What companies tell me daily about corporate gifts and gift cards

TL;DR — In 30 seconds

• Business gifts are often arranged on top of someone's own work — result: too late, or falling back on the old trusted options.

• At the word "gift card", many businesses still think: boring, impersonal. Mostly because they don't know the alternative.

• With a digital choice gift card, the recipient chooses for themselves — personal, branded, and easy or fully automated to send.

• According to the IMA, the use of gift cards as business gifts will grow by about 20% over the next three years, driven by freedom of choice and awareness of climate impact.

I speak with businesses every day. Sometimes the organiser, sometimes the one who ultimately executes it. As a result, I hear first-hand what they run into. The sectors vary enormously, and yet I often hear the same feedback.

💡 Why Giffy writes this

Giffy builds gift card infrastructure for businesses. We believe in a transparent chain — from issuer to recipient. This blog shares what we hear daily from the market, so employers can make better choices around appreciation and rewarding.

The pattern: too late, too rushed, or not at all

Business gifts for the end of the year, birthdays, Easter, or Sinterklaas are usually arranged by a colleague or working group, alongside their actual work. The result is predictable: it happens too late, it doesn't happen, or it happens in a rush and falls back on the old trusted concept. Not because the business finds it unimportant — quite the contrary. There is simply no time for it.

As soon as the word "gift card" is mentioned, I often see an initial reaction: boring, impersonal, hassle. Many businesses already give a card, usually a Bol or VVV card. The reasoning is almost always the same: that always lands well, people can choose for themselves, and they are already lying around the office.

Logical. But that choice almost always stems from the fact that they don't know the alternative yet.

What changes once I explain what is possible

As soon as I explain what is possible with Giffy, the conversation changes. A personal message, a white-label environment in your own corporate style, handwritten cards for larger volumes, complete packages, freedom of choice from 150+ cards (also internationally), donation and sustainable options, and it can be sent easily or even fully automatically. At that point, businesses are indeed open to it.

The market is moving along

Reports from the IMA (Incentive Marketing Association) show that interest in and application of gift cards as business gifts will grow by about 20% over the next three years. Two things drive this: freedom of choice is becoming increasingly important, and we have become more aware of climate impact. No one wants to give a gift that ends up unused in a drawer anymore.

With our digital choice gift card, we solve exactly those problems. The recipient feels genuinely appreciated and chooses something that fits. The sender doesn't see it as an extra burden, but as a worthy gift that is sorted with a few clicks. That is what matters: it has to be right for both sides.

🔐 For businesses

Do you issue gift cards as business gifts or employee rewards? Giffy provides digital choice gift cards through a transparent chain, on your own brand and with full tracking — simple or fully automated. → Discover Giffy for businesses: https://getgiffy.com

Frequently asked questions

Why do businesses often choose a Bol or VVV card?

Usually out of habit and because the alternative is still unknown. They don't yet know the option of a digital choice gift card with freedom of choice, own corporate design, and automated sending.

Is the market for gift cards as a business gift growing?

Yes. According to the IMA, the use of gift cards as business gifts will grow by about 20% over the next three years, driven by freedom of choice and awareness of climate impact.

What makes a digital choice gift card different from a regular gift card?

Freedom of choice (150+ cards, also internationally), a personal message, white-label in your own corporate style, sustainable and donation options, and the ability to send easily or fully automatically.

Can you automate the sending?

Yes. Sending can be done manually with a few clicks, or fully automatically. For larger orders, Giffy takes care of the entire process.

Related articles

• What makes our approach in the incentive market unique: https://getgiffy.com/blog/giffy-aanpak-incentivemarkt

• From gift card to incentive platform: how Giffy solves objections: https://getgiffy.com/blog/van-cadeaukaart-naar-incentiveplatform

About the author

Giffy is the Dutch platform for digital gift cards that allows businesses to safely, quickly, and on-brand distribute value — to customers, partners, and employees. We believe in financial integrity and a transparent chain: from issuer to recipient. → getgiffy.com