Coffee Chat #32 with Eric: A Little Help From My Friends - The Future of Gift Cards

October 10, 2025

This week, I’m trying something different — I need a little help from my friends. I need your help with an important question. I just returned from the Retail Gift Card Association Forum in Minneapolis, where an industry friend asked me: “Eric, what’s the future of gift cards?”

I was ready to answer in this week’s Coffee Chat, but then I realized: this isn’t just my question — it’s our question. Everyone’s.

90% of U.S. adults have bought or received a gift card — making it the most widely used non-cash payment instrument. What comes next matters. So instead of sharing my thoughts, I’m turning the mic around…

How would you answer this question in one word (or a short phrase):

The future of gift cards is ________.

I’ll share your comments from LinkedIn in a summary (along with my take) in next week’s Coffee Chat. 🎥 This week’s video is filmed on location in Minneapolis with a few bonus snapshots from the trip at the end. A shoutout to the RGCA team and board for a wonderful event: Karice Moore, Gabriel Resendez, Armineh Sarkissian, Pete Davison, Jennifer Maples, Lesa Hernandez, Jeff Weatherly, Laura Parker, Steve Bradbery, Erin Wood, Miguel Herrera, Catherine Easterling, Ross Kline, Jessica Ippolito, Stephanie Schneider-Thompson, Eric Olsen, Regan DeMarchi, and everyone involved.

And a thank you to all of the conversations that Ian Good from NeoCurrency and I had at the event — always energizing to connect with friends, new industry contacts, and innovators in our gift card world. 🌎 

Till next week, Eric ☕️