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.

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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.

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“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

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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.

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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

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The <a href="https://www.starbucks.ca/rewards/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">Starbucks Rewards program</a> was <a href="https://stories.starbucks.ca/en/stories/2019/enhance-our-industry-leading-starbucks-rewards-loyalty-program/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">enhanced last year</a> to make it easier and faster for members to earn free food, drinks and more from Starbucks. There are now more reasons than ever for customers to enroll and make the most of their visits, from easy ordering to Bonus Stars (and yes, free coffee!).

Here are the top reasons for customers to become a Starbucks Rewards member today:

The <a href="https://stories.starbucks.ca/en/stories/2020/starbucks-pickup-store-toronto/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">opening of Canada’s first Pickup store</a> at <a href="https://www.starbucks.ca/promo/pickup" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">Toronto’s Commerce Court</a> is another way Starbucks is serving customers who love the order-ahead experience using Mobile Order &amp; Pay. Unlike traditional Starbucks cafés, the Toronto Pickup store was uniquely designed for customers on-the-go.

Mobile Order &amp; Pay on the Starbucks mobile app is the primary ordering and payment method for customers here, making the Pickup store a first-of-its-kind store experience, and only second in the world following <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2019/new-starbucks-pickup-location-in-penn-plaza-opens-november-5/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">New York City’s Penn Plaza</a>.

How to become a Starbucks Rewards member

Customers can join the Starbucks Rewards program through the Starbucks mobile app or by registering a Starbucks Card at <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="http://www.starbucks.ca/rewards" target="_blank">www.starbucks.ca/rewards</a>. Customers may register multiple Starbucks Cards to their Starbucks Rewards account and will earn Stars for eligible purchases using a registered physical or digital Starbucks Card. Starbucks Rewards members can view and track their Star balance and available Rewards by using the Starbucks mobile app.

There’s no limit to the number of Rewards that can be earned, however, individual Stars do expire after six months. To see when Stars expire, open the Starbucks app, tap “Details” under your Star balance and scroll to the bottom for “Stars expiring soon.”

Some restrictions apply. Starbucks Rewards is available at participating stores. For full program details, visit <a href="http://www.starbucks.ca/rewards/terms" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">www.starbucks.ca/rewards/terms</a>.

Members must pay with their registered Starbucks Card (or registered Card in the mobile app) in order to earn Stars.&nbsp;Stars cannot be earned on purchases of alcohol, Starbucks Cards or Starbucks Card reloads.&nbsp;

Free food and beverage Rewards may be redeemed at participating stores and exclude alcoholic beverages and multi-serve items. Not all stores honour tiered Rewards.&nbsp; 

To qualify for the Birthday Reward, you must have made at least one Star-earning transaction prior to your birthday each year using your registered Starbucks Card.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Free refills available during same in-store visit only.&nbsp;&nbsp; 

Members can earn Stars for purchasing qualifying Starbucks® products at participating grocery locations by uploading a receipt at <a href="http://www.Starbucks-stars.ca" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">www.Starbucks-stars.ca</a>. Excludes purchases made online or at Starbucks® stores. Terms and conditions apply. See <a href="http://www.Starbucks-stars.ca" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">www.Starbucks-stars.ca</a> for receipt verification program details.

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There are plenty of benefits to becoming a Starbucks Rewards member, from easy ordering to Bonus Stars (and yes, free coffee!).

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Celebrating 20 Years of the Starbucks Card

Top Reasons to Join Starbucks Rewards