# Gift Card Infographics This Gift Cards Chart Explains Why They're the Most Coveted Present By Michael Hemsworth | Published 2012-12-09 | Business Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/gift-cards-chart References: [visual.ly](http://visual.ly/gift-cards-shifting-last-resort-first-choice) Giving the [perfect gift](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/urban-outfitters-and-canva) is most definitely one of the most satisfying feelings, but this gift cards chart explains why the most coveted gift this holiday season is nothing but a piece of plastic. 2012 is a monumental year for the gift card as by the end of the year, over $110 billion will have been loaded onto them with projections estimating that that figure will rise to over $138 billion by 2015. A peculiar comparison is made for the number of cards in production: if they were put end-to-end, gift cards could go back and forth between earth and the moon 23 times. The large portion of [gift card money](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/renovo-gift-card) that was lost in previous years is on a steady decline, but the percentage of fraud is on a steady increase. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 1.8/10 - Popularity: 32% | Activity: 15% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Business](https://www.trendhunter.com/business) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Rise of Digital Gift Cards:** The increasing convenience of digital gift cards and their ability to reduce fraud presents an opportunity for retailers to expand their online sales channels. - **Emergence of Personalized Gift Cards:** The trend towards personalized gift cards that allow consumers to add their own images or messages creates opportunities for retailers to offer unique gifting experiences. - **Integration of Gift Cards with Loyalty Programs:** Retailers can drive customer engagement and loyalty by incorporating gift cards into their existing loyalty programs. ### Where This Applies - **Retail:** Retailers have the opportunity to increase sales and customer engagement by offering digital and personalized gift cards, and integrating them with loyalty programs. - **E-commerce:** The rise of digital gift cards presents an opportunity for e-commerce businesses to expand their product offerings and reduce fraud risk. - **Financial Services:** As the popularity of gift cards continues to grow, financial services companies can develop innovative ways to enhance security and prevent fraud. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Phygital Greeting Cards](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/gift-card-greetings.md) - [Digital Retailer Gifting Options](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/gift-card-greetings1.md) - [Cash-Gifting Greeting Cards](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hallmark-venmo-cards.md) - [Multi-Brand Digital Gift Cards](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/on-me-multi-brand-gift-cards.md) - [Holiday Gift Card Promotions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/gift-card-promotions.md) - [Digital Gifting Platforms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/digital-gifting-platform.md) - [Exclusive Gamer Gift Cards](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/candy-crush-saga-gift-card.md) - [Versatile Digital Gift Cards](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/on-me.md) - [AI-Powered Digital Gifting Experiences](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/magical-moments.md)