The notion of “home” has taken an entirely new meaning as we continue to live with COVID-19. For many, home is no longer just the place we sleep, eat or watch television. Instead, we soldier on, transforming our living quarters into multi-functional spaces. Kitchens and dining rooms have become home offices. Kids go to school in their bedroom. Living rooms are a combination gym, media center and creative studio. And computer and mobile devices serve as shopping malls. Our agility and resilience have been amazing. Still, we have miles to go. As we continue to hunker down, here’s a look at 3 breakthrough gift card ideas for life at home during COVID-19.

Naturally, gift cards are front and center.

3 Gift Card Breakthrough Ideas

Working from Home Successfully and Comfortably

Consider the ideas described in the new ($7.99) e-book published by Google Books “Working from Home – Make the New Normal Work for You”. This book discusses how to build a future of work in any kind of space regardless of shape or size. So many of us need personalized time management routines designed specifically for remote productivity — even while wearing sweatpants.

Buy this ebook with a Google Play Gift Card from eGifter.com

Attending School in the New Age of Learning

Learn about “strewing”! It’s the emergent parenting technique to casually (yet strategically) scatter “invitations for learning” and creativity that kids can discover on their own. Borne from the new age of necessity, strewing can be an exciting way to stimulate curiosity that leads to a love of learning. Target.com has everything you need.

Buy strewing materials for your child with a Target gift card from eGifter.com

Enjoying [Music & Art] + [Entertainment & Fitness]

If you don’t know about it yet, Apple One is all that! Apple One bundles up to six amazing Apple services into one easy subscription. With millions of songs, over 100 games, Apple Original shows and movies, and more, there’s something for everyone in every Apple One plan. Sheltering in place safely at home can be engaging and satisfying for the whole family.

Buy Apple products and services with the Apple Gift Card from eGifter.com

It takes courage and grit to find the silver lining these days, when the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic are so great. Digging deep, these 3 breakthrough gift card ideas for life at home during COVID-19 may offer a bit of sunshine through the clouds.

The holiday season has a way of sneaking up on us! That means the time to start dreaming up wonderful gift ideas is NOW. Everyone knows that best gifts are thoughtful and from the heart. That’s why this year, we curated this handy list of gift ideas. The great thing about gift cards is their Satisfaction Guarantee. Let them purchase what they *really* want! And then there’s the affordability factor. With denominations as low as $5 and a multitude of convenient payment options, eGifter.com is your one-stop-shop. And don’t worry — they’ll feel the love. Your special message, photo and custom greeting card will ensure that. So, kick back, relax and shop at eGifter with an open mind and open heart. We’ve got you covered.

Shopping and Gifting Dates: A Calendar View

• Friday, October 16th – Boss’ Day
• Saturday, October 31st – Halloween
• Wednesday, November 11th – Singles Day
• Saturday, November 14th – Diwali
• Friday, November 27th – Black Friday 
• Saturday, November 28th – Small Business Saturday
• Monday, November 30th – Cyber Monday
• Tuesday, December 1st – Giving Tuesday
• Monday, December 14th – Green Monday
• Tuesday, December 15th – Free Shipping Day
• Thursday, December 10th – Chanukah (1st of Eight Days)
• Thursday, December 24th – Christmas Eve
• Friday, December 25th – Christmas Day
• Saturday, December 26th – Kwanzaa
• Thursday, December 31st – New Year’s Eve

Get a Jump on Holiday Shopping and Gifting

Consider these great gifts…

This curated list suggests great gifts they might really enjoy. Thing is, you may not be 100% sure it’s as perfect as perfect can be. What if it’s the wrong color or size? Or, you don’t know if the already have one. These days, there’s simply no reason to chance it. Send a gift card by email, text or postal mail. Let them know what you have in mind — and leave the rest up to them. It’s a great way to gift!

• A Cozy Sweatshirt
• The Perfect Backpack
• Warmth of a Great Winter Coat 
• Apartment Living and House Warming
• Wireless Bluetooth Speakers
• Trendy Pair of Shoes, Boots, Sneakers or Slippers
• Reusable Water Bottle or Coffee Mug
• A Cup ‘o Joe
• Photo Frames to Capture a Moment
• Treasure Jar to Remember the Day
• Fine Art for the Creative Spirit
• Exercise Gear to Stay In Shape
• Music or Books for Musicians and Readers
• Streaming Services for Constantly Engaging Content
• A Travel Experience (Plan Ahead!)
• Noise Cancelling Headphones
• Culinary Gifts for the Wannabe Chef
• Overstuffed Teddy Bear — We All Need a Hug
• A Rewarding Treat for the Kitty or Pup

….and send a gift card for satisfaction guaranteed.

Browse our entire catalog of gift cards — over 300 well-loved retail brands. With a specific item in mind, go ahead and choose “Send to a Friend”. Schedule the delivery for a future date. Now, enjoy the rest of your day and wait for the ‘thank you’ note to arrive. Congrats on being a great gifter!

PLUS! Never a dull moment at eGifter.com with deals and promotions all the time. Need help? Reach us at support.egifter.com.

The phrase “Back to School” is taking on new meaning everywhere this year. As families and educators grapple with difficult choices and new procedures, our thoughts at eGifter.com remain first and foremost on everyone’s health and wellness. Of course, beyond that, we are happy to be among those that make Back to School special with gift cards.

Thank Teachers (and Save Dollars)

Whatever school looks like for you this fall, we hope to help make the transition just a little easier. In the most convenient way possible, you can thank the teachers upfront, ahead of this most unique school year. Best bet is to “Buy for Yourself” (to earn Instant Points). Then, download and send the giftable PDF to the teacher, adding a personal message of appreciation and encouragement. Or, you can save your points for a rainy day! Learn more about eGifter points here.

Make Back to School Special with Gift Cards

Here are a few snappy ideas to brighten their day and lighten the load.

For Educators and Students: Staples gift cards offer entree to all the supplies teachers and students need, whether learning inside a virtual or in-person classroom. Plus, teachers can maximize their savings by earning joining the Staples Teacher Rewards program.

For Educators and Students: Barnes & Noble also offers an Educator Program which offers Pre-K through Grade 12 educators, librarians, and homeschoolers a 20% discount off the publisher’s list price on select items considered suitable for use in the classroom or with the student population, including most hardcover and paperback books, toys, and games.

For the Most Studious Among Us: Everyday learners who sign up with UNiDAYS can receive discounts up to 20% on apparel from their favorite brands like Adidas, Aerie, Under Armour and more. Rack up the savings when you combine these purchases with eGifter points.

Gift Cards for the Parents, Our True Heroes

Working remotely over the past few months, our loyal pets have remained by our sides virtually 24/7. To animal lovers like us, this has been an unforeseen and wonderful gift. And our pets seem happier than ever to have us constantly nearby. Do you notice that they are extra clingy? Well, perhaps that’s a projection. True, we at eGifter.com are having tremendous success. We’re doing a yeoman’s job of providing online shopping experiences to at-home buyers through gift card purchases. Now, we’re taking a beat to recognize our furry friends for the gifts they bring to us. We recognize that our little buddies definitely deserve a treat. (Plus, we can’t resist sharing the cuteness!) Without further ado, we present pawesome gift cards for pet lovers like us.

Here’s to ALL of the animals in our lives — and to the families that adore them. 

Bailey, The King of Hearts

He gets a BarkBox.com Gift Card

What pup wouldn’t love a monthly subscription to BarkBox.com? Their automated subscription service delivers a totally customized box of themed toys and treats for pups – every month. If you’re looking for the perfect (or last minute) gift for any doggy family, you’re barking up the right tree.

Teddy Entertains 4,000+ Instagram Followers

He gets a Petco.com Physical Gift Card

Seriously, Teddy is the Instagram sensation @teddygoldenroosevelt. He spends his days being extremely handsome and good. He scouts locations for photo shoots by his owners and generates literally thousands of smiles from strangers every day. Wouldn’t you say that a Petco.com gift card is well deserved? This one’s for you, Teddy!

The Foof is Our Princess Pooch

She gets a 1-800-PetSupplies.com Gift Card

Come on, now. Is this dog not ADORABLE? She is The Foof. Need we say more? She has *us all* trained on how to behave around her. No kidding. And, we are happy to oblige! Today, we’re showing our love for The Foof with a 1-800-PetSupplies.com Gift Card. We love you, Foofie.

Gift cards are the best last minute gifts for so many reasons. For one thing, the vast selection of retail brands makes it easy to shop (check them out, here). For another, you can express yourself in just the right way with with a personal touch like a photo and custom message. Convenient shopping is a cinch because of the seemingly endless array of payment methods including PayPal, bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. Best of all, procrastination is no problem because gift cards are sent automagically. Planners can purchase now and schedule for later — like on Father’s Day!

Father’s Day is Almost Here

For those new to eGifter who need to buy a last minute gift for Dad, we compiled a representative sample of customer reviews to put your mind at ease. With Father’s Day 2020 just hours away, time is of the essence. Let us help you shop with confidence so you can give a delightful gift they will appreciate and enjoy.

Group Gifts Are Even More Special

Add more people to your gift and the happier everyone will be! Group gifts are a wonderful way for everyone to share an occasion together. Those days of standing in long lines are over because group gifts are so easy and convenient. Now, everyone can stick together and give the *gift of awesome*. In conclusion, the lucky recipient will enjoy a special feeling — there’s no other that can compare.

Shop with Confidence

Here’s a compilation of actual customer reviews. We love our customers!

“Tonight, I contacted egifter because my friend lost the digital gift card I sent for her birthday. I left a message about 8:30 pm. By 9 pm, they contacted me back and sent her a replacement. I am so impressed by their great customer service! Somebody was working at night to resolve this immediately! Wonderful — would use them again.“– Ruby

“Great online e-card purchase, especially during a time of limited in-store shopping. The e-gift recipient was pleased too. I would definitely purchase again.” – Vanessa

“I love egifter!! They were so professional and responded promptly to all my concerns. This made me comfortable as a first time customer. I will definitely use them again because they were perfect, especially during time of a pandemic. Thank you!” – Candace

“Purchased a Google Gift card 2 times and received it within 10/15 mins after placing an order via BTC. This website deserves the full rating.” – Reaz

“The last time I bought gift cards for my grandchildren they did not work, so I tried eGifter. They worked!! My grandkids were able through your cards to get their Roblox and more. I will buy eGifter from now on.”  –Tina

“I ordered 3 Home Depot gift cards and got 3 $10 gift cards for free. Paid with Paypal and was instantly processed. Within 3 minutes, I received a message telling me my gift cards were ready. I was able to see my cards in the wallet and use them immediately.”  – David

“Had a particular type of gift card I could not find anywhere else. Easy to use the site and arrange a card to be sent as a gift with a nice selection of cards and messages to send with it.” – Mary

“Great site, variety of e-gift cards! Had a virtual baby shower and used this site to purchase game prizes of which I sent by email and we’re received the same day!ase with no issues at all. Very pleased with the service and will definitely be using it again. Highly recommend eGifter.” -JS

Romantic relationships are one of the greatest gifts that life has to offer. And those in-the-know, know that one of the best ways to express love is with romantic gifts. Turns out that gift cards, both plastic and digital, are a great gifting choice. This is especially true during the COVID-19 quarantine. If you have a special someone that’s captured your heart, enjoy our curated list of Top 10 Online Gift Card Ideas for Online Romance Week. While everyone knows that flowers, candy and candlelit dinners have been the gold standard, our customized selection of playful and endearing gift items will surely tug at cyber heartstrings everywhere. By purchasing and sending one of the gift cards in the uniquely romantic guide we assembled, you’ll show that your heart is in the right place.  We bet that you’ll score the warm regard you seek as your online and offline romance matures and grows.

Top 10 Gift Card Ideas for Online Romance Week

1. Because your favorite love song is sure to generate some swoon, send an App Store and iTunes gift card with a personal love note including the song title and artist
2. Send a Hulu gift card and ask for a formal date to watch the movie Love Actually, which some say one of the greatest romance movies of all time
3. They’ll love a  fully outfitted “sweet dreams” ensemble, delivered through a Macy’s gift card, because it inherently promises night after night of comfort and care
4. Perfume and cologne are always delightful and spicy gifts, and a Fragrance.net gift card lets them choose their favorite scent
5. Culinary classes are one of the best date night activities around. Groupon gift cards let them buy now, schedule later
6. Nothing shows your love like extra attention to the dog and cat. Gift cards for 1-800 Pet Supplies and Bark Box earns a special place in the heart of your flame, not to mention the kitty and the pooch 
7. Guarantee a heart leap by turning memories into art with custom photo books made possible with Shutterfly gift cards 
8. For your Man’s Man — an Autozone gift card or Jiffylube gift card will get his motor running
9. Spoil her with a Bath & Body Works gift card. She might enjoy the online shopping experience as much as the gift item itself.
10. Make some future plans together with a Live Event gift card. Looking forward to a special occasion is a great way to help turn the spark into a flame.

Share your story — we all need #somegoodnews #egifterstories #giftcards

Giving gift cards to mothers and grandmothers on Mother’s Day is a natural choice, especially on May 10th, 2020 — the year of social distancing. While it’s best for us all to stay apart a while longer, we can still create closeness today. Sending a special, hand picked gift card wrapped inside a digital greeting card is a great way to deliver happiness and delight to Mom. At eGifter.com, the selection of well known and specialty retail brands makes for a true shopping experience — from the safety and comfort of your home. As thousands of gift-card givers already know, warm sentiment combined with cool gift cards can do a lot of hearts a-lot-of-good. On the one day each year reserved to honor to those that love US the most, we salute *all* the Moms with a curated Guide to Mother’s Day Gift Cards — courtesy of eGifter.com.

There’s Nothing like a Mother’s Love

When it comes to moms, one thing is for sure: A mother’s love is like nothing else in the world. The mix of unconditional love, fierce protection, self sacrifice and bursting pride help build the steady ground upon which our entire lives take shape. Moms quietly and powerfully instill valuable life lessons and values from our birthday candle moments – to reassuring conversations after disappointments – to boundary setting when needed. In the rear view mirror of life, we realize their every intention was borne from love and commitment — whether or not we knew it at the time. Just notice the popsicle stick photo frames and handmade crayon cards *still* on display. Through it all, Moms love us in ways we may not always understand…until we have children of our own. 🙂

Because Your Love Means the World to Her.

The eGifter Mother’s Day Gift Card Guide

This year, we bring you the 2020 eGifter Mother’s Day Gift Cards Guide with some very specific gift card ideas we know she’ll love. Honor ALL the mothers and grandmothers in your life, biological or not. Your words of acknowledgement, thanks and love — bundled inside a well timed gift card delivery — will mean the world to her.

Send some self-care to the ones taking care of everyone else. Give her a Bath & Body Works® eGift Card. Buy a $30 Bath and Body Works eGift Card and get a $5 Card Free! Promo Code: WORKSAP20. 

Celebrate Mom with books she’ll love. Encourage Mom to explore new adventures without leaving the house, with a Barnes & Noble eGift Card

Activewear for her at-home workout.  Give her an Under Armour® eGift Card so that she can keep hitting her goals in the latest and greatest gear.

A gift that’ll get two green thumbs up. Whether your mother loves to spend time in her garden, take on fun DIY projects or perfect her cooking skills, we’ve got your Mother’s Day gifts covered — give her The Home Depot® eGift Card.

Gather up & chip-in! eGifter Choice Card

Help her stay connected with those she loves most.  Set-up a Group Gift, invite friends and family to chip in. Set the delivery time and let her choose the perfect gift with the eGifter Choice Card.

A Quiet Word for Days Gone By.

We may wish we could hear her laughter one more time. Or, sing that song together — the one she loved so much. Still, we can take a quiet, prayerful moment to tell her what she may have never heard us say: She was the best mother that anyone could ever have.

When the going gets tough, Americans rise to the occasion. Finding simple sources of comfort and ways to help have become standard orders of the day during COVID-19. These include things like finding the helpers (and being the helpers). Also, giving of ourselves (and gift cards when we can). We have a long way to go until all of the pressures of COVID-19 subside. In the meantime, everyone has a chance to help communities with gift cards. These include gift cards for groceries, medical essentials and tools for household repairs.

Help Communities with Gift Cards

COVID-19 is a Hardship. Everyday People Can Help.  

The sage advice from Mr. Rogers, famed children’s television personality, would have us look for the helpers. It’s easy to find them. Just look for the drive-by parades through parking lots of nursing homes and assisted living facilities. The outpouring of love, thanks and recognition to our homebound elders are amazing gifts, indeed.

Gift Cards Can Help You Make a Difference Today

If you’re searching for a way to give an affordable, meaningful gift to someone that can really use it, here are a few ideas to help communities with gift cards.

• Donate meals from local restaurants to feed healthcare workers through take-out or delivery services. The restaurant and your local economy will benefit, too. Here are a few restaurants to choose from (more at eGifter.com): Applebee’s gift cards, Outback gift cards (or any Bloomin’ Brand), Boston Market gift cards, Chili’s Bar and Grill gift cards, Doordash gift cards, Ruby Tuesday gift cards, Jersey Mike’s Subs gift cards, TGIFridays gift cards, or Uber Eats gift cards
• Find a local blood drive and donate much needed blood or platelets (search Red Cross locations)
• Drop off food at your local food pantry. If you can’t get there personally or want to contribute to a food donation center at a distant location, you can easily deliver groceries by sending them a Target gift card or Walmart gift card
• Encourage your local Chamber of Commerce to claim their FREE listing at OperationMainStreet.com. Doing so can have a dramatically positive impact on helping your local business community and their employees survive the economic downturn of COVID-19
• Send a gift card to purchase a vegetable garden — deliver the gift card by text or email . With both online and in-store redemption, Home Depot gift cards and Lowe’s gift cards let them purchase seeds and starter plants for vegetables and fruit that can actually feed a family
• Help them to help others! Donate fabric for masks by sending Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores gift card to the crafty people you know. The shortfall of masks for local businesses and healthcare locations can be built up with this grassroots effort.
• Call the seniors and singles in your life just to say hello. It may be the only friendly, personal voice they hear today.

Please share your own story of optimism, healing and the human spirit. 

#egifter #somegoodnews #stayhome #googlesmallbusiness #operationmainstreet

We are so proud of our partners at Fanatics, the global leader in fan gear and licensed sports merchandise, known by avid sports fans and sports memorabilia collectors everywhere. Like other great retail branded gift cards available at eGifter.com, Fanatics.com checks every proverbial box when it comes to quality, selection, creativity and service. Their loyal base of dedicated players and spectators (plus those that love them!) is deeply engaged with the Fanatics brand as only fanatical sports fans can be! We always love serving Fanatics customers and we’re delighted to offer a limited time special promotion with deep savings while Fanatics gift card supplies last. Through 4/24/20, get a $50 Fanatics Gift Card for just $42.50 (promo Code: FANS420. But our ability to offer great deals and savings to Fanatics gift card customers is not what makes us proud at this particular moment. In our opinion, it takes more than great products, services, gift card distribution, customer service and engineering innovation for a business to transform from great to truly legendary, like Fanatics. To that end, Michael Rubin and the entire Fanatics team get kudos for demonstrating the manufacturing prowess and heart for which America has always been known. American pride, indeed. Without further ado, we bring you our Partner Spotlight: Fanatics Gift Cards.

Manufacturing Ingenuity: A Heroic Response

A Clear Gap Becomes Apparent

As the nation and the world watched the vertical climb of statistical rates of infection, hospitalizations and mortality, one of the most reported shortfalls in our ability to respond became clear. Healthcare workers were becoming dramatically limited in their ability to perform front line jobs due to a lack of personal protective equipment (PPE). As we watched news footage and read news articles, the PPE deficit occurred as insurmountable. 

Enter Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin, who began to lose sleep along with the rest of us, wondering how to make a difference in the fight against the COVID-19 virus pandemic that continues to rock the world. On March 17, he heard about the shortages of tests, respirators and everyday supplies that created severe challenges for health-care workers. In the uniquely powerful position of running a massive fabric-based production operation in the U.S., Rubin would soon realize an opportunity in the making. 

Pause on Jersey Production. Pivot to Masks & Gowns.

Like other countless numbers of manufacturing facilities forced to the sidelines due to restrictions imposed by social distancing, health concerns, governmental restrictions, supply chain limitations, depressed demand and more, Fanatics’ manufacturing operations were halted. Bottom line, no baseball season meant no production. From there, it did not take long for Rubin to realize that a million yards of fabric intended to manufacture baseball uniforms were lying dormant at the company’s manufacturing facility in Easton, PA. 

One Million Masks and Gowns, Coming Right Up.

Said Rubin in a telephone interview, ““When the country is in need the way it is, it’s our privilege and opportunity to try to chip in in a small way. If we can save even one life, that’s better than making baseball uniforms and jerseys.” And so began the collaboration between Major League Baseball and its official jersey manufacturer, Fanatics, to address the shortage of protective masks and gowns for hospital workers. There are now about 100 employees working “extra distanced and in a very clean and safe environment” to make one million masks and gowns to donate to hospitals in Pennsylvania, with the hopes of eventually extending this to New Jersey and New York.” Fanatics and MLB are taking on the cost of production.

We Salute the Leaders and Innovators Among Us

There is no shortage of lessons to be learned from sharp and committed business leaders like Michael Rubin, CEO of our retail gift card partner, Fanatics. With an unprecedented need for solutions dictated by our very survival, we’re convinced that goodness and innovation will emerge, mirroring the bold initiatives taken by Rubin and those on his team.

It will take a set of complex business, manufacturing and human mandates, simply stated below, to lead the way forward.

• Adapt
• Pivot
• Transform
• Persevere
• Care.

There you have it — our Partner Spotlight: Fanatics Gift Cards

With each passing day, the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic wreaks more and more havoc on our society, putting lives at stake and our country at economic risk. But in the face of it all, we’re also seeing good, old fashioned American Spirit rise to battle the blaze. Every day at the stroke of 7pm, people are stepping away from their living rooms and into the streets. Their cheers and thanks are directed at the healthcare workers who put their own lives in harm’s way caring for the sick and suffering, In our own response to the nation’s call for help, the eGifter team quickly conceptualized, developed and launched a solution that is having a dramatic, healing effect: OperationMainStreet.com. As a national initiative with local roots, Operation Main Street is an emergent technology solution offering real help to real people. Through the combined power of both search engine and gift card technologies, the Operation Main Street platform adds an economic spending boost to local communities and neighborhoods across the United States. Operation Main Street is a uniquely designed local business directory where search requests automagically return a list of stores in selected zip codes that serve *you* and *your* community. Read on to learn how it works and to see how good neighbors like you can literally save livelihoods in your own backyard. And, in turn, through spending boons through gift card sales, local businesses and organizations can stay in business to serve the community that loves them.

OperationMainStreet.com: A Free Searchable Local Business Directory Making Gift Cards Accessible

As a tech company literally located on Main Street (Huntington, NY), we feel the pain experienced by small businesses everywhere. Making sure neighborhood businesses can be easily found by local residents who want to save their favorite shops and restaurants is the promise delivered by the powerhouse business directory at OperationMainStreet.com. Together, we’ll endeavor toward the better days that lie ahead.

Neighbors: Save Your Favorite Local Restaurants and Shops

At this precarious time in our nation’s history, we’ve all reached the same conclusion: We must do our collective part to help small business owners in our towns and villages stay solvent, pay their rent and taxes, and employ salaried workers. Helping small businesses stay afloat and feed their own families is the task at hand, which will in turn empower them to pay the local taxes on which our towns depend. Keeping businesses going is a moral and financial imperative. It’s the only way that we, the people, will maintain access to food, essentials and services upon which we depend to keep our homes and families safe, well and active. Search local stores in the directory. 

Read more on: OperationMainStreet.com