New outlet push puts Simon Property Group’s digital gift cards in the spotlight

Simon Property Group is leaning more on its Simon Giftcard digital and physical prepaid cards as foot traffic and outlet expansion remain central to the US mall owner’s strategy. What the card offers shoppers - and how it fits into SPG’s wider retail ecosystem.

Edited by ad hoc news New Releases & Launches Desk. Reviewed before publication on 06/15/2026 at 10:01 PM ET. Details in the imprint.

Simon Property Group’s Simon Giftcard - the company’s branded prepaid gift card that can be bought at mall Guest Services or online in physical and digital form - is playing a bigger role as the real estate giant doubles down on outlet centers and experience-led malls in North America. The Mastercard- and Visa-branded Simon Giftcard can be loaded with a fixed dollar value and used at participating retailers across Simon’s portfolio, giving shoppers a flexible way to spend while keeping dollars inside the Simon ecosystem.

How the Simon Giftcard works and where it fits in Simon’s portfolio

The Simon Giftcard is effectively a general-purpose prepaid card issued on major payment networks, but tightly marketed around Simon’s regional malls, premium outlets and Mills centers, both as physical plastic and as a digital eGift option delivered by email. According to Simon’s official gift card information, the cards are sold with preset denominations - typically from $20 to $500 - and can be purchased at Guest Services in participating centers or via Simon’s online ordering portal, with standard or expedited shipping for physical cards and instant delivery for digital variants on the official Simon gift card page. The cards usually carry an upfront purchase fee but no monthly maintenance charge for an initial period, and they can be used anywhere in the United States where the underlying network (Visa or Mastercard) is accepted, subject to the card’s terms and conditions.

In practical terms, the Simon Giftcard is meant to function as a mall-centric gift that does not tie the recipient to a single brand, which is particularly relevant at Simon’s large-format Premium Outlets that host dozens to more than 100 tenants under one roof. Simon’s latest investor communications put continued emphasis on these outlet centers and mixed-use malls as key traffic and rent drivers, and the gift card program is one of several tools used to encourage repeat visits and multi-store spending across that footprint as outlined in Simon’s recent supplemental information for investors. For consumers, the ability to use one prepaid balance across apparel, dining and entertainment tenants can make the card more versatile than many single-merchant gift certificates, particularly during holidays and back-to-school periods when foot traffic peaks.

Operationally, Simon partners with a third-party bank issuer for the Simon Giftcard program and aligns its branding across in-mall signage, online ordering and seasonal marketing campaigns, positioning the card as a default gifting option for birthdays and holidays. The company specifies that lost or stolen cards can be replaced if the buyer has the original purchase documentation, and that funds on the card do not expire even if the plastic may have an expiration date printed on it, in line with US prepaid card regulations. From a tenant perspective, acceptance of Simon Giftcards typically runs through standard payment terminals as a card-not-present or card-present network transaction, so retailers do not need separate infrastructure beyond honoring program rules.

Simon also integrates the gift card program with some of its promotional events and loyalty initiatives, occasionally using Simon Giftcards as incentives for mall promotions, seasonal campaigns or customer service recovery gestures. As the landlord continues to invest in premium outlet expansions and redevelopments, the gift card becomes a tool to funnel spend toward new openings and renovated wings, alongside traditional marketing channels such as digital campaigns and in-center signage. For shoppers, one consideration remains the purchase fee and any post-purchase limitations such as partial authorization issues at restaurants or gas stations, making it important to understand the terms before loading larger amounts on a single card.

For Simon Property Group, which generates the bulk of its revenue from base rent, percentage rent and other property income, the Simon Giftcard does not move the needle in the same way as a new anchor tenant or redevelopment, but it supports overall sales productivity and helps keep spend within the company’s centers. Simon highlighted resilient sales per square foot and occupancy levels across its US malls and outlets in recent quarters, underscoring that tools which encourage cross-tenant shopping complement its strategy of focusing on high-traffic, high-spend properties as reported in coverage of Simon’s latest quarterly results. Shares of Simon Property Group (US8288061091) traded on the NYSE at around $218 per share in mid-June 2026, reflecting investors’ focus on the company’s cash flow and dividend profile rather than on ancillary programs such as gift cards.

Simon Giftcard quick profile

• Product: Simon Giftcard (Visa and Mastercard prepaid gift cards)
• Manufacturer: Simon Property Group, Inc.
• Category: New Release/Launch - mall-branded prepaid gift and eGift card program
• Launch date: Gift card program introduced in the 2000s; digital eGift options expanded over time
• MSRP / Price: Variable load amounts, typically $20 to $500 per card, plus an upfront purchase fee per card
• Availability: Sold at Guest Services in participating Simon malls, Premium Outlets and Mills centers across the US, as well as via Simon’s official online ordering portal
• Target audience: Shoppers looking for flexible gifts redeemable at multiple mall retailers, especially around holidays and peak shopping seasons
• Key differentiator / USP: One prepaid balance that can be spent at a wide range of tenants across Simon’s extensive US mall and outlet portfolio, packaged in both physical and digital formats

This article was a.i.-assisted and editorially reviewed. Product information without warranty; prices and availability may change at short notice. Not investment advice and not a buy or sell recommendation. Trading involves risk up to and including the total loss of invested capital.