2013 saw a significant increase in e-gift card spending. According to CEB TowerGroup, in 2013 the e-gift card industry was worth upwards of $3 billion and is projected to hit $10 billion by 2016. In comparison, the total gift card market is expected to reach $140 billion by 2016. With sizeable projections, gift cards will surely be the standard gift purchased from retailers.

Emerging into the gifting market, mobile traffic saw an increase of 40% this year. This increase shows that consumers are more eager to research a product or service online and then make a purchase. Businesses that are mobile friendly are likely to have better traction with e-gifting than businesses that are not.

So like most things, the trend in gift cards is towards digital and mobile. At Kiind, we see this trend shaping not only what we give (e-gift cards) but also how we give (pay-on-use).

If you haven’t seen how we’re changing the way gift cards are sent and received, take a look.

And stay tuned, 2014 is going to be another exciting year.

The Twelve Days of Kiind are here. Each day we will highlight a vendor and waive processing fees associated with that vendor. Similarly, each day we will highlight a specific Amazon.com gift suggestion.

Starting on December 13th, each day a vendor and a gift will be free to send. This means the processing fees are waived on that particular vendor’s gift or Amazon.com gift suggestion. You’ll be charged only the value of a gift once it is claimed.

Here’s the outline for the next twelve days so you can start for your holiday gifting with Kiind.

Highlighted Vendors

Day 1 – December 13th Your favourite local gifts Foot Locker

Day 2 – December 14th Flytographer gifts

Day 3 – December 15 GAP gift

Day 4 – December 16 Tony Romas

Day 5 – December 17 Cineplex

Day 6 – December 18 Wine Enthusiast gift

Day 7 – December 19 Milestones Grill & Bar Kelsey’s

Day 8 – December 20 MyTime gifts Los Angeles gifts San Francisco gifts

Day 9 – December 21 Rdio gifts

Day 10 – December 22 Home Depot gift

Day 11 – December 23  Amazon.com gifts

Day 12 – December 24 iTunes gifts Canada USA

If you have any questions, send me an email at or tweet me .

While I can give you many reasons to use Kiind, our latest media attention highlight some of the best points.

Why should Businesses use Kiind?

“Kiind is built into the digital wallets of iPhone and Android devices. This means that recipients get location-based pop-up reminders when they’re near bricks-and-mortar locations. Kiind reminds users that they have a code to use before it expires.” Robin Arnfield, Mobile Payments Today

“Users appreciate that Kiind provides insights and analytics on every gift that goes through the system so givers can determine if and when a gift was used. Other customers like that there is no wasted plastic, no extra paper, no postage involved, and the gifts are immediate or can be scheduled—an added bonus for last minute holiday shoppers.”  Techvibes

“Kiind also allows people to choose more than one potential retailer for the gift card, putting all the tough decisions into the hands of the recipient.

Why should vendors use Kiind?

“Merchants have an incentive to play ball with Kiind, too.

Conventional wisdom has it that unused gift cards are a windfall for merchants. After all, they’ve already been paid, whether or not the card ever gets redeemed.

But “breakage” – the term for unused gift card balances – can be a real pain for vendors. For one thing, they complicate tax matters, and unused gift card revenues can end up getting taxed at very high rates. What’s more, consumer protection laws being enacted across Canada are making it illegal for gift cards to have expiry dates. This means that vendors of prepaid gift cards can have breakage haunting their books indefinitely.” Ivor Tossell, The Globe and Mail. 

Company Growth

“Leif Baradoy, chief executive of Kiind, has seen his local tech company expand significantly since launching last year.” Andrew Duffy, Times Colonist, Victoria

“[You should] know how to distinguish news from fluff. Your new website may be a big deal to you, but it probably isn’t news. A new product (or version of your product) could be news, especially if you emphasize what it does and what makes it different or special. Kiind emphasized how they help solve a problem and got a full article in the Globe and Mail.” BC Innovation Council

Get started with Kiind today.

Questions? Email or tweet us .

Why do you use Kiind? Comment below.