InComm Research Shows Gift Cards Are Preferred Gift for Special Occasions

• Birthdays were the most popular occasion on which to give a gift card, followed by graduations, weddings, and to say thank you.
• 82 percent of respondents said they would appreciate receiving a gift card on their birthday.
• More than a third of respondents said they would appreciate receiving a gift card for a graduation (39 percent), wedding (37 percent), anniversary (34 percent) and as a thank you (42 percent).
• When asked how many gift cards they gave last year, 100 percent said at least one and 92 percent said two or more.

"The versatility of open-loop gift cards benefits both the giver and the recipient. They are quick and convenient gifts that, as this data suggests, are appropriate for any number of occasions, alleviating much of the stress that can come with gift shopping," said Brian Parlotto, Sales & Marketing Executive Vice President at InComm. "With closed-loop options, which are accepted only in certain stores, and open-loop options like Vanilla Gift, which are accepted anywhere, the giver can personalize the gift and the friend or loved one who receives the gift card will be sure to get something they want."

Additionally, younger consumers are finding even more occasions in which to give a gift card. Millennial respondents (between the ages of 25 and 34) noted they often give gift cards when a friend or loved one has a new baby (50 percent) and when a new home is purchased (29 percent).

Visit the InComm blog at www.InComm.com/blog to see an infographic which further illustrates these survey results.

About InComm
Leveraging deep integrations into retailers' point-of-sale systems, InComm provides connectivity to a variety of service providers that allow consumers to conduct everyday business at more than 500,000 points of retail distribution. Whether those consumers are activating prepaid products, paying bills, enjoying real-time discounts through a membership card, purchasing digital goods in-store or adding funds to an online account, InComm is there to provide unique gift-gifting opportunities, cater to on-the-go shoppers, deliver added value through loyalty programs and serve cash-based consumers. With 206 global patents, InComm is headquartered in Atlanta with a presence in more than 30 countries. Learn more at www.incomm.com.

SOURCE InComm

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