(ARA) - Shoppers reluctant to spend holiday green on trendy toys, got-to-get-it gizmos, and what-not-to-wear sweaters can instead choose the perfect-for-anyone present – a gift card. In fact, a recent survey found that 76 percent of respondents will consider giving a gift card this holiday season because it ensures the recipient will ultimately get what he or she wants

The Discover Gift Card survey also revealed that 58 percent of respondents said they would be “thrilled” to receive a gift card because they could buy what they want. Another 26 percent said they would be “touched” by the giver’s thoughtfulness. Only nine percent said they felt gift cards are impersonal, indicating that respondents overwhelmingly feel that gift cards are a thoughtful gift.
 

Among the reasons why gift givers will consider gift cards this year, 65 percent said they were easy and convenient for both the giver and the receiver, while 64 percent favor them because they provide the recipient with multiple purchasing options.

“Gift cards meet so many shopping and gift-giving needs – they’re a time-saver, they’re a convenient means of getting friends and family what they really want, and they’re an easy way to make the holidays less stressful. It’s clear they will be a popular gift choice again this holiday season,” said Margo Georgiadis, executive vice president and chief marketing officer of Discover Financial Services. “Also, our survey revealed that adding personalization to gift cards will go a long way with recipients, especially if the card has customizable options.”

Customized Cards Are King
Personalization is a plus when it comes to gift cards, according to the survey. Over half, or 57 percent, of all respondents said they would be more likely to purchase a gift card if they could personalize it. Specifically, the ability to select a custom denomination appealed to 31 percent of respondents, while more than a quarter (26 percent) would like to have an accompanying greeting card included. Twenty-one percent said they would like to have the recipient’s name embossed directly on the plastic.

Simplify Your Holiday Shopping
If your holiday shopping list is a mile long, with gifts to buy for everyone from picky pre-teens to hard-to-please in-laws, a gift card is sure to get even Santa’s approval. According to the survey, 58 percent said gift cards simply make holiday shopping “less painful,” beating out other time-saving tactics such as a designated parking spot near the store entrance (45 percent) and pre-wrapped gifts (36 percent). And in terms of card versus cash? For long-distance giving, gift cards were favored by more than half of the respondents (51 percent) as the gift of choice, while only 31 percent said they prefer to send a check or cash.

Gift Recipients Prefer General Purpose Cards
From gift cards that satisfy coffee cravings and dining-out desires to those that allow recipients to choose whatever their heart’s desire, there’s seemingly a card for every taste. According to the survey, more gift receivers would prefer to receive general purpose cards (38 percent) rather than store-specific gift cards (25 percent). Likewise, gift givers agree by 44 percent that general purpose cards are good to give people who are difficult to shop for, allowing them to choose whatever they want.

To better meet the gift card needs of holiday shoppers this year, Discover Card is offering exciting new customization options such as personalized embossing on the gift card plastic and greeting cards that match the gift card design, with a customizable messaging option. Purchasers can also choose from 20 different card designs and select their own custom denomination. More information is available at www.discovercard.com/giftcard.

published by www.aboutftcollins.com

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