn’t you like to have a even tiny portion of that?
Gift cards are much more efficient for retailers as well. Unwanted gifts are often returned to stores for replacements or for cash. But gift card purchases are rarely returned. Gift cards also smooth out the typical fall in sales after Christmas as users shop in the weeks and months that follow.

Gift cards can be an effective mechanism for attracting new business as well. Undoubtedly people give cards from stores that recipients have never been to before. And once they go in, its your chance to shine and show how great your products or services are.

If you already offer a membership card or loyalty card of some sort, then incorporating a gift card into the mix shouldn't be too difficult. Even if you are starting from scratch, the costs are minimal.

Get your gift card program started today!

Card Guru

Plastic Cards - What Thickness Is Right For You?

So you've decided that plastic cards are the solution for your company's needs. Maybe you're starting up a loyalty program, membership program, or are launching a new marketing campaign. Something a lot of card buyers don't think about is the thickness of their cards.

30 mil cards are the standard. Credit cards are 30 mils thick. (Side note - in the card business, a mil is not short for millimeter; a mil is an old printing term). But don't get hung up on the 30 mil thickness just because that's what everyone else is doing.

PVC and laminated Teslin cards can come in a several thicknesses. If you are are looking for a short term use card, then PVC may work. A laminated paper card would also work in this situation (and probably be cheaper than PVC). Laminated paper cards won't last for years like laminated Teslin cards, but you can still get a durable, sturdy card that will last as long as PVC.

20 mil cards offer an alternative to the 30 mil product if price is an issue. A 20 mil laminated Teslin card has awesome durability, but comes a little easier on the pocketbook. 20 mil PVC cards are also an option. You must be careful though. The thinner a PVC card is, the more likely it is to break or crack. 

Another alternative which shouldn't technically be on this site about printing plastic cards is a paper card. Sometimes a card is a single use tool (like a coupon, or phone card) and only needs to last a few days or weeks.  While these cards won't last long at all, they can serve a purpose for a budget-minded buyer or for a specific need. 

When buying cards, you should ask your salesperson which thickness of card they recommend for your end-use. Don't let them steer you into their highest priced item. Come to Card Guru and let me tell you what's best.

Cheers!

Card Guru

Printing Plastic Cards - An Introduction

Plastic cards are everywhere. There are quality cards... and sub-quality cards. There are cheap cards... and there are less than cheap cards. This site still focus on all aspects of plastic cards:

• How to know what to look for in a good plastic card
• What to look for in a  good plastic card manufacturer
• Understanding the difference in all of these different kinds of cards
• Why you should purchase Teslin cards over a PVC cards
• Price vs Performance
• Why you need a loyalty card for your business
• Which kinds of cards are the most envrionmentally friendly
• And on, and on, and on...

There are tons and tons of things to consider when you are looking for a quality card manufacturer. If you've been around the block before, you may be familiar with some of these questions. You may have figured out some of the answers. But I bet you could still learn a few things from an insider. Like me.

If you are new to the card biz, I can teach you all kinds of things that you'll never learn anywhere else. How can I do that? Because I don't sell the cards. I'm an independent source of good information for everyone out there looking for information.

Loyalty Cards

The loyalty card market is booming. No matter what the economy is doing, all companies want to reinforce customer loyalty and the loyalty card / membership card is key to doing just that. Starting up a loyalty card program is critical to your continuing success.

Times are tough right now. There are options for folks looking for a cheaper option. Most of the big-time companies all want the "shopper card"... essentially a unit consisting of a card (the technical name is CR-80) and two keytags. If you can't afford this option, you can get just the CR-80, or just the keytags, or just one keytag, or any combination of items you want.

Oddly enough, the most important part of the loyalty card program has very little to do with the card itself. We'll get more into that in another post. We can't cover every aspect at once.

For now, just realize that you've found the best, HONEST source of information about the card market. I'll work to answer any questions you may have. I'll also work to provide a valuable source of information about printing plastic cards that you'll come to over and over again.

That's all for now.

Cheers,

Card Guru

Welcome to Printing Plastic Cards Center

Welcome to Printing Plastic Cards Center. This site provides all the knowledge you need to know about printing plastic cards, purchasing loyalty cards, or brushing up on your knowledge of anything in the laminated card industry. If you have questions not covered in Printing Plastic Cards Center, please feel free to post your question below.


Thanks for stopping by,


Cheers!


Card Guru