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We are happy to announce that gift cards for eight of the RioCan shopping malls are now available!

It’s proven—people love gift cards! In Canada, the industry is expected to experience steady growth in the medium term, driven by consumer confidence and retail spending along with heightened corporate incentive and loyalty programs. Over 43% of Canadians prefer receiving gift cards compared to any other form of reward, and gift card adoption in certain sectors is set to increase as companies leverage them to attract patrons. Here are some ways to use them to your advantage!

Back-to-school is just around the corner. Now’s the perfect time to place a large gift card order to help your employees, clients, donors or other recipients. Whether you’re a company, a non-for-profit organization or run a government program, supporting your people during this time will ease their burden and make back-to-school lighter. Of course, caregivers will need various items for kids, teens and young adults alike, so equip them with these types of gift cards and lend a hand!

In the past 20 years, workplace customs have changed entirely. Talent acquisition and employee retention are at the forefront of human resources priorities as organizational loyalty consistently dwindles down. Years of service rewards programs that used to be relevant have essentially become obsolete, as the average tenure for salaried employees is of about four years, with older individuals typically staying longer than their younger counterparts. As such, management teams must rethink their strategies from the onset and gift cards are the best solution to keep the workforce happy.

Loyalty programs are popular and well implemented in society. They make customers feel valued, which can lead to retention, referrals, and of course, profits. Rewarding consumers can help distinguish you from other competitors, so it’s an excellent strategy to consider. Self-employed professionals and small-to-medium businesses can truly benefit from this approach and should include it as part of their development efforts.

Currently, finding skilled staff to fill various positions is a true challenge for several businesses. As we’ve recently discussed, the workforce is changing, employees are considering leaving their jobs more and more, and the shortage of personnel is affecting companies like never before. Many well-established businesses must modify their operating hours or sometimes even close a few days a week considering this reality. As such, it’s crucial for HR teams and recruiting experts to develop robust hiring strategies to stand out and find candidates. Here are some tips, such as using gift cards, to stand out as an employer.

We are happy to announce that $250 denominated Ultramar gift cards are now available!

It’s all over LinkedIn and the news: a wave of workers, mostly young Canadians, want to leave their jobs in a phenomenon coined as the Great Resignation. A recent survey by global staffing firm Robert Half has uncovered that nearly 33% of employed generation Z and millennials plan to pursue a new career in the near future. A similar report by Microsoft also found that 41% of the entire global workforce, regardless of age, is considering handing in their resignation. Even though these survey numbers are about future intent and may not reflect actual resignations, these numbers are nevertheless extremely high and concerning for employers. Let’s look at the reasons why and ways to retain staff through this reality.

Today’s employment landscape has evolved, and talent acquisition is now a strategic business function. Companies who adapt to this reality have a much better chance of finding skilled staff in a streamlined fashion. Because the competition is so fierce, it’s a component that simply can’t be ignored. There are 1.2 million businesses in Canada alone, so the need to dedicate time and efforts to employer marketing is obvious. Businesses who succeed well combine traditional practices with out-of-the-box strategies like using gift cards to attract candidates. Here are some tips to get you on the right track!