Abstract: Information sharing enhances the utility and effectiveness of gift-card transactions. A website enables a user to purchase or activate gift cards and compile recipient contact information to establish a gift network of the gift recipients. Information may be entered in relation to the interests or preferences of the gift recipients in the gift network. Product brands, services or merchants may be recommended to the user, and the user may be made aware of events, deals or promotions related to the interests and preferences of potential recipients in the gift network. Gift-related codes may be disseminated, and gift cards distributed, in accordance with numerous disclosed process flows including “social gifting” processes wherein codes are delivered directly or wherein real or virtual greeting cards are activated on-line and/or at point-of-sale (POS) location(s). An alternative embodiment of the invention resides in gift cards limited to the purchase of brand-specific goods and/or services.

Abstract: Information sharing enhances the utility and effectiveness of gift-card transactions. A website enables a user to purchase or activate gift cards and compile recipient contact information to establish a gift network of the gift recipients. Information may be entered in relation to the interests or preferences of the gift recipients in the gift network. Product brands, services or merchants may be recommended to the user, and the user may be made aware of events, deals or promotions related to the interests and preferences of potential recipients in the gift network. Gift-related codes may be disseminated, and gift cards distributed, in accordance with numerous disclosed process flows including “social gifting” processes wherein codes are delivered directly or wherein real or virtual greeting cards are activated on-line and/or at point-of-sale (POS) location(s).