Gift card makes more retail space

Sao Paulo-the consumer movement for greater control over your expenses has made arrangements for payment via gift cards move between national retailers, especially supermarkets and bookstores.
According to the Director of marketing for Epay Brazil-company issuing the card annually type milhões-Rogério Lima, in addition to the growing demand of customers for this type of card, the benefit of this offer on account of the increase in the average ticket that the tool provides.
"[Card] is an interesting vehicle for stores raise your average ticket, since at least 80% of purchasers end up consuming products that exceed the value available on the gift card," said Lima.
According to the Director, the tool can also be used to retain customers, since depending on the case can only be used in own retail network. "The demand of the client also has increased because of the greater control that the economic crisis has imposed on the family expenses. The card helps in this regard. In addition, the Country has about 50 million people without a bank account and who yearn for solutions that the meet, "he says.
The retailers served by Epay in Brazil are giants like the Grupo Pão de Açúcar (GPA) and the Department store chain Fnac.
The Epay, inclusive, has also noticed a considerable advancement of the interest of small retailers to offer the cards, mainly shops of games, toys and games.
"Credit to be used on purchases of applications and games have a strong appeal among the young, which has led these stores offer the prepaid card," says Lima. "Even pharmacies have already developed some projects accordingly," she adds.
The Epay speaks in an increase of up to 25% on cards issuance in 2016, about 2015. Sales rose between 18% to 20% in the period.
Performance
In view of the GPA, which works with two card formats-Extra (gift card) and Sugar Loaf (Bargains)-beyond traditional pre-paid, the consumer is still getting to know the system.
"He [client] is starting to learn more about the service, understanding and taking advantage of the convenience and financial control cards can bring to their daily lives," says Multivarejo Services Coordinator-supermarket arm of Grupo Pão de Açúcar-, Luana Tomaselli.
According to her, the sales performance of the cards has been positive, with average growth of 5% per month in 2016, on the same period last year. "This Result provided by the increase in the portfolio of cards and also by demand for the service," he recalls.
The high demand has led the company to transfer mode for the digital environment, offering the payment mode for its corporate customers through its logistics arm, CNova.
In the B2B model, the credits granted by the stores have validity of one year and are disposed of by means of virtual codes. In the case of items, the balance value contracted by companies can be complemented by the buyer under all forms of payment offered by brands in e-commerce. The sites of Ponto Frio, Casas Bahia and Extra are included in the project.
Exterior
A study conducted by the National Retail Federation in the United States, showed that the gift card is the most popular choice for gift giving in recent years.
In Brazil, it is estimated that together, the prepaid gift cards and can move up to R$ 57.6 billion by the end of next year, according to data from Mastercard. "This new option of prepaid card in Brazil gives more freedom to the consumer, which always has recognized as a major reference in Fnac variety with quality," extols the chief marketing officer of Fnac, Roberto Samson.