In the nearly 30 years that have passed since gift cards first became available for purchase, their popularity has grown by leaps and bounds. With cards from just about every store, restaurant or service provider on the planet available for purchase, it’s hard not to find a gift card that suits everyone’s tastes, interests and personality, which means that giving a thoughtful and meaningful gift that the recipient will love is a lot easier than it used to be.

So, what makes gift cards such a popular and enduring gift-giving staple? Let’s take a closer look.

Amazing Variety

Next time you find a gift card kiosk, take a closer look at the incredible variety of experiences that potentially await a gift card recipient. No matter whom you’re shopping for, it’s easy to find the perfect gift card to fit their unique personality, regardless of age, gender or ability. The stunning variety of gift cards runs the gamut from fine dining to fast food, traditional department stores to online shopping giants. 

And if you’re shopping for someone who prefers experiential gifts over tangible ones, no problem—you can set your sights on cards that cover amusement park admission, in-app video game purchases and even skydiving sessions. Spotify gift cards help the music lover in your life add to their playlists while gift cards for streaming video services can give the gift of entertainment for your favorite movie lover. It’s virtually impossible not to find a gift card that matches the person you are gifting.

High Availability

Back in the dawn of the gift card era, it used to be a little more complicated to track down the right card for the right person. Purchasing a gift card in the 1990s and 2000s often required a trip to the actual store or restaurant, where you would have to speak to a sales representative or host stand attendant to secure the right denomination. Nowadays, you can walk into just about any grocery or convenience store, or even visit the store or restaurant’s website to make a gift card purchase. The high availability of gift cards is just one more reason why they are more popular than ever.

Ease and Convenience

Thanks to their great abundance and wide variety, it has literally never been easier to purchase and send a gift card to a loved one. Not only can you choose from an amazing selection of cards from various stores and service providers, but you can also purchase a digital gift card directly from a website and have it emailed or texted straight to the recipient. This can mean a huge savings in the time and money it takes to send a gift card by mail, especially if the recipient lives in a different state or country. The ease and convenience of purchasing a gift card allows you to give a meaningful and thoughtful gift that the recipient will love, even if you can’t physically be there to celebrate their special occasion with them.

Gift cards are a sure bet when it comes to giving someone a present they’ll love and use. The fact that it’s so easy to find and purchase gift cards is just an added bonus!