Gift Card Spending on the Rise in Canada, Survey Data Suggest

Canadian merchants this holiday season may see an increase in gift card use as the economic downturn continues to force consumers to operate on a limited budget, a recent survey data suggests. Givex Corp., a stored-valueprepaid -technology provider, sponsored the telephone survey of 1,013 Canadians, which Harris/Decima, a Canadian market-research firm, conducted between Oct. 8 and Oct. 11. Harris/Decima, a Canadian market research firm, conducted the survey. Givex found in tThe survey found that 23% of Canadians opt to buy provide gift cards instead of personal gifts or cash or merchandise  when purchasing giving personal giftsgifts on a fixed budget. The survey also revealed data also suggest that at the time of redemption, half of consumers card recipients usually spend more than the value on the card,. That number is up from 39% of respondents who said so last year in a similar survey that when redeeming gift cards they exceed the gift card's value.  Harris/Decima, a Canadian market research firm, conducted the survey on behalf of Givex and telephone interviewed 1,013 Canadians between Oct. 8 and Oct. 11. Some 62% of respondents this year also said they are likely to provide their personal information in exchange for an incentive. Incentives such as bonus gift card funds or free products have additional appeal, the survey revealed.