As we begin the year, retailers should focus on encouraging...

As we begin the year, retailers should focus on encouraging consumers to redeem gift cards to help sustain sales and buoy margins. Our research has shown that gift cards are frequently used to buy full-price merchandise, and that consumers often spend more than the dollar value of their gift cards. Retailers that quickly begin to identify what gift card holders are buying and stock sufficient quantities of merchandise should reap stronger sales and margins. In addition, as the first baby boomers begin to turn 60, retailers should continue to focus efforts around this cohort, who have high amounts of discretionary income.