How much money do you think is sitting unspent on gift cards? Some estimates put the figure as high as $41 billion. Now, gift card marketplace Raise is on a mission to put those few pounds in forgotten change stuck on cards from that store you hate back into circulation.

Buying presents can be stressful, especially if the person you're buying for loves to shop for themselves. If they’re into the finer things, there's now a solution. A new gift card – valid across all stores that take chip and pin payments in the West End – means they can shop for their gift themselves.

We know that seamless payments can affect how we splash out, but could they also impact how we feel about the things we’re buying? Canvas8 sat down with Dr. Avni Shah, co-author of ‘Paper or Plastic?’, to understand how the method by which we pay influences product satisfaction and brand loyalty.

In societies that are cash-rich but time-poor, gift cards have emerged as a popular solution. The gift card market in the UK alone is currently worth £4bn; and with smartphone penetration rising, gift cards are becoming digital.