Where to find all the gift cards you need in one place

Posted by citiYellow

Saturday, 21 January 2012 07:30

Whether it's for the holidays, birthdays, or as a thank you to a friend or colleague, finding the right gift for people can be a notoriously frustrating experience. What size is right? Is it a style the recipient wants? Will they want to return it?

One gift that never goes out of style is a gift card, according to a survey by Comdata. Whether you want a stocking stuffer for someone, need a gift for employees, or have a last-minute gift to buy, the gift card has long been the perfect answer. The only question left is what kind of gift card do you give? There are three popular options.

* E-gift cards can be ordered online and emailed instantly to the recipient, which means they are perfect for the last-minute gift since you don't even have to stop somewhere on the way to your holiday party to buy it. Additionally, they have the added benefit of being environmentally friendly, since you don't have to use the plastic card you might get at a store. Also, for the tech-savvy recipients, you can have them delivered via text message.

* Visa gift cards are like pre-paid debit cards, loaded with the amount you want and good anywhere a Visa credit card is taken. A new trend in Visa gift cards is to make them personalized at Gift CardLab, the largest online store solely focused on gift cards. All you have to do is upload a photo and it becomes the focal point of the gift, giving a new twist to giving a gift card. It's been such a big hit that Oprah Winfrey picked the personalized Visa gift card from Gift CardLab as one of her favorite gifts.

If you are a small business owner, you can also use the Incentive CardLab, a program specifically designed to support businesses with their corporate gift needs, marketing promotions, employee rewards, sales incentives and customer loyalty.

* Finally, the traditional, plastic gift card is still in style. But what if you don't live near a store that the person you're buying for likes or you just don't want the hassle of crowded stores? Gift CardLab partners with hundreds of retailers to be a one-stop shop for store gift cards, so you don't have to go to multiple stores to get all the gift cards you need to give out this holiday season.

When you know where to turn, gift giving can be an easy, hassle-free and more enjoyable experience than ever.