Incentive - January 2008 - (Page 65)

Here & Now Marcasite is a Girl’s New Best Friend By Anne Marie D. Lee I’ll Give you Two JC Penneys for One Macy’s ringing an added spark of glamour into its Jewelers Collection, luxury brand supplier The Corporate Marketplace Inc. has added select pieces from Judith Jack to its portfolio. Judith Jack is a big brand name in the retail jewelry market, often featured in top fashion magazines Harper’s Bazaar, Cosmopolitan and Lucky. Collections from Judith Jack vary from antique styles to more contemporary designs in sterling silver and B “It’s a very select distribution because it’s so high-end.”—Kat hy Bromer marcasite, a natural mineral with a bright metallic luster. “We are very excited to get this, because it has such a wonderful presence at retail,” says Kathy Bromer, director of marketing, The Corporate Marketplace. “We will be distributing to the incentive industry to a select group of customers. It’s a very select distribution because it’s so high-end. So we’re very careful where we’re going to place it in the incentive industry.” Jewelry has always been a number-one best seller, says Bromer. “Jewelry always does well, because it’s something that not only a recipient will pick out [for herself] but a male might select it for a gift to give to his wife, to share in the event or the occasion or the reward that he’s been given at work or that he’s earned.” Bromer notes that The Corporate Marketplace is not the first distributor to carry the high-fashion brand, but nonetheless, having the brand name as part of its collection emphasizes the high quality of jewelry in its jewelry portfolio called The Jewelers Collection. The Corporate Marketplace will be previewing its Judith Jack collection at the Promotional Products Association International (PPAI) show in Las Vegas. CardAvenue offers a solution to unwanted gift cards As reported in last month’s Incentive, nonredeemed gift cards have been getting a lot of attention, most recently with the Consumer Reports National Research Center’s October survey that found 27 percent of those who received gift cards during the 2006 holiday season had not used one or more of them nearly a year later. One possible solution to the problem has been presented by CardAvenue.com, an e-commerce site that allows individuals to buy, sell and swap unused or unwanted gift cards. “It completes the customer service cycle,” says CardAvenue CEO and Founder Bob Butler. “Retailers and planners can say, ‘If I miss the mark and give this person a gift card they don’t want, they can go here.’” Individuals are able to buy and sell cards for cash, but the most popular option has been for consumers to trade cards, such as swapping one $200 Target gift card for a $50 Starbucks gift card and $150 iTunes gift card. CardAvenue pofits from the small percentage fee sellers pay for each sale they make. Says Butler, “I get the biggest jazz when I see people trading five gift cards for one.” —Alex Palmer incentivemag.com | January 2008 | Incentive | 65 http://www.CardAvenue.com http://incentivemag.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Incentive - January 2008

Incentive - January 2008 Contents Editor’s Note: Out of SITE In The News Cover Story: Include a Meeting, Improve Morale Case Study: DHL Delivers Recognition Incentive Primer: How To Use Promo Products How Bob Nardelli Rallied Chrysler’s Dealers Incentive Interview: Ken Blanchard Says Be Nice TV’s Extreme Makeover Motivates Giving Pre-Employment Motivation The Daycare Dilemma Happy Employees Shouldn’t Mix with Sick Employees Incentive Research: Consumer Promotions Report In Her Shoes: Winning Approval Of Flextime Travel News Field Report: Barcelona Field Report: Bermuda Golf: Follow The Pros potentials Here and Now Watches As Jewelry Awards: Online Gift Cards Tech Gadgets for 2008 Last Word: Stanley Bing Bashes Bully Bosses

Incentive - January 2008

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