MenuDrive News

This holiday season, restaurant chains across the country are promoting their gift cards with added benefits. The trend of gift cards is particular increasing, especially with e-cards online. Restaurants are competing more aggressively for gift card buyers, and most are offering rewards to entice shoppers, with rewards ranging from cash toward a future visit to sweepstake prizes like a trip.

Recently, I purchased a $50 gift card at Applebee’s and received a $10 bonus gift card in return. By receiving this bonus gift card, it made me feel as if I was receiving something extra out of my dining experience with the restaurant. I think gift card extras are a great idea, because it gives the consumer an extra reason to buy from their favorite restaurant. While it may still be better to give than to receive, it’s even more fun to receive a gift card from a retailer for free, or at least a deep discount.

How do you feel about gift card extras? Do you know any restaurants that currently offer them?

Customers are always looking for a convenient way to shop, especially if it is saving them the time and hassle. Currently, there is a new way to shop for gift cards, with not actually purchasing one in the store—virtual gift cards.

Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar is the latest restaurant chain to offer virtual gift cards, which can be purchased online and e-mailed to recipients. It’s simple – instead of a paper gift certificate, the recipient receives an e-mail containing a link to a customized Web page. To simplify the process even more, the customized Web page includes all of the information that a recipient will need to use his or her Virtual Gift Certificate, including a link directly to the merchant Web site, redemption information, and merchant terms and conditions. The benefits of a virtual gift card are that they cannot be lost and that the consumer does not have to drive anywhere to actually purchase the card. Another feature is that customers can customize the e-mail with personal messages and photos, including self recorded audio tracks. Several other restaurant chains are also featuring virtual gift cards, including Chili’s, Ruby Tuesday and UNO Chicago Grill.

I think virtual gift cards are a great idea that benefits the consumer as well as restaurants. Virtual gift cards create more sales I believe, because they permit last-minute purchases from literally anywhere a buyer can connect to the Internet. By using virtual gift cards, it is less hassle for the consumer and creates more time in their schedule.

What do you think? Will virtual gift cards replace existing plastic gift cards? For more information on virtual gift cards, check out

http://www.nrn.com/article/more-restaurants-selling-virtual-gift-cards