The FINANCIAL — American Express Has New eGift Cards to Do Just That. In a time when most Americans are planning to stay closer to home, it’s no surprise that “touchless” gifts, such as eGift cards, subscriptions and online memberships, among others, are on our shopping lists this holiday season. What do all of these “touchless” gifts have in common? The entire process – regardless if you’re on the giving or receiving end – is digital.
New Amex Trendex data found that 57% of U.S. shoppers say they are more likely to give a touchless giftthis holiday season, or an estimated 30 million people across the country.
Friends, family, colleagues, teachers, babysitters, the dog walker – there are so many people to gift and thank during the holidays. Now all you need is their email address.
The newest line of American Express® eGift Cards makes it easy to virtually wrap up your holiday shopping. Right in time for the holiday season, you can get the new eGift Cards starting at $25 in value and up to $3,000 at Amexgiftcard.com and on a number of major retailers’ websites including Target.com and Walmart.com, with more coming soon.
“Whether you’re an early or last-minute shopper, the act of giving and receiving gifts will look very different this year,” said Will Stredwick, Senior Vice President, Global Network Services & Prepaid, American Express. “We are excited to offer more no-touch options as a way to share the joy this holiday season, especially when many people are now relying on virtual gifts to connect with family, friends and colleagues near and far.”
Once purchased, the eGift Card is quickly delivered by email and may be used right away for purchases online. Or, with a few simple clicks, the recipient can load their eGift Card into a participating digital wallet – no separate app needed – and it’s ready to use in store.
Small Businesses Use Gift Cards to Thank and Reward Employees and Customers
Small businesses are also finding new uses for gift cards this holiday season. We surveyed U.S. small business owners about whether they plan to purchase gift cards for business purposes, with 47% saying yes and listing the top reasons as holiday gifts for employees (70%) and customers (60%), followed by employee recognition (59%).
For corporate gifting or rewards needs, we launched the American Express® Virtual Reward Card earlier this year. A tool to help businesses engage customers or reward employees, it offers instant delivery and redemption across the country, all without waiting for a physical product to arrive.
