Shoppers are beating the January blues and reducing the strain on their bank accounts by using gift cards instead – with retailers set to receive a sales boost this weekend that could potentially total over £200 million. 

Recent research from the UK Gift Card & Voucher Association (UKGCVA) found that 44% of Brits were likely to have received a gift card this Christmas, and over half of consumers (50.3%) will spend their gift cards within a month of receiving them. Given that millions of shoppers are statistically likely to use their Christmas gift cards this weekend, it means that retailers are expected to receive a much-needed boost as over half of gift cards received during the Christmas period will be spent by this Sunday.

The UKGCVA’s research also found that, when spending their gift card, shoppers will often spend more than the original value of the card. The average extra spend is £18.55 – a 67.1% increase on the average value of shoppers’ gift cards (£27.64 per gift card). This means that, this weekend, retailers could receive a sales boost of more than £245 million through upsold goods and in-store uplift. 

This weekend (25-26 January ) also coincides with the first-ever National Use Your Gift Card weekend. Launched this year by the UK Gift Card and Voucher Association(UKGCVA), the event aims to encourage consumers to make the most of their unspent gift cards. 

The weekend is also intended to entice consumers back to the high street in the middle of a turbulent period for the retail sector. This was most recently highlighted by sales figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS), which revealed that the crucial “Golden Quarter” was disappointing for UK retailers. The most recent data, covering December 2019, reported that sales volumes had slipped for the fifth consecutive month.

Gift cards, when redeemed, are a vital customer loyalty and engagement platform, which is welcome news to retailers. This is particularly true among younger demographics, with almost one in three (31%) millennial and Generation Z shoppers reporting having become a regular customer of a new brand after receiving and using a gift card for that organisation.

National Use Your Gift Card Weekend is also set to extend to additional key shopping dates throughout the year, such as the Black Friday weekend. 

Gail Cohen, director general of the UKGCVA, commented: “At the UK Gift Card & Voucher Association, we would always encourage consumers to “use it, don’t lose it” and enjoy their gift cards straight away. While our research shows that more and more consumers are spending their gift cards promptly, we’re constantly looking for ways to make gift cards a better option for consumers and retailers alike – which means getting out there and enjoying them!

“What better time, and way, to treat yourself and beat the January blues? Gift cards are extremely versatile and can increasingly be spent online as well as in-store, meaning that it’s never been easier to purchase the perfect treat and ensure that your gift cards can be properly enjoyed as they should.”