GiftCertificates.com benefits from the online shopping boom

Just as consumers increased their online shopping strongly during the holiday season, they also increased their online gift certificate buying, Seattle-based GiftCertificates.com reports.

Sales at GiftCertificates.com were up 26% during the holiday buying period vs. last year, while the size of a certificate increased 8% to $48, the company reports.

GiftCertificate.com`s SuperCertificate accounted for 56% of the company`s total gift certificates sold in 2002. The SuperCertificate allows consumers to select a gift certificate from hundreds of national retailers, including Bath & Body Works, Macy`s, Holywood Video, Eddie Bauer, The Sharper Image and Starbucks, as well as online at GiftCertificates.com. The most popular categories of merchant certificates this holiday season were apparel, department stores and restaurants.