Article: Giving Gift Cards with a Personal Touch

Article size (body): 644 words

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Giving Gift Cards with a Personal Touch
By Diana Ratliff

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Gift cards are an increasingly popular alternative to the
hustle and bustle of special occasion and holiday shopping.

Although convenient, these little offerings are quite
impersonal. Nothing screams, "I didn't take time to find
something you'd like" more, than giving a gift card or gift
certificate as a present. It might even prompt close loved ones
and best friends to question how well you really know them.
After all, if you truly knew their likes and dislikes,
selecting the perfect gift for them should be a cinch.

Why Do People Send Gift Cards?

One of the main reasons shoppers turn to gift cards is because
they are the easiest way to satisfy gift-giving requirements.
They are quick and allow consumers to spend the exact amount of
money they intended to dole out on a present. Gift cards are
also the quickest way to complete gift-giving duties and are
immediately activated after purchase.

Then there are the shoppers who really have no clue what to
purchase as a gift. This is especially common when selecting
presents for children and teens. With their ever-changing
tastes, it can sometimes become impossible to pinpoint the
latest trend.

Why not let kids do all the work while enjoying the process,
yourself? Younger recipients of gift cards don't take the
gesture too personally and often welcome the freedom of being
able to pick out their own gift. But, even in this case, there
are different ways to personalize this gesture.

Making Gift Cards More Personal

If you insist on giving family and friends a gift card, there
are numerous ways to smooth over impersonality. Sending the
card along with a small gift lets them know you haven't
completely forgotten what makes them tick. Does your sister
love dogs? Pair a gift card with a thoughtful book of canine-
related quotations. Does your mother enjoy rose-scented bath
and beauty products? Send her a basket of lotions and soap
along with a gift card for some of her own favorites.

Still don't have any ideas for the purchase of a small gift?
Consider accompanying the gift card with a sentimental personal
photo. If you take the time to select a memorable photo,
recipients are more willing to accept the gift card because
their focus will be on the photograph. http://Walmart.com
allows consumers to upload their own pics and have then
personalized with the recipient's name. All you have to do is
pick up the completed items at your local Walmart Digital Photo
Center, which is ready within an hour.

At http://Deluxe-card.com, you can have a little more fun and
design your own Visa-brand gift cards from a variety of
creative options. The embossed message on the card also adds to
the uniqueness.

Although there are fees associated with this method (including
processing and dormancy fees), it is still an interesting gift
that overshadows the impersonal nature of gift cards. It only
takes 2-3 days to create these personalized wonders that make
great holiday keepsakes.

When to Avoid Giving Gift Cards

There are specific occasions when gift cards are simply
inappropriate - times when the recipient can legitimately
expect that you really do know their tastes (think
anniversaries, weddings and Valentine's Day.) Think twice
before buying a gift card for these occasions. If you don't
know what to buy, an inexpensive or funny little present is
usually a better choice. For most people, it really IS the
thought that matters.

Also, gift cards make terrible presents for people who simply
dislike shopping (yes, such people do exist.) And e-gift cards
must often be redeemed online, making them unsuitable for
people who'd rather battle crowds than buy from a website.

If you do choose to give gift cards for holidays, birthdays and
other special events, it's a good idea to personalize the
gesture to incorporate a warm touch and sense of effort.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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