In This Issue
Joules acquires digitally led retailer Garden Trading
Petition to get Garden Centres in Scotland and Wales open again as soon as possible gains momentum, but they still need our help
The green shoots of recovery
From Seeds to Suet, Honeyfield’s continue to innovate
Looking forward to better weather
Join the Twinkly revolution at new UK showroom
New Board Members and Future Chairman confirmed at GCA AGM
100% responsible ‘Food Range’ released by Cotswold Granaries
Plant sales more than double
Join Korbond at Spring Fair 2021, this week!
Pearson Memorial medal awarded to Adam Wigglesworth of Aylett Nurseries
Risk to Scottish horticulture growing each day
One million steps for Garden Re-Leaf 2021
AMES UK invest more than £1m in infrastructure and people in response to increasing market demand
The national interest in houseplants is sky-rocketing
GTN's Christmas Special Issue - read on-line here
Gardening expert Richard Jackson challenges Britain to get ready, steady, grow!
Mental health body is garden centre's charity of the year
Dobbies bids to tackle food waste with Magic Bag
Venturing outdoors for mind, body and soul
Altons BBQ World, Aylett Nurseries, Barton Grange, Baytree, Busy Bee, Groves, Pengelly, Pughs, The Old Railway Line and Squires Badshot Lea are the winners of GTN's Greatest Christmas Awards
Christmas Future Trends at Glee's Festive Focus Day
Get your own copy of GTN Xtra
Pots of potential for container gardening
Garden businesses wilt under Brexit trade rules
Working together for better plant health
Cold weather boost for Wild Bird Care
Onions dominate Veg-2-Gro sales
Uplift in demand causes Greenregis mail order business to move
Introducing ‘The Real Soil Company’ – the new name in high-quality, results-driven topsoil
Gift card sales surge over UK’s first Covid Christmas
The best of last week's
Sign online petition to get Welsh centres re-opened
Moving on up… slowly
Greenfingers Charity welcomes Guy Topping as Trustee
RHS awards key outdoor pots license to Woodlodge
Jeno Floral - pick of the Christmas Bestsellers
Great roofing products for the garden make-over boom
Get your own copy of GTN Xtra
Barton Grange Christmas 2020 - Exclusive GTN Xtra Photo Tour
Squires Badshot Lea - Christmas 2020
Perrywood at Christmas 2020 - with correct photo gallery now...
British Garden Centres open their 58th centre at Thatcham
Haskins Snowhill re-opens after £15m re-vamp
Bestsellers Top 50 charts every week
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All the latest news from the world of pet products
Lily's Kitchen launches limited edition Valentine's Day dog tin
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Gift card sales surge over UK’s first Covid Christmas

 

A Christmas spent living under Covid-19 restrictions has sparked a significant shift in the public’s gifting habits, according to data released by the Gift Card & Voucher Association (GCVA) working with GlobalData.

 

survey of 2,000 members of the public has revealed that one in four Brits (25.2%) purchased gift cards for others in December, compared with 17.9% in November, with over a third of these (34.1%) directly highlighting lockdown restrictions as their reason for doing so. Furthermore, leading brands such as Tesco Bank have reported a surge in gift card sales – particularly digital gift cards, which can be sent, received and spent through smartphone apps – over the Christmas period.

 

Targeted, single-store gift cards were the gift of choice in December over multi-store alternatives, with 56.4% of gift card buyers purchasing single-store cards, compared with 32.4% for multi-store cards, indicating a thoughtful, considered approach to gifting from the public. Gaming gift cards also saw a notable uplift, with 11.3% of gift card buyers purchasing, compared with 7.9% in November, which is demonstrative of gaming’s continued popularity as a hobby during lockdown. 

 

In 2020, GCVA figures revealed that digital gifting now represents 26% of all UK gift card spend, rising to 50% accounting for all gift cards spent online. Given Christmas was the most popular gifting occasion in 2019, representing 41.7% of total gift card spend according to GCVA research, the suggested move to digital this past Christmas may be indicative of a more long-term shift in the public’s gifting habits. 

 

The trade body, which represents more than 80 of the UK’s largest retailers, issuers and suppliers, is now urging the public to spend any gift cards they may have received this Christmas; both treating themselves to a lockdown lift while providing a boost to the high street at a time when footfall plummeted by 46.1% year-on-year in December compared with the previous year, according to the British Retail Consortium. 

 

Gift cards swelled in popularity throughout 2020 as the UK sought to lift the spirits of loved ones in isolation. GCVA research found that gift cards were in fact preferred to physical gifts in the first lockdown, making up 14% of total gifting spend, compared with physical gifts at 12%. 

 

Gail Cohen, director general of the GCVA, commented: “It has been great to see shoppers overcoming lockdown challenges and supporting their favourite brands by opting for a gift card Christmas.  

 

“Over the past year, the rise of digital gifting solutions in particular is driving a major change in how we send and receive gifts, meaning they can be shared and enjoyed almost instantly, offering a safe way of gifting that still offers that truly personal touch. That said, physical gift cards having performed strongly too indicates the importance of retailers continuing to offer that tangible solution that consumers can still “unwrap” on the big day. 

 

“If you did receive a gift card for Christmas this year, whether physical or digital, don’t just leave it in the bottom drawer and forget about it. It’s not a savings product, it is there for you to treat yourself, and what better time could there be to give yourself a boost than now? Many gift cards can be spent online from the comfort of your home, so log on and start spending!” 

 

Ban Mahsoub, head of gift cards at Tesco Bank said: “We’re proud that our digital gifting service has been helping our customers give meaningful gifting experiences at a time when many have been unable to get to the shops or visit loved ones.   

 

“We know from customer insight and independent research that digital gifting is becoming an increasingly popular way of giving the perfect present, particularly to those hard to buy for friends and family. The recently launched service combines personalisation, digital unwrapping features and flexibility with some of the biggest brands in retail and entertainment, offering our customers even more options.”

 

For more information, visit www.gcva.co.uk

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