Andy’s Frozen Custard shops are going mobile with new virtual gift cards.

The gift cards are available at Andy’s locations throughout the Midwest and Texas. The cards are purchased on the Web and delivered immediately to a consumer’s mobile device or via email.

“Andy’s Frozen Custard shops’ new mobile gift cards gives us the opportunity to become more available to consumers by allowing them the ability to purchase a gift card and have it delivered to the recipient’s email or smartphone instantly,” said Andy Kuntz, president of Andy’s Frozen Custard Shops, Springfield, MO.

Mr. Kuntz said that instant delivery, customizable messages, environmental factors such as no gas for delivery and no plastic waste and the lack of postage and handling costs lets Andy’s customers have an easy way to instantly send a gift as well eliminate waste of the old plastic or paper gift cards.

The cards also allow Andy’s Frozen Custard shops an opportunity to become an environmentally conscious leader in the gift giving industry, he said.

After a virtual gift card has been sent to a mobile device, the bar code of the card on the handset is scanned at Andy’s. The virtual gift card acts just as a plastic gift card would.

Andy’s Frozen Custard has locations throughout Missouri, Arkansas, Illinois and Texas.

Helping the environment with mobile
The frozen custard chain launched the cards to capitalize on the holiday shopping season, but said that they can be used for a variety of reasons, such as last minute gifts.

Mr. Kuntz said that the target demographic for the new mobile gift cards is ages 18-60.

The new service is being marketed through public relations, radio advertising, in-store signage and banners, email and social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter.

Mr. Kuntz said that the only challenge he anticipates is educating his customers about the service since it is new.

The decision to go mobile was based on environmental responsibility, not the economy.

“With neighborhood and business communities coming together to find ways to protect the environment, we believe that people will do the right thing when given trustworthy information, affordable resources and simple tools like the Mobile Virtual Gift Cards we are offering at Andy’s Frozen Custard shops,” Mr. Kuntz said.

Mr. Kuntz said that consumers are changing and becoming more concerned about their environment and the waste they are producing.

By offering a mobile delivery system, Mr. Kuntz said that his company helps customers save time and avoid waste.

Mr. Kuntz said that Andy’s Frozen Custard is not stopping at mobile gift cards when it comes to marketing on the wireless handset.

“Andy’s Frozen Custard shops will evolve with technology and offer their customers environmentally safe and time saving promotions from gift cards, to coupons, sales offers, birthday and holiday cards, offerings and more,” Mr. Kuntz said. “The possibilities are truly endless.”