Announcing CafePress Gift Certificates 1.0!

Have you noticed how popular Gift Certificates are around the Holidays?

We've noticed it too, and it seems natural that we make them available to CafePress shoppers.

And, we aim to launch them next week!

The following FAQ's, screen shots, and other details should help answer any questions you may have.

• Buyers will be able to purchase Gift Certificates from these 4 places:

1. A banner on the CafePress homepage (this is not a permanent banner, it will be used intermittently for promotion, holidays, etc.).
2. A text link in the left-hand navigation bar of the Marketplace.
3. A banner on the "failed search result" page.
4. A text link in the footer of all CafePress "branded" pages (These are the pages that have a green bar that runs along the bottom of pages, such as CafePress Corporate pages and Basic Shops. Actually, there's one at the bottom of this page).

For illustration see the screen shots below



• Gift Certificates will not be available for sale in Premium Shops.

• During the Gift Certificate purchase process the buyer can add a personalized message to the recipient.

• They come in many denominations, starting at $10 and going all the way up to $1,000.

• Purchased Gift Certificates are delivered to the recipient via email. See screen shot 3 and 4 below.

• Our Unique Gift This Cart™ feature allows a shopper to pick products they think the recipient will like and send a gift certificate that features those products. The recipient can then choose to buy those items (and choose the right sizes) or pick different items. Note - this feature will NOT be present in Premium Shops. See screen shot 4 below.

1. Gift Certificate on "failed search result" page

2. Gift This Cart™ banner as seen in Marketplace Shopping Cart

3. Gift Certificate example - this is what the recipient will receive

4. Gift This Cart™ example - this is what the recipient will receive

FAQ's

What are the benefits of Gift Certificates?

• Buyer Benefits

• They offer the buyer another gift option when they aren't sure what to buy.
• Gift This Cart™ allows a buyer to pick things out that they think their recipients will like, making the gift personal without committing to a specific product or size.
• During holiday seasons, after shipping cut-offs, shoppers still have the option of purchasing last-minute Gift Certificates that will deliver before the holiday.
  
  

• Recipient Benefits

• Gift Certificates give the recipient the opportunity to shop CafePress or individual shops and choose the product they really want.
• Gift This Cart™ allows a recipient to buy the items chosen by the buyer, or choose their own items.
  
  

• Shopkeeper Benefits

• Gift Certificates can be redeemed for any product on CafePress, meaning the potential for more traffic to Shops and the Marketplace -- and more sales opportunities.
• Recipients generally use a Gift Certificate within 30 days of receipt, meaning added sales after the holiday season. Note - since a Gift Certificate is like a form of payment sales/commissions are realized when the Gift Certificate is redeemed.
  
  

What is Gift This Cart™?

Gift This Cart™ is a new shopping tool that will be present in the shopping cart of the Marketplace and in the shopping carts of Basic Shops. When shopper fills a cart (in the Marketplace or in a Basic Shop) they will have two options when they get to the shopping cart - Complete the order, or Gift This Cart™. If they choose Gift This Cart™ they will complete the transaction and a Gift Certificate featuring the items in the cart will be sent to the recipient's email address.

Why are you calling the program Gift Certificates 1.0?

This is the first phase of Gift Certificates; we plan to expand the program in the future.

If an Affiliate drives a customer to the CafePress and they purchase a Gift Certificate, will the Affiliate receive a commission?

Affiliates will not earn a commission for Gift Certificate sales.

If an Affiliate sends a shopper to CafePress, and that buyer chooses to pay using a Gift Certificate, will they still earn their standard commission on that sale?

Yes, the redemption of a Gift Certificate is not treated any differently than any other form of payment.

Will buyers see banners or links to Gift Certificates in individual shops?

• Basic Shops - Yes, there will be a text link in the green footer bar at the bottom of the page that links to the Gift Certificate sales page, and there will be a Gift This Cart™ banner in the shopping cart.
• Premium Shops - No, there will not be any mention of, or links to, Gift Certificate sales pages from premium shops.

How will recipients receive a Gift Certificate or a Gift This Cart™ order?

They will receive an email that contains the Gift Certificate, or the Gift This Cart™ Certificate details (includes gift message, Gift Certificate Number, and instructions for redemption, etc).

Do purchasers receive a confirmation email when they purchase a Gift Certificate or Gift This Cart™?

Yes

Can a buyer redeem a Gift Certificate in an individual shop?

Yes, a Gift Certificate can be redeemed in any shop or through the Marketplace. The Shopkeeper will receive their commission for that sale as usual.

What happens to the remaining balance of a Gift Certificate if the entire amount isn't used?

Any remaining balance is placed into the recipient's "Gift Certificate Account," which is accessible through their CafePress account information.

What if a recipient doesn't have a CafePress account?

They will be instructed to open one when redeeming their certificate.

Do Gift Certificates expire?

No, they do not expire.

Can Gift Certificate be redeemed by phone?

Yes

Can a Gift Certificate be purchased by phone?

Yes

If a purchaser "Gifts a Cart," when will the Shopkeeper see the sale in their account reports?

Shopkeepers will see the sale as soon as the recipient redeems the Gift Certificate if the recipient purchased the item recommended by the purchaser.

Can the recipient of a Gift This Cart™ Gift Certificate change the items the purchaser recommended?

Yes, the recipient can choose any product salable through CafePress.

Are tax and shipping included when you buy a Gift Certificate or "Gift a Cart?"

No, applicable tax or shipping charges are added when the recipient places an order. When gifting a cart the purchaser does have the option of adding extra dollars to cover tax and shipping.

Can Shopkeepers sell Gift Certificates in their stores?

Not at this time. This is being looked at as a future possibility.