Gift Certificate Auctions
Launched is 2005 and growing steadily every year, The CityXpress Gift Certificate Auction program offers media companies an easy-to-execute promotion that is a great "gap filler"; is easy to link to seasonal events or scheduled special sections; and allows targeting of new non-traditional advertisers in vertical markets.
CityXpress is the market leader, innovating to allow our media partners to increase the promotional value offered to advertisers with programs that can be run on a planned schedule throughout the year.
Our customers receive the most advanced technical solution; our unique programs that reduce workload and maximize results and revenue; and the assurance of dealing with the only vendor in its field who is PCI DSS certified for credit card transactions.
How Gift Certificate Auctions Work
Gift certificates are amongst the most popular items in our auctions worldwide. Advertisers and bidders like full-value gift certificates because they promote in-store visits, provide bidders freedom of choice allowing them to purchase exactly what they want, and generate incremental cash purchases. Gift certificates also reduce the workload for our media partners while improving margins as sales reps do not require category knowledge on best selling items.
The model is identical to our event auctions. Local businesses provide gift certificates for goods or services in trade for newspaper advertising. When a product sells in the auction - when bidding meets a reserve price set in advance by your newspaper - the advertiser earns an ad credit equal to the gift certificate's value. The advertiser's cost is the wholesale price of the item redeemed for the gift certificate by the consumer. The media company keeps the cash received from the bidder as payment for the ad credit.Gift certificate auctions, usually lasting up to 10 days, are conducted online and supported by a print promotional campaign. Readers bid online, with the highest bidder whose bid meets or exceeds the reserve price winning the gift certificate.
Gift certificate auctions offer a compelling and reliable way to secure new advertisers around seasonal promotions and special sections.
Win-Win-Win
Media companies win...
- Boost ad revenues
- Fill budget shortfalls
- Sign new advertisers
- Drive website traffic/readership
Advertisers win...
- Trade products at wholesale cost for ad credits at retail value
- No cash outlay
- No-risk promotion
- Walk-in traffic - new customers
Readers win...
- Great deals on attractive products
- Security of buying from local merchants
We Support Your Success
- Researched and tested sales resources
- Comprehensive training for your staff
- Item Target Recommendations for best product mix
- 24/7 Tech/Customer support
- Complete analytical reporting
- Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) compliance for credit card processing
