GiftCertificates.com Introduces New Features to Empower Consumers With Gifting Advice, Ideas During Busy Holiday Season

GiftCertificates.com Introduces New Features to Empower Consumers With Gifting Advice, Ideas During Busy Holiday Season

Gifting Resource Center Expands Offerings for Nation's Top Supplier of Gift Certificates

SEATTLE, Nov. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- GiftCertificates.com, the nation's leading purveyor of gift certificates, today launched a Gifting Resource Center that will enhance the act of gift-giving for consumer shoppers during the busy holiday season.

GiftCertificates.com's new Gifting Resource Center (www.giftingresources.com) provides in-depth content full of tips and information about gifting occasions, etiquette, and traditions along with answers to frequently asked questions about gifts and the gifting process. It also offers an array of ideas on how to assemble and thematically package several gift certificates in an inviting way.

Earlier this year, the company introduced a new brand program that incorporated a new look and feel for its flagship Web site, www.giftcertificates.com. At the same time, it launched extensive new search capabilities and streamlined the navigation process. The company also introduced unique tools such as Plan-Ahead Giving and a gifting reminder service.

"The Gifting Resource Center, which will continue to evolve with the Web site, goes well beyond traditional gift guides that simply offer gift suggestions," said Tim Barefield, CEO of GiftCertificates.com. "We enable our customers to make better and smarter gifting decisions by helping them understand the background and nuances associated with the act of giving and gift-giving occasions."

The Gifting Resource Center provides assistance to consumers for both traditional and non-traditional gifting holidays as well as other important life events that invite celebration. It is the place to find answers to everything from gifting dilemmas to the latest trends in gifting.

Gift certificates have experienced explosive growth in the past several years. The overall market for gift certificates is expected to surpass $55 billion in 2004, an increase of 22 percent from 2003. It is projected to top $65 billion in 2005.

Gift certificates have become one of the most popular holiday gifts among all age groups. According to the National Retail Federation, 50.6 percent of holiday recipients would like to receive a gift certificate for the holidays. This is up 10 percent in two years and is expected to be the largest increase in any category for 2004.

More than $17.2 billion in gift certificates were sold during the holidays in 2003, representing 41 percent of all gift certificate sales in 2003, according to the NRF.

About GiftCertificates.com

GiftCertificates.com(TM) provides gift certificates and related products and services to corporations and consumers. The company's sales organization works with nearly 20,000 corporate customers in all major industries to implement customer and employee acquisition, incentive, loyalty, reward and retention programs.

The company's best-selling SuperCertificate(R) product can be redeemed at GiftCertificates.com for original merchant gift certificates, including national and local retailers such as Amazon.com, Macy's, Eddie Bauer(R) and The Sharper Image(R); and for travel services such as American Airlines(R) and Marriott(R) Hotels, Resorts & Suites; personal services including Merry Maids and TruGreen ChemLawn; and popular restaurants such as Hard Rock Cafe and The Capital Grille.

GiftCertificates.com, founded in 1997, is headquartered in Seattle and has a distribution facility in Omaha, Neb.

CONTACT:
Ty Rogers Jill Ambrose
MWW Group for GiftCertificates.com GiftCertificates.com
+1-206-689-8392 +1-206-568-2504
trogers@mww.comjambrose@giftcertificates.com


Source: GiftCertificates.com

CONTACT: Ty Rogers of MWW Group, +1-206-689-8392, or trogers@mww.com,
for GiftCertificates.com; or Jill Ambrose of GiftCertificates.com,
+1-206-568-2504, or jambrose@giftcertificates.com

Web site: http://www.giftingresources.com/

Web site: http://www.giftcertificates.com/


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