3-On Your Side: Free Gift Certificates
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- In this tough economy you might not be willing to splurge on shopping trips or going out to dinner. But what if you had free gift certificates? 3-On Your Side's Jim Donovan shows you how you can get your hands on an entire pack of gift cards, simply by having a birthday.
Would you like a spa appointment for your birthday? How about beautiful flowers? Or maybe you'd like to celebrate by dining out?
With a Birthday Pak you can get gift certificates to cover them all and much more.
"I mean there's almost $200 dollars worth of gift certificates here, for free," said Birthday Pak recipient, Dee Rogevich.
That's right free! Dee learned about Birthday Pak after reading about it online.
"I thought it sounded interesting, so I signed my name to see what would happen," said Rogevich.
And she received this personalized package filled with numerous gift cards to businesses in her area.
"Everything here is close to me, and everything is easy for me to get to," said Rogevich.
Birthday Pak creator, Michael Marchesani says local is what it's all about.
"We created the Birthday Pak as a way to bring together the best businesses in our local communities around Philadelphia together with the consumers around the area that are most likely to support these businesses," said Marchesani.
Businesses like Georges' restaurant and Susanna Foo, Flag Lady Gifts or Cole Wellness where they offer $25 towards spa services.
So how does it work?
"You sign up once, it doesn't cost your anything to sign up for Birthday Pak, it arrives in the beginning of your birthday month," said Marchesani.
Waterloo Gardens in Devon offered Dee a $25 gift card off a purchase of $50 or more.
They see it as a great way to connect with existing and potential customers.
"Basically we were very interested in being part of the community citizenship where we, as a business, would like to involve ourselves with the community and give back to them. And what a special way but to say happy birthday and come in and visit us," said Ginger Baker with Waterloo Gardens.
You'll need to provide your name, address, e-mail and birth date in order to receive a Birthday Pak.
And the company says it won't share that information with others. By the way, there is still time to sign up and get a November Birthday Pak.
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Reported by Jim Donovan, CBS 3
