Digital gifts is a niche that few promotional products suppliers have tapped into, but that may change in a post-COVID world.

Parsippany, NJ-based MediaTree Rewards (asi/70303) was ahead of the curve, entering the digital rewards market in the mid-2000s. Premium ringtones were all the rage back then, but these days, people want virtual gift cards and movie downloads. Although business had always been steady, says Brian Duran, vice president of sales and marketing at MediaTree, sales have exploded over the past year. In this Promo Insiders podcast, Senior Writer John Corrigan talks to Duran about the company’s growth and how the market may expand due to the pandemic.

Podcast Chapters (only available on desktop)
0:50: MediaTree’s sales in 2020
2:05: What exactly is a digital reward?
3:41: Competition in the promo market
4:38: Plateauing in 2019
6:03: New products and services on the horizon
8:14: Importance of being eco-friendly
10:31: Industry outlook for 2021 and beyond

In 2020, MediaTree’s sales increased 142%, Duran says. With stay-at-home orders and self-quarantining going on across the United States, people have relied upon food deliveries and digital entertainment. The supplier has a gift card product that allows customers to pick from all the national retailers that deliver food, including GrubHub and Uber Eats. The company also offers digital movie rental vouchers.

“We decided to educate as best we can, introducing our product and all the logistical challenges it solves.” – Brian Duran, MediaTree Rewards

Companies have also incorporated digital rewards as part of employee gifts, thanking their team for transitioning to working from home. Although MediaTree does print physical gift cards, most people have been opting to send directly via email. Without a physical product needing to be created and shipped, turnaround time is 24 hours max. That’s been a huge advantage as shipping delays have plagued the industry for several months.

Watch on YouTube