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)

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Woohoo Newsletter

 

Greetings!

This month QwikCilver powered E-Gift card programs for leading brick and mortar as well as online retailers! E-Gift Cards are not an alternative to physical Gift cards but give consumers an added gifting option!

Café Coffee Day team along with ‘Café Moments’ fans had a lot of mouth watering ‘Barfi’ Moments!
Read on to know more…
GiftBig New Gift Card Launches
Peter England is the first brick and mortar retailer in India to have launched E-Gift Cards. These can be purchased from www.woohoo.in and www.peterengland.com and redeemed at any of the Peter England stores in India.
India’s largest youth fashion brand, Fastrack also launched Fastrack E-Gift cards powered by QwikCilver to provide an instant gifting option to their consumer base.These E-Gift cards are redeemable across all Fastrack stores in India.

Yepme.com which is India’s first online fashion brand for apparels, footwear & accessories launched its E-Gift cards.QwikCilver powered its E-Gift card program to enable its discerning consumers to gift E-Gift cards to their loved ones that can be redeemed on their e-com portal.

Benefits of E-Gift Cards:

  • An instant gifting option wherein the customer can send the electronic gift card to his friends, family members and associates anytime, anyplace!
  • A very good gifting option for last minute shoppers, couch potatoes and also NRIs who want to gift to family and friends in India.
  • Extremely useful for Bulk /Corporate orders; no physical inventory of Gift cards required and the E-Gift card numbers can be generated in no time.
  • Drives new customers to the stores/e-com portal.
  • Customers can be offered the choice of choosing their own E-Gift card design.
  • Useful for promotions- saves on cost of physical Gift Card as well as time of implementation
Ramakrishnan, President Marketing, Cafe Coffee Day along with the stars and Director of ‘Barfi’!

The ‘Cafe Moments’ Prepaid Card program for Cafe Coffee Day launched in association with QwikCilver has been successfully accepted in more than 1200 Cafe outlets across India!

This success has been driven by unique programs for consumers such as association of Cafe Moments program with the popular movie ‘Barfi’. The fans got an opportunity to meet and greet the stars in different cities of India!

51 Reasons to Present a Gift Card

  1. Gift cards are an employer’s best gift to their employees on different occasions such as Birthdays, Festivals, and New Year as Gift Cards enable them to buy what they want!
  2. Looking for a gift for newlyweds? Help them celebrate their new lives together with taste. They will definitely love Gift Cards of prominent department stores and lifestyle brands.
  3. Thinking of what clothes to buy for your new-born nephew whose one almirah is already full of over-sized clothes, present a Gift Card.
  4. Your wife’s overworked and you want to help her rewind and rejuvenate; she would be pleased to receive a salon Gift Card from you.
  5. Your brother-in-law is a sports enthusiast; what better way to please him than gifting a sports lifestyle brand Gift Card that would help him to nurture his passion.
  6. Want to give your sister and her husband a break from the monotony of life, a movie Gift Card would be a great escape.
  7. It takes a lot of effort from the host to pull off a great get-together. Show your appreciation for the fun time by presenting a Gift Card to the host.
  8. You have been assigned the task of planning gifts for the monthly kitty party- look no further! Just go ahead and present a Gift Card.
  9. Tired of giving sweets to your friends and relatives on festivals; start giving Gift Cards to enhance the euphoria of festivities.
  10. Here’s the secret to Happy Married life…present a jewellery Gift Card to your wife. Need we say more!
  11. Your next door neighbour was instrumental in making your kid’s birthday bash a phenomenal success and now you want to give her a small token of appreciation. Look no further, simple present a Gift Card to delight her.
  12. Your father is feeling low a few months post his retirement; it would be a great idea to present a Gift Card to buy things that will help him to further his hobbies. He would definitely feel younger and excited.
  13. A friend with artistic pursuits has invited you for dinner; it might be a great idea to present a Gift Card to laud her efforts.
  14. Almost at wit’s end on what gift to purchase for baby shower, a Gift Card would definitely please the parents-to-be.
  15. Missing your niece/nephew on Children’s Day; send them Gift Cards so that they can buy gifts of their own choice.They will be more than delighted to have a caring aunt/uncle like you!
  16. Having sleepless nights as you are unable to get ‘that’ exciting gift for your girlfriend on her birthday; a Gift Card would be a sure shot hit with her.
  17. Thinking of ways to delight your parents on their anniversary of which you cannot be a part, present a Gift Card with your personalized message to light up their day!
  18. Every Teacher’s Day, you are filled with fond memories of your favorite school teachers; Go ahead and send them Gift Cards to show them that they are always valued.
  19. You are running from one meeting to another and also wondering on what gift to send to your associate on his birthday-simply order a Gift Card online. It’s that convenient!
  20. Your friend puts on weight as easily as he loses it and now you are at your wit’s end thinking on what size of shirt to gift him on his Birthday; reduce your perplexity by giving a Gift Card indeed!
  21. Your sister loves dressing up; why not give a premium apparel brand Gift Card and continue re-loading it for different occasions – birthdays, festivals, anniversary etc. She will be proud to have a sister like you!
  22. You have to attend a function of a distant relative possibly meeting for the first time and feeling awkward at giving cash; why not give a Gift Card which is like cash, yet a more elegant gifting option.
  23. Your brother got a promotion, what better way to congratulate him and appreciate his hard work than sending a Gift Card to him!
  24. Going for your first date and don’t know what gift to carry for your friend, a Gift Card would be a smart and safe bet!
  25. Wondering what kitchen appliance to give to your friend who is an enthusiastic cook, present a Gift card and let her choose her gift!
  26. Want to surprise your college friend who lives in a different city on his birthday, a Gift Card with your personalized message would surely convey how much you miss and care for him even today!
  27. Busy planning for a surprise birthday party for your spouse and at your wit’s end on deciding a gift for him/her, present a Gift Card and enjoy the party!
  28. Struggling to figure out what color/size/design of purse would be preferred by your mother-in-law; give a Gift Card instead and let her enjoy the shopping!
  29. A Gift card is an ideal present for a family who is moving out of town and in the process of downsizing goods; it takes up virtually no space and they can easily buy stuff with it once they arrive in their new city.
  30. What better way to convey your heartfelt thanks to your team members, for meeting a difficult deadline, than giving a Gift card with your personalized message!
  31. If you are struggling hard to find a suitable gift to be given for your neighbor’s son’s wedding; then buy a Gift Card and sit back and enjoy the wedding!
  32. Your sister has got a new job; she would be pleasantly surprised and elated on receiving a Gift card from you on her first day to work!
  33. Want to make truce with your loved one after a heated discussion, look no further- just give a Gift Card along with your sorry message!
  34. Your wife’s put in a lot of effort in hosting a party for your friends on your promotion, now it’s your turn to express your gratitude to her. Need we say that women love shopping and are on cloud nine when they get Gift Cards!
  35. It’s your niece’ first Birthday and you are miles apart- send a Gift Card online and let your family know how much you care for them!
  36. Gift Big with a Gift Card on Valentine’s Day! What happens next is better left to one’s imagination!!!
  37. This year surprise all your school friends & college friends by sending them Gift Cards during ‘Friendship week’-All to say ‘It’s good to be together’!
  38. Are you looking for ‘the perfect gift’ for your mother on ‘Mother’s Day’? Your search stops here as a Gift Card from a premium accessory brand would bring a million dollar smile on her face!
  39. Meeting your nephew/niece after a long time and wondering on what size of dress to pick for him/her. Present a Gift Card instead and let them choose their own gift!
  40. Your friend has got a promotion. What better way to delight him/her than giving a Gift Card of a leading apparel brand!
  41. Not in town for your anniversary and totally perplexed on how to send a Gift to your spouse. An E-Gift card would be the best Gifting option!
  42. Can’t make it to your best buddy’s birthday bash-please him/her with a Gift Card to show him/her that you care!
  43. Your sister who is a sports enthusiast is feeling low. What better way to cheer her up than giving a Gift card of leading sports lifestyle brand!
  44. Your father is very special to you and you want to give him the best Gift on ‘Father’s Day’. Is there a better gift than the gift of choice-the Gift Card!
  45. Pleased with your teams’ efforts of creating an outstanding product- Why don’t you delight them with a Gift card along with your personalized message? This team is sure to stick by your side!
  46. Even after asking a number of times, your father is delaying his yearly vision test- what better way to drive him to the optical store than giving a Gift Card from leading Eye wear brand. He will be overwhelmed to have a caring son/daughter like you!
  47. Your colleague is brimming with joy on the birth of his baby. Time for you to add to his joy by instantaneously sending him an E-Gift card of retailers offering baby products.
  48. Your niece has excelled in board exams- why don’t you add to her happiness by presenting Gift Cards of premium brands and let her bask in the glory of her success!
  49. Wondering on what gift to give to a person who has almost everything – Gift card will be the best choice!
  50. Delight your sister with a Gift Card on Rakshabandan and she will be amazed to see your lovely choice of Gift.
  51. Wondering on what gifts to send to your parents during festivals? Send them a Gift card Hamper having Gift cards of leading national and International brands and let them splurge on themselves!
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