As customers finalize their holiday shopping, Starbucks anticipates record purchases of Starbucks Cards on December 24, citing the trend for customers to make their gift card purchases at the last minute.
Last year, nearly 2.5 million Starbucks Cards were purchased in the U.S. and Canada on Christmas Eve, representing approximately 1,700 cards purchased per minute. One in seven American adults received a Starbucks Card last holiday season, and Starbucks is on track for another record performance in Starbucks Card sales.
The National Retail Federation reports that 58.8 percent of shoppers said they would like to receive a gift card, making it the most requested gift item nine years in a row. Since Starbucks Card launched 15 years ago, more than $25 billion has been loaded on Starbucks Cards in the U.S. and Canada alone, with $5.1 billion loaded onto Starbucks Cards in the past fiscal year (October 2014 to September 2015), and of that total, a record $1.6 billion loaded onto Starbucks Cards in three months (October 2014 through December2014). Starbucks sees the benefits of this increased activity in stores as gift cards received over the holiday season are redeemed.
Today, more than one-third of all transactions in the U.S. and Canada are paid for with a Starbucks Card, and Starbucks Cards are available in more than 31 countries worldwide, with planned expansion in 2016. Starbucks Cards are the gift that keeps on giving. When customers register a Starbucks Card with My Starbucks Rewards they can start earning stars for purchases at participating stores that can be redeemed year-round for Starbucks beverages and food.
This holiday season Starbucks is offering more than 60 different gift card designs, from classic holiday themes to whimsical creations from the Starbucks in-house design team. Customers can mix and match for coworkers, teachers, as stocking stuffers, and for any other Starbucks lover in their life.
For ultimate Starbucks fans looking for an exclusive gift, the Starbucks 2015 Premium Card Collection includes three stainless steel cards embellished with Swarovski Crystals. The collection includes two keychain-sized cards, the Silver Crystal Starbucks Card and Champagne Crystal Starbucks Card and a wallet-sized Deep-Blue Crystal Starbucks Card. These premium gifts and are available in limited quantities in select Starbucks stores in the U.S. and Canada and on Starbucks.com/shop while supplies last. All cards are $200 (plus tax) and come loaded with $50.
Beginning at $5 and available in customized amounts up to $500, Starbucks Cards can be purchased at any company-operated location in the U.S. or Canada in a variety of formats and designs, and digital gift cards can be given through the company’s website (www.starbucks.com/shop/card/egift) and mobile apps in the U.S.
For more on holiday gift cards and the after-last-minute sales push, read our online story.
