Darien Based Start-Up Launches Real Time Gift Card with GiftFly

New Virtual Gift Card Offers Real-time Benefits to Both Merchants and Consumers

Darien, CT - Gift cards are a $100 billion-dollar industry. Yet, even with their proven popularity, it's a flawed industry. Up to 60% of gift cards go unused each year equating to merchandising opportunities lost. Merchants pay to have these cards produced and integrated into their POS system. Consumers are equally as taxed, more often than not racing to get these gift cards as a last minute idea and only having a short window to do so according to a business' hours. And if the recipient lives far away the buyer may be limited to those large commercial chain stores and restaurants, making the art of gift-giving a bit impersonal.

GiftFly is a new social and mobile online gift card service providing a long-awaited alternative to those antiquated plastic gift cards. This innovative, Darien, CT based start-up company launched this month and now affords anyone the opportunity to send a personalized online gift card redeemable as cash or to be used at any local, favorite business at any time, to anyone across the country instantly.

Merchants need do nothing more than sign-up and download the GiftFly mobile app available in the iTunes App Store. Plastic cards and expensive upfront fees are replaced by a completely free app that lets employees scan codes, check the sales history of gift cards and even refund cards. Once a business owner signs up at www.GiftFly.com/merchants, even more tools are available, like processing real-time sales information, managing discounts and refunds, printing signage and even creating their own promotions. Their welcome kit comes with a GiftFly sign, window decals, magnets and pens to help promote their participation with GiftFly. Their GiftFly account also collects customers' emails, maximizing their social media and email marketing reach.

Consumers simply visit the GiftFly web site, choose a friend on Facebook or via email or text and design their personalized gift card with any amount of money. Two types of cards are available; the Cash card, which can be deposited directly into their PayPal or bank account instantly; or the Merchant card, which can be chosen through the built-in Yelp search tool and easily redeem at a participating local shop by showing the GiftFly Code to the merchant. Or, send a cash card and use the Yelp search tool to recommend even a non-GiftFly registered business.

"We wanted the whole gift card experience to be much more entertaining and just plain easy for today's busy consumer and tech forward culture, "explains Cory Perkins, GiftFly CEO and Founder, "Because the entire process is performed online, including the Yelp search, consumers can recommend any of over a million favorite, local boutiques, restaurants or shops, add personalized messaging, create custom card designs and access and deliver the card 24/7 to a mobile phone instantly. For the Merchant we've eliminated the costs of plastic cards and added a card that virtually anyone in the country can buy while in their pajamas at home. GiftFly is simple and secure for both the consumer and the merchant."

**GiftFly gift cards are instantly sent and received, safe to send because of the company's built-in fraud protection and can't be lost or stolen because they're stored electronically. They also help cut down on plastic consumption by being environmentally friendly.

GiftFly, LLC/ 381 Post Road, FL 2, Darien, CT 06820 / Phone: (800) 322-6201, www.GiftFly.com