Starbucks also projects nearly $3 billion will be loaded onto Starbucks Cards this holiday season

core/paragraph

As customers finalize their holiday shopping, Starbucks anticipates the busiest day for purchases of Starbucks Cards on December 23, citing the perennial popularity of gift cards as one of the most popular gifts during the holiday season. Last year, more than 46 million Starbucks Cards, which includes both physical and digital cards, were purchased in the U.S. and Canada during the holiday season. Starbucks projects that nearly $3 billion will be loaded onto Starbucks Cards from October to December this year. &nbsp;&nbsp;

“For more than 20 years, Starbucks Cards have made the perfect gift for loved ones during the holiday season, and we’re on track for another record performance of Starbucks Card sales. We are predicting that December 23 will be our busiest day of the year for Starbucks Card sales as customers finalize their holiday gifting,” said Starbucks chief marketing officer Brady Brewer.

core/gallery

According to the <a href="https://nrf.com/media-center/press-releases/thanksgiving-weekend-see-more-holiday-shoppers-last-year-and-consumers">National Retail Federation</a>, 46% of shoppers plan to buy gift cards this holiday season, making it the second most popular gift. Moreover, gift card sales are expected to total $28.1 billion this holiday season as shoppers plan to buy three or four cards, spending an average of $48.92 per card.

Starbucks first gift cards debuted in stores in November 2001, and although gift cards had been available at Starbucks since 1994 as an alternative to paper gift certificates, Starbucks was among the first major retailers to offer a reloadable card. In 2001, Starbucks Cards became one of the most popular holiday gifts of the season, selling nearly 200,000 in the first week alone. For just a few dollars, customers could give a meaningful gift to loved ones, and the cards helped spread the word about Starbucks as its number of stores grew from more than 4,700 in 2001 to more than 33,000 stores today.

More than 1,500 Starbucks Card designs have been released over the 20 years of the program. Today, Starbucks Cards are available in a variety of designs in both physical and digital formats and can be loaded with $5 to $100. Physical Starbucks Cards are available year-round in dozens of designs at Starbucks stores in more than 40 countries around the world. They are also available in more than 100,000 locations outside Starbucks stores, including grocery stores and other retailers.

core/image

Starbucks eGift Cards are available for purchase on <a href="https://www.starbucks.ca/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Starbucks.ca</a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.starbucks.ca/rewards/mobile-apps">Starbucks app</a>, and customers can select from a variety of eGift designs, choose any amount between $5-$100,&nbsp;add a personal message, enter an email address and hit send.

Apple iPhone users who have the Starbucks app can text their holiday wishes, thanks, congratulations or just let a friend know they care by sending a Starbucks eGift using iMessage. Scroll through iMessage’s app ribbon at the bottom of the screen and select the Starbucks logo for “Starbucks Gifts.”&nbsp;

Starbucks eGifts can also be sent on Microsoft Teams.&nbsp;When Microsoft Teams&nbsp;is open,&nbsp;look for the&nbsp;apps button in the&nbsp;Teams&nbsp;navigation bar.&nbsp;Select the Starbucks app&nbsp;and download. Next, login (or set up) your Starbucks Rewards account,&nbsp;open a chat or channel to select the team member you’d like to send an eGift to,&nbsp;select the&nbsp;card design,&nbsp;recipient, gift amount,&nbsp;then&nbsp;personalize&nbsp;your&nbsp;message and send through Microsoft&nbsp;Teams&nbsp;by adding to a chat or channel.&nbsp;

Starbucks Cards are the gift that keeps on giving. When customers register a Starbucks Card with the Starbucks Rewards&nbsp;loyalty program and make a qualifying purchase, they can&nbsp;start to earn Stars that can be redeemed for Starbucks beverages,&nbsp;food&nbsp;and more. Some restrictions apply. At participating stores. &nbsp;Details can be found at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.starbucks.ca/rewards" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">starbucks.ca/rewards</a>.&nbsp;

See &nbsp;<a href="https://www.starbucks.ca/gift">starbucks.ca/gift</a> for this year’s holiday designs and to learn more about all the ways to purchase a Starbucks Card.

As customers finalize their holiday shopping, Starbucks anticipates the busiest day for purchases of Starbucks Cards on December 23, citing the perennial popularity of gift cards as one of the most popular gifts during the holiday season.

Starbucks Anticipates Busiest Day for Starbucks Card Purchases on December 23 - Starbucks Canada

Starbucks Canada

Starbucks Anticipates Busiest Day for Starbucks Card Purchases on December 23

https://stories.starbucks.com/uploads/sites/9/2021/12/SBX20211220-HOL_GiftCards-FeatureHorizontal.jpg

https://stories.starbucks.ca/en-ca/stories/2021/starbucks-anticipates-busiest-day-for-starbucks-card-purchases-on-december-23/

twitter:card

twitter:description

twitter:image

twitter:title

Did you know that the first Starbucks&nbsp;holiday&nbsp;card debuted&nbsp;20 holiday seasons ago&nbsp;in 2001? That year, the Starbucks Card became one of the most popular holiday gifts of the season, with nearly 200,000 sold in the first week alone.

Beyond its sheer handiness, giving the treat of a visit to Starbucks was something more: a joyful expression of the holiday conveyed by the cards themselves. Over the last 20 years, more than 1,100 Starbucks gift card designs have been released, each one a canvas for the Starbucks in-house creative team.

“The Starbucks Card has become the perfect encapsulation of our brand, something that people hold dear to their hearts,” said Meghan O’Brien, senior designer in the Starbucks Creative Studio. “These cards have become such a meaningful way to tell stories and share those holiday moments with each other.”

A meaningful gift that is easy to share

core/heading

In a year unlike any other, everyone could use a spark of joy and sharing the familiarity and comfort of Starbucks is just a click away.&nbsp;

Available in a variety of designs in both physical and digital formats, Starbucks cards can be loaded with $5 to $500 and can be purchased in multiple ways: in Starbucks <a href="http://www.starbucks.ca/store-locator/search" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">stores</a>, <a href="https://www.starbucks.ca/gift" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">online</a>, on the <a href="https://www.starbucks.ca/rewards/mobile-apps" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Starbucks app</a> and even sent through iPhone text message.

Starbucks gift cards: Physical Starbucks Cards are available year-round in dozens of designs at Starbucks stores in more than 40 countries around the world, and <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.starbuckscardb2b.com/" target="_blank">bulk card orders can be made online</a>. They are also available in more than 100,000 locations outside Starbucks stores, including grocery stores and other retailers.

core/list

When the first Starbucks Card debuted in stores in November 2001, they actually came with a tiny owner’s manual with instructions and a toll-free phone number. Since then, the technology behind the Starbucks Card has evolved.

The original cards with a specific dollar amount loaded on to them gained the benefits of a loyalty card when the <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2008/starbucks-card-rewards-puts-extra-value-in-your-wallet/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Starbucks Rewards program</a> launched in 2008. Now any Starbucks Card could be used to enroll in the program, where members, earn Stars on purchases that can be redeemed for Rewards like free food, drinks, and more. In 2011, the Starbucks Cards went digital, turning any iPhone into a Starbucks Card via the mobile app. And that same year, Starbucks rolled out eGift, allowing customers to send the gift of Starbucks by email. Today, Starbucks eGifts can now also be sent via text using an iPhone or through the <a href="https://www.starbucks.ca/rewards/mobile-apps" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Starbucks app</a>.

“Now in our twentieth season of Starbucks Card, the digital world has become a bigger part of customers’ lives,” said Rachel Heiss, who leads the out-of-store Starbucks Card program. “We want to meet people where they are and where they want to be.”

<a href="https://stories.starbucks.ca/en/stories/2020/celebrate-the-holiday-season-with-new-cold-cups-colour-changing-cups-and-more-festive-gifts/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Click here</a> for more ideas for gift giving at Starbucks.

Did you know that the first Starbucks holiday card debuted 20 holiday seasons ago in 2001? That year, the Starbucks Card became one of the most popular holiday gifts of the season, with nearly 200,000 sold in the first week alone.

Celebrating 20 Years of the Starbucks Card

https://stories.starbucks.com/uploads/sites/9/2020/12/Starbucks-Cards-1-1024x683.jpg

https://stories.starbucks.ca/en-ca/stories/2020/celebrating-20-years-of-the-starbucks-card/