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InComm Study Shows Continued Rise in Digital Prepaid Adoption for Gifting and Self UseATLANTA, Dec. 9, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- InComm, a leading prepaid product and transaction services company, today released research highlighting consumer shopping trends for purchasing digital and physical gift cards from websites and mobile devices. Of the consumers surveyed, 89% have purchased two or more gift cards by online or mobile means annually. Respondents answered questions about their purchasing habits and their intentions for purchasing gift cards from websites and mobile devices – as well as digital cards specifically – this holiday season and beyond. Highlights include:
 "Retailers can drive online sales as well as brick and mortar traffic by offering consumers both physical and digital cards and ensuring a retail process that accounts for the redemption of prepaid cards through mobile means," said Mike Fletcher, General Manager, Digital Solutions, InComm. "This study demonstrates the continued consumer adoption of digital prepaid cards across all age demographics. It also shows the significant increase in digital prepaid being employed by consumers for self-use. Retailers need to keep these consumer trends in mind in order to continue providing consistent excellence in customer service and support across all channels." 2015 Holiday Intentions 94% of respondents intend to purchase at least one gift card from an online website or mobile website/app this holiday season, while 76% agree that they are likely to purchase at least one digital gift card. About 84% of respondents between 18-25 and 75% of those between 26-45 agree that they're likely to purchase at least one digital gift card this holiday season. The feedback was clear, in contrast to results from 2014, consumers are not looking to purchase one card this holiday season; they're buying 4 or more. Participants were asked how many gift cards they intend to purchase from online websites or mobile websites/apps this holiday season:
Purchasing Physical vs. Digital Gift Cards Of those who have bought a gift card from an online website or a mobile website/app, 29 have purchased a physical gift card, while 32% have purchased a digital gift card and 39% have purchased both. A digital gift card was defined as a card that is emailed to the recipient, and a physical gift card was defined as a traditional gift card that is shipped to the recipient. "While the percentage of consumers purchasing only physical cards went down, given the increased percentage of those who have purchased both physical and digital cards in comparison to results received last year, digital gift cards continue to gain in popularity." When asked how many gift cards they purchase from online websites or mobile websites/apps annually, respondents answered:
When deciding whether to purchase a digital gift card or a physical gift card, more than one-third state that it depends on who they're buying the card for. In fact, 61% prefer to have the option to purchase either a physical gift card or a digital gift card when purchasing gift cards from online websites or mobile websites/apps. Digital and Mobile on the Rise About 76% agree that they're likely to purchase at least one digital gift card this holiday season. For those between 18-25, 84% are likely to purchase at least one digital gift card over that same period. Also, 81% agree that they're more interested in purchasing digital gift cards now than they were 2-3 years ago, with numbers higher among younger respondents: Ages 18-25: 88% agree 56% of respondents agree that if they receive a digital gift card, they prefer to have the card scanned from their phone rather than carry an email printout. These numbers are higher among younger respondents: Ages 18-25: 64% agree Further, 71% of respondents are interested in storing and using gift cards on their phones. Again, interest is higher among younger respondents but it should also be noted that there is increased interest among those over 35 years of age: Ages 18-25: 81% agree Also, 96% of respondents agree that they're interested in storing digital gift cards on their phone for self-use, such as for budgeting purposes, to earn loyalty rewards, etc. Among those aged 18-25, 95% agree that they're interested. Both of these figures represent tremendous gains in adoption over the previous year. Gift Card Shopping Preferences Respondents answered the reasons that they have purchased digital gift cards in the past:
Overall, respondents cited the following considerations during the purchasing experience when buying digital gift cards:
Gift Cards and Loyalty Programs When asked if they participate in a loyalty program (earning points for purchase), 84% of respondents stated that they do. 55% participate in 2-3 loyalty programs, 16% in 4-5, and 19% in 1. When asked how they use their points to purchase, 41% said gift card, 27% said cash rebate, 23% for a product, 7% said airline miles, and 2% said experiences (wine tasting, concert, etc.) Cash and gift cards are top choices by far when it comes to the types of rewards respondents prefer to receive from an employer. Further, 36% of respondents agreed that they were more likely to purchase a product that was accompanied by a prepaid incentive and 49% agreed that prepaid promotions influence the products they purchase on a regular basis. When asked if they were to receive a reward for making a purchase, in what format would you prefer to receive the reward, 52% answered a prepaid Visa® card, while 40% answered a gift card and 8% said mail-in rebate. When using loyalty points, 41% of respondents chose prepaid products above all other options, including cash. More than 500 respondents were surveyed online in October 2015. About InComm  Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151208/294172-INFO Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110525/CL09221LOGO To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/incomm-study-shows-continued-rise-in-digital-prepaid-adoption-for-gifting-and-self-use-300190316.html SOURCE InComm 
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