General Questions

Making a gift card for your business is simple, requiring a few easy steps:

1. Determine POS integration and encoding
2. Design your gift card
3. Send encoding data
4. Proof and then pay
5. Get your cards

Gift cards offer great benefits for consumers. But did you know that gift cards are also good for business? From improving cash flow to building customer loyalty, they can help your business grow to new heights.

Use our online instant quote system for the product you are interested in by browsing our products.

Or, submit your order to sales@plasticresource.com or call us at 833-290-5684 with the following information:

• Type of card and quantity
• Artwork, logo and/or design specifications
• Numbering/encoding instructions (if applicable)
• Ship to name and address

Upon submission of your order we will email you a proof for your approval within 24 hours prior to putting your order into production.

The cost of your gift cards will depend on many factors such as size, color, encoding and more. We offer a wide range of options from custom gift cards to pre-designed gift cards to fit your business and budget.

Yes. We start by printing membership card “shells” with fixed, non-variable text and graphics. Thereafter, we periodically personalize and mail cards for new members.

A common concern is the long-term usability of our custom gift cards. The short answer is, “yes, they are reloadable.” Cards with barcodes or magnetic strips are linked to an account. When used with a compatible POS system, they can be used over and over like currency. Contact one of our team members to learn more and find if your system is compatible.

Yes. We recommend you include your contact information and disclaimer text. If you have questions, contact us, and we will be happy to answer any questions and provide standard disclaimer text examples.

Yes. Custom die cut carriers will incur a custom die charge ranging from $200 to $500. Visit the custom card holders and sleeves page to receive an instant quote.

Absolutely! One common approach is to sell one-time use cards with a face value printed on the face of the card ($5, $10, $25). An example of this are coupon cards. We also have a number of clients that keep track of balance in a spreadsheet, or come up with other creative solutions to avoid the complexities setting up a new POS system.

Yes. Plastic Resource can add magstripes to cards, key tags, and combo cards depending on the nature of the encoding/numbering required on the key tags and combo cards. Contact us at sales@plasticresource.com or 833-290-5684 for additional information.

Yes. We have two custom carrier templates available specifically designed for adhering your card directly to the carrier.

Yes. We have full in-house capabilities to assist you in designing your custom gift cards and key tags. To learn more visit the Custom Design Services web page.

Yes. Most point-of-sale (POS) systems and credit card terminals have the ability to accept gift cards. Getting started is often as simple as swiping the gift card or contacting your POS provider to activate the gift card module. Plastic Resource has over 20 years of experience manufacturing gift and loyalty cards for hundreds of software systems. We can help you determine if you POS system or terminals are compatible with gift cards and/or recommend you to one of preferred gift cards software providers. Contact us to start the conversation.

Yes. Because of the transparency printing on both sides may not be possible (particularly on clear cards). Adding white ink to limit the transparency is a must on double-sided cards. If you have not printed on transparent plastic before, we highly recommend a press proof.

Yes. We have a custom die for square or rounded corners using the same dimensions (2 x 3.5) as your standard business cards. Custom dies (unique shapes and sizes) are also available for an additional charge. Business cards are also available in a selection of material like clear, frosted and white plastic. Visit the plastic business cards page for details and an instant quote.

There are many ways to successfully market and sell your custom gift cards.

• Make your card visible to customers
• Design your cards to be gift-ready
• Build relationships with your customers by creating loyalty programs and online interfaces for their gift card accounts
• Create Buy One, Get One (BOGO) offers that incentivize people to purchase more cards
• Incentivize shoppers to purchase them as holiday gifts to drive after-holiday sales
• Offer gift packages that include cards and related items

For many additional card ideas explore the promotional section of our articles — and follow us on Facebook to learn as new articles are published!

Yes. Plastic Resource offers a number of pre-designed gift and loyalty cards for you to choose from. Once you've chosen a design, send us a logo if available and we'll add it to the final design.

Yes. Our eco-friendly card options are as follows: recycled PVC and specialized paper cards. Visit the eco-friendly product category to explore options.

Yes. A press proof for transparent business cards will cost between $100 to $200 depending on the complexity of the cards. If this is the first time you have printed on transparent plastic for business card use, it can be a good investment to ensure your design will print as you envision.

If you are looking for a proof for opaque cards, see “Do you send a proof prior to putting a custom-printed card into production?”.