Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02772624 2012-02-29
WO 2011/026123 PCT/US2010/047367
MULTI-PACK GIFT CARD SYSTEM AND METHODS
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a nonprovisional application of and claims priority
from
U.S. provisional patent application serial number 61/238,575 filed on August
31, 2009, and is
a continuation-in-part application of U.S. nonprovisional patent application
serial number
12/464,740 filed on May 12, 2009. The foregoing applications are incorporated
in their
entirety herein by this reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention relates to gift card distribution. More particularly, the
invention
relates to systems and methods for creating and distributing gift cards to
gift givers for gifting
to gift recipients.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Gift card sales and usage have surged in recent years as consumers have
been
lured to the ease of use and flexibility that such gifting means provide. The
conventional
distribution of gift cards has been accomplished by passive means in which a
consumer has
been able to choose to obtain a gift card directly from a retail location by
visiting a store or
by ordering the gift card via telephone, e-mail, or the internet. The
conventional method of
acquiring a gift card generally requires the consumer to take some action to
obtain the
physical gift card, whether the action be traveling to and visiting a retail
location or accessing
a retailer's website to order the gift card, traditional gift card issuers
have failed to capture a
large segment of the potential gift card market due to these passive sales
techniques. Some
gift card issuers have turned to "gift card mall" companies that place
displays in certain
heavily trafficked retail locations, e.g., grocery stores or large department
stores, which
contain gift cards issued by multiple retailers and manufacturers. For
example, a consumer
shopping at a grocery store having a gift card mall display may be able to
purchase and fund
a gift card obtained from that gift card mall display in the grocery store
where the gift card is
selected from among a book retailer, a sporting goods retailer, a clothing
retailer, and a
jewelry retailer, all of whom have no connection to the grocery store other
than that their gift
cards are sold at the gift card mall display located therein. Thus, the
conventional systems
and methods for distributing and selling gift cards are disadvantageous due to
their reliance
CA 02772624 2012-02-29
WO 2011/026123 PCT/US2010/047367
on the customer to take action to seek out and obtain the gift card.
[0004] Conventional gift card marketing is generally passive and relies
primarily on
brand recognition and gift card availability at the time of purchase by the
gift giver. As gift
cards have become a major product category with significant financial and
monetary
implications to card issuers, distribution and gift card product marketing has
not expanded at
the same rate. As a result, current gift card marketing and distribution
systems continue with
little or no change from those used for decades.
SUMMARY
[0005] The invention relates to systems and methods for creating and
distributing gift
cards. The system can include a gift card multi-pack that features packages of
gift cards,
greeting cards and envelopes that assist a consumer in activating and
purchasing gifts using
the Internet. The system can include all the items needed to send the gift
card, greeting card
and envelope to the gift recipient conveniently from the comfort of the
consumer's home or
office. The packages of gift cards, greeting cards and envelopes can be
inserted into
envelopes, a shrink-wrapped, wrapped in a poly-bag, boxed or placed into any
suitable
packaging that contains multiple gift card packages for distribution. Each
gift card package
included in the gift card multi-pack can include a gift card, a greeting card,
an envelope for
mailing the gift card and greeting card, and/or at least one instruction sheet
providing
instructions for activating, funding, and redeeming the gift cards. The gift
card multi-pack
may contain 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50, 75, 100, 150,
200, or more gift
cards, or any other intervening number of gift cards. The gift cards included
in each gift card
multi-pack can be provided by the same card issuer or by a plurality of
different card issuers.
[0006] The system can further include a website and/or a telephone system for
use by
a gift giver to activate and fund one of the gift cards selected from the gift
card multi-pack for
gifting to a gift recipient
[0007] The method of distributing gift cards can feature the steps of
packaging a
plurality of gift card packages to form a gift card multi-pack that can be
inserted into billing
envelope sent another company such as, for example, a cable television bill
mailed by a cable
company. In another embodiment, the gift card multi-pack can be attached to a
product or
product package sold by a company and may contain gift cards issued by non-
competing
advertisers.
2
CA 02772624 2012-02-29
WO 2011/026123 PCT/US2010/047367
[0008] The method of creating gift cards and gift card packages can utilize
blank
forms or templates that can be personalized by a gift giver prior to mailing
to a gift recipient
and printed by the gift giver using a home or office desktop printer or any
other suitable
printing device. The gift card form can feature perforations or other lines of
separation that
separate components that include a gift card, a greeting card, an envelope,
and an instruction
sheet. After printing, the gift giver can separate these detachable components
from the form
blank, assemble the envelope, and mail the activated and funded gift card
along with the
greeting card and instruction sheet inside the envelope to the gift recipient.
[0009] The gift card distribution systems and methods of the invention are
advantageous because they use active, rather than passive, advertising that
places a plurality
of gift cards directly into consumers' homes and hands rather than relying
upon the
consumers, i.e., the potential gift givers, to visit a retail location or
website to order or
purchase and fund gift cards. The gift card multi-pack can be expected to
achieve a higher
rate of usage among consumers because consumers are not required to take
action to obtain
the gift card, but instead, the gift card is sent to the consumers either
solicited or unsolicited.
[0010] Another advantage of the gift card distribution systems and methods is
that the
consumer is able to receive a "gift card mall" in the home rather than being
required to travel
to a retail location such as a grocery store, department store, or to the card
issuer's own store
to obtain and fund a gift card. The consumer can be provided a broad selection
of gift cards
from a variety of different retailers or service providers through the direct
mailing of a gift
card multi-pack or through the inclusion of a gift card multi-pack in another
company's
billing envelope.
[0011] Still another advantage of the multi-pack gift card system is that it
can be
delivered directly to a user's home, solicited or unsolicited, which can
increase spending and
usage of the gift card component, as opposed to relying upon the user to visit
a retail location
having a gift card mall to purchase and fund a gift card.
[0012] Yet another advantage of the multi-pack gift card system is that it may
be
constructed so as to be flat and of a uniform or nearly uniform thickness so
that when a
plurality of the multi-purpose forms are packaged, the packaged forms comply
with United
States Postal Service or other mailing or courier service guidelines and
regulations related to
the required flatness of printed materials being mailed.
[0013] Yet another advantage of the gift card multi-pack is that paper gift
cards may
3
CA 02772624 2012-02-29
WO 2011/026123 PCT/US2010/047367
be used, which are safer to mail than plastic cards due to their narrow
thickness that cannot
easily be felt through a closed envelope as opposed to thicker plastic cards
that are easily
recognized by touching the surfaces of a closed envelope. As an additional
safety feature, a
website of the systems described herein can be used to register a gift card to
its intended
recipient so that only the intended recipient can redeem the gift card using a
login, password,
or other information that can be used to confirm the recipient's identity
through the website.
[0014] The gift card creation and distribution systems and methods of the
invention
are also advantageous in that the gift giver is allowed to personalize the
gift card and other
components of the gift card package (e.g., the greeting card and envelope)
using a home or
office printer. The gift giver may use these systems and methods to include
personalized
printed text or images on the gift card package components using the above-
described printed
forms.
[0015] Accordingly, the invention features a gift card distribution system
that can
include a gift card multi-pack. The gift card multi-pack may feature a
plurality of gift card
packages. Each gift card package can include a gift card, an envelope, and a
greeting card.
[0016] In another aspect, the invention can feature each gift card package
further
including a coupon.
[0017] In another aspect, the invention can feature the coupon being
redeemable for a
discount that is applied to the purchase price of a good or service purchased
by a user from an
issuer of the gift card.
[0018] In another aspect, the invention can feature the system further
including a
carrier to which the gift card multi-pack is attachable.
[0019] In another aspect, the invention can feature the carrier being an item
selected
from the group among the following items: a product package for a good, a
publication, a
food container, a beverage container, a shopping bag, or a mailing envelope
sized and shaped
to contain the gift card multi-pack.
[0020] In another aspect, the invention can feature the carrier being a
marriage mail
piece.
[0021] In another aspect, the invention can feature the marriage mail piece
being a
billing envelope also containing an invoice, a bank statement envelope also
containing a bank
statement, or a mailing envelope for a mail item other than the gift card
multi-pack.
[0022] In another aspect, the invention can feature a website that is
accessible via a
4
CA 02772624 2012-02-29
WO 2011/026123 PCT/US2010/047367
computer connected to a communications network. The gift card can be
activated, funded,
and redeemed by a user using the website. The user can be a gift giver and a
gift recipient.
[0023] In another aspect, the invention can feature each gift card package
including a
plurality of forms each of which includes lines of separation at which the
gift card, envelope,
and greeting card are detachable from the form.
[0024] The invention also features a method for distributing gift cards. The
method
can include the steps of (a) creating a gift card multi-pack; (b) attaching
the gift card multi-
pack to a carrier; and (c) delivering the gift card multi-pack to a gift giver
by delivering the
carrier to the gift giver.
[0025] Another method of the invention can feature the step of attaching the
gift card
multi-pack to the carrier including the step of inserting the gift card multi-
pack into a billing
envelope containing an invoice. The billing envelope can be the carrier.
[0026] Another method of the invention can feature the step of attaching the
gift card
multi-pack to the carrier including the step of inserting the gift card multi-
pack inside of a
shopping bag handed to a gift giver at a sales checkout counter when the gift
giver purchases
an item.
[0027] Another method of the invention can feature the step of attaching the
gift card
multi-pack to the carrier including the step of inserting the gift card multi-
pack inside a
fulfillment box being delivered to the gift giver.
[0028] Another method of the invention can feature the step of attaching the
gift card
multi-pack to the carrier including the step of inserting the gift card multi-
pack into a
publication.
[0029] Another method of the invention can feature the publication being a
magazine,
a newspaper, or a catalog.
[0030] Another method of the invention can feature the carrier being a direct
mail
envelope or package sized and shaped for containing the gift card multi-pack.
[0031] Another method of the invention can feature the carrier being a
marriage mail
envelope or package containing a first article being mailed and into which the
gift card multi-
pack is also inserted.
[0032] Another method of the invention can feature the gift card multi-pack
including
a plurality of forms capable of being stacked to produce a flat package for
mailing.
[0033] Another method of the invention can feature the gift card multi-pack
including
CA 02772624 2012-02-29
WO 2011/026123 PCT/US2010/047367
a plurality of gift card packages, each of which can include a gift card, an
envelope, and a
greeting card.
[0034] The invention also features a method for creating a gift card package.
The
method includes the step of (a) providing a printable form that can be
personalized by a gift
giver. The form can feature the following detachable components: a gift card,
a greeting
card, and an envelope. In step (b) of the method, a system can be provided
that is accessible
to the gift giver via a website using a computer connected to the Internet. In
step (c) of the
method, the gift card can be activated and funded through the website, and in
step (d),
following activation and funding of the gift card, a gift card number can be
obtained for
printing on the gift card. In step (e), the gift giver can use the system
website to input
personalized content for printing onto the form. In steps (f) and (g), the
personalized content
and the gift card number can be printed onto the form, and the detachable
components can be
detached from the form. Finally, in step (h), the gift card and greeting card
can be inserted
into the envelope for mailing to a gift recipient.
[0035] Another method of the invention can feature the step of providing a
printable
form further including the step of packaging a plurality of the printable
forms to create a gift
card multi-pack.
[0036] Another method of the invention can feature the step of delivering the
gift card
multi-pack to the gift giver by attaching the gift card multi-pack to a
carrier that is being
delivered to the gift giver for reasons independent of the delivery of the
gift card multi-pack.
[0037] Unless otherwise defined, all technical terms used herein have the same
meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which
this invention
belongs. Although methods and materials similar or equivalent to those
described herein can
be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, suitable methods
and materials are
described below. All publications, patent applications, patents and other
references
mentioned herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety. In the case
of conflict, the
present specification, including definitions will control.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0038] Figure 1 is a gift card multi-pack gift.
[0039] Figure 2 is a rear view of the gift card multi-pack inserted into a
pocket of an
envelope.
6
CA 02772624 2012-02-29
WO 2011/026123 PCT/US2010/047367
[0040] Figure 3 is a front view of a gift card package form.
[0041] Figure 4 is a rear view of the gift card package form of Figure 3.
[0042] Figure 5 is an elevational view of an interior of a gift card package
of the gift
card multi-pack of Figure 1 showing a greeting card inserted into a pocket of
an envelope and
a gift card and a coupon detachably connected to a lid of the envelope.
[0043] Figure 6 is an elevational view of an exterior of the gift card package
of Figure
showing reverse sides of the envelope, gift card, and coupon.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0044] The invention provides gift card distribution systems and methods as
well as
systems and methods for creating the gift cards that are to be distributed.
According to
Figure 1, the gift card distribution system can include a package containing
multiple gift
cards (hereinafter referred to as a gift card multi-pack) that can be
distributed directly to a
consumer (e.g., a gift giver). The gift card multi-pack can include a
plurality of gift cards
each of which is issued by a different retailer or manufacturer or by the same
retailer or
manufacturer. Retailers and manufacturers may be referred to hereinafter as
gift card issuers.
Each of the plurality of gift cards contained in the gift card multi-pack can
be separately
wrapped or packaged into a gift card package. In addition to a gift card, the
gift card package
can further include one or more of a mailing envelope, a greeting card, an
advertisement, and
an instruction sheet. As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the gift card package may
also include a
coupon that can be used by the gift giver or by a gift recipient to obtain a
discount on
products purchased as gifts by the gift giver or products purchased by the
gift recipient when
redeeming the gift card.
[0045] In an exemplary embodiment, the gift card distribution system can
further
include a website that is accessible from a computer via the Internet, which
can be accessed
and utilized by a gift giver to activate and fund a gift card prior to sending
the gift card to the
gift recipient. The gift giver can provide personal identification (e.g.,
name, address,
telephone number, user name, and/or password) and payment information (e.g.,
credit card or
checking account numbers and other information) to activate and fund the gift
card. In other
embodiments, the gift giver can activate and fund one or more gift cards from
the gift card
multi-pack by a telephone access system, at a retail location, at a gift card
kiosk, or via mail.
[0046] The gift card of the gift card package can be a conventional standard-
sized gift
7
CA 02772624 2012-02-29
WO 2011/026123 PCT/US2010/047367
card or may be larger or smaller than conventional gift cards. In an exemplary
embodiment,
the gift card can be constructed from paper. In other embodiments, the gift
card can be
constructed from plastic or other suitable materials.
[0047] The mailing envelope of the gift card package can be sized and shaped
to meet
any rules or regulations for mailing in the United States or in foreign
jurisdictions. The
mailing envelope can include indicia concerning the location for the
affixation of postage. A
lid of the envelope can include the gift card, which can be detachable from
one edge of the
lid. The envelope lid may also include the coupon, which can also be detached
from an edge
of the lid. The mailing envelope can include a pocket that is sized to hold
only the gift card.
In another embodiment, the pocket of the mailing envelope can have dimensions
that permit
it to hold other items such as, for example, more than one gift card or a
greeting card in
addition to the gift card. The gift card can be detached from the lid by the
gift giver and
inserted into the pocket of the envelope along with the greeting card. The
greeting card can
be used by the gift giver to send a personalized message, e.g., a written or
typed message, to
the gift recipient along with the gift card.
[0048] The advertisement can be included in the gift card package to permit
the gift
card issuer to advertise other products or services of the gift card issuer to
the gift giver or to
the gift recipient. The online activation system using the Internet can expand
the advertising
content viewed by a user by directing the gift giver and subsequently the gift
recipient to
advertisements, e.g., video commercials and photo slide shows. The
advertisements viewed
by the users can be personalized to each user by incorporating text-to-speech
audio into the
system and its advertisements. The gift card package can include more than one
advertisement. In addition, the advertisement and online advertising can
provide useful
information to educate the gift giver and/or gift recipient concerning the
card issuer's product
or brand.
[0049] The instruction sheet can be included in the gift card package to
provide
information and instructions to the gift giver concerning the activation and
funding of the gift
card. Additionally, the invention includes the use of a hexadecimal numbering
system that
takes the user directly to specific retailer websites and micro-websites. The
instruction sheet
may also include information and instructions to the gift recipient concerning
the redemption
of the gift card. In this latter embodiment, the instruction sheet can be
inserted into the
pocket of the mailing envelope to be delivered to the gift recipient along
with the gift card.
8
CA 02772624 2012-02-29
WO 2011/026123 PCT/US2010/047367
The gift card package can include at least two separate instruction sheets:
one for the gift
giver and another for the gift recipient. A website of the system can also
include web pages
incorporating text-to-speech technology and one or more avatars that speak
directly to the
user to instruct the user how to use, activate and redeem the gift card. In
another
embodiment, the instruction sheet may include two sections (one directed to
the gift giver and
another directed to the gift recipient) that are detachable at a line of
separation, e.g., a
perforated line.
[0050] In one embodiment, each of the plurality of gift cards in the gift card
multi-
pack can be redeemable for a specific gift from the gift card issuer or may be
redeemable for
a gift that is selected for a gift recipient by the gift giver.
[0051] In another embodiment, each of the plurality of gift cards in the gift
card
multi-pack can include a discount gift card purchase option. With such an
option, redemption
of each card can be controlled so that the cards may redeemed only at the
manufacturer or
distributor card issuers' participating retailers and/or for specific products
at those same
participating retailers.
[0052] In an exemplary embodiment, the gift giver can select a gift card in
the gift
card multi-pack issued by one gift card issuer and can fund the selected gift
card with an
amount of money chosen by the gift giver. The funded gift card can then be
mailed or
otherwise delivered by the gift giver to the gift recipient. The remaining
gift cards in the gift
card multi-pack can be retained by the gift giver for later use in making
gifts to the same or
other gift recipients.
[0053] In one exemplary embodiment, the gift card multi-pack can include five
gift
card packages. The gift card multi-pack that contains five gift card packages
can be
constructed to weight no more than one ounce. Other embodiments of the gift
card multi-
pack may feature more or fewer gift card packages. Regardless of the number,
the gift card
packages may be manufactured and printed in full color using an in-line
printing press. Each
set of gift card packages to be included in a gift card multi-pack can be
shrink-wrapped
together for easy mailing and delivery. As shown in Figure 2, the gift card
multi-pack can
also be designed in a shape and size that makes it capable of insertion into a
billing envelope
or other envelope. The size and shape of a five-count gift card multi-pack
permits insertion
into an envelope using only one pocket or stacker per each gift card multi-
pack on existing
inserting machines.
9
CA 02772624 2012-02-29
WO 2011/026123 PCT/US2010/047367
[0054] In another embodiment, the gifting system may use a multi-pack, which
can be
a package or envelope containing multiple gift cards for a plurality of
products or services or
from a plurality of retailers or manufacturers. The multi-pack can be
delivered to the
consumer, e.g., by direct mail, so that the consumer can browse the gift cards
and select one
or more to activate and fund for gifting to a giftee. The giftor's opportunity
to select one or
more gift cards for activation and gifting to a giftee from among the
plurality of gift cards
contained by the multi-pack provides a type of "gift card mall" experience
that is delivered
directly to the giftor's home. The giftor can select a gift from among the
gift representations
provided in the multi-pack and activate and fund the gift card via the website
from a location
and computer that is convenient for the giftor. The multi-pack can be mailed
to a consumer
upon the consumer's request or can be mailed to a group of consumers whose
contact
information is obtained from a mailing list compiled or acquired by the card
issuer or
advertiser.
[0055] In one exemplary embodiment, the gift card multi-pack can be packaged
for
Flat Rate Standard Mail in accordance with the United States Postal Service
("USPS") Direct
Mail Manual specifications and regulations for USPS Flat Rate Standard Mail.
To comply
with USPS regulations and specifications applicable to USPS Flat Rate Standard
Mail, the
package of multi-purpose forms can be a minimum of about 6 inches wide x 5
inches long
with about 0.125-inch radius rounded corners and the packaged multi-purpose
forms can be
no more than about 0.75 inches in thickness from any edge of the package. The
package of
gift card multi-pack is flexible so that the package is capable of bending one
inch from any
edge without affecting the contents inside the package. By definition the gift
card multi-
packs and the resulting packages will be a uniform thickness so that there
will not be any
bumps, protrusions, or other irregularities do not cause more than one-quarter
of an inch in
variance in the thickness of the package. The finished sheet dimensions and
packaging fall
within the USPS Flat Rate Standard Mail requirements which will minimize the
postage
expense for mailing each package of gift card multi-packs.
[0056] In another exemplary embodiment of the system, the gift card multi-pack
can
feature a shrink-wrapped stack of 10 to 100 gift card packages. In other
embodiments, the
gift card multi-pack can include two or more shrink-wrapped stacks of gift
card packages,
and the number of gift card packages contained in the gift card multi-pack can
be fewer or
more than 100. This embodiment of the gift card multi-pack can be direct
mailed to
CA 02772624 2012-02-29
WO 2011/026123 PCT/US2010/047367
consumers in a fixed rate package such as, for example, the U.S. Postal
Service's fixed rate
Priority Mail Pack.
[0057] A gift card distribution method of the invention can feature the above-
described gift card multi-pack being inserted into a first class postage
envelope, for example,
a first class postage billing envelope for any company that mails invoices.
For example, a
gift card multi-pack containing five shrink-wrapped gift card packages can be
inserted into a
billing envelope containing an invoice mailed by a cable company, a power
company, a
phone company, or a credit card company. The five-count gift card multi-pack
can include
gift cards manufactured from paper and, when shrink-wrapped, can be less than
one-eighth of
an inch thick. In other embodiments, the five-count gift card multi-pack can
be 1/16, 1/10,
1/5, 1/4, 1/3, 1/2, or 1 inch in thickness when shrink-wrapped.
[0058] In another embodiment, the gift card multi-pack can be inserted into a
bank
statement envelope or into a billing envelope as "marriage mail," i.e., a
second article
delivered along with a first article where the first article is the primary
reason for the mailing.
Marriage mail is itself a type of direct mail. In still another embodiment,
the gift card multi-
pack can be shrink-wrapped with a magazine that is mailed to a gift giver as
part of a monthly
subscription. In another embodiment, the gift card multi-pack can be attached
to a pizza box
tops or other product packaging surfaces such as to the surface of a
fulfillment box in which
another product ordered by the user is being shipped to the user, inserted
into a shopping
bags, handed out at restaurants as part of the checkout procedure, inserted
into publications,
or direct mailed or marriage mailed. Using any of the aforementioned means of
distribution,
the gift giver receiving the gift card multi-pack can then select one or more
gift card packages
for activation and funding to be mailed or otherwise delivered to one or more
gift recipients.
[0059] In embodiments in which the gift card multi-pack is direct mailed or
included
in marriage mail, the low weight of the gift card multi-pack will add very
little to the cost of
mailing by taking advantage of the current U.S. Postal Service rates for mail
items weighing
between 1-2 ounces. For example, in marriage mail embodiments, the first ounce
of postage
currently costs 44 cents while the second ounce costs an additional 12.5
cents. The first
article, for example, a first class postage billing envelope and invoice,
whose deliver is the
primary purpose for the mailing, automatically costs 44 cents as the first
ounce of postage
under current U.S. Postal Service rates. Inserting a gift card multi-pack
featuring five shrink-
wrapped gift card packages into the billing envelope as marriage mail adds an
additional
11
CA 02772624 2012-02-29
WO 2011/026123 PCT/US2010/047367
ounce to the weight of the mailing. The additional weight of the gift card
multi-pack within
the billing envelope would add only 12.5 cents (or 2.5 cents per gift card
package) to the
postage cost by utilizing current U.S. Postal Service rates. A second five-
count gift card
multi-pack can easily and inexpensively be inserted into a billing envelope
for only an
additional 12.5 cents as long as the total weight of the billing envelope and
contents remains
under two ounces pursuant to current U.S. Postal Service weight and postage
rates and
regulations. If the first article weighs less than one ounce, practicing the
invention, it is
possible to create a gift card multi-pack that together with the first article
and envelope will
not exceed one ounce in weight so that the marriage mail postage will be the
then-current first
class rate for mail weighing one ounce or less, thereby avoiding the
additional charge for
exceeding one ounce.
[0060] In another embodiment, rather than being inserted into an envelope for
mailing, the gift card multi-pack can be encased in a wrapper, e.g., a paper,
plastic or foil
wrapper. The gift card multi-pack form can be manufactured as a single leaf or
as multiple
leafs from paper or another substrate of any weight. Each gift card multi-pack
form can also
include a single page or multiple pages. The lighter the substrate from which
the gift card
multi-pack is constructed, the more gift card multi-pack forms that can be
included in each
gift card package so as not to exceed the one ounce postage standards.
[0061] In embodiments of the method in which the gift card multi-pack is
attached to
another product or product package such as, for example, to a top of a pizza
box, the retailer
or manufacturer of the other product or product package could be allowed to
include one or
more free or allowed gift card packages for its own products in the gift card
multi-pack while
allowing the other included gift cards to be issued only by non-competing
advertisers (i.e.,
non-competing retailers or manufacturers).
[0062] The gift card multi-pack can be attached to the box or other packaging
by a
magna-strip or other resins or glues, although any suitable attachment means
may be used for
the purpose. Magna-strips may also be utilized to attach the gift card multi-
packs inside, on,
and to magazines and other publications.
[0063] The multi-pack and the plurality of individually unique gift cards
contained
therein can be manufactured using a single stream in-line process, by a sheet-
fed operation,
manually, or by any other suitable printing and folding means. In an exemplary
embodiment,
to efficiently create the multi-pack, a variable printing machine may be used
to print unique
12
CA 02772624 2012-02-29
WO 2011/026123 PCT/US2010/047367
gift cards sequentially via inkjet printing means. The sequential printing
feature of the
variable printing machine allows a single set of a plurality of unique gift
cards, e.g., gift cards
for a plurality of different gifts or from a plurality of different retailers
or manufacturers, to
be printed as one sequential set that can be packaged together rather than
requiring printing
and subsequent collation of the different cards. The gift cards can be
variably printed so that
each card differs in the name of the consumer, the gift representation, the
retailer, or the
manufacturer printed on each card in the set that is to be packaged. In this
way, each
consumer can receive a multi-pack that is individually personalized for the
specific user and
which can contain gift cards that are the same as or different from those
contained in any
other multi-pack. Personalization of each multi-pack for each specific user
can be
accomplished using personal information contained in a database related to
each user. The
printing machine can collate the cards automatically rather than requiring
each set of identical
gift cards to be separately printed and subsequently collated by manual or
mechanical means.
In one embodiment, the multi-pack may also contain one or more mailable
greeting cards and
envelopes in addition to the plurality of gift cards. In another embodiment,
the multi-pack
can be made available for pick-up by giftors in a retail location. Each gift
card in the multi-
pack may include a unique hexadecimal number, standard gift card number,
and/or bar code
printed thereon. Other information can also be printed on each unique gift
card within the
multi-pack to further personalize the gift card such as, for example, the
giftor's name and
address, the product name or product image, and product information. Similar
personalized
data can be printed on the greeting card in embodiments in which the multi-
pack contains one
or more greeting cards.
[0064] Once a gift giver receives a gift card multi-pack, the gift giver can
select one
or more gift cards (each gift card being contained within one of the gift card
packages
enclosed in the gift card multi-pack) for activation and funding via the
system's website or
another available activation and funding method. After the selected gift card
has been
activated and funded, the gift card can be inserted into a mailing envelope of
the gift card
package and deposited into the mail for delivery to a gift recipient. In one
embodiment, the
gift giver may write a personal message to the gift recipient in a greeting
card of the gift card
package and enclose the greeting card with the gift card in the mailing
envelope. In another
embodiment, an instruction sheet of the gift card package can be inserted by
the gift giver
into the mailing envelope to provide instructions to the gift recipient
concerning activation
13
CA 02772624 2012-02-29
WO 2011/026123 PCT/US2010/047367
and redemption of the gift card.
[0065] The method can be used to deliver gift cards in gift card multi-packs
to
consumers (potential gift givers) at intervals as frequent as desired by the
card issuers. For
example, the gift card multi-packs can be delivered monthly, quarterly, or
yearly, or only on
special occasions such as, for example, a holiday or the gift giver's
birthday. In an
exemplary embodiment, the gift card multi-pack can be delivered to gift givers
whose names
and addresses are gathered from lists compiled by marketing firms and by data
mining. In
another embodiment, the gift card multi-pack can be delivered to the gift
giver at the gift
giver's request.
[0066] The invention also features methods for creating the gift card packages
that are
featured in the gift card multi-packs described herein. As shown in Figures 3
and 4, gift
givers may obtain forms that can be printed using a home or office desktop
inkjet printer to
create personalized gift cards, envelopes, and greeting cards. The forms may
be single-page
or multi-page forms. The forms may include pre-installed glue or other
adhesives for
creating and sealing the envelope. The forms may also require folding by the
gift giver to
form the envelope once the form has been printed. The forms can further
include lines of
separation or perforations that permit the gift card, greeting card, and
envelope to be
separated (or punched out) from the form once the form blank has been printed.
The forms
may include certain pre-printed information provided by the gift card issuer
or by the gift
card system administrator. The gift giver may personalize the forms for
printing using text or
images supplied by the gift giver or the gift giver may access the website
described herein to
obtain free template text and/or images or to purchase similar material for
personalizing the
gift card package at the time of printing. Personalization of the form may be
accomplished
by the gift giver using a graphical user interface of the system's website or
by utilizing
software such as, for example, a plug-in for a word processing software
program (e.g.,
WordPerfect or Microsoft Word). The gift card form can be designed for
printing on both
sides of the form, which can be accomplished using the website or the plug-in
software.
[0067] Prior to printing, the gift giver can be required to activate and fund
the gift
card so as to obtain a gift card number that can be printed on the gift card.
The gift card
number can be a hexadecimal number or a conventional sixteen-digit number.
[0068] In an exemplary embodiment, the gift giver can be required to access
and use
the system website in order to activate and fund the gift card. Once the gift
giver has
14
CA 02772624 2012-02-29
WO 2011/026123 PCT/US2010/047367
activated and funded the gift card, the system can issue a gift card number
for printing on the
gift card and gift card personalization features of the system may be unlocked
on the website
for access and use by the gift giver.
[0069] In another embodiment, where the card issuer is a brick-and-mortar
retailer,
the giftee may redeem the card contained within the gift card multi-pack to
receive the gift by
visiting one of the retailer's store locations.
[0070] After the gift giver has completed personalization of the gift card
form, the gift
card form can be printed using the gift giver's home or office printer. The
gift card, greeting
card, and envelope components of the gift card form can be detached from the
form by
separating each of the components at the lines of separation or perforations.
The gift giver
can then fold the envelope making use of pre-installed adhesive sections where
necessary.
When the envelope has been formed by the gift giver, the gift giver can sign
the greeting
card, if desired, and insert the gift card and greeting card inside of the
envelope. The
envelope can then be sealed and postage affixed thereto for mailing to the
gift recipient. In
one embodiment, the form may also include an instruction sheet that can be
detached and
mailed to the gift recipient to inform the gift recipient how to activate and
redeem the gift
card.
Other Embodiments
[0071] It is to be understood that while the invention has been described in
conjunction with the detailed description thereof, the foregoing description
is intended to
illustrate and not limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the
scope of the
appended claims. Other aspects, advantages, and modifications are within the
scope of the
following claims.
