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Article: Holiday shoppers lean toward gift cards
- Article from:
- Tribune-Review/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
- Article date:
- November 9, 2008
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright 2008 Tribune-Review/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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Expect to see deep discounts this holiday season as stores work
to move their merchandise, although the weak economy could inspire
more shoppers to opt for gift cards instead.
In fact, "We see gift cards bumping out apparel this year" as the
top holiday present, retail expert Diane Crispell of GfK Roper
Consulting said.
Store gift cards are forecast to rise from the third most popular
gift item in 2007 to No. 1 this year, with 69 percent of Americans
planning to buy them, a survey by the New York City-based marketing
firm concluded. And that should boost sales at Green Tree-based
GiftCards.com, which sells prepaid Visa gift cards and will offer