Gift Card Definitions Gift Card With this program, plastic cards replace paper gift certificates. This plastic card is tailored specifically to the merchant using a customized logo and design. The consumer purchases the gift card using cash, check or credit card. The amount of the "gift" value is loaded and stored on the host database by swiping a magnetic striped card through a POS terminal. The card may be used multiple times and is reloadable by the consumer. Stored Value This program is similar to the gift card program with the exception of the marketing emphasis. With the stored value program, the emphasis is placed on an individual purchaser. The consumer purchases value today that will be redeemed at a future date. This is usually in conjunction with a marketing or rewards program. This promotes customer loyalty by enhancing future visits to redeem value from the prepaid card. Loyalty/Frequent Shopper Program Merchants gain the ability to track and reward loyal customers. The card is used to track aspects of a consumer's loyalty to the merchant. This tracking could include number of visits, amount of purchases over a period of time, a combination of these or other similar customizable concepts. This program provides merchants with an effective tool for increasing store traffic, sales and loyalty by identifying those customers who provide the greatest store patronage. The Loyalty program can be combined with the gift card or stored value program on the same card. Home · About Us · Card Overview · Services · Benefits · FAQ · Contact Us · Request Info ©2004 TheGiftCardService.com, all rights reserved