TORONTO, Dec. 22, 2015 /CNW/ - As customers finalize their holiday shopping, Starbucks anticipates record purchases of Starbucks Cards on Dec. 24, citing the trend for customers to make their gift card purchases at the last minute. Last year, nearly 2.5 million Starbucks Cards were purchased in Canada and the U.S. on Christmas Eve – representing approximately 1,700 cards purchased per minute.
The National Retail Federation1 reports that 58.8 percent of shoppers said they would like to receive a gift card, making it the most requested gift item nine years in a row. Since Starbucks® Card launched 15 years ago, more than $25 billion has been loaded on Starbucks Cards in Canada and the U.S. alone, with $5.1 billion loaded onto Starbucks Cards in the past fiscal year (Oct 2014 – Sept 2015), and of that total, a record $1.6 billion loaded onto Starbucks Cards in three months (October 2014 through December2014). Starbucks sees the benefits of this increased activity in stores as gift cards received over the holiday season are redeemed.
Today, more than one-third of all transactions in Canada and the U.S. are paid for with a Starbucks Card, and Starbucks Cards are available in more than 31 countries worldwide, with planned expansion in 2016. Starbucks Cards are the gift that keeps on giving. When customers register a Starbucks Card with My Starbucks Rewards® they can start earning stars for purchases at participating stores that can be redeemed year-round for Starbucks beverages and food. Some restrictions apply. Details can be found at www.starbucks.ca/rewards.
Starbucks Card Assortment
This holiday season Starbucks is offering more than 60 different gift card designs, from classic holiday themes to whimsical creations from the Starbucks in-house design team. Customers can mix and match for coworkers, teachers, as stocking stuffers, and for any other Starbucks lover in their life.
For ultimate Starbucks fans looking for an exclusive gift, the Starbucks 2015 Premium Card Collection includes three stainless steel cards embellished with Swarovski Crystals. The collection includes two key-chain sized cards, the Silver Crystal Starbucks Card and Champagne Crystal Starbucks Card and a wallet-sized Deep-Blue Crystal Starbucks Card. These premium gifts are available in limited quantities in select Starbucks® stores in the Canada and the U.S. and on Starbucks.ca/shop while supplies last. All cards are $200 (plus tax) and come loaded with $50.
Card Availability
Beginning at $5.00, and available in customized amounts up to $500, Starbucks Cards can be purchased at any company-operated location in Canada or the U.S. in a variety of formats and designs, and digital gift cards can be given through the company's website (www.starbucks.ca/shop/card/egift).
Starbucks for Life*
The chance to win Starbucks for Life is back with a twist, this holiday season the Starbucks for Life sweepstakes will be open exclusively to My Starbucks Rewards® members.
When a My Starbucks Rewards® member pays for their purchase* in participating Canada and U.S. stores using a registered card or the Starbucks® Mobile App, he or she receives one game play. The member then goes to starbucksforlife.ca and logs in using their My Starbucks Rewards credentials. The customer will then play for the chance to win instant prizes, like bonus stars, or a game piece to place on their mobile game board for the chance to win Starbucks for a day, a week, a month or the grand prize, Starbucks for Life. The sweepstakes runs now to January 11, 2016.
Last year, over a 31-day period, more than 2.3 million customers entered the "It's a Wonderful Card" sweepstakes, and three lucky customers won Starbucks for Life in Canada. Those three winners also received the ultimate Starbucks Card, which not only provides them with Starbucks for Life, but is also a piece of Starbucks history. With an estimated retail value of $5,000, the card is made of 10K hammered gold and is engraved with the winner's name. This year only seven people will win Starbucks for Life (five in the U.S. and two in Canada), and they will also receive the ultimate Starbucks Card. Only 21 ultimate Starbucks Cards have been made, making it the most exclusive Starbucks Card.
*Abbreviated Rules
Abbreviated rules for US: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. LEGAL RESIDENTS OF THE 50 UNITED STATES (D.C) 18 AND OLDER AND WHO ARE MEMBERS OF THE MY STARBUCKS REWARDS® LOYALTY PROGRAM AT THE TIME OF ENTRY. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. Participating stores only. Promotion ends 1/11/16. "Starbucks for Life" means the winner will receive a daily credit for 30 years for one free food or beverage item redeemable at participating Starbucks® stores in the U.S. Starbucks Evenings menu items excluded. Winner must present a registered Starbucks Card. Credits are non-transferrable and expire within 24 hours. For official rules, how to enter without purchase, prizes and odds, visit http://starbucksforlife.com. Sponsor: Starbucks Corporation, 2401 Utah Ave., S., Seattle, WA 981034. Limit of one (1) instant-win-game prize per day.
Abbreviated rules for Canada: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. LEGAL RESIDENTS OF CANADA 18 AND OLDER AND WHO ARE MEMBERS OF THE MY STARBUCKS REWARDS® LOYALTY PROGRAM AT THE TIME OF ENTRY. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. Participating stores only. Promotion ends 1/11/16. "Starbucks for Life" means the winner will receive a daily credit for 30 years for one free food or beverage item redeemable at participating Starbucks® stores in Canada. Starbucks Evenings menu items excluded. Winner must present a registered Starbucks Card. Credits are non-transferrable and expire within 24 hours. For official rules, how to enter without purchase, prizes and odds, visit http://starbucksforlife.ca. Sponsor: Starbucks Coffee Canada, 5140 Yonge Street, Suite 1205, Toronto, ON M2N 6L7, Canada. Limit of one (1) instant-win-game prize per day.
1 National Retail Federation (NRF), November 17, 2015: https://nrf.com/media/press-releases/early-promos-great-deals-put-traditional-gift-card-buyers-gift-wrapping-mode
SOURCE Starbucks Coffee Canada
Image with caption: "Record purchases of Starbucks Cards anticipated on Christmas Eve (CNW Group/Starbucks Coffee Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20151222_C4546_PHOTO_EN_588508.jpg
Image with caption: "Record purchases of Starbucks Cards anticipated on Christmas Eve (CNW Group/Starbucks Coffee Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20151222_C4546_PHOTO_EN_588506.jpg
Mary Saunoris, Starbucks Canada, [email protected] or [email protected]
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