"Right before my birthday, the mail came and there was this big envelope," she recalls. "It said 'Happy Birthday, Sandra' on it. I was like, 'What is this?' I opened it up and there were four gift cards for different places."
Carol Boerger of Malvern got one, too, with eight gift cards -- valued up to $25 each -- inside.
"Restaurants, a clothing boutique that I like to go to, and a spa," were among the offers she said.
These ladies, and thousands of others around Philadelphia, were among the first recipients of a "BirthdayPak." BirthdayPak is a new marketing tool from a Springfield-based company.
Each BirthdayPak includes four to eight gift cards for businesses within a few miles of the recipient's home. The businesses are ones that shy away from coupons and or other discount deals that might make them look less high-end. Tango, a restaurant in Bryn Mawr, is one such establishment.
Owner Joe Baldino says, "We chose BirthdayPak because it was something that was unique and it didn't cheapen our concept. "
To activate the gift cards, the recipient needs to sign up on the BirthdayPak.
The company founder says after that, they'll receive no more than 10 emails during the year. Those mails will include other offers and occasional contests.
"It is not spamming," explains Michael Marchesani of BirthdayPak. "We don't sell, rent or share the data with anybody. "
Some of the gift cards do require you spend a certain amount to redeem them, but others really are free money. And though right now, the BirthdayPaks are targeting women, plans for a "GuyPak" are in the pipeline.
BirthdayPaks are available for ten different areas right now, but they are continuing to expand. If you sign up now and your area isn't participating, you'll be included automatically once your area is available.
To sign up, click here.
