Posted by Molly Nelson - Personally, I don't feel too strongly one way or the other on gift cards. While I enjoy the thrill of the chase of finding the perfect present for someone, sometimes a gift card offers the peace of mind that the recipient will be able to pick out what they want, instead of what I think they want.
My personal feelings aside, I had no idea how much the average shopper likes gift cards, and how it might help small businesses to offer them. According to the National Retail Federation,
gift cards have been the "most requested gift" for three years running.
Additionally, gift cards are no longer the exclusive domain of larger businesses, as "there are several companies dedicated to helping small business owners establish gift card and customer-loyalty programs"
according to All Business' Small Business Blog.
Let us know in the comments if your business currently offers gift cards, or if you might consider offering them in the future.
[Hat tip:
Small Business Newz,
The Small Business Blog]