Palo Alto, California – Can you name an activity you engaged in five times in one year? Well ... if you’re a consumer in the United States, that activity was purchasing a gift card.

Not surprising really. Gift cards are thoughtful, convenient and can extend a brand’s identity and create customer loyalty. But not all gift cards are created equal.

So how do you create a gift card that stands out in the crowd, drives sales, is environmentally sustainable, extends your brand identity and builds customer loyalty? That’s exactly what PaperSpecs will reveal in its next free webinar, “Gift Card Designs that Sell,” sponsored by Neenah Paper.

“There are specific design attributes that prompt someone to choose the gift card from ABC Retailer rather than XYZ Shop,” says Sabine Lenz, founder of PaperSpecs.com. “Our guest speakers, both experts in this highly competitive market, will talk about the products and processes on the cutting edge of gift card marketing.”

Special Guest speakers

Jim Moriarty, vice president of Sales for PBM Graphics, and Elizabeth Corbett, director of Sales for New Business Development for Neenah Paper, have both been instrumental in working with their respective companies to develop the products and processes important to the many industries using gift cards.

“The evolution of gift cards has been swift and steep,” says Moriarty. “They’re actually known as stored-value cards now because applications go beyond gift-giving to internal incentive cards, restaurant loyalty cards, e-commerce cards, and hospitality cards.”

“Indeed,” agrees Corbett. “More than $100 billion was loaded onto gift cards in 2012 and have been the most requested item on holiday wish lists since 2007.”

Webinar highlights include:

• Why Use Gift Cards – 3.4 Billion Reasons and Counting
• Gift Card Marketing – How to Stand Out in the Crowd
• Paper Gift Cards – An Environmental Difference
• Gift Card Design – Drive Sales and Extend Your Brand
• Creative Carriers – Don’t Ignore this Sales Opportunity

Bonus Gift

All attendees will receive a sample set of gift cards printed on Neenah Paper’s new ENVIRONMENT Retail Card Paper. The paper is made from 40 percent postconsumer content, fully recyclable, Forest Stewardship Council certified, manufactured with Green Energy, and is carbon neutral.

Ten lucky attendees at the live webinar will also be eligible to win a copy of Neenah Paper’s recently released promotion entitled ENVIRONMENT Retail Card Paper - Uncover the Benefits. The promotion contains a full set of gift cards printed with unusual specialty techniques like flocking and holographic foil, all nestled inside a beautiful, french-fold brochure.

Who Should Attend

“Gift Card Designs that Sell” will be of interest and benefit to designers and brand marketers wanting to know more about using gift cards to build customer loyalty and how to design gift cards that stand out in the marketplace.

PaperSpecs webinars are developed to include inspiring real-world examples, highly useful and easily implemented tips, cutting-edge perspectives from industry thought leaders, and results of the most current research.

Thanks to the generous support of Neenah Paper, “Gift Card Designs that Sell” is free and open to the public. Space is limited though, so be sure to reserve your seat today for this special event at www.paperspecs.com/webinar.