Tag Archives: ceb

Last-second Christmas e-gifts for overlooked loved ones

Figurative last-minute Christmas shopping has been replaced by literal last-minute Christmas shopping, thanks to the rise of e-gifting. Now instead of running out to Walgreen’s or CVS for some 11th-hour gift for a loved one, people can do their wait-till-the-last-second shopping on the Internet from their PC or mobile device. Guys, I’m talking to you. Here’s a list of suggestions for last-millisecond Christmas shopping. E-gift cards dispense with the plastic and can be emailed to recipients. Research and advisory firm The Corporate Executive Board (CEB) sees e-gifting (the sending of financial gifts through online channels, including via person-to-person platforms) as the next growth area for gift cards. E-gifting is expected to more than double to $14 billion by 2017 from $6 billion this year. By 2017, it will make up nearly 10% of the projected $149 billion gift card market, CEB says. Amazon.com (AMZN) is promoting….

Wal-Mart wants to buy your unwanted gift cards

Starting Christmas Day online, Wal-Mart (WMT) will let customers exchange unwanted gift cards from more than 200 retailers, restaurants and other businesses for Wal-Mart cards, which can be used online or in stores. Wal-Mart has partnered with CardCash, the leading online marketplace for gift card exchanges and discounted gift cards, for the initiative. The Wal-Mart gift card exchange program is a test, but could become a permanent service if if successful, the AP reported Wednesday. Shoppers won’t get the full value of their gift cards to use at Wal-Mart, however. Some brands will be worth just 70% of the original card value. Others are closer to full value, such as Amazon.com (AMZN) cards (up to 95% of original value) and Staples (SPLS) cards (up to 90%). Research and advisory firm CEB (CEB) estimates that gift card sales will top $124 billion this year, up 5% over 2013. About…