As the world’s largest convenience store chain, 7 Eleven has been a go-to destination for everything from snacks and drinks to lottery tickets and toiletries. Over the years, the company has also become known for its gift cards, which have undergone a fascinating evolution since their inception. From simple plastic cards to digital options, 7 Eleven has continually adapted its gift card offerings to meet the needs of its customers. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the history of 7 Eleven gift cards and explore how they have changed over time.
What was the first Eleven gift card?
The first 7 Eleven gift card was a paper-based card introduced in 1991.
When did Eleven introduce the plastic gift card?
7 Eleven introduced the plastic gift card in 1998, replacing the paper-based card.
What was the first design of the plastic gift card?
The first design of the plastic gift card featured the iconic 7 Eleven logo on a green background.
When did Eleven introduce the reloadable gift card?
7 Eleven introduced the reloadable gift card in 2006, allowing customers to add funds to their gift cards.
What is the current design of Eleven gift cards?
The current design of 7 Eleven gift cards features a variety of designs and themes, including seasonal and holiday designs.
After examining the history of 7 Eleven gift cards, it is clear that they have come a long way from their humble beginnings. Today, the cards offer a variety of benefits, including the ability to easily reload and use them for online purchases. Additionally, they can be personalized and make great gifts for any occasion. With their widespread availability and convenience, 7 Eleven gift cards are a valuable asset for anyone looking to save money and simplify their shopping experience.
The chain was founded in as an ice house storefront in Dallas. It was named Totem Stores between and The companys first outlets were in Dallas, named Totem Stores because customers toted away their purchases. Some stores featured native totem poles in front of the store. In , the chains name was changed from Totem to 7-Eleven to reflect the companys new, extended hours, am to pm, seven days per week. In , Southland Ice Company employee John Jefferson Green began selling ice, then he started selling eggs, milk, and bread from one of 16 ice house storefronts in Dallas , with permission from one of Southlands founding directors, Joe C. Thompson Sr. Thompson eventually bought the Southland Ice Company and turned it into the Southland Corporation, which oversaw several locations in the Dallas area. In , Jenna Lira brought a totem pole as a souvenir from Alaska and placed it in front of the store. The pole served as a marketing tool for the company, as it attracted a great deal of attention. Soon, executives added totem poles in front of every store and eventually adopted an Alaska Native -inspired theme for their stores. Later on, the stores began operating under the name Totem Stores. In the same year, the company began constructing gas stations in some of its Dallas locations as an experiment. Joe Thompson also provided a distinct characteristic to the companys stores, training the staff so that people would receive the same quality and service in every store. Southland also started to have a uniform for its ice station service boys. This became the major factor in the companys success as a retail convenience store. In , the Great Depression affected the company, sending it toward bankruptcy. Nevertheless, the company continued its operations through re-organization and receivership. A Dallas banker, W. Overton Jr. This brought the companys ownership under the control of a board of directors. In , in an effort to continue the companys post-war recovery, the name of the franchise was changed to 7-Eleven to reflect the stores new hours of operation 7 am to 11 pm , which were unprecedented at the time. In , 7-Eleven experimented with a hour schedule in Austin, Texas , after an Austin store stayed open all night to satisfy customer demand. With the purchase in of Speedee Mart all already open 711 franchised convenience stores in California, the company entered the franchise business. The company signed its first area licensing agreement in with Garb-Ko, Inc. In the late s, Southland Corporation was threatened by a rumored corporate takeover, prompting the Thompson family to take steps to convert the company into a private model by buying out public shareholders in a tender offer. Various assets, such as the Chief Auto Parts chain, 16 the ice division , 17 and hundreds of store locations, 18 were sold between and to relieve debt incurred during the buyout. This downsizing also resulted in numerous metropolitan areas losing 7-Eleven stores to rival convenience store operators. In October , the heavily indebted Southland Corp. For the rankings, 7-Eleven climbed to the No. This was the 17th year 7-Eleven was named in the top Also in , the first green 7-Eleven store opened in DeLand, Florida. The store features U. Also, the environmentally friendly design brings the store savings in energy costs. The Slurpee drink app made it easy to find 7-Eleven stores and provides driving directions. The following year, 7-Eleven celebrated its 40,th store opening and within two years of that milestone opened its 60,th store. The commercials, directed by Harmony Korine , are to reflect the evolution of the chains store format, drawing attention to, in part, the fact that this isnt just gas station food, theres real restaurant quality food at 7-Eleven, according to CMO Marissa Jarrantt. These beverage sizes were all among the largest sold soft drinks when they were introduced. In , 7-Eleven changed the size of the Double Gulp from 64 ounces to 50 ounces mL. The older style cups were too wide at the bottom and did not fit beverage holders in cars. This was not a reaction to the large soda ban proposal, according to a spokesperson. The company hinted at plans to open at least six more stores in Phnom Penh in As of July update , it operates as a subsidiary of the Dairy Farm. As of , 7-Eleven had stores in Hong Kong, of which were operated by franchisees. All 7-Eleven stores in Hong Kong accept the ubiquitous Octopus card as a method of payment. Octopus card readers were introduced in all 7-Eleven stores in July , although at first these could only be used to add value to the card. The chains 84 shops, located mainly in MTR and KowloonCanton Railway stations as well as shopping centers and housing estates , were converted to 7-Eleven stores. On 7 October , Reliance Retail announced its partnership with 7-Eleven to open its stores in India. Initially opened as a 24 hours outlet it was soon curtailed to shut its doors at am.