Gift Certificates

MasterCard Gift Certificates

2007-09-19T12:53:00.000-07:00

What a great gift idea! I was skeptical when these first came out that they would work as well as they do. I know it sounds strange; after all it is only a gift certificate. However, just the fact that it had to do with a credit card was strange to me. I was proven wrong. These cards make excellent gifts for any occasion. Since they work like a credit card they are easy to use anywhere. No more limitations for the recipient, they can buy whatever they want wherever they want to. The best part about it is that you can put any dollar amount on the card. It can work as a large gift by placing a large amount of money, or simply as a little holiday stocking stuffer. These MasterCard gift certificates have saved me on a number of last minute birthday occasions.

Mother’s Day Gift Certificate Basket’s

2007-09-11T12:55:00.000-07:00

With Mother’s Day coming up I thought I’d tell you about a gift that I gave my mom last year. This gift was called “Breakfast in Bed” gift basket. It comes with pancake and waffle mix, apple maple syrup, white mocha hot coffee, strawberry preserves, tea and scone mix, honey, caramel cookies, all added onto a pretty folding serving tray. It comes with mugs and a matching napkin too. I took it over to my mom on mother’s day. I called her early and told her not to make breakfast because I had a surprise for her. She chuckled and said ok. After I let her open the gift I made her breakfast. She wasn’t in bed but she used the tray as she drank her coffee while I made the pancakes for her. She loved it. And I got to pamper her on her special day. It was fun to make the coffee and pancakes for her after all the years that she had made breakfast for me. If you would like to get one for your mom can send off for it through this company.

FAQ on Gift Certificates

2007-08-10T10:47:00.000-07:00

Gift Certificates FAQ

Gift Certificates are purchased just like any other item in our store. You can pay for them using the stores standard payment method(s). Once purchased the value of the Gift Certificate will be added to your own personal Gift Certificate Account. If you have funds in your Gift Certificate Account, you will notice that the amount now shows in the Shopping Cart box, and also provides a link to a page where you can send the Gift Certificate to some one via email. Gift certificates are valid only in the store they were purchased in.
How to Send Gift Certificates

To send a Gift Certificate you need to go to our Send Gift Certificate Page. You can find the link to this page in the Shopping Cart Box in the right hand column of each page. When you send a Gift Certificate, you need to specify the following:

* The name of the person you are sending the Gift Certificate to.
* The email address of the person you are sending the Gift Certificate to.
* The amount you want to send. (Note you don't have to send the full amount that is in your Gift Certificate Account.)
* A short message which will appear in the email.

Please ensure that you have entered all of the information correctly, although you will be given the opportunity to change this as much as you want before the email is actually sent.

Buying with Gift Certificates

If you have funds in your Gift Certificate Account, you can use those funds to purchase other items in our store. At the checkout stage, an extra box will appear. Enter the amount to apply from the funds in your Gift Certificate Account. Please note, you will still have to select another payment method if there is not enough in your Gift Certificate Account to cover the cost of your purchase. If you have more funds in your Gift Certificate Account than the total cost of your purchase the balance will be left in your Gift Certificate Account for the future.
Redeeming Gift Certificates

If you receive a Gift Certificate by email it will contain details of who sent you the Gift Certificate, along with possibly a short message from them. The email will also contain the Gift Certificate Redemption Code. It is probably a good idea to print out this email for future reference. You can now redeem the Gift Certificate in two ways.

Value of Gift Certificates

2007-08-08T04:24:00.000-07:00

Waiting in line today at Boston Market, a woman told me she’d noticed the Pizza and Pipes logo on my van and my shirt. We chatted briefly, and then went to our tables, but then, while we were eating, I got up and went out to my van and got a $10 gift certificate and gave it to her.

After she thanked me profusely, I wound up having an "Ah ha!" moment. I thought, now I've got a new customer who’s had a memorable experience about Pizza and Pipes -- and she’s never even been in my restaurant! Isn't that cool?

Experiences like that have made me a big proponent of giving out gift certificates rather than coupons, and here’s why.

1. For me, coupons don't have near the perceived value of gift certificates, and they’re less likely to be redeemed. Therefore, assuming you do a great job when customers come in to redeem their gift certificates, you stand to gain many loyal customers by giving them out.

Also, when you break it out, the cost of a $10 certificate also becomes pretty small: about $2.50 in product and a few cents for the actual certificate.

You say you don’t like giving food away? If so, ask yourself these questions:

Would you pay $3 in cash for one new customer?

Would you pay $300 in cash for 100 new customers?

How much do loyal customers spend?

If you’re a sharp operator, you answered "yes," "yes," and "a whole lot."

The truth is, most companies spend far more than $3 per new customer on ineffective advertising. Restaurants are very personal choices for customers, so get out there and be personable with them.

2. I strongly suggest you place your logo on your car, your spouse's car and the car of anybody who will let you. Let that become a mobile billboard hundreds or thousands of people will see every day, and consider adding the words, "Ask me for a free gift certificate," followed by an e-mail address. You could have a lot of fun throwing wadded up gift certificates into other cars while stopped at red lights. And you will be passing out gift certificates (read, "getting new customers") wherever you go. If your e-mail is memorable, people will e-mail you requests for gift certificates.

3. Wherever fitting, wear clothing bearing your logo. It’s a great conversation starter, and can lead to finding new customers. I'm currently looking for some really cool shirts, maybe some that look like a giant piece of cheese or a big pizza. I want to put my logo on the back and "THE BIG CHEESE" on the front. Can’t you see the conversation that would start?

"So you're the big cheese, huh?"

"Yep, you betcha. Take this $10 gift certificate and bring your family to my restaurant for some free food."

"Wow, you must be "THE BIG CHEESE!"

4. Find a starving crowd and then pass out your gift certificates to them. We've all paid high prices for cheap food at the ball park, the circus and the movies. So why not tap into that market with your lower prices and better food?

This year we're going to try out an arrangement with the local minor league baseball team. At the ballpark, the staff there will pass out certificates for a free small pizza or $10 off a large pizza (one per, family per visit, dine-in only). At the beginning of the game, the PA announcer will tell the fans that the certificates are good for redemption at Pizza and Pipes if the team wins by a shutout or blow out (which could happen about 10-12 times per season). Come the ninth inning, if it appears the home team is going to win in such fashion, the PA announcer reminds the fans again of the deal.

My cost to do that is about $1,000 (which I spread over six months), plus $2.50 in food product for all offers redeemed. My direct return on that is unknown, but I can calculate an educated guess.

Based on customer interviews we’ve done, most of folks would redeem the 10 off certificate and then spend an average of $15 more. Average attendance at those games is about 1,500, divided by average group of three customers equals 500 potential visits per game. Multiply that by 10 occurrences (games), and you’ve got 5,000 potential visits.

But let's say only 1,000 families (20 percent) respond and spend only $10 beyond their $10 certificate. That's $10,000 in top-line revenue. To get to the bottom line, subtract the following: $1,000 advertising cost, $2,500 for the promotional food product cost ($2.50 each offer), and the regular food cost of 25 percent ($2,500).

Retailers Selling Gift Certificates

2007-08-06T05:13:00.000-07:00

Buying Gift Certificates in bulk at online retailers

To some, gift certificates represent a cop-out on the part of gift givers, a way to foist the shopping responsibility onto the recipient. To others, they are the ideal gift: subsidized shopping that spares others the guilt and drudgery of returning something they hate.

And for e-commerce executives, gift certificates are one more way to seize a greater share of the holiday- shopping dollar from traditional stores. At least half a dozen Web- based ventures have been rolled out in recent months whose sole purpose is to sell gift certificates. Around the same time, Internet retailers are hastening to offer their own electronic versions of gift certificates.

Helping propel the trend, executives say, is the immediate gratification provided by the Internet. ``People who are online want instant feedback,'' said Andy Warsaw, president of Sharper Image Corp., which plans to begin offering digital gift certificates on its site today. ``They don't want to pick something out, get it wrapped, call someone up and actually walk it over,'' Wan said. ``And people who receive one online can apply it instantaneously.''

Online gift certificates are nothing if not fast. At Amazon as well as Sharper Image, buyers can have a certificate e-mailed to the recipient, complete with a brief message, within hours. The recipient can then redeem it at the site by using the certificate number listed in the e-mail message.

Flooz.com, a Web-based startup, also offers this type of speed, as it sells a type of scrip that is the equivalent of a gift certificate for customers to use instantly with its Internet merchant partners, including Fogdog Sports.

So far, though, many online retailers do not have the technology to send gift certificates electronically. They typically sell traditional gift certificates online, then mail them to recipients, who can redeem them online or offline, depending on the retailer's policy.

And a new Internet business category has emerged in connection with this process: gift certificate stores. Companies allow shoppers to buy certificates from hundreds of merchants in categories ranging from cigars to restaurants, and have the certificates packaged in a variety of ways.

The company purchases the gift certificates at wholesale prices, then sells them at face value to customers.

In an effort to distinguish itself from the thousands of other dot- com advertisers shouting from the airwaves in the next few weeks, Lee said his company would spend $9 million this holiday season in radio and print ads. Sophia Loren has agreed to act as the site's spokeswoman for several years -- in exchange for an equity stake in the company.

``Everything I've been doing for 2 1/2 years leads up to the next 30 days,'' said Lee, who expects more than $20 million in sales this season. ``To me, this is it.''

If companies like Lee's are to achieve sustained growth, they will have to overcome competition from an unlikely source: their merchant partners, who are forging ahead with their own efforts in electronic gift certificates.

Retailers are happy to get additional gift certificate sales. But if they can e-mail their own certificates and allow them to be redeemed at their own Web sites, they can avoid selling them at a discount through the wholesalers.

Industry analysts and executives say that gift certificates benefit retailers in other ways. First, they cut down on returns, as people select only items they want. Gift certificates also offer retailers the chance to draw interest on the shopper's money, as there is typically a lag between the time the certificate is bought and when merchandise leaves the store.

Gift Certificate Baskets

2007-08-06T05:12:00.000-07:00

Putting together lovely gift baskets is the way to give a memorable gift to anyone at any time of the year. Now you can assemble gift baskets, and at a very low price! Baskets come in a variety of shapes from traditional round to oval, square, heart-shaped, and circular. Some have a couple of handles, others are colored brightly, while still more baskets are as natural as the reeds that make them up. Of course not all baskets are made from reeds; you’ll find those made from plastic, metal, tin, fabric, or combinations thereof.

Decide what item[s] will be going into that gift basket.

Group the items together. It is best if the largest items are in the center or at the back, so it creates a pyramid shape. If in doubt about sizing your gifts to your basket, just measure the tallest part and the circumference of your gift items.

Make sure your basket will be a bit larger than the items.

Decide what you will fill your basket with: plastic grass, tissue paper, raffia, crinkled or shredded paper or a towel.

Add your items carefully and securely.

You might be able to find a cellophane bag that is large enough to cover a gift basket and add that.

If using cello wrap, make sure you have a large enough piece. Using clear tape, apply to the bottom of the basket to help secure it. Sometimes it may be necessary to tape around the width of the basket. If so, please use invisible tape!

Tightly gather the ends of the cello wrap and tie together tightly with a twist tie. Then add a bow, making sure it’s securely attached.

Adding a gift card is always a nice idea. Your gift card should have a loop in which you add a short length of ribbon or elasticized band which you then attach to the perimeter of the ribbon or twist tie.

Make Your Own Shredded Paper

All you need is a nice quality paper shredder and some plain colored paper and you have your own basket lining at virtually no cost, and no effort!

Basket Themes

Creativity rules here when it comes to what you can add to a gift basket! Determine whom you will be giving this basket to, if this person is male or female, and what their interests are. Here are just a few ideas to get you started.

Baby ~ Stuffed toy, blanket, booties, cap, bib, baby powder, mobile, pacifier, books, blocks, toys, bath & body items, music CD, and baby shop gift certificate.

Bath & Body ~ Soap, loofah sponge, lotion, shampoo & conditioner, whipped shea butter, bath salts, sugar scrub, aromatherapy bath oils, bubble bath, washcloth, rubber ducky, spa gift certificate, relaxing music CD, and scented candles.

Birthday ~ Balloons, candles, stickers, bubbles, toys, games, teddy bears, dolls, jewelry, books, gift certificates, cookies, candies, and fruit.

Bon Voyage ~ Travel guides, maps, compass, travel diary, passport holder, atlas, travel size toiletries, and gift certificates.

Bridal ~ Scented candles, bath & body products, spa gift certificate, gourmet chocolate, flowers, lingerie, champagne, wine, crystal, other gift certificates.

Chocolate Lover ~ Chocolate bars, chocolate candy/bon-bons, chocolate cookies, hot chocolate mix, cocoa butter lip balm, cheesecake, chocolate scented bath & body products, chocolate candy, and gift certificates.

Coffee Lover ~ Sometimes you can combine this with the Tea Lover gift basket. Varieties of coffee, honey, creamer, sweetener, coffee mugs, coffee pot, Thermos, coffee-scented soap, coffee sugar scrub, coffee-scented candles, coffee shop gift certificates.

Corporate/Executive ~ Wine, spirits, gourmet foods, imported chocolate, personalized gifts bearing company logo, cheesecake, fully stocked picnic basket, and gift certificates.

Gourmet ~ Pancake mix, imported jams, cheesecake, candies, cookies, cheese, chocolate, condiments, teas, coffee, fruits, syrup, smoked salmon, truffles, olive oil, imported vinegars, pasta, biscotti and gift certificates.

Sports Lover ~ Sports Lovers baskets can include a variety of general sports, or specialize in one sport like golf, football, hockey, etc. Including tickets to a game, a stopwatch, popcorn, nuts, wine, beer, snacks, cheese, toys, t-shirts, baseball cap, autographed team/sport merchandise, and gift certificates.

Tea Lover ~ Sometimes you can combine this with the Coffee Lover gift basket. Varieties of tea bags, tea cups/mugs, honey, teapot, tea infuser, blocks of tea, tea cakes, wafers, cookies, tea-scented soap, tea-scented candles and gift certificates.

Wine & Cheese ~ Fine wine, wine glasses, champagne, napkins, cheese, cheeseballs, cheese spread, crackers, biscuits, wine soap, and gift certificates.

Other Theme Ideas ~ Movie Lover, Congratulations, Easter, Pet Lover, Retirement, Anniversary, 21st Birthday, Sweet 16, Game Lover, Music Lover, Gardener, Book Lover, etc.

Finding an excellent bargain for the basket itself is quite easy. You can locate them at your local dollar store, Goodwill, Salvation Army, thrift shops, flea markets, swap meets, garage sales, craft stores, discount stores and online.

Also, don’t be afraid to be creative when selecting a basket. You can easily find other sizes/shapes that will perfectly match your theme. A Christmas sleigh for Christmas presents is an obvious choice. But how about a bucket, mailbox, birdhouse, birdcage, or large mug to name just a few alternative basket ideas?

Cellophane, organza bags, tissue paper, ribbon/bows and plastic grass/shredded paper, can be located at discount stores, drug stores, craft stores, packing suppliers, and online.

Once you’ve made your first gift certificate you might be hooked to this creative way to give gifts and will make many more! Gift basket assembling is a profitable business that can be started right in your own home. Make certain you have enough storage space for all your baskets and supplies! Investigate wholesale options for the products you will be adding to gift baskets. And make sure you do your research about starting a small home-based business.

Birthdays Gift Certificates

2007-08-06T04:23:00.000-07:00

Birthdays are big times for giving gift certificates. However, so many people get gift certificates to places that aren't quite to their taste. Trading in gift certificates isn't a matter of being ungrateful or unappreciative, it just means that the recipient can get exactly what they want. Many recipients trade their unwanted gift cards for ones to stores and for services they will use.

Save those cards and have your friends and coworkers to the same. If you are a vegan that has several steakhouse gift cards, save them in a safe place until you gather several gift cards and certificates.

Throw a gift card trading potluck party. Everyone that has collected gift cards that are still valid can attend. This kind of party is beneficial to all, so don't stress yourself out about it. Have everyone bring a dish to share, and invite friends, coworkers and neighbors that you trust to be honest.

Place the cards on Ebay for sale. This is a good option if you want cash. Know that you will almost never get the value of the card. This option is not worth the time for cards of smaller values unless several are packaged together.

Call your family after the holidays, and see what they have received that they may want to trade. Siblings have always swapped things growing up, now you can trade gift cards that will benefit everyone. Keep the practice under wraps from those gift certificate givers so feelings don't get hurt.

Place an ad in the local or neighborhood newspaper. Name the gift certificate stores or services you have and what you are wish to trade for. Trading and not selling has beneficial tax breaks when dealing with large values. Never go to meet someone you don't know at their home or alone.

Wedding wine gift certificates

2007-08-06T04:18:00.000-07:00

Wine Gift Certificates

The heart warming tradition of toasting a marriage with wine has been carried forward from biblical times to the weddings of modern time. Today in addition to this traditional toast, there are a variety of new ways wine is incorporated into a wedding, and wine gift certificates can be a most appreciated way to make sure the couple has the wedding day of their dreams.

Besides the champagne wine that is served when it is time for the guests to raise their glasses to the happiness of the couple; personalized wine gifts and wedding favors or custom wine labels for their wedding wine can be purchased with wine gift certificates and make a sensational present for a bridal shower.

Whether the wedding style is traditional or contemporary, wedding wine gift certificates will help make it a celebration that everyone will always remember. Wedding wine favors given at receptions or personalized wine given to the wedding attendants as gifts will serve as extra special reminders of their role in the wonderful festivities that will be treasured and show your appreciation in a unique way.

Another way wine gift certificates can enhance a wedding is when they are used to purchase the accessories for a wine themed wedding. A celebration of marriage and reception in wine country is elegant and unforgettable. There are many wedding accessories that are perfect for a wine theme; miniature champagne bucket or wine goblet place card holders, personalized candles or miniature bottles of champagne are just a few items wine gift certificates can be used to purchase.

Wedding wine gift certificates are available starting at $25 and as wedding costs continue to rise, they are increasing in popularity as a way to cover reception costs or to purchase a gourmet wine gift basket as a special honeymoon treat.

Another novel way to keep the newlywed sparkle in the couple’s eyes is with monthly wine gift certificates sent on the date of their wedding, to let them explore new wines as they settle down and begin enjoying the married lifestyle. This is a great way to help a couple through the adjustment period that can make or break a marriage. Having a new wine to explore every month will make the moments much sweeter and by the time they are ready to celebrate their first wedding anniversary, they will have many special reasons to continue their adventure.

Whatever the occasion, wine gift certificates can provide a way to lend that special touch that makes events spectacular. Calendar holidays are often commemorated with wine, but you don’t have to wait; there are times when a wine gift certificate is all that’s needed to turn the day into a special occasion for the wine lover you know. Life is a celebration everyday and a wine gift certificate is one way you can show a person you care.

Gift certificates from "TABU" – temptation as a present!

2007-08-06T04:17:00.001-07:00

Chisinau Gift Certificates

Chisinau does not spoil us with a variety of opportunities, especially those loving to make exclusive and unexpected presents. The choice is not large at all. Everything is palled. But we are eager to please you: something new appears in May!

The private night club “TABU” prepared something special. Those who like surprising could use the Gift Certificate from “TABU”. The Certificate guarantees to its bearer a night of temptations.

You may ask who you can present it to. For example, to an old bachelor. To just married couple (why not?). Or, to the business partners after successful negotiations, or to a girl-friend on a hen-party as a birthday present.

The certificate with golden stamping is alive dream of the night-adventure… It smells something new. It is not a dinner in a restaurant. Make this gift, and then demand the story “How was it?”. And you will not be disappointed with this story!

How to buy the Certificate? Just call 069 96 96 96, or enter the site www.allfun.md to the section “Gifts” and order the Certificate and its festive delivery. test

Ebay Gift Certificates

2007-08-06T04:15:00.000-07:00

Ebay Gift Certificates

Now that online shoppers have realized the true potential of online shopping with eBay, they offer their customers a better and easier (not to mention cheaper) way of doing their transactions with eBay.

But the customers and all online shoppers must always be careful about the terms and/or conditions regarding the gift certificates. Always be alert and reminded about the expiration date of the gift certificates, this way, customers can always make full use of their eBay GCs. The gift certificates from eBay are wonderful gifts to the people dear to us. With an eBay gift certificate, we share the joys of shopping online through eBay.

eBay gift certificates are available to anyone who wishes to buy one. No eBay registration or eBay membership is required to get your hands on this baby. They can be purchased though PayPal. One of its yet better points is that while paying for your gift certificate, you can choose to sign up for your account at PayPal.

But as anything, there is a catch. The catch is not all eBay gift certificates will be redeemed. Only those that pass the following requirements will be redeemed.

1. The one who sells the item on sale accepts PayPal as one of the ways to pay for their merchandise.
2. The original price of the item on sale must be in Pounds Sterling, Canadian Dollars, Euros or US Dollars.
3. The owner of the GC has ten days after the item on sale has been closed at eBay to pay for the merchandise through PayPal.

There are rare occasions that and eBay gift certificate will expire. Customers or purchasers of the gift certificates are also not required to pay maintenance fees on unused balances of the gift certificate. If the price of the item that a customer is buying cannot be covered by the gift certificate alone, the buyer needs to supply the remaining balance through paying from another fund source at PayPal (which can either be credit card or bank account).

eBay gift certificates can be spent when the customer wishes to buy an item or have won an item at eBay that passes the requirements mentioned above. To do this, when you have chosen the item that you want, select the word Paypal for your payment method. (Don't panic if it reroutes you to the PayPal site, this really happens) Log in to PayPal and write down the redemption codes found in the Check Payment Detail. Look for the Add/Select button and click on that to enable you to use your GC. You redeem your gift certificates this way and the seller of the item receives the payment through PayPal.

Gift options on Latvian market

2006-12-26T12:54:00.000-08:00

Not a long time ago there weren't many possibilities to present dear ones with gifts; normally a gift choice was either a box of candies, or a bar of chocolate (in rear cases these could be supplied with a bottle of cognac).
In case a little initiative could be undertaken, to go out of the circle of stereotypes, all that could be done was to present banknotes in an envelope.
A couple of months ago I needed to congratulate mu cousin on her 20 yrs anniversary, so I went to one of the beauty shops selling perfume, and for about $40.00 I purchased a electronic card (similar to Visa Electron in shape or any other classic debit or credit card) which was easy to send via snail mail. The coolest thing about such a gift is that it can be used to buy anything in a network of shops, so my cousin could choose from hundreds of perfume names & brands.
Gift certificate is more personal, than plain money, and way more usable. Today presenting a person with cash is obsolete and reminds of the centuries gone buy. But electronic wire transfer to a bank account loses any personal attitude. So my choice heads over to gift certificates.
To add still more, some e-based shops (even Latvian based) offer to potential customers a variety of gift certificates available for ordering online; typically a gift certificate can be a coupon code, or a voucher which does not need to be delivered to the customer. It is very cool and modern to make a gift as a password to some night club; it's stylish and fun. If a plastic card is implied, than a courier can deliver it within 24 hours (because Latvia is very small in territory, any location can be reached in under a day). This makes the gift certificates choices quite multiple; I believe European or North American countries have a more developed tradition with wider spread networks or chains of stores offering customers various ways to make a gift, it is still very pleasant to note that this tradition has established itself in our market conditions, too.

Which gift certificates program you'd like to join & enjoy?

2006-12-15T08:14:00.000-08:00

In the world of gift certificates many specialty retailers and restaurants offer stored value gift cards, but differentiating one program from the next is increasingly hard. Or is it?

Is there anything that merchants and hospitality providers can do to make their stored value programs stand out from the crowd? We think there are several things you can do to increase the excitement and velocity of your program.

Swipe and win sweepstakes
For a standard stored value gift certificate card program, merchants can use different types of promotions to increase the level of excitement. For example, creating a swipe and win sweepstakes when the gift card is redeemed is an excellent way to drive additional sales. Think about it: your customers are purchasing a gift card that has a certain value, and the person they give it to has the opportunity to not only redeem their gift card for your product or service, but also to potentially win a prize. Who wouldn't want to give a gift card that may make the recipient a big winner?

Custom coupons

Another opportunity that can benefit both the merchant and the customer is the use of receipt coupons, or custom coupons, as part of your gift certificates card programme. You can use these coupons to drive customers to locations that need an increase in traffic. Or better yet, make your coupons applicable to certain times of the day when traffic isn't as high as you'd like it to be. For example, many restaurants are finding this an effective way to drive traffic to days of the week or times of the day that are not traditionally strong for them. Giving customers a free appetizer or dessert is a great marketing investment for creating a busy restaurant during traditionally slow periods.

If you are using stored value cards as a cash replacement and you want customers to re-load their gift certificates cards, give them a bonus when they add value to the card. An excellent way of encouraging the re-load is by adding custom messages on the receipt as the value of the card is depleted. An alert like "Your card value is $10 (or £5). Re-load your card with US$50 (or £35) and get a coupon for a free coffee" alerts customers to their card status. Implementing the reward is as simple as printing a coupon for the free item as part of the re-load transaction.

Use perceived value
Loyalty programs have long used the practice of leveraging perceived value to make them more attractive by rewarding customers for the right kind of behavior (the profitable, coming-back-often kind). Stored value gift card programs can make use of the same practice. But exactly what is the perceived value, how does it differ from actual value, and how can it be applied?

If you visit the redemption page of your favorite loyalty program, you may find that some awards seem more attractive than others. For example on a frequent flier program site you might see that a free flight anywhere in North America "costs" 25,000 points. One night in a hotel also "costs" 25,000 points. Now wait just a minute - that flight is worth US$700 and that hotel night is worth US$150. Is the airline taking advantage of you if you redeem for the hotel night?

Well, if you need both a flight and a hotel night, it is obvious where you should use those points - on the flight, hands down. The key to understanding why the flight seems like such a good deal (and the hotel less of a deal) is to stand in the shoes of the CEO of the airline. To put you in a seat on the airline (that would have otherwise been empty) costs the airline less than US$100. The CEO's best marketing team can't get free hotel nights from the hotels so that hotel night is probably costing the airline about the same as the free flight. You are being treated fairly.

The airline is simply leveraging the difference between the actual cost of the air ticket and the value you associate with it (the perceived value). That's why airline, hotel, retail, restaurant and other loyalty programs usually offer their own product or service as the base reward in their gift certificate programs - it simply is the most cost effective way to provide value.

Restaurateurs are in exactly the same situation - the cost of providing a meal is probably the lowest expense reward they can provide. It makes it a challenge to create meaningful rewards of similar value that aren't based on the core dining service.

Leveraging extreme value
Take heart, there are other classic examples of leveraging perceived value. If you can offer something that is difficult to put a price on - priority service, a backstage pass, a ticket on the 50 yard line at the Superbowl - you have an opportunity to create extreme perceived value. There are thousands of marketing programs that generate excitement, entries into draws, and traffic by using exclusive opportunities as their drawing card. Think of your stored value gift card promotions in the same light and offer similar rewards as part of your gift certificates card swipe and win sweepstakes to increase gift card usage.

Look inside your own business and see what you have to offer - a reservation on a Friday night at your exclusive flagship location, a guided wine tasting by your chief wine steward, tickets to a sports event provided by one of your suppliers, even a gift for children in the dining party. These are all opportunities to create a reward with high perceived value and low cost. Ask your customers and they will tell you what they value highly.

If you can find something your customers prize that you can provide at little or no cost, you will have an effective tool to use inside your loyalty or gift card marketing program. Look hard - it's worth the effort!

Evaluate your options
It doesn't take much to make your stored gift certificate value program stand above the rest. Just a little innovative thought around what you want your customers to do, and what they would view as a valuable reward for performing that action. Best of all, the incentive that you provide can be at a low cost to you, but have great perceived value to your customers.

How To Make Gift Certificates Tags Using bi-Cards

2006-12-14T08:10:00.000-08:00

Making gift certificate tags using business cards can be as simple as taking blank business cards and writing on them by hand. However, you can make very nice, personalized gift tags by inserting pictures and text. The process has several steps to it, but once you get the hang of it, it is actually very simple. And in fact, once you learn these skills, it will be very easy to advance your abilities to make really wonderful gift tags!

This is the first of a two-part series for making gift certificates tags using business cards. This first part will give you the step-by-step instructions for creating simple gift tags using any picture file (usually a jpg file) or any other graphic that you want to insert.

I've done an illustrated tutorial that will show you exactly what to do! So, before you go any further, go to the illustrated instructions:
The instructions will open in a new window for your convenience. These instructions contain several pictures, so it might take several (long) seconds for the page to open. Once the page does open, allow a few extra seconds for all the pictures to appear as you scroll down from page to page.

1. To begin, you will need to open Word, and then create a new document of blank business cards. On your toolbar, go to Tools, Labels and Envelopes.

2. Now, hit the Options button.

3. Select the Business Card template that is listed on your package of business cards. Most brands of business cards, even “generic” or store brand business cards give a compatible Avery template number. For the purposes of this tutorial, I am using business cards that are compatible with Avery 8371. When you have selected the template that you need, click OK.

4. This takes you back to the pop-up window as shown in Step 2. Click on New Document. You now have a blank page of business cards (there are five rows of two business cards, side by side (left-side and right-side). Look at the ruler at the top of the blank document and you can see that it is divided into two columns. The ruler that runs down the left-hand side of the document is broken at the division between the rows.

At this point, you could simply insert some text in the blank gift certificate business card, copy it, and then paste it 9 more times, and print a very simple gift tag. The example in the illustrated instructions gives you an idea of what a simple Christmas gift tag might look like.

Now you have a rough idea of what to do in order to open a blank page of business cards. Next, you will learn how to insert a picture (jpg file or other graphic) into a blank business card and personalize it.

First, you will need to insert the picture (image or graphic) that you want to appear on the gift certificates tag. The example shown in the illustrated instructions uses a free printable Wedding Heart provided by The Craft Cafe
1. Go to your toolbar, click on Insert, and then click on From File.

2. Find the picture that you want to insert (look wherever it is that you have the picture or image saved). Select the picture that you want to insert and then click OK.

3. The image now appears in the top-left blank business card.

4. Go to Print Layout view so that you can see the rulers along the top and bottom to show you where you are in the gift certificate business card.

5. Now your screen has one picture inserted in the first, top-left blank business cards. Refer to the illustrated instructions to see what it looks like.

6. If you don’t change the size of the picture, you might not have much room to write anything on the card or to insert a text box. To make the heart smaller, click on the heart (anywhere on the actual picture, it doesn’t matter where), and a black box around it will appear, with small black boxes in the corners and in the middle of each side.

7. Click on a corner. The cursor changes to a two-headed arrow. Hold the mouse button and drag the corner toward the middle of the picture. This will make the picture smaller. Drag the corner until the heart is the size that you want it to be.

8. Now click anywhere outside of the picture, and the black sizing box will go away.

9. Now the heart is small enough that you have room to the right to insert text, or simply handwrite in your own message. Of course, you see here that you only have one heart on the page, and there are actually 10 gift certificates business cards on that page. You will have to copy this heart and paste it in 9 times. Use this process only if you want to make gift tags that only have the picture in it, no text.

Right click on the picture. That is, position the cursor anywhere on the picture, and hit the “other button” on your mouse (it is usually the right-side button, unless you are left-handed and you have re-configured your mouse). Now select Copy from the list.

10. After you have clicked on Copy, click anywhere outside of the picture to remove the black box. Now, click anywhere in the blank business card to the right (look at the ruler at the top, it shows you where the margin is for the right-hand-side business card.

11. Go to your toolbar, click on Edit, and then click on Paste.

12. Now you have a picture in the two top business cards (remember, there are five rows of two cards to a sheet, so in all you need to insert a total of 10 pictures).

13. The last step will be to copy this row, and paste it into the remaining four rows to make a whole sheet of gift tags with this picture on them. To do that, position the cursor to the left of the top left business card and move the cursor around a little until it turns into a white arrow. When you have that arrow, click, and both hearts will be highlighted.

14. Just as did in Step 9, right click anywhere on the black highlighted portion and click on copy.

15. Click anywhere on a white space, and the highlighting will go away. Now move your cursor down to the next row, along the left-hand side, until the cursor changes into a white arrow next to the blank business card space. A black line should appear.

16. Paste in the row that you copied, using the same procedure as Step 11

Now do that 3 more times, until you have five rows of gift certificate tags with this picture on each tag. Insert the blank business card sheet into your computer (the same way that you would load paper into your computer) and print it.

gift certificates

How To Insert Text Into a Gift Certificate Card

2006-12-12T08:18:00.000-08:00

It is easy to use blank gift certificate business cards to create personalized gift tags!

This is the second part of a two-part series. If you missed the first part or don't know how to insert a picture (jpg file or any other graphic) into a business card, please go review the first article in this series:

1. Inserting a text box will allow you to create a gift tag template (or blank) that you can use over and over again, and personalize each card by typing in names or a message. Click anywhere in the blank space in the business card to the left of the picture.

2. On your toolbar, click Insert, and then click on Text Box.

3. Click in the blank portion of the left-hand business card, and a little square icon will appear. You will also note that the cursor changed to a cross while you were doing this.

4. Now that you have that little box icon, click the mouse button near the corner until the cursor changes to a two-headed arrow. Hold down the mouse button and drag the box down and to your right. This is the tricky part, but stick with it, and you’ll master it!

5. Now, click INSIDE the text box. The cursor will appear, and you can type in anything you want.

You are learning a lot! You’ve inserted a picture in a gift certificates business card, changed the size, copied it and pasted it into a blank business card, you’ve created a text box, and you’ve inserted text! Now, let’s change the text font and the text color!

6. First, “select” the text to highlight it. Click the cursor right in front of the T in Thank you. Hold down the mouse and drag it to after the exclamation point. Now release the mouse button. All of the text should be highlighted.

7. On your toolbar, click in the down arrow next to the font name that is showing (most computers are set to Times New Roman as the default font (typeface).

8. Click on the scroll bar button and pull down, so that you can see all the fonts you can use. For this example, I’ve clicked on Lucinda Handwriting to choose that font.

9. Click on the font you want, and the text (that has been selected) will automatically change to it. As you can see, that changed the size of the text, and all of the text no longer appears in the text box.

10. You can do one of three things, or all of them: you can increase the size of the text box, you can decrease the size of the font, or you can reduce the number of words you typed in. To increase the size of the text box, move the cursor to the low corner of the text box, and when the cursor changes to the two-headed arrow, click and hold down the mouse button and drag the box to make it bigger.

11. You can changed the size of the font. Select (highlight) all of the text, as explained above, the using the toolbar decrease the size of the text.

12. Choose the text size, and the size of the text will automatically change. You can play with the text size, and the size of the text box until you have it the way you want it.

Now, you can change the color of the text. Again, select the entire text (as explained above), and look for a color that you like. Click on the small down arrow to the right of the capital letter A.

13. Click on any color there that you like and the text will change to that color. You can also look at all of the colors that are available by clicking on “More Colors” in that drop-down menu. You can choose any of these colors by clicking in a color hexagon, and then clicking OK.

14. Now you can see the text in the color that you choose.

15. You can now adjust the text appearance and you can change how the text is positioned. To make the text appear in BOLD, select the text and click on the capital B on your toolbar.

16. You can center the text by selecting the text and clicking on the icon that shows different length lines that are centered.

17. You can see your entire gift certificate tag now!

18. Of course, this is only 1 business card, and there are 10 on the page. You don’t have to go through all of these steps 9 more times…simply copy and paste!

Position the cursor to the left of the picture, until changes into a white arrow. Click, and the whole business card should be selected (highlighted).

19. Now, right click and select Copy.

20. Click anywhere in the right-hand-side blank business card. On the toolbar, click Edit, then select Paste. After you select paste, the picture and text box will appear in the right-hand-side business card blank.

21. Click anywhere and the black highlighting will go away. Now, you have two gift tags.

WOW!!! You are doing GREAT!!!

OK - all you have to do now is copy those two gift certificates tags, and paste them in four more rows, and you will have the whole sheet of business cards ready to print! (However, if you only need 2, 4, 6, or 8 business cards, or any number of cards in between 1 and 10, you can simply paste that many in, and leave the rest of the sheet blank. However, I always print more cards that I think I’ll need---because I usually end up needing more!)

22. Position the cursor to the left of the left-hand-side gift tag. When you get the white arrow, click, and select both tags. Right click, select Copy.

23. Position the cursor in the business card that is under the left-hand-side card. Go to your toolbar, Edit, and Paste.

24. Now you have two rows of tags.

All you have to do is repeat this 3 more times, so that you have 5 rows of two tags.

Before you actually print the tags on the business gift certificate cards, print a sample on just a plain piece of paper. Put the page over a blank business card sheet, and hold it up to the light. Hopefully, everything will line up OK. If some of the hearts or text boxes look out of alignment, remember you can either click on a picture or a text box and move it up, down, right, or left, or you can position the cursor to the immediate left of the picture or text and hit the Enter key. You may have to play with this a little bit if the gift tags don’t line up exactly. Print samples until you get everything aligned---and then you are ready to print the gift tags on business cards!

You’ve really done super! You now know how to use business gift certificate cards to make all sorts of tags or little personalized cards to slip into gifts for any occasion and any season!

gift certificates

Christmas gift certificates rage

2006-11-28T09:16:00.000-08:00

If you are the boss at your company and you and your company have had a successful year financially, you may want to share some of that success by purchasing Christmas gift certificates for your employees. However, Christmas shopping for your employees is not an easy task. There are a number of factors which contribute to the difficulty of the situation. The number of employees is one such factor. You may have a large number of employees and they may not share similar interests making it difficult to decide on a gift. Additionally, you may be concerned with the prospect of employees talking about their gifts and jealousy arising if it is believed some employees received more expensive or better gift certificate than others. This article will discuss some of these concerns and will offer tips for dealing with these dilemmas.

Favoritism is a serious issue which all bosses should carefully consider when Christmas shopping for their employees. Bosses should assume the gift certificates they give to their employees will be discussed and compared so it is wise to not purchase any gifts which will be viewed as favoritism. One way to avoid this problem is to purchase the same item for each of the employees. This may seem impersonal but office politics often takes precedence over sentiment and in this case it is wise to give each employee the same item to avoid any potential problems. The boss may opt to give more expensive items to hiring ranking employees. This is an acceptable practice as long as each employee on the same tier is given the same gift and employees on higher tiers are given more expensive gifts than employees on lower tiers.

Bosses also have to consider finances when Christmas shopping for gift certificate for their employees. This is a particularly important concern especially in cases where the boss has a large number of employees working for him. In this case the boss may have to consider giving only small token gifts due to the large number of employees. If he is paying for these gifts out of his own pocket, it is not reasonable to expect him to purchase extravagant gifts for many employees. If the boss is receiving a bonus for his hard work during the year, he may make a decision to allot a percentage of his bonus to the purpose of purchasing Christmas gifts for his employees as a way to show his appreciation for their hard work and dedication throughout the year. In some cases, the company may even allow their high ranking employees to expense the purchase of Christmas gifts for employees because it is viewed as a method of keeping morale high and retaining employees. In this case the boss should review the company policy and determine how much it is acceptable to spend on each employee before doing his Christmas gift certificates to ensure he will not be violating any company policies in making his purchases.

Another difficulty bosses often face when Christmas shopping for their employees is selecting a gift which will be appropriate for all of the employees. This can be a difficult task because the boss may have a wide range of employees working for him with varying interests. As previously discussed, it is considered a good idea to purchase the same gift certificate for each employee instead of choosing a distinct gift for everyone. While this makes shopping easier in one capacity by ensuring the boss only has to select one gift, it complicates the Christmas shopping process by tasking the boss to select one gift which will be universally appreciated by all of the employees in the office. Examples of some gifts which are generally appreciated by all may include items with the company logo such as sweatshirts, mugs or other office items. These gifts are not only practical but also help to promote a sense of pride in the company. Gift certificates are also always appreciated. Gift certificates to local restaurants or business or online retailers are gifts which are likely to be appreciated and valued by all.

Fragrance Gift Certificates

2006-11-27T09:06:00.000-08:00

Not sure which fragrance someone likes? Give them a Gift Certificate and allow them to choose their own! Gift Certificates are valid for ANY item displayed.
They will be delivered via email to both you and any email address you specify. They will be emailed in a beautifully formatted certificate and include a customized message that you write.
Simply add a certificate in the denomination you wish to your shopping cart and specify the recipient in the shipping information.
Certificate values can be used towards all costs associated with an order including shipping. The recipient can order anything on our site with an order value that is less than or equal to the certificate value. Any additional charges must be paid via an accepted payment format.
Take the guess work out of buying a gift certificate and insure that they get EXACTLY the fragrance they want this year!

I gave my parents a lobster gram for their 51st wedding anniversary. Below is a copy of the E-Mail message they sent me that night.

What a wonderful surprise for our Anniversary! They were the best lobsters we have had in years. They were AAA lobsters in all respects. They were chock full of sweet meat and the shells were very hard, as they should be. We thoroughly enjoyed them and will have the ClamChowder tomorrow. The package was complete with everything including gift certificates for future meals - Lobsters, shell crackers and picks, 2 lemons, about 2 dozen butter packets, napkins, recipe book and bibs. That truly was a first class gourmet package. Thank you very much for your thoughtful remembrance. - Ma & Dad

Gift cards proved to be a hot gift this holiday season. The International Council of Shopping Centers said gift certificates accounted for 11 percent of all retail sales in December, and totaled more than $20 billion. The National Retail Federation concurred that gift card sales were significant, but put the dollar total at $17.3 billion. One survey found that 27 percent of people who receive a gift certificates card use it within a week, and 31 percent use it within a month. Meanwhile, some state legislatures are considering legislation to prohibit or restrict fees associated with the cards that kick in after months or years of dormancy.

Online Gift certificates for 16 yrs party celebration

2006-11-26T19:47:00.000-08:00

Which Gift certificates are OK for a 16 yrs celebration?

Turning 16 can be the perfect time for an all-girls party or for a co-ed gathering. No matter what you choose to do, talk with your sweet 16 birthday girl first for her ideas. She might be hoping for a good old fashioned slumber party or something a bit more elegant like online gift certificate (Internet is the place where the young live) that announces she is approaching adulthood.

Is there any party more delightful than sweet 16? If you’re stuck for 16th birthday party ideas, then you need to sit back and start counting the online gift certificates you may wish to give out to your daughter! It’s easy enough if you remember that a sweet 16 party is all about that magic number. How many sweet sixteen balloons do you buy? Sixteen, of course!

Sweet Party Ideas

How about a party where the guest of honor opens sixteen mystery boxes to find one final gift tucked inside? Or a cluster of small items like sixteen favorite candy bars, sixteen colors of nail polish, sixteen gift certificates to favorite fast food restaurants or sixteen movie tickets?

Thinking about great gift certificates?

Invitations to your party could be presented on candy bar wrappers for the chocolate fiend or on personalized online gift certificates sent in bulk email newsletters (e-marketing thrives!). For mystery, you could send out a small key enclosed in each of the sixteen invitations. Once your guests arrive, let them try their luck at opening a small chest which contains sixteen special prizes. Keep in mind that often the most creative and appreciated items are the least expensive!

Ideas for an informal 16th party can take advantage of the classic teen foods like pizza, ice cream sundaes, sub sandwiches, nachos, and lots of soda ordered via online gift certificate store and not from a local hypermarket "Rimi" or " Maxima". When thinking about a more “sweet” party, consider sixteen delicate and tiny birthday cakes surrounding one floral arrangement. Another idea is to keep the guest list to sixteen friends.

Anniversary gift certificate

2006-09-02T19:43:00.000-07:00

Couples celebrating their 50th have been together for a long time, and they probably have everything they need, so when thinking about a gift, stay away from items that they probably already have. Gifts like dinner gift certificates, weekend trips, cruises, airline tickets, etc. make a lot more sense because they can be used whenever the couple wishes and don’t add clutter to their home.

Can you think of anything more special than a 50th wedding anniversary celebration? A couple you know, whether it be family or friends, have spent half a century together and you want to give them a gift to let them know how meaningful this momentous occasion is. Traditionally, 50th wedding anniversary gifts are gold. There are many unique gift certificates that you can create or purchase for the lucky couple including a special party where the couple can renew their marriage vows, or a 50th celebration using gold as the decoration theme from centerpieces to paper plates and cups and golden Chardonnay wine. The flowers that are associated with a 50th anniversary are violets.

You can also make a wish tree that you can paint gold and fill the branches with pictures of the couple, their family and friends, and event in their lives that they cherished. You can add theater tickets, gift certificates, etc. to make it truly special. Any personal gift certificate given to a couple celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary is a nice addition to their years spent together.

If you want to stick to the true tradition of gold, than give them a trip to the Swift River in the beautiful state of Maine, where they can have great time mining for gold!

Online gift certificates

2006-09-01T20:00:00.000-07:00

Online Gift Certificates

What do you get for the person who has everything? The person who lives across the country? The person who you, until this very day, forgot to get a gift for? This really isn’t a trick question. The answer is an online gift certificate, and let them choose their gift.

Most online stores such as Amazon.com, Buy.com and Outpost.com offer online gift certificates that can be emailed to the recipient. With the boom of online buying, web stores have expanded their marketplace. Where Amazon.com used to be just another bookstore, it’s now expanded to contain DVDs, toys, games, music, and electronics. Other stores have followed suit, and now it’s easy to please everyone when you pick an online merchant.

Buy.com also contains a online gift certificate center that is easy to find. Right on the home page is a link that says Gift Center.

It’s as easy as filling out the gift amount, and using your credit card to pay for it. You can then fill in the recipient’s email address, along with a message. You’re done! The online merchant will take care of sending the gift certificate to the recipient.

How does it work?
It’s really easy and very convenient both for on-line merchants and Internet surfers! When visiting an online merchant website store such as the ones found a bit above, there are two things you can look for on their site to purchase a gift certificate. Let’s look at Amazon.com. On their home page, on the left side contains navigation to browse. If you look at that entire list, down at the bottom it says “Gifts and Gift Certificates”. Clicking on the Online Gift Certificates link will bring you to the Gift page, which contains a section to purchase a gift, and a link to buy a gift certificate.

The recipient’s got it, now what?
Good question! The emailed gift certificate contains a gift code. When the user selects what they want, they put in their gift code upon checkout. The amount is deducted, and the purchase is made. This can be repeated over and over until your gift is all used up. It works much like modern-day gift cards, they look like credit cards instead of paper certificates, and can be re-swiped.

So forget the old days of fretting over the perfect gift. Let them choose their gift. And never have to worry about late gifts again. On the Internet, the shops are open 24 hours, and remember, a birthday never officially ends until midnight or later.

Restaurant Gift Certificates

2006-09-01T19:41:00.000-07:00

Restaurant Gift Certificates

Many people would wait for special occasions just to eat in fancy restaurants they used to dream of but never hoped to get there by chance. When that special occasion comes, sometimes the family or handsome guy budget will not allow them to celebrate at that particular fancy dream restaurant. With a gift certificate to their favorite restaurant, they will be able to use it during that special occasion. Since most gift certificates do not have an expiration date, they do not have to be used right away. They provide the recipient with the opportunity to experience something that they would not normally do.

Restaurant gift certificates can be a convenient yet thoughtful present to give to a loved one, especially those who are very hard to shop for.

There are plenty of times the "perfect" gift is out of stock, especially during the holiday season. Gift certificates, however, are always in stock. Last minute shoppers never have to worry that the item will run out.

There are plenty of times a person's favorite restaurant is more expensive than they would normally be able to allow themselves to go to. This is another reason a restaurant gift certificate is a perfect gift to give to those people: It lets them go out to eat to their heart's content because they know they could not otherwise be able to find enough finance to go there on their own.

Why people like gift certificates

Restaurant gift certificates will always be appreciated because everyone loves to find a reason to go out and eat at their favorite restaurant.

During any new coming holiday season, millions of people purchase gift certificates to use them themselves or to present them to their honeys, darlings, cared about; many more than in past years.

There are many reasons for this increase in restaurant gift certificate purchases. One reason is that more stores are now offering the purchase of gift certificates. The major reason is the convenience and availability of these products to different social classes. So if you want an easy way to make your loved ones happy, get them a perfect gift certificate at an affordable price to their favorite restaurant to make the happy and content with their dream come true.

Bridal Gift Certificate

2006-09-01T19:38:00.000-07:00

Gift certificates for brides

Many of us would stumble upon a question: what the reason to present a bride with a gift certificate? The answer is simple yet somewhat hiding behind the stone. It's because a bride is too tired with the chores to think about everything, so why not help her to relax from wedding stress?

Stress has many symptoms: headaches, anxiety, neck and backaches, nervousness, irritability, increased blood pressure, heart palpitations, and chronic fatigue. You may find yourself experiencing some of these symptoms when dealing with a tight budget, chronic delays, uncooperative vendors, and other problems that might arise.

During highly stressful situations, paying attention to your mind, body and spirit is the most important thing you can do for yourself. By getting a massage on a regular basis, and starting several months before your wedding, you can substantially relieve mental and physical tension.

Many massage therapists have special gift certificates for the bride, groom, and even the wedding party. They will come to your home or hotel on the morning of your wedding. One online therapist offered these prices:

• Bride or Groom Gift Certificate half hour $80.00

• Bride or Groom Gift Certificate one hour $100.00

• 1-5 members of the wedding party half hour $40.00 each

• 1-5 members of the wedding party one hour $70.00 each

Practitioners learn specific techniques for massage and use their sense of touch to determine the right amount of pressure to locate areas of tension and other soft-tissue problems. They may use pleasant smelling botanical oils such as rose, lavender, lemon and peppermint. These essential oils are massaged into the skin, and can affect the mood, alleviate fatigue, reduce anxiety and promote relaxation.

These are the physical benefits of therapeutic massage that will make you look and feel better on your wedding day:

• Relieves muscle tension and stiffness

• Releases endorphins, the body's natural painkiller

• Promotes deeper and easier breathing

• Relieves stress and aids relaxation

• Reduces blood pressure

• Enhances health of the skin

• Improves posture

Gift Certificates

2006-09-01T19:32:00.000-07:00

Gift Certificate

A gift certificate has always been a wonderful gift for any occasion when you just can't find the right gift but want to present someone special with a thougful and memorable gift. Gift Certificates make the perfect present for loved ones, friends, family, and business associates. A gift certificate is the best gift idea for Mother's Day, Valenitine's Day, and an anniversary or wedding gift. The recipent receives a beautifully wrapped package with an elegantly printed personalized gift message that you supply.
A wonderful unique personalized Gift certificate can be used for a romantic getaway weekend, a gift for your parents for a Bed and Breakfast Package, a gift for your employee for a job well done, as a bridal wedding gift for a friend, as a gift for a benefit auction . . . the occassions are many to be mentioned, and you certainly can think of the many others yourself.

Ways to deliver gift certificates

The gift certificates ordered at online stores in US 48 lower states are normally sent out to adressees either by USPS Priority Mail or optionally USPS Express Mail for next day service. You will receive an email notification when your ordered gift certificate is sent to you. The express delivery is really speedy.

This special gift certificate is sent in an elegant gold envelope wrapped with a red ribbon. The gift certificate is printed on gold embossed specialty paper with green filigree scrollwork around the edges. Your message is printed with calligraphic printing expressing your feelings. Very elegant this gift sends a special message to the recipient.

Family Reunion Git Certificates

2006-09-01T19:30:00.000-07:00

When considering gifts for a family reunion there are many different things to choose from to make the occasion memorable: t-shirts, key chains, gift certificates or maybe presenting the eldest member with a plaque to mark the event. Signing a ceramic guest book platter is a great idea, with various members sharing jokes, poems, or quotes on the platter. Then you can take a family photograph on the reunion day, put it in a beautiful frame and present it to all the members. Specially designed t-shirts or caps, with a special logo or a picture of the oldest family members, are another idea.

Family reunion gifts are fun to buy, fun to give, and fun to receive, and are often given as a token or gesture of love and loyalty. A good family reunion gift certificate should be thoughtful and personal. Family reunions are a time to re-affirm ties within the family and reconnect to one’s family heritage. It is the time when all generations of the family get together, recalling the memories of years gone by and discussing new ideas. The best way to express feelings for each other is by sharing and giving gifts, which serve as a token of your love and care.

You can choose a pen stand with the family name engraved on it. For adults, giving personalized bags or wallets could be a good idea. The gift ideas are endless, but the main thing that matters is the emotional and sentimental value attached to the gift. For kids, the best gift certificates would be chocolates, toys or cookies.