At KB Toys, Gift Cards Top Shoppers' Lists This Spring

As part of a national trend, gift cards are growing in popularity and are becoming one of the most popular graduation gifts this year. Gift cards (31 percent) and cash (58 percent) will be the most popular graduation gifts this year, according to the National Retail Federation's (NRF) inaugural Graduation survey released May 22, 2007, conducted by BIGresearch. The average consumer buying graduation gifts plans to give a gift to two graduates and will spend about $50 on each present.

KB Toys, the nation's largest mall-based specialty toy retailer, is seeing a surge in gift card sales as graduation season approaches for pre-school and elementary school children. KB Toys is seeing the popularity of gift cards soar as parents and grandparents alike are selecting gift cards to congratulate children reaching milestones, such as graduating from kindergarten.

According to a January 2007 study conducted by The Marketing Workshop, Inc., commissioned by Comdata, graduations are the number one gift card giving occasion after holiday and birthday.

"We have seen a spike in gift cards sales this spring and largely attribute that to graduation-related gift card purchases," said Geoffrey Webb, Director of Advertising and Sales Promotion. "For grandparents far away or adults looking to give the gift of choice for the child's recent milestone, KB Toys gift cards are a natural gift for any graduate."

To add a personal touch, KB Toys offers a large selection of character- inspired gift cards so shoppers can pick a card that suits the graduate's favorite character.

"I wanted to give the kids graduation gifts I knew they would love, and KB Toys gift cards allow each child to pick out the toy he or she really wants," said Marcie Clark, vice president of the Bobtown Kindergarten PTO in Bobtown, Penn., who recently purchased 57 twenty dollar KB Toys gift cards for her graduating kindergarten class. "My hope is that each student will select a fun, educational toy that will keep their minds sharp and entertained during the summer months."

About KB Toys

KB Toys, Inc. is the nation's largest mall-based specialty toy retailer, operating more than 600 stores in 44 states, the American Territory of Guam and the commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Headquartered in Pittsfield, Mass., the privately-held company has been delighting children and parents alike with the fun of toys for more than 80 years.

Source: KB Toys, Inc.

Web site: www.kbtoys.com