Gift Cards You Loved in August – Guess Who’s #1?

After three consecutive months at spot #4, Target took first place finish in revenue as Plastic Jungle’s best-selling discounted gift card in August 2011.

Before we get to the usual suspects on the list, let’s talk about some honorary mentions.

Pottery Barn had a strong showing at #11 and was THIS CLOSE to making the Top Ten. And if the list were based on quantity instead of revenue, BP & Arco and Shell would have made the cut. (Everyone needs gas, right!?)

Get a Pottery Barn discounted gift card today at 10% off. As of press time, less than 20 cards are available, so stock up now while supplies last.

Gift cards to our gas merchants get snatched up as quickly as the changing fuel prices. While we don’t have any BP & Arco or Shell cards currently in stock, you can always sign up for email notifications and we’ll let you know when more become available.

Here’s the complete list of the top sellers in August 2011:

#1 Target – 3% off!

#2 Home Depot – 7% off!

#3 Lowe’s – 7% off!

#4 Walmart – 2% off!

#5 Best  Buy – 5% off!

#6 Kohl’s – 16% off!

#7 Macy’s – 7% off!

#8 JCPenney – 14% off!

#9 Abercrombie  & Fitch – no cards currently available, but click here to get notified when we more come in stock.

#10 Sears – 8% off!

With the holiday season approaching, it will be interesting to see who stays on the list and who makes their debut. Any predictions for September?

We love saving money at Plastic Jungle, but you know what we love even more? Free stuff!

Check out these current sweepstakes and try your luck at winning prizes including new cars, exotic vacations, home makeovers and shopping sprees!

BED, BATH & BEYOND

Enter the Gear Up. Boot Up. Rev Up. Sweepstakes at Bed, Bath & Beyond and you might be the Grand Prize Sweepstakes Winner of a brand new 2012 Chevrolet Equinox and 2012 Chevrolet Cruze! Other prizes include two $5000 Bed, Bath & Beyond Shopping Sprees, two Dell Bundles with Xbox 360 consoles and $15,000 cash. They also have an Instant Win Game where you have a chance to win a $25 Bed, Bath & Beyond Gift Card or a Dell V715x All-in-One Printer. You can enter twice a day through September 6, 2011.

Need a discounted Bed, Bath & Beyond gift card now? Buy one now for 10% off!

FANDANGO

Enter Fandango’s Crazy, Stupid, Love Sweepstakes for a chance to win a trip to the British Virgin Islands! One grand prize winner will receive round-trip airfare for 2 to the British Virgin Islands and a 5-night stay for you and a guest a Scrub Island Resort, Spa & Marina. Entry period through August 5, 2011.

Check out Plastic Jungle’s Fandango gift cards, currently offered at 11% off!

DISNEY

Enter Disney’s Top Secret Spy Sweepstakes for your chance to win a 3-day, 2-night trip to Washington, D.C. for four lucky secret agents to explore the International Spy Museum. to the Spy Museum in Washington, DC and Cars 2: The Video Game for the Wii console. Entries accepted through August 14, 2011.

To see Plastic Jungle’s selection of discounted Disney gift cards, click here.

GNC

Enter GNC’s Power Up Sweepstakes and you’ll have a chance to win The Ultimate Outdoor Entertainment Package that includes a projector, screen, popcorn machine, gas grill, outdoor furniture, speakers, movies and more worth $5,000. You can enter daily through October 31, 2011.

Get a discounted GNC gift card from Plastic Jungle. Check out our latest selection here.

CAREFREE

The grand prize winner of this Refresh Your Routine sweepstakes receives a spa trip for 2 to St. George, UT! The trip includes airfare, a hotel stay at the Red Mountain Spa Resort, ground transportation, three delicious and nutritious meals per day, daily guided morning hikes, unlimited fitness classes, healthy life classes, cooking demonstrations, use of all the resort amenities and a $400 spa allowance per person. (Value $5,080). You can also enter for the chance to win daily prizes including beauty packs, makeup, concert tickets, spa gift cards, laptop cases and more.

Need a spa getaway now? Plastic Jungle has Spa Finder gift cards at 5% off!

PETCO

Enter the PetCo Zoo Sweepstakes for a chance to win their grand prize of a trip for 4 to San Diego, CA. The trip includes airfare, hotel, rental car, (8)-one-day passes to a zoo in Southern California, eight VIP passes valid at a zoo in Southern California, and a $100 Visa prepaid card. (ARV: $5,399). Enter through August 31, 2011.

Plastic Jungle has discounted PetCo gift cards available now for 9% off!

POTTERY BARN AND BENJAMIN MOORE

Enter Pottery Barn and Benjamin Moore’s Living Room Makeover Sweepstakes for your chance to win $10,000 worth of Pottery Barn furnishings, a design consultation with a Pottery Barn Design Studio Specialist, a consultation with a Benjamin Moore Color Consultant and paint and labor. The total prize value is $14,000 and you can enter daily through August
24, 2011.

Pottery Barn gift cards are currently available at Plastic Jungle for 10% off!

You can’t win if you don’t enter!

As we close in on summer vacation, most kids are probably dragging their feet and glumly looking ahead to starting school again. One way to help soften the blow? Have fun with creative locker decorating!

Most lockers are boring utilitarian pieces of drab, cold metal. Oh, but what a terrific blank canvas! With just a little thought and creativity, you can transform your locker into a personalized, organized, spectacular space.

MIRROR
A mirror is a must-have. In between classes, you’ll want to reapply your lip gloss, freshen up your ‘do and check for any food stuck in your pearly whites. Check out this Locker Mirror and Zipper Pouch from PBTeen. With 10 different designs to choose from, you’re bound to find one to match your style. Available for $19.50 with free shipping – use a discounted PBTeen gift card from Plastic Jungle and get it for less!

MAGNETIC WALLPAPER

Magnetic wallpaper is one of the easiest, quickest ways to go from blah to aah! This stuff is ingenious! It sticks to any metal surface and cuts easily with scissors. There are so many different designs and brands out there – here’s a cool guitar wallpaper for the student rock star.

This MagnaCard magnetic wallpaper, along with 9 other designs can be found on Amazon.com. Need instant cash for this purchase? Trade in your unused gift cards to Plastic Jungle! We’ll buy ‘em at up to 92% of their value in exchange for an Amazon.com Gift Card.

LOCKER RUG

Want to add glamour and flair? LockerLookz makes these fabulous locker rugs, available in 5 super shaggy bright colors. They are non-skid so they won’t slip and slide around your locker.

LOCKER CHANDELIER

How about a little extra bling? Check out this Magnetic Locker Chandelier with LED lights! It’s battery operated (batteries included) and flashes in seven bright colors.

LOCKER MAGNETS

Metal lockers are screaming for magnets! Check out these sports magnets at Amazon.com:

LOCKER SHELF

In addition to creative décor, turn your locker into a practical space with locker shelves. Most lockers have ample height, so a locker shelf can easily double or triple your storage space. This Janus Locker Shelf from The Container Store is extra sturdy and each shelf can hold up to 15 pounds. The two adjustable shelves provide great storage for all your books and school supplies. Buy a discounted gift card to The Container Store at Plastic Jungle to really stretch that back-to-school dollar!

DRY ERASE BOARDS

Need to make note of a special homework assignment? Meeting a friend after school? Is it your BFF’s birthday? Dry erase boards are the perfect place for jotting down notes and reminders. This contemporary magnetic dry erase board from OfficeMax has a superior magnetic surface, resists stains and includes one magnet, 1 dry erase marker and mounting strips. Buy a discounted OfficeMax gift card from Plastic Jungle and watch your school supplies savings multiply.

AIR FRESHENER

And last but not least, don’t forget an air freshener. Sweaty gym socks, old lunch bags and who-knows-what-else can easily make your locker a stinky space.

Plastic Jungle can help small businesses to instantly increase their profit margins!

Owning your own business can be extremely rewarding and fulfilling. You get to be your own boss, make your own hours and make money doing something you’re passionate about.

There are also risks and challenges involved as well. You might be the CEO and the VP of Marketing, and Human Resources, and Finance and Customer Service. You must manage ample cash flow, manage employees and manage the temptation to work 24 hours a day.

And in this economy, managing the bottom line is especially crucial. Here are some tips on how to tighten your budget:

Drop the Land Line and use your business’ existing broadband internet connection to route calls over the internet.

Pay Bills Online and save money on business checks and stamps.

Utilize Free Software like Google Docs or OpenOffice.

Buy Refurbished Office Equipment for printers, faxes and computers.

Save Electricity with fluorescent lighting and turn off all your electrical appliances at the end of each day.

Maximize Free Publicity with press releases, social networking and customer referrals.

Go Paperless and send newsletters, forms and invoices through email.

Renegotiate Your Lease to a lower rent while vacancies are high or consider working out of a home office.

Contract Out Services, such as Virtual Office Support for administrative tasks and save on payroll and health benefits.

Find Wiggle Room on Your Insurance Plan and see how your agent can lower your fees.

Brown Bag It and bring your lunch every day.

AND GUESS WHAT?

Plastic Jungle can help small business save money, too!

You can buy discounted gift cards for up to 35% off and instantly increase your profit margins.

If you are a Builder, Sub-contractor or Handyman:

Buy discounted Home Depot, Lowe’s and Ace Hardware gift cards and you can save at least 6% off! Add any rebates or in-store promotions and watch your profitability multiply.

If you are an Interior Designer:

Buy discounted gift cards to CB2, Crate & Barrel, Ikea, Pier 1 Imports or Pottery Barn. You can save up to 20% on kitchen purchases at Ikea now and Restoration Hardware is currently offering a “Bed and Bath Event” where you can save an additional 25% off.

If you are a Restaurant Owner:

Buy discounted gift cards to Albertsons, BevMo, Costco, HEB Grocery Store, Safeway and Trader Joe’s. Join BevMo’s ClubBev! and get a 5% Savings Reward – every time your total spending reaches $250, they’ll send you a 5% savings Reward! And check out HealthyLifeDeals.com for current coupons at Trader Joe’s – this week’s deals include $1.00 off Rudis Organic Hot Dog Buns (6ct, normally $2.99) or $1.00 off Morningstar Patties, links or bacon (regular price $3.39).

If you are a Seamstress or Artist:

Get your fabric and art supplies using discounted gift cards to Hobby Lobby, Joann Fabrics or Michael’s. Sign up for Michael’s Weekly Ad to get additional savings on over 100 products each week!

And For Every Small Business Owner:

Whether it’s paper, pencils, filing or storage, small business owners can stock up on all their office supplies using discounted gift cards from Office Depot, Office Max, Staples or The Container Store. At Office Depot, if you join their Worklife Rewards® program and present your Member number every time you shop, you’ll receive 10% back in Rewards on ink, toner, paper and copy and print services. Membership is FREE and can be processed online, in any Office Depot store, or by phone at 1.866.322.3225.

Owning a small business is not just another job.  It’s a completely different lifestyle. Let Plastic Jungle make your life a little easier with our discounted gift cards.

Everyone loves to save moolah, even the staff at Plastic Jungle!

Just like you, we scour the site for the latest deals, sign up for notifications with our favorite merchants and get creative with promo codes and coupons.

Want the inside track from company insiders? I chatted with a few Plastic Jungle employees from different departments (Marketing, Product Management and Customer Support) who shared their personal savings stories and red hot deals.

Name and Department: Irene, Customer Support

How long have you been working at Plastic Jungle? 5 months

What was your most recent Plastic Jungle gift card purchase and why did you buy that card? I purchased a $300 Target gift card at a 3% discount because I moved home after college and sold all my old furniture. I always relied on Target for their wide variety of bedroom accessories.

Did you stack up any extra in-store or online discounts? Target did not have discounts on the items I was purchasing, but the Plastic Jungle discount is better than no discount!

What’s your favorite PJ personal savings story? I can easily spend more than I really should every time I step foot into Target, but Plastic Jungle’s discounted gift cards justify my shopping habits with their discounted savings.

Target – 3% off

Name and Department: Kathryn, Marketing

How long have you been working at Plastic Jungle? 4 months

What was your most recent Plastic Jungle gift card purchase and why did you buy that card? I purchased a $250 Pottery Barn gift card at a 10% discount because I wanted to replace the sofa cushions on my 9-year-old Pottery Barn couch.

Did you stack up any extra in-store or online discounts? Pottery Barn seldom offers any coupons (mostly just seasonal promotions) which is why I was thrilled to save the 10% off at Plastic Jungle.

What’s your favorite PJ personal savings story? The replacement sofa cushions were $200 vs. spending over $1000 on a brand new sofa. By saving 10% I was able to cover the cost of shipping and some of the tax!

Pottery Barn Kids – 10% off

PB Teen – 8% off!

Pottery Barn – 10% off!

Name and Department: Raina, Marketing

How long have you been working at Plastic Jungle? 11 months

What was the last card you sold to Plastic Jungle and which payment option did you select? I cashed in Pier 1 Import cards that I had been carrying around in my wallet for the last 5 years. I redeemed them for Amazon credit to avail of the extra 5% cash back that PJ offers with Amazon payouts.

What’s your favorite PJ personal savings story? I used the Amazon credit from redeeming my 5-year-old housewarming gifts to buy myself a new Canon DSLR which I used on my recent trip to Alaska. Thanks to Plastic Jungle, my $200 add-on lens was free!

Name and Department: Arturo, Product Management

How long have you been working at Plastic Jungle? 1 year, 3 months

What was your most recent Plastic Jungle gift card purchase and why did you buy that card? I purchased $9000 worth of Lowe’s gift cards at a 9% discount to do some remodeling on the house I recently purchased.

Did you stack up any extra in-store or online discounts? Yes, I used a Lowe’s 10% discount that I received after I registered my ‘change of address’ online with the Postal Service.

What’s your favorite PJ personal savings story? I was extremely thrilled to save almost 20% off some of the remodeling costs of my new house. Here’s how I did it:  Plastic Jungle had Lowe’s cards at a 9% discount and with the additional 10% from the Lowe’s discount coupon, I ended up saving close to $2000 with this transaction alone. (Note: I had to negotiate that the 10% coupon applied to the  entire purchase. It was for up to $5000 only, but given the large purchase, they agreed.)

Lowe’s – 7% off

Do YOU have a favorite deal to share? Share your story and we’ll feature it in an upcoming blog post!

There’s no place better to find charming things to celebrate than Williams-Sonoma and its family of stores, including: Williams-Sonoma Home, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, PBteen, and West Elm. Gift cards from each store are interchangeable; you may use a Williams-Sonoma Gift Card or Williams-Sonoma eGift Card at any of the brand’s stores.

Buy discounted gift cards from any of the stores mentioned above on Plastic Jungle >>>

Let’s take a quick time-out from the busy April month, filled with Spring vacations and coconut-covered lamb-shaped cakes, to click into a worthy cause that Williams-Sonoma supports.

Williams-Sonoma is partnered for the Share Our Strength – No Kid Hungry Campaign.

Share Our Strength is a national nonprofit that is ending childhood hunger in America. There are stigmas and embarrassment that surround hunger, challenges presented by access to healthy food, and a struggle to connect children with the resources they need to thrive. For 25 years, Share Our Strength has been confronting hunger head-on to break down these barriers. Together, with your support, you can put an end to childhood hunger. The No Kid Hungry campaign involves taking a pledge, and once you’ve taken the pledge, you’ll become part of their No Kid Hungry community. The campaign provides you with real, meaningful ways that you can make a difference in your area. Go to Share Our Strength—No Kid Hungry Get Involved page for more information.

Check the Balance on Your Williams-Sonoma Gift Card or Williams-Sonoma eGift Card

Not sure how much is left on your Williams-Sonoma Gift Card or Williams-Sonoma eGift Card? Here are a few ways for you to check the balance.

Online

Williams-Sonoma Gift Card balance checker

In Store

Take the card to any Williams-Sonoma store (use the online Williams-Sonoma Store Locator)

Phone

Call 1-800-846-9817. When you call, be sure to have your Williams-Sonoma Gift Card number and PIN in front of you.

Once you know your balance, you can sell or trade your Williams-Sonoma Gift Card securely on Plastic Jungle. At Plastic Jungle, you can also trade your Williams-Sonoma Gift Card for an Amazon.com Gift Card and even fund your PayPal account.

The Benefits of Williams-Sonoma Gift Cards

Williams-Sonoma Gift Cards and eGift Cards may be redeemed at Williams-Sonoma stores and Williams-Sonoma Outlets, on catalog phone orders (1-800-541-2233), and online at WilliamsSonoma.com as well.

Williams-Sonoma Gift Cards and eGift Cards may also be redeemed at Williams-Sonoma Home, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, PBteen, and West Elm stores online, via catalog (phone) orders, and in stores.

Williams-Sonoma Gift Cards and Williams-Sonoma eGift Cards have no expiration date and no transaction fees. Plastic Jungle does not charge shipping fees.

Check Williams-Sonoma Gift Card Terms & Conditions for details on gift cards (link includes relevant phone numbers).

To know how much your gift card is worth in exchange on Plastic Jungle, on the main page, click “Sell Gift Cards” at the top of the page. Look up the store and enter the gift card balance you’ve just acquired. You’ll see instantly what your gift card balance is worth in cash or trade.

Check other Plastic Jungle blog posts for the same “Check Your Gift Card Balance” information for other stores, including Sears, Land’s End, Macy’s, Best Buy, Lowe’s, and more.

Fuzzy Chicks, a Williams-Sonoma Exclusive