District E-Gift Card, Give the Gift of Experiences

District is a modern platform designed for people who love to go out, explore, and live a little. It brings together everything you need for a great time in your city, all in one place. No more juggling multiple apps to plan a single evening. Whether it’s a solo movie night, a date night dinner, or a group outing to a live show, District makes discovery and booking effortlessly smooth.

What You Can Do with District

Movie Ticket Booking – Seats for the latest releases, from blockbusters to indie hits.
Dining Experiences – Curated restaurants, cafes, and eateries for every craving.
Live Shows & Concerts – Comedy nights, theatre, concerts, and more.
Events & Entertainment – Art exhibitions, gaming nights, and more.

Stop Gifting Stuff. Start Gifting Moments.

The District E-Gift Card is designed for experiences that create lasting memories, whether it’s a blockbuster movie, a new restaurant, or a live concert. It hands over the keys and lets your recipient choose their own adventure, giving them the freedom to plan the perfect outing, from a movie marathon to a special dinner or even front-row seats at a live show. With one-year validity, multiple denominations to suit every budget, and wide usability across movies, dining, and live entertainment on District, it’s a gift that adapts to every occasion. Buying online is effortless, delivery is instant, and redemption is simple, making it a hassle-free way to give not just a card, but the promise of unforgettable experiences.

Why It Makes a Perfect Gift

People forget products, but they remember experiences. The District E-Gift Card is the ideal choice for anyone who loves going out and exploring their city. It works beautifully for birthdays and celebrations, date nights and anniversaries, showing appreciation to colleagues, or simply planning a fun weekend with friends and family. With its ease of use, there’s no overthinking and no wrong choices, just a gift that anyone will genuinely enjoy.

Exclusive Offer: Flat 4% OFF on Woohoo

Buying on Woohoo gets you a flat 4% discount on the District Gift Card, and it’s not just for gifting. You can pick one up for yourself, use it on your next outing, and save while you’re at it. It’s smart gifting with real savings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How long is the District Gift Card valid?

A: The District Gift Card is valid for one year from the date of purchase, giving recipients plenty of time to plan their experiences.

Q: Where can the District Gift Card be used?

A: It can be used across movies, dining, and live entertainment experiences on the District platform, making it ideal for any occasions.

Q: Can the gift card be refunded or transferred?

A: Gift cards are non-refundable. For transfer-related queries, the terms on District or Woohoo at the time of purchase will provide guidance.

Q: How do I redeem the District Gift Card?

A: Redeeming the card is simple. Enter the gift card code at checkout on the District app or website and apply the value to your booking.

Q: Do I get a discount when buying on Woohoo?

A: Yes, Woohoo offers a flat 4% discount on the District Gift Card, making it a smart choice for both gifting and personal use.

Get flat 4% off on the District E-Gift Card only on Woohoo.

The Perfect Step Forward: Hush Puppies Gift Card.

The gift that fits every style, every size, every occasion.

Introduction

Finding the perfect gift is never easy, especially for someone who seems to have everything. The Hush Puppies Gift Card on Woohoo solves that problem by giving your loved ones the freedom to choose exactly what they want from a brand they already love. Whether it’s for a birthday, anniversary, or just a thoughtful gesture, this gift card truly fits.

About Hush Puppies: A Legacy of Comfort and Style

Since 1958, Hush Puppies has been synonymous with effortless comfort and understated elegance. Known worldwide for its comfort-first design philosophy, the brand offers everything from iconic Pigskin suede loafers to sleek leather oxfords and breezy casual sneakers.

Hush Puppies strikes the perfect balance between casual ease and semi-formal refinement, making it a wardrobe staple for both work and leisure.

Introducing the Hush Puppies Gift Card on Woohoo

The Hush Puppies Gift Card is now live on Woohoo, India’s leading gifting platform.

Key Features at a Glance:

Validity: 6 months from the date of purchase
Multiple Denominations: Available across a range of values
Flexible & Convenient: No guessing sizes, styles, or colours
Instant Delivery: Digital delivery for hassle-free gifting

Why It’s the Perfect Gift

Gifting footwear can be tricky. The Hush Puppies Gift Card eliminates size, style, and colour confusion.

Perfect for:

Men and women who love stylish comfort
Friends and family who are hard to shop for
Colleagues as a professional yet warm corporate gift

Occasions:

Birthdays, anniversaries, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day
Work milestones, promotions, farewells
Or simply, “just because”

Why a Gift Card Beats a Regular Gift

No size confusion – they pick what fits
No style guesswork – they choose what matches their wardrobe
No colour dilemmas – they decide what they love
No awkward returns – it’s exactly what they wanted

A gift card isn’t lazy, it’s thoughtful. It gives them the joy of choosing something they truly want.

Exclusive Offer: Flat 10% OFF

Right now, Woohoo is offering Flat 10% OFF on Hush Puppies Gift Cards.

Use code WOOHOO at checkout
Save instantly while gifting something premium
Works for self-use too, buy your own gift card at a discount and stretch your budget further

FAQs

1. What is the validity of the Hush Puppies Gift Card? Valid for 6 months from the date of purchase.

2. Where can I use the Gift Card? At authorised Hush Puppies offline stores across India.

3. Can I use it online? No, redemption is in-store only.

4. Is it refundable or transferable? Non-refundable, but transferable as a gift.

5. How do I redeem it? Present the unique gift card code at any authorised Hush Puppies store.

Step Into Something Better

If you’ve been searching for a gift that’s practical, premium, and appreciated, the Hush Puppies Gift Card on Woohoo is the answer.

Buy now, save 10%, and give the gift of comfort and style.

Bata e-Gift Cards Are Now on Woohoo

India’s Most Beloved Footwear Brand

When it comes to footwear in India, few names carry the warmth and trust that Bata does. Founded over a century ago, Bata has been a household name across generations from kids’ first school shoes to dad’s trusted formals, from mom’s everyday flats to the latest sneaker drops for Gen Z.

With hundreds of stores across India and a wide range of styles spanning casual, formal, sports, and ethnic, Bata has always stood for quality, comfort, and accessibility. It’s not just a shoe brand, it’s a part of India’s everyday life.

Introducing Bata e-Gift Cards on Woohoo

We’re excited to bring you one of gifting’s best combinations: Bata’s trusted legacy, now available on Woohoo! The Bata e-Gift Card is the perfect way to let someone shop for exactly what they love, without any guesswork. Whether you’re gifting a friend, rewarding an employee, or treating a family member, this card puts the joy of choice right in their hands.

Why it’s a great gift:

Instant digital delivery straight to inbox and phone.
Redeemable at Bata stores across India.
Available in multiple denominations to suit every budget.
Great for personal gifting as well as bulk corporate orders.
Valid for 6 months from the date of purchase.

Exclusive Offer: Get 10% Off on Bata e-Gift Cards!

Here’s the best part: for a limited time, save 10% when you purchase a Bata e-Gift Card on Woohoo. Just use coupon code WOOHOO at checkout and watch the savings roll in. That means you’re gifting more value than what you’re actually spending, a true win-win.

Stack Your Savings: Use Gift Cards on Ongoing Bata Offers

It gets even better. Bata e-Gift Cards can be clubbed with ongoing in-store offers and promotions, so your recipient gets to stretch their gift even further. If there’s a sale running at Bata, they can use their gift card on top of it, saving extra while shopping for the styles they love.

More value. More savings. More happy feet.

The Bottom Line

A gift card that comes with a discount, works on top of existing offers, and is valid for 6 months? That’s not just a gift, that’s a smart buy.

Grab a Bata e-Gift Card, and make someone’s next step their best one yet.

Ajio Big Bold Sale: Shop Smarter with Woohoo

Ajio Big Bold Sale is Live

The Ajio Big Bold Sale has arrived, bringing some of the biggest fashion deals of the season. From everyday essentials to premium labels, Ajio is offering massive discounts across apparel, footwear, and accessories. With curated collections, seasonal launches, and festive promotions, this sale is the perfect chance to refresh your wardrobe and shop the latest trends at unbeatable prices.

Save Extra with Woohoo Ajio Gift Cards

Ajio’s Big Bold Sale already offers incredible discounts, but Woohoo helps you save even more. When you purchase Ajio E‑Gift Cards on Woohoo, you get up to 25% off upfront, giving you additional savings even before you start shopping. These gift cards can be redeemed directly on Ajio across categories like clothing, shoes, and accessories. Delivered instantly online, they’re convenient, easy to use, and ideal for both personal shopping and gifting.

Stack Your Savings for Maximum Value

Woohoo offers up to 25% OFF on Ajio E‑Gift Cards, and the best part is how well they work with Ajio’s existing offers. You can combine your Ajio coupons, sale discounts, and brand deals and then pay using your Ajio E‑Gift Card at checkout.

For example, if Ajio is offering 40% off on a new collection, you can apply that coupon and then pay using your Ajio E‑Gift Card, giving you layered savings on the same purchase. It’s a simple way to stretch your budget further every time you shop.

The Easiest Way to Save Extra on Ajio

Ajio E‑Gift Cards make every purchase more rewarding. They offer flexibility, instant delivery, and the freedom to shop from thousands of styles across clothing, footwear, and accessories. Whether you’re buying one for yourself or gifting it for occasions like birthdays, weddings, or festive sales, these cards fit seamlessly into everyday shopping.

And if you’re new to using Ajio E‑Gift Cards, we’ve made it even simpler. Watch our step‑by‑step tutorial to learn how to redeem your Ajio E‑Gift Card quickly and use it the right way, so you never miss out on savings.

FAQs

1. How can I save extra during the Ajio Big Bold Sale?

You can save extra by purchasing Ajio E‑Gift Cards on Woohoo, where you get up to 25% additional savings. You can then use the gift card on Ajio along with existing coupons and sale discounts.

2. Can I combine Ajio coupons with Ajio E‑Gift Cards?

Yes. Ajio allows you to apply coupons first and then pay using your E‑Gift Card. This lets you stack both benefits and maximize your savings.

3. How do I redeem an Ajio E‑Gift Card?

You can redeem your Ajio E‑Gift Card during checkout by entering the gift card code in the “Gift Card/Promo Code” section. If you need help, watch our step‑by‑step tutorial for a quick walkthrough.

4. Are Ajio E‑Gift Cards delivered instantly?

Yes. When you buy Ajio E‑Gift Cards from Woohoo, they are delivered instantly to your email or phone, making them convenient for last‑minute shopping or gifting.

5. Can I use Ajio E‑Gift Cards for all categories on Ajio?

Ajio E‑Gift Cards can be used across most categories, including clothing, footwear, accessories, and more. They offer flexibility and work for both men’s and women’s fashion.

JioMart Gift Cards: Smarter Shopping, Thoughtful Gifting

Shopping Made Easy

Most of us shop online these days, groceries, electronics, clothes, you name it. JioMart has become a go‑to platform for many households because you can find almost everything in one place. From fresh groceries and home essentials to smartphones, fashion, and beauty products, it’s all just a click away. With free delivery on most items and competitive prices, JioMart makes everyday shopping convenient.

A Practical Gift Choice

Gift cards make gifting simple. Instead of worrying about what to buy, you give people the choice to pick what they need. A JioMart gift card is a practical option for birthdays, weddings, and festivals and with Christmas around the corner, it’s a timely way to share something useful.

It can be redeemed directly on JioMart for everyday groceries, electronics, fashion, or home essentials. That makes it a gift people can put to use right away. At Woohoo, we offer an instant 4% discount when you purchase JioMart gift cards so you save while giving a present that’s practical and easy.

Save More While You Shop

JioMart gift cards work seamlessly with JioMart Promo Codes and ongoing offers. So whenever JioMart runs discounts whether it’s groceries, fashion, electronics, or festive deals you can apply a JioMart Promo Code and still pay with your gift card. For example, if JioMart offers an iPhone at 10% off, you can use the promo code for that discount and then complete the purchase with your gift card. This ensures your gift card is always valid alongside promotions, making it easy to get more value from ongoing deals.

Why Choose JioMart Gift Cards

JioMart gift cards are valuable for both personal shopping and gifting. They bring together convenience and choice in one simple option, making everyday purchases smoother. Whether you’re picking one up for yourself or sharing it with someone else, these cards fit perfectly into daily life.

With Christmas approaching, along with birthdays, weddings, and other occasions throughout the year, JioMart gift cards make gifting effortless. They’re practical, easy to use, and add extra value to every purchase.

How Travel Gift Cards Save You Money on Trips

Travel is one of the most loved experiences in life. Whether it’s a quick weekend getaway or a much-awaited international trip, the excitement of planning flights, hotels, and holiday activities is unmatched. But there’s always one challenge travel is expensive, especially during holiday seasons when prices rise sharply.

Flight fares, hotel rates, and package costs often skyrocket during peak seasons like summer vacations, festive holidays, or long weekends. The result? You end up spending much more than expected.

This is exactly where Woohoo Travel Gift Cards make a difference. By purchasing travel gift cards at a discounted rate, you lock in instant savings upfront. When you finally use the card to pay for flights, hotels, or holiday packages, your money goes further helping you enjoy more without overspending.

Here’s how Woohoo helps you save big across every part of your journey.

Big Savings on Flights

Airfare usually consumes a large portion of your travel budget. Prices vary drastically depending on demand, time of booking, and especially during festivals or peak vacation times. Instead of waiting for unpredictable sales, Woohoo gives you guaranteed savings on flight gift cards.

MakeMyTrip Flight Gift Card – Flat 7.5% Off

MakeMyTrip is one of India’s most trusted travel platforms, offering a wide choice of domestic and international flights. With the MakeMyTrip Flight Gift Card, you can enjoy a flat 7.5% discount upfront, making your flight bookings more affordable.

Air India Gift Card – Flat 8.5% Off

Air India, the country’s flagship airline, is known for its wide network and premium services. By purchasing an Air India Gift Card through Woohoo, you instantly save 8.5% on ticket bookings ideal for frequent flyers.

Yatra Flight Gift Card – Flat 6% Off

Yatra is a go-to platform for quick and easy flight bookings. With Woohoo’s Yatra Flight Gift Card, you get 6% off instantly, reducing costs on both domestic and international routes.

Cleartrip Flight Gift Card – Flat 6.5% Off

Cleartrip is known for its user-friendly booking system. With the Cleartrip Flight Gift Card, Woohoo offers a 6.5% discount, making it a smart choice for hassle-free flight bookings with guaranteed savings.

SpiceJet Gift Card – Flat 5% Off

SpiceJet is one of India’s leading low-cost airlines. With Woohoo’s SpiceJet Gift Card, you enjoy a 5% discount on fares, perfect for budget travelers seeking reliable journeys.

Extra Savings on Hotels

Hotels are another major expense during any trip. Prices climb during festivals, long weekends, and holiday seasons, making it hard to find budget-friendly options. With Woohoo gift cards, you don’t have to worry about fluctuating rates you are already saving upfront.

MakeMyTrip Hotel Gift Card – Flat 13.1% Off

From budget rooms to luxury suites, the MakeMyTrip Hotel Gift Card gives you 13.1% savings upfront across thousands of hotels worldwide.

Cleartrip Hotel Gift Card – Flat 18% Off

Woohoo makes Cleartrip’s hotel bookings even better with 18% off, the highest hotel discount available. Perfect for frequent travellers who want maximum value.

Yatra Hotel & Holiday Gift Card – Flat 10% Off

Yatra’s versatile Hotel & Holiday Gift Card gives you 10% instant savings, making both accommodations and holiday stays more affordable.

Smarter Holiday Packages

Holiday packages offer the convenience of flights, hotels, and activities bundled together. But during peak travel months, these packages often come at premium prices. Woohoo travel gift cards help you bring those costs down significantly.

MakeMyTrip Holiday Gift Card – Flat 13.1% Off

With 13.1% savings, the MakeMyTrip Holiday Gift Card makes curated vacation experiences more budget-friendly.

Sterling Holiday Resorts Gift Card – Flat 13% Off

Sterling is known for cozy resorts and family-friendly holiday experiences. With Woohoo’s Sterling Holiday Resorts Gift Card, you save 13% upfront on memorable family vacations.

Indulge in Luxury Experiences at Less

Sometimes, travel is about more than just the destination—it’s about indulgence. Staying in a luxury hotel, dining in style, or enjoying five-star hospitality can elevate your journey. While luxury comes at a cost, Woohoo makes it easier with discounted gift cards.

Taj Experience Gift Card – Flat 8% Off

Enjoy the unmatched luxury of Taj Hotels, dining, and spas with 8% savings upfront. Perfect for anniversaries, honeymoons, or indulgent escapes.

ITC Hotels Gift Card – Flat 10% Off

Experience premium stays and fine dining at ITC Hotels while saving 10% instantly. A great choice for travelers who want elegance and comfort.

Moments by The Leela Gift Card – Flat 10% Off

The Leela Hotels are synonymous with royal hospitality. Woohoo’s Moments by The Leela Gift Card gives you 10% savings upfront, making five-star luxury more affordable.

Limited-Time Special: Up to 90% Off on Yatra

For savvy traveller’s, Woohoo has an unbeatable deal up to 90% off on Yatra e-gift cards. This special promotion is one of the biggest travel savings available, covering flights, hotels, and holiday packages all in one.

Why Choose Travel Gift Cards?

Instant Discounts – Save at the time of buying the card itself.
Flexibility – Use across flights, hotels, holidays, and luxury stays.
Trusted Brands – MakeMyTrip, Yatra, Cleartrip, Air India, SpiceJet, Taj, ITC, The Leela & more.
Perfect for Gifting – Surprise friends and family who love to travel.
Safe & Convenient – 100% digital, secure, and easy to redeem.

Travel prices will always rise during holiday seasons, but that doesn’t mean you have to spend extra. With Travel Gift Cards, you can enjoy guaranteed savings on flights, hotels, holiday packages, and luxury stays all while planning your dream vacation.

Be it a family trip, solo journey, or gifting to a loved one, travel gift cards are the smartest way to save.

Start your journey the smart way, explore the latest Travel Gift Cards today and make your next holiday more rewarding.

Always Forget an Important Occasion? Not anymore!

Do you find yourself somehow forgetting people’s birthdays, anniversaries etc on D-Day? (I’m guilty of it myself!) Or, perhaps, you’re someone who likes to have things planned well in advance and have gifts delivered as per the plan on those specific dates? Woohoo’s “scheduled gifting” option now allows you to have your wishes and E-Gift Cards delivered to your loved ones exactly when they need to be delivered, be it Valentine’s Day, Diwali or other such occasions.

That’s right! You can now select the specific date on which you want the E-Gift Cards to be delivered. This feature does ease the pressure of having to “remember” to send it on time for the occasion or, worse still, remembering it days after the event has passed.

Never be guilty of forgetting another important occasion again!

scheduled gifting, gifting, gift cards

Valentine’s Day gifts for that special someone

With Valentine’s Day just round the corner and the atmosphere abuzz with all things red and pink, you would love to let that special someone know how much he or she means to you. But the hunt for the perfect Valentine’s Day gifts could be quite a challenge because, surely, your loved one deserves nothing but the “best”.

So what could make the best Valentine’s Day gifts?

Chocolates, roses, soft toys, perfumes, jewellery sets…ah! You’ve done it all! Why not gift something that’s unique and create memories you both will cherish for a lifetime? Well, that’s exactly what you’re looking for, right? Be it gifts for him or her, we’ve got some good valentine gift ideas right here!

A hamper full of surprises

Imagine we tell you that it’s possible to surprise your loved one that morning with the entire day’s plan, that you’ve so lovingly chalked out, literally on the cards? Too good to be true? With Woohoo, this is just as good as it is true!

Here’s what you do:

Hop on to Woohoo.in and browse through a range of gift cards across different categories that you would like to select to create the gift cards hamper for your loved one.

If a nice coffee and brunch date is how you plan to start your Valentine’s Day with your loved one, you could choose to pick a Costa Coffee gift card.

Heading for a movie next? Pick a PVR cinemas gift card.

For the lunch date, you could choose gift cards from Mainland China, Oh! Calcutta, Spaghetti Kitchen and the like, depending on your loved one’s choice of cuisine.

If spending some quality time going shopping together is part of your plan, you could select gift cards from Shopper’s Stop, Lifestyle, Marks & Spencer, Westside and more. If online shopping is what is preferred, you could choose from Amazon or Myntra gift cards.

And before you wrap up that perfect day with an exquisite dinner experience, you could choose to unwind with your loved one at a spa or salon, with gift cards from the Four Fountains Spa or Lakme salon.

Is there more?

Yes! You could chose to have all of this personalized and delivered to your loved one’s mobile in an instant. With the Woohoo app, you could send your loved one an e-gift card that could be used across all of this without having to carry the physical gift cards. You could also add a photograph of the two of you, record a voice message and put it in text and have all of this delivered in a matter of seconds, directly from your mobile to theirs, via Whatsapp, SMS or email.

Now, that’s the perfect Valentine’s Day gifts planning that you’ve handled like a pro! Isn’t that impressive?

Note: Image is from lanelemani.com. Copyright vests with respective copyright holders.

Changing the Way the World Gifts

It is that time of the year. Again. To make resolutions. And to ensure that the resolutions taken earlier are close to execution.

We collectively look forward to a New Year with renewed hope and excitement.

There would surely be freshly baked jokes on social media that nothing is going to change – as it is the same Job, the same Boss, the same colleague, the same market, the same challenges, the same complexities..…

But it is still a New Year!

Time does not have a holiday break. Our dreams don’t have an expiry date. Our dreams continue to be cherished and nurtured. Circumstances shall conspire to help in their accomplishment.

Life, as it happens, has no pause button.

This year has had its share of crests and troughs. Having said that, we shall save only the memories that brought a twinkle to our eyes and mind; not those that added wrinkles to our faces!

At times, we get asked as to what we do. We do lots of exciting and pioneering work. All towards one common agenda.

In a nutshell, we do EVERYTHING GIFT CARDS.

We enable large enterprises, transnational brands & startups to launch and manage unique & innovative consumer outreach programs. Via our robust, multi-tenanted Technology Product Suite for Stored Value Prepaid & Gift Cards.

In 2016, we drove Gift Card category innovations across 700+ enterprises in 500+cities in 6 different countries. This translates to 2+ Gift Cards being transacted every second through the Year on our Qwikcilver SaaS Platform.

As we see it, this in only the beginning.

We now take fresh guard at the wicket; padded up to head onto new frontiers. With new initiatives lined up.

During our long voyage in the market, we have had the joy to have interactions and advice from many of our customers and doyens of Industry. One specific anecdotal tale did resonate soundly and also helped in reminding us and steering our own course : After failing to scale Mount Everest twice, Edmund Hillary amazingly stated : I will come again and conquer you because as a mountain, you cannot grow, but as a human, I can!

And what Edmund Hillary did go on to achieve with this positive attitude is now part of human fortitude and folklore.

In 2016, the Gift Card Industry scaled up across India significantly with strong growth reported across consumption segments. This recent article in the Economic Times did reflect it : Gift Card Industry Growth.

This rapid adoption of Gift Cards has been achieved by the sincere efforts of the brand owners in scaling their Gift Card programs during the key seasons among their customers in innovative modes of merchandising at points of sale.

Increased consumer adoption of Gift Cards is being witnessed – as the smartest way to Gift to friends and family for various festival gifting occasions

In 2016, we scaled up Woohoo – as it got adopted as the Most Powerful Gifting Platform for Corporates, Enterprises, marketplaces and consumers.

Woohoo launched India’s First Secondary Gift Card marketplace – that was also reportedly the World’s First Fully Integrated Secondary Gift Card Marketplace. This helped to drive a new base of consumers onto the growing category of Gift Card users in India.

The times ahead will certainly not be the same again. For us as a company and also for each of us as individuals in our official and personal lives.

In the distant past of my old childhood, the New Year meant a quiet evening with my close family. When we used to make all that we needed. The food was cooked at home. My Late Mother used to cook our Malayali staple food of Appam, Stew, Fish curry, Ulli Sambar, Theeyal, Unniappam, Payasam among other things. She would even bake a special cake for us on New Years Eve.

And we children would relish it, even if my younger sibling would crib about the boringness of it. In those days in the 80s, we did not have the options to place New Year orders via Homedelivery from the neighbourhood restaurants. I still relish those yummy delights cooked at my home.

And today, as a parent myself, I have no say in the choice of clothes by my two little children. In fact, my children even go on to choose the brand and model of automobile that I am allowed to purchase and drive!

For the New Year, I will even get a piece of chocolate from my 6 year old daughter. If I behave well today. As going to be judged & decided by her.

Best Wishes for a Warm and digitally Gifted Prosperous New Year 2017!

(One resolution of mine was that I would Post atleast once on LinkedIn. So hope this qualifies as one and I tick off my list for the Year !)

Author: Pratap TP (CMO, Qwikcilver Solutions Pvt Ltd)

Gifting in the times of Demonetization

Demonetization has caused a major upheaval in the Indian economy. Cash is not only very easy to use, it is reliable because it does not require any additional infrastructure, it can be used by those without bank accounts, and it provides privacy and anonymity. Suddenly, the cash has been taken out of the system. The problem of replacing this cash is one of enormous scale. And so it has been a time of hardship for many as they struggle to get hold of legitimate notes they can use. In the absence of cash, other alternative payment mechanisms are gaining acceptance. E-wallets, debit and credit cards are showing a sharp increase in usage, while the “cash-on-delivery” mode that was so popular with e-commerce has been curtailed. The country is being nudged to a digital economy. True, it is still hard to imagine acceptance in rural India, but in the cities and tier-2 cities, the shift is happening.

So, what about gifting? The Indian culture is full of occasions for gifting. And, in most cases, gifting in cash is the norm. So, what happens now that the cash has dried up?

Imagine a few scenarios:

Simran is getting married to Raj. How will friends and family organize the gifts in the absence of cash? There was a picture circulating on WhatsApp where a couple sat with POS machines – presumably to collect their gifts via credit/debit card. Is there a better option?

Rohan has just graduated from his college. His doting Uncle – Balu mama – has been in the habit of rewarding Rohan’s success with some “baksheesh” – money that he hands over to Rohan. How does he give the baksheesh to Rohan now?

Krishnan and Asha are moving into a new home. Normally, friends and family would have gifted selected items or cash to help them settle into their new abode. What do they do now?

Sundar is now retiring from office. It is the norm in the office to collect money from colleagues and hand over to the person retiring. In the present scenario, people are not keen to part with the cash. Will there be a break in tradition?

The Indian culture abounds with such occasions where gifting is the norm: Festivals through the year from Makar Sankranti to Diwali to Christmas and New Year, engagement and weddings, naming ceremonies, birthdays and anniversaries, graduation, housewarming, retirement or a send-off to a colleague, awards at competitions, … the list is long. Hard cash will be saved for occasions where there is truly no option but to use cash. Transferring cash from one bank account to another is a possibility, but it is not always practical in the above scenarios. Therefore, where possible, alternative mechanisms would be welcome.

One extremely viable option brings the notion of cash and gifts together: Gift Cards. Yes, buying a gift card in today’s scenario would still require the adoption of a digital payment mechanism. But, in a cash-strapped economy, it is the practical option. And, after that, in the hands of the receiver, the Gift Card is as good as cash.

A gift card can be personalised; more so in a digital gift card where one can choose audio/video messages or photos to be used. The gift card can thus convey emotions, recognising the special bond between the giver and the receiver, recognizing the occasion and the sentiment, which is the essence of gifting. Simran’s friend Farida sent her a collage of their school photographs along with the gift card. Balu mama’s gift card included a brief message that conveyed the pride and joy he felt, and his blessings and encouragement to Rohan.

A gift card gives the receiver the power of choice. There is plenty of variety available: Physical Retail Stores, Online e-commerce stores, Travel and Hospitality Industry, Restaurants, Stores selling electronic goods and appliances, Apparel brands, Gold and Jewellery stores, and even those dealing in selling Experiences. There is a further option of using semi-closed or open-loop gift cards which give the user a greater flexibility because they are accepted across multiple merchants. Simran-Raj, Rohan, Asha-Krishnan, Sundar each has different needs, different priorities, and the gift cards give them the power of choice to spend as they desire!

A gift card can easily be delivered across towns. Indeed, with digital gift cards, it can be instantaneous delivery via email or mobile! It could even be scheduled to be delivered on a specific day. Most cities and towns have outlets of the brands that will honour the gift card. So, the sender is assured that his gift will be useable, with no change in terms or conditions. Simran’s chachi from Chandigarh can’t make it to the wedding, Asha’s co-sister from Coimbatore is unable to come for the housewarming, but they can easily send their gift card, right on time, with full knowledge that it will make a difference!

There is no doubt that the decision on demonetization has delivered a shock to the Indian economy. While it has posed challenges, it has also catalysed India towards greater adoption of digital payments. In this changed scenario, Gift Cards provide a viable option to gifting cash. In the hands of the receiver, the gift card is akin to cash. It is practical, it is flexible, it is convenient, and it is very likely that the person who receives it will indulge and treat herself – which is exactly the sentiment behind a gift!

So, what are you waiting for? Go ahead, try it now!

Author: Sanjay Tambwekar (CTO, Qwikcilver Solutions Pvt Ltd)