How to Throw a Gift Card Exchange Party
Gift cards are a common gift. Unfortunately, gift cards received are not always used. Instead of letting your gift cards expire and go to waste, you can attend or organize a gift card exchange party. A variation of a white elephant exchange party, gift card exchange parties allow you and your guests to exchange your unwanted gift cards for desirable ones and enjoy the gift exchange game at the same time. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Invitation cards
- Gift cards to exchange
- Token gifts brought by guests
- Numbers on paper for drawing
Instructions
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Create your invitation. Indicate on the invitation that the party is to be a gift card exchange party. Give a value range of each gift card to be exchanged and explain that each guest should bring an unwanted gift card or a new gift card in an envelope attached to a token gift hinting at the type of gift card enclosed.
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If possible, telephone your guests directly after the invitations have been mailed. Explain that the token gift attached to the gift card should be of very little value---no more than five dollars---and should be creative. For example, a Mexican restaurant gift card could have a bag of plastic jalapenos attached, or a coffee shop gift card could have a chocolate-covered spoon attached. The intention of the gift is only to allude to the card in the envelope, not to tell them exactly what is in the envelope.
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At the party, all guests place their cards and gifts in a pile. Guests should draw a number from a bowl indicating which order they will select their cards. These numbers should be prepared in advance of the guests' arrival.
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To begin the game, have everyone sit in a circle and have the guest with the first number select an envelope. The second guest has two options: correctly guess what kind of gift card was in the first guest's envelope and "steal" the gift card, or select a new envelope from the pile. Each subsequent guest has the same opportunity. A gift card may only be stolen once, and may only be stolen if the guest guessing the type of gift card is correct with their guess.
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After the last guest chooses their gift card, the first guest gets the opportunity to steal a gift card if they guess correctly. After this turn, the game has ended.
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A gift card exchange can be paired with a midday lunch buffet, an evening happy hour or a three course dinner. Guests may laugh at each others' guesses, relish stealing a popular card from a friend and leaving with a new gift card---either one they will actually use or one to save for the next gift card exchange.
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Tips & Warnings
Some gift cards have expiration dates and hidden fees. Be aware of these when purchasing or giving gift cards.
References
- Photo Credit Gift Card image by chas53 from Fotolia.com
