Jan 1, 2008

Stigma lifted from gift certificatesBy Jeff MoresNWANews.com

Rogers – There was a day when the gift card was viewed as a last resort. The only time you gave one as a gift during the holidays was if you were too strapped for time to get out and shop or you honestly couldn’t find the item you were looking for.

That’s obviously changed.

The National Retail Federation, the world’s largest retail trade association, projected that consumers in the United States would spend $26.3 billion on gift cards this holiday season. Of the thousands of shoppers polled by the organization, nearly 88 percent said they would purchase two or more gift cards for people on their list.

Not only are more gift cards finding their way into stockings, but plenty of Americans are actually putting them on their holiday wish lists in place of specific items. According to a study conducted by WorkZ, an organization dedicated to helping entrepreneurs manage and grow their businesses, 53. 8 percent of Americans polled this holiday season said they wanted to receive a gift card.

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