|  | Market ResultsAzana Salon and SpaAzana Salon and Spa, located in Brookfield, Wisconsin, launched a Gift Card Program only one month after their grand opening. Tami Gemmell, Azana’s Business Manager, saw first hand how successful this program was going to be during the site training. As several employees were being trained, a customer entered and asked to purchase a gift certificate for his wife. Instead of a gift certificate, the customer was given the first Azana Gift Card. What better way to learn than actually activating a card...and the value activated was $2000.00! That first transaction confirmed to Ms. Gemmell that this program was a great decision for Azana Salon and Spa.Carson’s Ribs Carson’s Ribs, an upscale restaurant, is located in Illinois with seven locations across the state. One of the key reasons for the success of their program is the enhanced loyalty of Carson’s customer base. The largest volume of transactions at Carson’s has been the “Add Value” feature. Donna Giannis, the owner, has been amazed at how many customers continue to redeem the card’s value and then reload them. What was primarily a replacement for paper gift certificates has become, not only a gift card, but a perpetual use dining card.EbLen’s Casual ClothingEbLen’s is a Connecticut based casual clothing and footwear retail chain with 21 locations. Their program launched with a heavy marketing emphasis during the Christmas season. Don Riccio, EbLen’s Project Manager, stated that since Christmas was their largest season for gift certificate sales, they felt that introducing the EbLen’s gift card during this season would be the perfect time to introduce this new and exciting program. During the next Christmas season, EbLen's saw their gift card volume grow by approximately 50%.Dimple Records Dimple Records, a music store with four locations, is located in Central California. Their Gift Card Program was launched in October with an initial card order of 2500. By January, they had ordered a total of 32,000 cards and processed over 50,000 transactions. Due to the overwhelming success of the gift card, Oliver Radakovitz, Dimple’s founder, added a section to their website specifically for the Electronic Gift Card Program, as well as, producing a separate stored value card to be utilized for Used Merchandise and returns.The Links @ Outlook The Links @ Outlook is an 18 hole golf course located in South Berwick, Maine. In July, The Links launched their gift card program as part of an advertising scheme aimed at generating new business. Along with the gift card, The Links’ Director of Marketing, Jeff Maldonis, designed a separate Golf 2000 card. This card was activated for 9 complementary holes of golf and utilized as a promotional tool during the year. Mr. Maldonis believes that the Valutec Gift Card Program, not only increased rounds played, but also resulted in a membership boost during the year.Tommy K’s VideoTommy K’s Video, a Connecticut based video retailer with 17 locations, launched their program in August. The program has provided the company with unanticipated revenues, as well as cost and time savings. Due to the overwhelming success in their video stores, Tommy K’s CEO, Frank Slugaski, launched the program in their four tanning salons in time for the Christmas season. Mr. Slugaski believes that a major reason for their success was the emphasis they placed on marketing the program with promotions, banners and sample cards that the employees wore as name badges. |
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