U.S. Gift Card Market to Reach $260 Billion by 2026

Gift cards continue to grow in popularity in the United States, with roughly 75% of consumers having purchased a gift card within the past 12 months, according to recent data from BHN (Blackhawk Network) Research. For the sixth year in a row, BHN has joined forces with NAPCO Research to conduct a comprehensive benchmark study, examining the gift card programs of more than 100 merchants in the U.S. Based on 175 criteria, the report assesses their in-store, online and mobile gift card offerings, including the consumer purchase and recipient experience. This year a limited assessment of 25 digitally ascendant brands was also included. During a PaymentsJournal podcast, Sarah Kositzke, Sr. Global Market Research Manager at Blackhawk Network, Andrew Solomon, Vice President of Sales at Blackhawk Network, and Jordan Hirschfield, Head of Prepaid at Javelin Strategy & Research, discussed how businesses can build—or evolve—their gift card programs. PaymentsJournalU.S. Gift Card Market to Reach $260 Billion by 2026PaymentsJournal U.S. Gift Card Market to Reach $260 Billion by 2026PaymentsJournaljQuery(document).ready(function ($){var settings_ap12922038 = { design_skin: "skin-wave" ,autoplay: "off",disable_volume:"default" ,loop:"off" ,cue: "on" ,embedded: "off" ,preload_method:"metadata" ,design_animateplaypause:"off" ,skinwave_dynamicwaves:"off" ,skinwave_enableSpectrum:"off" ,skinwave_enableReflect:"on",settings_backup_type:"full",playfrom:"default",soundcloud_apikey:"" ,skinwave_comments_enable:"off",settings_php_handler:window.ajaxurl,skinwave_wave_mode:"canvas",pcm_data_try_to_generate: "on","pcm_notice": "off","notice_no_media": "on",design_color_bg: "111111",design_color_highlight: "ef6b13",skinwave_wave_mode_canvas_waves_number: "3",skinwave_wave_mode_canvas_waves_padding: "1",skinwave_wave_mode_canvas_reflection_size: "0.25",skinwave_comments_playerid:"12922038",php_ret