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Bulk gift cards for employees are a smart and flexible way to show appreciation and boost morale within your team. Whether you’re rewarding top performers or celebrating milestones, bulk gift cards are a versatile solution that cater to diverse preferences and needs.

In this article, we'll explore how to purchase bulk gift cards for employee rewards, including how to lock in discounts and personalize your gift cards to make each reward meaningful. You’ll learn how to create an effective and memorable employee reward program without breaking the bank.

How to purchase bulk gift cards for employee rewards

If you want to order e-gift cards for your staff, you first need to decide exactly what you’re ordering. Implementing an effective employee reward program starts with deciding whether you’ll be giving your team physical or digital gift cards.

You certainly have the option of going to Walmart or your local drug store and buying a big stack of physical gift cards and prepaid cards. If you have a really small team and don’t mind wasting some time and money, this can certainly work.

Factors Group case study.

But more and more companies, big and small, are shifting to digital rewards, because they offer significantly more flexibility and can cater to a wide range of preferences among your team members.

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Here, too, you have options.

You can go to an individual retailer’s website and place a big bulk gift card order for their cards. This option might bring your gift card program into the 21st century, but it still presents some drawbacks. You will still need to manually deliver all those reward cards to all those people—you’ll just be doing it via email instead of via post (i.e., it might be a bit less cumbersome than shopping in-store, but it’s still not easy).

You also won’t have the option to give your recipients any choice in what they’re getting. You’ll decide exactly what gift card they’ll be getting, to which store or restaurant. For certain types of rewards, that often makes sense. But we know from research that simply having a choice in your reward makes it inherently more valuable.

So what’s the best way to purchase bulk employee gifts?

The best option when purchasing bulk gift cards is to find a gift card distributor that simplifies the process, ensures reliability, and provides a variety of options to meet your company's needs.

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Specifically, look for gift card providers that offer a seamless purchasing experience so you can easily order large quantities. Efficient digital gift card platforms should enable you to manage orders, track distributions, and handle any necessary adjustments without hassle.

Giftbit features.

Additionally, you’ll want to consider the variety of gift card options available, ensuring that you can offer choices that appeal to different interests and lifestyles. That’s why when assessing gift card companies, the first thing you should look at is their rewards catalog. You should be able to easily select from a wide range of brands and denominations, and to allow your recipients to choose their own gift card.

“My favorite thing is giving people a reward that you know they want,” says Molly Quinn, Managing Director of Marketing & Communications at Distinctive Schools, which uses Giftbit to power their rewards program. “By offering them the choice, it’s not so prescriptive. We’re able to honor and appreciate them, while also allowing them to have some voice and choice in what they receive.”

You’ll also want to assess the level of support you’ll enjoy from your provider. This level of support can vary wildly, and it’s notoriously challenging for smaller programs to get someone on the phone, or via email or live chat.

Meanwhile, Giftbit provides robust support services for both you and your recipients, no matter what size your program is. If your employees have any trouble accessing their corporate gift card, our team handles the nitty-gritty. This lets you focus on what matters most—rewarding and motivating your employees.

Ultimately, by choosing the right distributor, you'll streamline your employee reward program's effectiveness, making your team feel valued and appreciated without the complexities often associated with bulk purchases.

Purchasing bulk gift cards at a glance: find a reputable digital gift card platform and use their services to simplify and streamline the process.

Purchasing bulk gift cards at Giftbit⤵️
Giftbit makes it easy to buy and send digital gift cards in bulk for any use case. To start sending bulk gift cards, follow these steps:

  1. Create a no-fee account. There are no fees, minimums, or special subscriptions required to sign up or use Giftbit—you’ll only ever pay for the rewards themselves.

  2. Upload your contacts. We recommend first name and email.

  3. Customize your rewards. More details on how to personalize your employee rewards below.

  4. Fund and send. Free funding is available via bank wire, electronic funds transfer (EFT), and direct debit. We accept all major credit cards, including Mastercard®, Visa®, and American Express®. Auto-funding and custom funding are also available—contact us to learn more.

Like we’ll cover below, Giftbit also offers opportunities for revenue sharing and bulk discounts for larger programs. That’s true whether you want to just send bulk Starbucks or Amazon.com gift cards, or offer full choice from the global catalog.

“We believe that when a company pays money for an incentive, all of that cost should go to the incentive itself,” says Nat Salvione, Giftbit CCO. “The most effective incentives programs are ones where the entire budget goes to the reward.”

Deliver bulk employee incentives and gifts, too

Digital gift cards are not only excellent for general employee rewards. They work great for various incentive programs of all types. Whether you're looking to boost sales, recognize outstanding performance, or celebrate team achievements with the perfect gift, bulk digital gift cards offer the flexibility and immediacy needed to make your incentives impactful.

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In sales incentive programs, for example, digital gift cards can be used to reward top performers quickly and efficiently. Unlike traditional rewards, digital gift cards eliminate the wait time for physical delivery, ensuring that your employees feel appreciated in real-time. Since they offer instant gratification, they can significantly enhance motivation and drive results.

Sales incentives with Giftbit rewards.

Moreover, digital gift cards are versatile enough to be integrated into different types of incentive schemes. They can be used for milestone celebrations, project completions, or as part of a points-based reward system. This versatility makes them a preferred choice for businesses aiming to create a dynamic and responsive reward environment.

For instance, Giftbit supports diverse incentive and payout programs by offering a wide range of digital gift card options that can be easily customized to fit your specific needs. Seamlessly distribute bulk gift cards tailored to various incentive categories, ensuring that each reward aligns perfectly with your program’s objectives. The platform also allows you to track and manage distributions efficiently, making it easier to measure the success of your incentive initiatives.

By incorporating bulk digital gift cards into your employee incentives and gifts, you’ll create a streamlined and effective reward system that can adapt to different motivational strategies. This approach not only simplifies the distribution process but also enhances the overall impact of your incentive programs, ensuring that your employees remain engaged and motivated.

Think outside the employee rewards box: Use the same Giftbit platform you use for employees to send corporate gifts, for customer growth, and for your marketing incentive programs.

Discounts on bulk gift cards

Another question: Can you get discounts on bulk cards?

Absolutely—rewarding your team shouldn’t mean breaking the bank. Like we’ve covered, Giftbit is free to use. You’ll only ever pay for your gift card purchases themselves.

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And, more importantly, we offer revenue sharing and bulk discounts. Please reach out to learn more.

Ultimately, our transparent pricing model is designed to keep your rewards program both effective and affordable.

“Order as much or as little as you want from us, and we’ll demonstrate value to you by doing a good job,” says Nat. “We believe that as your partner if we can provide transparency around your program and make it easy to send, you’ll keep using us.”

Giftbit pricing.

How to personalize bulk gift cards for employees

Personalizing any bulk gift cards you send will make them feel more thoughtful and tailored to each employee. One size doesn’t fit all when it comes to employee appreciation, which is why Giftbit offers robust customization options to help you create meaningful rewards.

Namely, you can easily add your company logo, include personalized messages, and use different templates to match your company’s branding. This level of personalization ensures that each gift card feels unique and special, enhancing the overall employee experience.

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Beyond just visuals, our platform allows you to customize the gift card values and select from a wide range of retailers and services that best fit your team’s preferences. Whether you want to recognize top performers, explore employee retention incentives, celebrate work anniversaries, send bulk holiday gifts to your team, or simply show appreciation, Giftbit makes it simple to tailor your rewards to fit the occasion.

In short, if you want to customize any type of incentive program, you’ll find options to do so. And by personalizing your bulk rewards, you’ll create a more impactful and memorable experience for your employees.

More options to personalize rewards in Giftbit:

  • Choose whether you want to offer a curated reward experience or offer the full catalog

  • Choose whether you want to send rewards with or without an expiration date

  • Choose how you want to deliver your rewards, whether via email, text, QR code, or via social media, or to integrate directly into your own app or website via the gift card API.

Finding the best deal on bulk gift cards for employee rewards

So, what is the best gift card to give an employee? It’s one that shows instant appreciation, fits your budget, and aligns with your reward strategy. Choosing the right provider plays a crucial role in achieving this balance.

When choosing a gift card distributor for bulk gift cards, transparency is key. Find one that offers clear, straightforward pricing that helps you manage your budget without any hidden surprises.

User experience is also essential. Managing your employee rewards should be hassle-free, so you can focus more on celebrating your team’s achievements and less on the logistics of distribution.

Reliability is another important factor. A dependable provider ensures that your gift cards reach your employees smoothly and on time, enhancing their experience and the overall effectiveness of your reward program. 

Buying and sending bulk gift cards can and should be a streamlined, cost-effective solution that prioritizes both your needs and those of your employees. It’s about creating a rewarding experience that fosters a culture of appreciation and motivates your team to continue their great work.

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Giftbit makes it easy and affordable to send bulk gift cards to employees. Sign up for your free account now.


FAQs

Is it cheaper to buy gift cards in bulk?

Purchasing gift cards in bulk is typically more cost-effective than buying them individually, assuming you work with a gift card provider that offers discounts based on the quantity you order. This approach not only maximizes your budget but also allows you to reward more employees without extra expense. Bulk buying is a smart way to show appreciation while keeping your reward program affordable.

Is there a limit on buying gift cards in bulk?

There’s typically no strict limit when purchasing gift cards in bulk. Whether you’re rewarding a small team or an entire company, gift card distributors like Giftbit can handle orders of any size. Always check with your provider for specific guidelines, but generally, you’re free to reward as many employees as you’d like.

That said, if you plan to have a large and/or complex program, we always recommend a pressure-free call to ensure you’re maximizing your results. A quick chat can help ensure you can continually scale your rewards program to fit your needs without any hassle. Book one now. 

What is the appropriate gift card amount for employees?

Recent data from Fiserv suggests that 56% of employees want gift cards worth at least $100. That said, the appropriate gift card amount for employees can vary wildly based on the reasons for giving it in the first place.

For example, depending on your budget, you will likely want to spend more on employee gifts and incentives.

But if you’d like to treat an employee to a cup of coffee before a meeting, a $10 gift card to their favorite coffee shop is usually more than enough.

Giftbit
Post by Giftbit
November 27, 2024