As shopping centres across the UK and Ireland prepare for the busy festive period, Clearhill is encouraging landlords and retail managers to reimagine their approach to seasonal gift card sales.
Through its Fun Gifting brand, offering a Mastercard gift card program, advanced self-service technology, and over 30 years of industry expertise, Clearhill is helping shopping centres capture more of the lucrative Christmas gifting market while creating a more seamless experience for customers.
With shoppers increasingly seeking quick, meaningful ways to gift, Clearhill’s innovative approach is reshaping how centres engage customers this Christmas.
The recent Clearhill-hosted webinar, “Christmas 2025: Unwrap Your Sales Success with Fun Gifting,” brought together retail leaders from Meadowhall and Swords Pavilions to discuss how shopping centres can make the most of their festive gift card campaigns. Speakers explored how the right balance of visibility, convenience, and creativity can transform a traditional gift card scheme into a powerful sales and brand engagement tool.
During the discussion, Alexandra Pollard from Meadowhall shared how the centre has evolved its gift card operations to meet changing customer expectations. The introduction of Clearhill’s Fun Gifting self-service kiosks has not only streamlined the purchasing process but also helped customers adapt quickly to card-only payments.
Today, around 50 per cent of Meadowhall’s gift card sales are made through kiosks, which have alleviated pressure on the main customer service desk and improved the overall customer experience.
Pollard also highlighted how Meadowhall has tapped into the growing appeal of fun, meaningful gifting by introducing charity-themed gift card wallets. These colourful, limited-edition wallets, created in partnership with local artists, have resonated strongly with shoppers and helped raise over £7,000 for the Eden Dora Trust. “The packaging is fun, creative, and helps us connect with our community,” she explained during the session.
Ian Hunter, representing Swords Pavilions in Ireland, echoed these successes, sharing how Clearhill’s Fun Gifting partnership and technology have underpinned impressive growth in their own gift card program. Since transitioning to self-serve kiosks after COVID-19, Swords Pavilions has seen sales soar to €3 million, with one kiosk alone generating €1 million in transactions.
The centre has also experienced a 45 per cent increase in online sales, proving that the integration of digital and in-person convenience can significantly boost performance. He added that a focus on marketing, prominent kiosk placement, and consistent visibility throughout the year have been crucial in maintaining momentum.
Both panellists agreed that visibility and branding play a pivotal role in driving sales. Ensuring that self-service kiosks are placed in high-footfall areas, supported by eye-catching signage and seasonal marketing on the dual screens, helps attract shoppers and reinforces brand presence. In addition, transitioning to cashless, card-only systems has streamlined the purchasing process, shortened queues, and aligned with changing shopper habits.
Brian McAreavey, Director at Clearhill, summarised the discussion by emphasising how the combination of technology, creativity, and customer engagement can transform the humble gift card into a key commercial opportunity for shopping centres.
“Gift cards are no longer just a last-minute purchase – they’re a key part of the customer experience,” he said. “Our Fun Gifting solution gives shopping centres the tools to elevate that experience, combining convenience, creativity, and community impact.”
The webinar concluded that the most successful centres treat their self-service kiosks as a year-round opportunity rather than a seasonal fixture. By using the kiosks to promote seasonal messages and evergreen offers, shopping centres can sustain engagement beyond Christmas while supporting last-minute shoppers during the holidays.
As festive shoppers continue to seek quick, meaningful, and hassle-free gifting options, Clearhill’s Fun Gifting allows shopping centres to meet that demand with both efficiency and personality – creating a win-win for customers, retailers, and local communities alike.
For more information, visit www.clearhill.com or call +44 (028) 4062 2028 to speak to a member of the Clearhill team.
