Grow Hotel Revenue with Experience Gift Vouchers

Quick Answer: What Are Experience Gift Vouchers?

Experience gift vouchers let hotels, spas, and restaurants sell memorable experiences in advance packages like dinners, spa days, or weekend stays that are prepaid and redeemed later. They bring in revenue before the guest arrives, help fill quieter days, and often lead to higher on-site spending when redeemed.

See how Enjovia helps hotels turn experiences into prepaid revenue

The Midweek Lull Problem

It’s mid-week and the restaurant is quiet. A few rooms are still empty, and the spa team has gaps on the schedule. Payroll is fixed, energy costs keep running, and there’s no way to fill the space last-minute without discounting.

Now picture the same day, but prepaid. The dining room is busy with voucher guests. Spa appointments are already booked, paid for weeks ago. No flash sales, no OTA commissions- just steady, predictable revenue sitting in your account before the doors even open.

Split-screen image showing an empty restaurant compared with a lively group dining, highlighting the impact of experience gift vouchers. — Experience gift vouchers can turn a quiet day into a busy, profitable one.

That’s the difference experience gift vouchers make. They turn empty days into full ones and keep cash flow moving through the quieter months.

In our last post, How the Experience Economy Is Shaping Hospitality, we looked at how guest expectations are changing. This guide shows what to do with that shift - how to package and sell those experiences before guests even arrive.

Why Experience Gift Vouchers Matter in the Experience Economy

Most hotels and spas know the cycle. Summer is busy, then everything slows, but the bills keep coming. OTA fees chip away at margins, and discounts become the fallback just to keep things moving.

Experience gift vouchers help break that pattern. They bring in cash before the guest arrives, fill quieter days without cutting prices, and keep the full value of the sale in your hands.

Infographic showing how experience gift vouchers drive growth, from purchase to upfront cash, redemption, extra spend, and guest loyalty. — How experience gift vouchers create revenue and loyalty at every stage.

Picture a city spa in January. It’s usually quiet, but with a Weekday Wellness Pass sold as a gift, those midweek appointments are already booked and paid for.

The Celtic Manor showed how well this works. By offering simple, well-timed experiences that were easy to buy and easy to redeem, they generated more than £2.5 million in voucher sales and turned slow periods into prepaid revenue.

Across the industry, voucher guests spend about sixty to seventy percent more when they redeem. That extra spend, and the new guests vouchers bring in, can make a real difference over the year.

Experience vouchers aren’t just for the holidays anymore. They’re a dependable part of how experience-led hospitality earns steady income all year.

Graphic showing Celtic Manor success story with £2.5M in gift voucher sales. — Celtic Manor generated £2.5 million in gift voucher sales by making experiences part of their growth strategy.

See how The Celtic Manor did it here with the right strategy and tools.

Real-World Results from Leading Operators

Across hospitality, operators who treat experience vouchers as part of their main sales strategy are seeing measurable gains. Rooms fill earlier, cash flow evens out, and marketing reach extends through every gifted experience.

Resorts, spas, and restaurants that package experiences well report steady year-round sales, not just holiday spikes. Voucher guests consistently spend more when redeeming (often sixty to seventy percent above the value of their gift) and many visit again on their own.

Industry reports from the Gift Card and Voucher Association confirm that experience-based gifting continues to grow faster than retail. It’s proof that guests now value memorable moments over material gifts, and that the businesses offering them are turning that preference into real revenue.

How Hotels, Spas, and Golf Clubs Use Experience Vouchers

Experience gift vouchers work best when they feel like products in their own right, not side offers. The strongest results come from packages that are simple, well-timed, and clearly named so buyers know exactly what they’re giving.

Hotels

Many hotels use seasonal vouchers to secure early revenue. A Spring Escape with one night, afternoon tea, and a late checkout can turn slow early-year dates into prepaid bookings. Guests enjoy the sense of occasion, and the property gains guaranteed income before the stay.

Spas

Spas often use vouchers to bring in locals during quiet times. A Rest and Restore Retreat that includes treatments, thermal suite access, and a light lunch fills midweek gaps without discounting. It also introduces new guests who often return for full-price treatments later.

Golf Clubs and Restaurants

A Nine and Dine package (a round of golf followed by a clubhouse meal) works well as a corporate gift or group offer. Restaurants can do the same with tasting menus or seasonal dining experiences that make easy, thoughtful gifts.

Each example looks different, but the result is the same. Experience vouchers bring in cash before the guest arrives, attract new customers, and usually lead to extra spending when redeemed. Over time, they help operators smooth demand, lift average spend, and keep teams busy all year.

Designing the Voucher Experience Guests Actually Want

A good voucher should feel like the beginning of the experience, not a receipt. The way it’s named, presented, and redeemed shapes how both the giver and the guest feel about it.

The Name

The name is the first impression, so it should make people imagine the moment they’re buying. Something like Winter Hideaway for Two feels warm and personal. One Night Stay with Dinner sounds like a transaction. Small details like this make a big difference in how a voucher sells.

The Presentation

People notice how a gift looks and feels. A well-designed digital or printed voucher feels more considered and shareable. Many guests post them online, giving your brand organic reach before the experience even begins.

The Pricing

Pricing should reflect gifting, not discounting. Round figures look confident and easy to give — £250 feels like a gift; £249 looks like a deal. The goal is to make buying simple and emotional, not technical.

The Booking and Redemption

The process needs to be quick and flexible. Guests expect to redeem online without extra steps or restrictions. When booking is easy, redemption rates rise, and the overall experience feels effortless. That simplicity often leads to repeat visits and higher on-site spending.

Digital vouchers now account for most voucher sales across hospitality. They’re faster to deliver, easier to promote, and better suited to how people shop and gift today.

Selling Experience Gift Vouchers Beyond the Booking Page

It’s easy for vouchers to end up buried in a website footer. The problem is, if guests can’t see them, they won’t buy them.

The example below shows a simple way to fix that - by putting an experience voucher banner right on the homepage, where every visitor will see it.

Mock-up showing a hotel homepage with a hero banner for experience gift vouchers, designed to instruct hoteliers how to display vouchers prominently. — Example of how hotels can feature experience vouchers on their homepage banner, instead of hiding them in the footer.

Once vouchers are visible, sales tend to follow. Add them to your homepage, mention them in email newsletters, and include them in spa menus, restaurant brochures, and in-room materials.

Staff can also make a big difference. When a guest checks out after a great stay, that’s the moment to say, “Would you like to give this experience as a gift?”

Short videos work well too - a chef plating a dessert, a therapist setting up a treatment room, a glass of champagne being poured. Simple moments like these tell the story quickly and remind people what they could give.

Looking Ahead: From Experience to Revenue

The experience economy isn’t slowing down. It continues to shape how guests decide where to stay, relax, and spend their time. People are choosing places that make them feel something, not just somewhere to stay or eat.

For hotels, spas, restaurants, and golf clubs, experience gift vouchers turn that demand into reliable income. They bring in revenue before the guest arrives, attract new visitors without discounts, and create moments people talk about long after they leave.

The operators who succeed are the ones who don’t wait for bookings. They package experiences as vouchers, sell them all year, and let those prepaid sales smooth demand through every season.

If your experiences are worth talking about, they’re worth selling. And if you’re ready to build a voucher strategy that delivers steady, prepaid growth, Enjovia can help you get there.

FAQ: Experience Gift Vouchers in Hospitality

Why do experience gift vouchers work so well?

They bring money in early and get new guests through the door. Most people who come in with a voucher spend a bit extra, and many come back again on their own. It’s one of the simplest ways to turn a gift into loyalty.

Is the experience gift market still growing?

Yes, and not just by a little. Reports from the Gift Card and Voucher Association show that experience gifts keep rising year after year, while retail cards are slowing down. People prefer to give time and memories instead of things.

What kind of vouchers sell best?

The ones that are easy to picture and simple to buy. A name like Winter Hideaway for Two or Chef’s Table Experience works better than anything that sounds like a package deal.

Are digital vouchers more popular now?

They are. Guests like how quick and easy they are to send. Some still prefer a printed version, so offering both keeps everyone happy.

When’s the best time to promote experience vouchers?

You’ll see the biggest lift around Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and Mother’s and Father’s Day. But there’s also real value in quieter local months when people are looking for a reason to treat someone.

The Experience Economy and How It’s Shaping Hospitality

Quick answer: What Is the Experience Economy?

In hospitality, the experience economy is the shift you can see when guests start choosing places for how they feel rather than what they buy. It’s about the mood of a stay, the story behind a meal, the memory that makes people come back or tell their friends.

The Experience Economy Has Become the Hospitality Economy

Walk into any hotel or spa right now and you can feel it. The attention has moved from the things guests buy to how those moments make them feel.

You can see it if you spend time in the business. A couple buying a massage day instead of another gift card. A restaurant team turning a slow Thursday into a small tasting night just because people want something to remember. Guests are still looking for value, but what they really want is a feeling they can hold onto. That’s the space hospitality is working in now, the one people have started calling the experience economy.

It’s not a passing phase or a marketing idea. It’s a change in what people value when they travel and spend.

How the Experience Economy Is Shaping Hospitality

You hear people mention the Experience Economy a lot now, but the idea isn’t new. It first came up back in 1999 when Pine and Gilmore described it as the next step after goods and services. What’s changed is how deeply it’s shaped travel. Technology, social media, and the habits left behind from the pandemic have turned experiences into the main currency of the industry.

Reports back this up. The World Travel and Tourism Council expects the sector to reach around eleven trillion dollars in value this year. Hilton’s 2024 trends study shows more travellers mixing rest with a bit of discovery, and Gensler’s research found 73% of people are happy to travel further and spend more for something that feels immersive.

For anyone working in hospitality, the message is clear enough. Growth now depends on how well you can design and deliver experiences that guests want to come back for, or tell their friends about later.

These shifts sit at the centre of current hospitality trends, shaping how operators think about travel, design, and guest connection.

Four spa guests laughing together in robes with statistic overlay “76% choose properties for their experiences - Hilton 2024.” — 76% of travellers choose hotels, spas, and resorts based on the experiences they offer.

How Hotel Guest Expectations Have Changed

Guests care about comfort, but additionally, they’re looking for something deeper. They want to be part of a story, create a memory- not just another booking. A dinner that celebrates local produce or a quiet spa moment can mean more than any upgrade. The difference comes from how each part of the team shapes that feeling, from the welcome to the farewell. When it’s done well, the stay feels personal instead of routine.

How Hotels Create the Moments Guests Remember

The memories guests talk about later rarely come from one big gesture. They come from the flow of small, thoughtful details that fit together.

That’s what guest experience design really means in practice. Creating a rhythm guests can feel but not always name. When every part of the stay shares the same idea of what it should feel like, it shows.

It shows in everything they do. Guests will remember how it felt, and that’s what brings them back.

The Four Realms of Experience in Hospitality

Every strong guest experience usually hits a few emotional notes. The Four Realms of Experience help explain why some moments stay with people.

Entertainment

This one shows up first. You can feel it the moment you walk in. Maybe it’s music drifting from the bar, people laughing a little louder than usual, the chef stepping out to tell a story about what’s on the plate. It’s that mix of sound and movement that makes a place feel alive.

Education

This one’s about curiosity. Some guests like to understand what they’re tasting or seeing. A few minutes with the bartender showing how a drink comes together, or a gardener pointing out what’s in bloom, can turn a visit into a memory. They leave knowing something they didn’t before.

Escapism

This one is quieter. It’s when a guest forgets what day it is. Maybe they’re floating in the spa pool or walking a path they’ve never seen before. The noise of home drops away, and they’re just there in the moment. That’s escapism at its best.

Aesthetic

This one happens before a word is spoken. The light, the smell in the air, the way a space feels when you step inside. It’s what sets the mood before service even begins. Guests don’t always name it, but they feel it right away.

When a stay brings all of these feelings together, it starts to tell its own story. The guest might not think about entertainment, education, escapism, or aesthetics as separate things, but they feel the balance. Each touch, each sound, each small act of care adds another layer. That’s when service begins to turn into something more memorable.

From Service to Storytelling

When the elements of an experience come together, the story begins to tell itself. In the experience economy, every touchpoint becomes part of that story.

Check-in can be an arrival ritual.
Dinner can become a narrative of local ingredients.
A farewell gift can remind the guest of how the visit felt.
These stories are what turn a transaction into loyalty.
They also spark the kind of word-of-mouth that marketing can’t buy.

The Business Case for Experience-Led Growth

Designing better experiences is not only about creativity. It directly improves key metrics and, as our Gift Card Trends in Hospitality report shows, can open new prepaid revenue streams through experience-led gift programmes.

Higher emotional satisfaction increases repeat visits.
Immersive experiences lift average daily rate and on-site spend.
When guests talk about your property, direct bookings rise and reliance on third parties falls.

Experience-led growth is measurable. Operators who invest in experience design see stronger brand preference and steadier year-round revenue.
This is how hotels, spas, restaurants, and golf clubs can grow without discounting or commissions.

It’s a practical example of experience-led growth, where creative design turns guest emotion into measurable results.

Looking Ahead- From Experience to Revenue

The Experience Economy is evolving into its next stage, sometimes called the Transformation Economy, where guests seek personal impact as well as pleasure.
For hospitality leaders, the question is how to turn this demand into consistent income.
One of the most effective ways is to package and pre-sell those experiences so that revenue arrives before the stay.

This approach also answers the rise in experiential travel, giving guests something to anticipate and operators income they can rely on.

FAQ

What is the Experience Economy in simple terms?

It is an economy where people value memorable experiences more than material goods.

How is the Experience Economy affecting hotels in 2025 going into 2026?

Guests choose properties based on unique, shareable moments instead of price or location alone.

What are examples of experiences in hospitality?

Chef’s tables, wellness retreats, guided golf days, local culture tours, and creative classes.

What is experience-led growth?

A business strategy that focuses on creating and selling experiences to increase loyalty and revenue.

If you want to see how leading operators are turning their experiences into prepaid revenue, read our next article:
Experience Gift Vouchers - Hospitality’s 2025 Growth Play.

How Can Operations Improve Hotel Performance

TL;DR/ Quick Summary: Hotels facing shrinking margins need more than cost-cutting; they need smarter operations. By automating workflows, forecasting staffing needs, optimizing guest journeys, and launching experience commerce strategies, hotels can unlock up to 12% more margin without compromising service.

How Can Operations Improve Hotel Performance?

Smarter Strategies for Inflation-Era Hospitality

Burnout doesn't mean you're failing. It usually means your operating model no longer fits the reality you're working in.

You've already cut costs, reduced service hours, and scaled back your offerings. Yet the numbers aren't improving.

If you're managing hotel operations, this likely feels all too familiar. Despite all efforts, profit margins keep narrowing.

Why Margins Are Under Pressure

Most hospitality models were built in a different economic climate. They aren’t coping well with today's sustained inflation.

Since the pandemic, costs have climbed across the board. Energy bills are higher. Laundry services cost more. Wages have increased. Even when room revenue appears stable, the bottom line tells a different story.

This isn't just a pricing issue. It's a deeper problem with how margins are being squeezed.

You might see RevPAR holding steady, but other key metrics like GOPPAR, ARPAR, and EBITDA reveal a decline in profitability.

What This Blog Covers

This post isn’t about making more cuts. It’s about using operations more strategically.

We’ll walk through four ways hospitality teams are reshaping their operations to protect profit, deliver value, and stay resilient in a high-cost environment.

The Hidden Cost of Inefficiency

Manual processes. Rigid scheduling. Disconnected departments. These aren’t just operational headaches; they’re profit drains.

Inflation is squeezing every line on your P&L. Labour costs rose by 4.8%, and maintenance expenses (including utilities) increased 5.0% across U.S. hotels in 2024, according to CBRE. Meanwhile, linen inefficiencies add up fast. One analysis shows that a typical 150-room hotel can lose 20–30% of its linen inventory annually, with costs exceeding $50,000/year (HospitalityTech).

The result? Revenues may look stable, but profitability is slipping. While TRevPAR (Total Revenue per Available Room) rose 2.7%, Gross Operating Profit margins shrunk by 1.1 percentage points — meaning every extra pound earned cost more to service (Hotel News Resource).

Missed margin opportunity: Hotels running on manual processes and disjointed operations often forfeit 8–12% of potential profit, lost in unnecessary labour, utility overuse, and avoidable guest friction (PwC UK Hospitality Outlook).

Even with strong RevPAR, profit isn’t guaranteed. As revenue flows through operating layers, inefficiencies can quietly erode margin. This progression shows how performance KPIs compress when ops aren’t optimised.

how can operations improve hotel performance — How inefficiencies erode profit from RevPAR to ARPAR

4 Operational Levers That Grow Hotel Profitability

It’s time to think about operations as a performance toolkit. Here are four levers smart hoteliers are pulling:

1. Workflow Automation

If you're exploring how to reduce hotel operating costs without compromising service, automation is a high-leverage starting point.

Hotels that automate key workflows report efficiency gains of up to 30–40%.

After switching to a cloud-based PMS, one UK hotel group saw a 37% improvement in operational efficiency and a 40% reduction in admin workload (HospitalityNet).

2. Smart Staffing & Forecasting

A lot of hotels still plan staff rotas based on what worked in past years. But things have changed. Guest demand is more unpredictable now, and those old patterns don’t hold up. That’s why many hotels are starting to build rotas around real-time demand instead. They’re using up-to-date booking data to plan shifts, so the right number of staff are on when guests actually need them.

Switch to smart staffing unlocks:

Improved forecast accuracy by 35%
Falling labor costs by 5-15%
Aligning staffing with real demand prevents burnout and boosts morale
One hotel group reported a 17% drop in staff turnover and up to 40% better forecasting precision after adopting AI-powered scheduling tools. (Shyft)

Building your labor model on live performance indicators, rather than relying on guesswork, leads to thriving teams and improved margins. This approach fosters a more effective and efficient work environment.

3. Revenue Protection via Experience Commerce

Experience-led revenue is resilient revenue, especially in uncertain markets. By offering pre-paid bundles, seasonal vouchers, and high-conversion upsell paths, hotels don’t just increase income, they safeguard it.

Selling curated experiences in advance, such as spa packages, romantic getaways, or chef-led tasting menus, boosts TRevPAR and ARPAR. It also helps to reduce no-shows and late cancellations. By monetizing guests before they arrive, you avoid relying on upgrades at checkout.

This pre-arrival spend model is fast becoming a revenue backbone. Guests buying into the experience early make them more committed, emotionally invested, and less likely to cancel.

4. Guest Journey Optimisation

Guests feel every moment of friction, whether it's a clunky check-in, slow service handoffs, or unclear payment flows. And in hospitality, every delay costs both loyalty and upsell potential.

Today’s leading hotels are eliminating these blind spots with real-time operational dashboards. By syncing teams across departments and reacting to guest signals in the moment, they deliver a smoother, more responsive experience, from check-in to spa to checkout.

The result is fewer delays and faster upsell windows. The guest journey feels intentionally choreographed, not reactive. This is how operations management enhances hotel performance in real-time. It unblocks service friction before it affects satisfaction.

The Strategic Ops Mindset

How profitable are hotels that embrace operational leverage?

To survive in today’s climate, ops can’t just run the hotel, they have to grow it.

Enter the concept of Operational Margin Leverage. The strategic use of smarter processes and real-time data to increase profit per guest without adding cost.

This mindset means treating your operations team the way you treat your revenue team: a source of leverage, not just logistics. The same strategic thinking you apply to marketing.

How Enjovia Powers Profit‑First Operations

Enjovia is more than a gift voucher platform. It’s an operations-driven growth engine, built to integrate seamlessly into your hotel’s existing tech stack. By enabling smarter monetisation, tighter fulfilment, and real-time reporting, it turns back-office workflows into front-line profit levers.

Integrated Experience Commerce

Offer guests curated, pre-paid experiences. From spa days to tasting menus, with built-in upsells at purchase points. Enjovia can integrate directly with your PMS and POS to trigger operational flows as soon as a booking is made.

Real-Time Revenue Reporting

Track 50+ data points per sale, sync directly with Google Analytics or your CRM, and monitor redemptions and guest spend in real-time, all without leaving your dashboard.

Operational Fulfilment Automation

Enjovia’s integrations enable task handoffs to departments automatically, based on what the guest purchased. QR redemption and POS syncing reduce admin load and improve delivery accuracy.

Flexible, Plug-and-Play Architecture

Enjovia is designed to connect easily with your PMS, POS, and CRM. No complex rebuilds, just smoother data flow and smarter operations.

When your sales engine talks to your ops engine, profitability stops leaking and starts scaling. Enjovia helps you get there, without disruption.

FAQs- How Can Operations Improve Hotel Performance

How can operations management improve hotel performance?

Strong operations help everything run more smoothly, from housekeeping to front desk to guest messaging. Guess notice when systems and staff are aligned. They get better service, and your team spends less time fixing issues. Enjovia helps by linking guest purchases directly to your operations, so the right action happens without delay. Learn more.

How does inflation affect the hospitality industry?

It makes everything cost more. Staff wages, cleaning supplies, utilities, and maintenance. Hotels can’t always raise their prices to match, which means profits shrink.

How can hotels reduce operational costs without losing service quality?

Start by cutting out the busywork. Automate where you can, like an integrable tech stack or upsell offers. Use pre-paid packages to lock in revenue before guests arrive. It’s not about cutting service, it’s about being more focused with your resources.
Explore your options for experience building with Enjovia.

Is it profitable to own a hotel in today’s climate?

It depends on how well the business is set up. Full occupancy doesn’t guarantee profit if the costs behind the scenes are too high.
Hotels that combine smart tech with strong guest offerings tend to do better. Utilising new tools such as enjovia helps. This is through turning everyday services into profitable experiences, sold in advance and delivered with less manual effort. Get started here.

Conclusion: Own Your Ops, Protect Your Profit

How Can Operations Improve Hotel Performance?

Smart operations aren’t about spending more, they’re about spending wiser. From experience commerce to automation, the tools are already within reach, and Enjovia is purpose-built to help you activate them.

Profit isn’t just about bookings. It’s about building a business that works smarter, not harder.

What Is a PMS System? | 2026 Hotel Tech Guide

Quick Answer: What Is a PMS System?

A PMS system, or property management system, is the software that runs a hotel’s daily operations. It manages bookings, check-ins, payments, and room status in one place. Modern PMS platforms also connect with tools like Enjovia to personalise stays and boost revenue.

What Is a PMS System? The 2026 Guide to Connected Guest Journeys

Another app. Another login. Another platform that doesn’t quite talk to the others. If that sounds like your hotel’s tech stack, you’re not alone.

According to Hotel Tech Report, over 80% of hoteliers believe technology improves efficiency. But fewer than half feel it actually gives them a competitive edge. That gap often comes down to one thing: fragmented, poorly integrated systems.

This guide is built for general managers and operations leaders who are tired of tech noise and ready for clarity. It unpacks the tools that actually improve guest satisfaction, drive efficiency, and boost revenue, mapped neatly to each stage of the guest journey.

We explain important technology tools for hotels, such as property management systems, guest messaging apps, virtual reality, and digital upsells.

We cover what these tools do, why they are effective, and how to get started. Whether you are changing systems or improving what you have, this guide will help you with your hotel's tech tools.

Evolving Hospitality Technology

Technology moves fast, and the hospitality industry is now being influenced in a bigger way than before. Since the pandemic, hoteliers recognised the importance of using tech for growth.
With fewer staff and new guest needs, automation and personalization have become essential.

Today’s guests want convenience. They expect smooth check-ins, instant communication, and tailored offers. Meanwhile, hotel staff are stretched thin. They need tools that simplify their work.

Hotels need to reconsider their technology strategies. They should focus on how different systems work together and invest in tools that enhance both revenue and guest experiences.

Why a PMS System Is the Central Nervous System of Your Hotel

Think of a PMS as the hotel’s central nervous system. Coordinating bookings, check-ins, payments, and even cleaning schedules. Without it, things fall apart fast.

Modern PMS platforms include features like mobile check-in and guest messaging, improving the guest experience. Without a good PMS, hotels may struggle with disorganized operations.

Essentially, a PMS manages all hotel tasks, ensuring a smooth experience for guests. A modern PMS streamlines processes and prepares hotels for future tech updates.

And it’s an important feature! With UK hoteliers reporting in the UK Hotel Trading Performance Review, the constant pressure they feel to keep their technology updated and current.

How to Choose the Right PMS for Your Hotel in 2026

When choosing a Property Management System (PMS), keep these important points in mind:

1. Cloud readiness

Can your team use it from anywhere?

2. Integration

Does it work well with other tools you use?

3. Guest experience

Does it offer automation and self-service options?

4. Efficiency

Does it cut down on manual work and provide real-time updates?

5. Scalability

Is it suitable for small hotels, larger resorts, or multiple properties?

The right PMS boosts your tech and improves the guest experience.

Look for user-friendly options, which have a simple design that makes training easier.

Checklist for Switching to a New PMS

Switching to a new PMS can feel daunting, so here’s a quick checklist to help you decide if you need to make the next move.

Do you resonate with any of these pain points?

“Our current PMS limits integration with other guest tools”
“Staff complain about slow, clunky interfaces”
“We're not leveraging guest data for personalisation”
“Manual tasks slow down front desk and housekeeping”
“We rely heavily on IT to update or connect systems”
“We’ve missed some revenue because of tech delays”

If you checked three or more, it may be time to consider a platform that's ready for 2026.

Leading PMS Platforms in 2026

PMS Platform	Key Strengths	Ideal For
Mews	Cloud-native, open API, intuitive UX	Modern boutique or chain hotels
Cloudbeds	Easy channel management, built-in guest tools	Independent hotels
Opera Cloud	Enterprise-grade features, robust reporting	Large hotel groups with legacy needs

Illustrative Example: The Switch to a Modern PMS

When boutique hotels switch from old management systems to new cloud-based ones (like Mews), everything runs more smoothly, making it easier to keep operations flowing.

For example:

Hotels like Paradise Resort Gold Coast and Postillion Hotels reported up to 30-36% faster check-in times using digital and self-service tools powered by Mews.
At Pillows Hotel Reylof, automating upsells via Mews and Oaky led to a 23% increase in upsell conversions, directly lifting total revenue per available room.
The C-Hotels group cut 93% of calls between housekeeping and front desk by streamlining operations through Mews’ automation tools, dramatically reducing manual errors and miscommunication.

These aren’t outliers; they’re real-world outcomes from hotels embracing the potential of modern PMS integrations. By simplifying operations, hotels unlock time for what matters most: delivering an exceptional guest experience.

Top PMS Integrations That Improve Guest Experience

Is it top B2B hospitality tech integrations that truly elevate guest experience and efficiency? It depends on how well your tools connect, not just which tools you use.

Your PMS is only as good as the tools it integrates with. For hoteliers, that means prioritising connections that enhance personalization, automation, and guest independence.

Guest messaging platforms

When your PMS is connected to tools like Duve or Akia, your team can send timely, personalized messages through SMS, WhatsApp, or email. Whether it's a welcome message or a feedback survey, these touchpoints feel thoughtful and improve the guest experience.

Upselling tools

Platforms like Enjovia and Oaky use booking data from your PMS to suggest upgrades that actually fit each guest’s stay. Instead of pushing generic offers, guests see relevant options before arrival, increasing both satisfaction and revenue.

Virtual reality travel experiences

Virtual reality travel experiences give potential guests a way to explore rooms, amenities, or spa packages before they book. These tools become more than just a visual aid when integrated with your PMS. Guests can check availability and confirm their reservation instantly, creating a seamless booking journey from preview to purchase.

Kiosks and mobile keys

Self-check-in systems and smart room access only work well when they update in real time. A connected PMS ensures that access codes, room status, and ID verification are accurate across all platforms, helping guests check in smoothly.

API-first platforms

Modern PMS systems like Mews are built to integrate easily with other tools. This approach allows your team to expand or refine your tech stack without long development delays or vendor lock-in.

"43% of travellers now use VR to plan their trips"
"80% of travellers prefer automated front desk options."
"Legacy PMS = slow, costly integration."

Smarter PMS Integrations = Smoother Guest Journeys

What are the leading integrations for hospitality businesses in 2026? It’s not about stacking tools - it’s about connecting the right ones to your PMS to personalise, automate, and grow.

Focus your tech strategy around these four essentials:

Prioritise integration: Fragmented tools lead to fragmented service.
Invest in guest-centric platforms: Think automation and personalisation.
Use data to personalise: Insights from Enjovia and PMS drive better timing.
Focus on experience commerce: Guests buy stories, ease, and anticipation.

Leading hospitality tech isn’t about collecting platforms, it’s about creating cohesion.

Mapping Tools to the Guest Journey

Every guest journey has multiple touchpoints. When your systems are connected via your PMS, each one becomes an opportunity to impress, personalise, and convert.

Guest Journey Stage	Example Tools	Use Cases
Pre-arrival	Enjovia, Duve	Welcome comms, gift card redemptions
On-site	Canary, Digital keys	In-stay requests, seamless access
Post-stay	Akia, CRM platform	Feedback, loyalty offers, re-engagement

Examples of Hospitality Tech Tools Mapped to the Guest Journey

Pre-arrival

Enjovia- Gift voucher and experience commerce platform
Duve - Guest experience platform for check-in, upsells, and communication

On-site

Canary Technologies - Contactless check-in, tipping, and guest messaging
Digital Keys - 5G IoT-powered smart room access

Post-stay

Akia – AI-powered guest messaging and CRM
Salesforce – CRM with personalised guest re-engagement tools

Guest journey stages chart with Enjovia, Duve, Canary, and Akia tools — Map your guest journey with the right tools at every stage

Example: The Connected Guest Journey in Action

A guest books a spa weekend using Enjovia → receives a pre-arrival upgrade offer via Duve → uses a mobile key for seamless check-in → and ends their stay with a personalised loyalty message from Akia.

This illustrates how a connected tech flow with the right property management system (PMS) creates seamless and personalized guest experiences at every step.

Hotel guest journey infographic showing steps from gift card redemption to post-stay loyalty offer — How a connected hotel tech stack transforms the guest experience

FAQ

What Is a PMS System in Hospitality?

It’s your hotel’s command center. A PMS (Property Management System) handles everything from bookings and payments to housekeeping schedules and guest profiles. Without it, your operation’s a collection of tabs, spreadsheets, and crossed fingers. With it? Everything flows and guests feel it.

How do guest messaging tools actually help?

Guest messaging tools help your team stay efficient and responsive. Instead of chasing guests down, staff can send timely and relevant messages, whether it's a welcome note, an in-stay update, or a quick survey. It’s faster, clearer, and makes communication feel more personal.

Do gift cards increase revenue?

More than you’d think. Enjovia-style gift cards bring in revenue before the guest even steps foot on your property. They also drive repeat visits, direct bookings, and brand loyalty. All without lifting your rates!

What is virtual reality used for in the hospitality industry?

When used well, virtual reality can help guests explore your property before they arrive. A virtual tour of your spa or rooms builds trust and creates interest. And if it connects directly to your PMS for real-time booking, it becomes a practical tool, not just a nice extra.

What is API in hospitality?

It means your systems can communicate with each other without constant help from IT. A PMS with an API-first design makes it easier to connect upsell tools, messaging platforms, and future integrations without the usual technical headaches.
Want to know more about API-first tools? Learn how Enjovia integrates with leading PMS platforms.

How Much Does a PMS Cost for Hotels?

Costs depend on features and hotel size. They usually range from £100 to £500 per month for each property. Additional fees may apply for integrations, onboarding, or customization. Be sure to assess the total value, not just the base price.

What’s the ROI of Investing in Hotel Technology?

Hotels using integrated, guest-focused systems see 10-30% improved efficiency, better upsell conversions, and increased guest satisfaction and loyalty.

What Is Mews?

So many hoteliers are asking ‘What is Mews?’ It is a property management system made for hoteliers to manage their operations more efficiently.
It offers features like mobile check-in, upselling, and smart integrations with tools such as Enjovia, Duve, Akia, and VR. Mews is a powerful central platform that helps hotels bring together their tech, reduce friction, and boost revenue, making it easier for hoteliers to streamline operations and enhance guest experiences.

Should I Use One All-in-One Hotel System or Build a Best-in-Class Stack?

All-in-one systems can make managing a hotel easier, but a modular, API-first approach might give you more flexibility and control. By picking the best tools that work well with a solid PMS, you can create a better experience for your guests and easily adjust your technology as your needs change.

What’s Next for Hospitality Tech?

The Property Management System (PMS) has evolved into a vital tool that enhances guest experiences, boosts revenue, and improves operations.

As we look toward 2026, hotels need to emphasize flexibility and strategic planning. Integrations will become essential, and personalization will shift from a luxury to an expected standard. Successful hotels will effectively align technology with key points in the guest journey.

If your current setup feels disjointed, it’s time to reassess. A modern PMS can streamline operations while fostering loyalty, driving innovation, and ensuring long-term success.

Discover How Enjovia Helps

Tech should never slow down service. Enjovia empowers hotels to shift from system juggling to guest journey optimisation, all while unlocking new revenue streams.

With Enjovia, you can:

Pre-sell meaningful experiences - from spa to dining bundles
Connect seamlessly with your PMS for smooth operations
Gain data insights on redemption and repeat bookings
Ensure smooth checking in/ redeeming with responsive support
Adapt to any hotel type- from resorts to boutiques
Personalise guest interactions through data-driven insights
Free up staff time by automating upsells and gift redemptions

Enjovia helps you sell more than rooms - you sell anticipation.

Ready to turn tech into a competitive advantage?

Enjovia helps hotels enhance gift vouchers by linking offers with guest data and booking behavior. Want to convert those vouchers into bookings?

What Is an OTA? How Online Travel Agencies Impact Hotel Bookings

Quick Answer:

An OTA is an Online Travel Agency, like Booking.com, that sells hotel rooms for a commission, helping visibility but reducing direct profit.

Introduction: The Hidden Cost of OTA Dependency

What is an OTA, and why does relying on them cost you more than you think?

OTAs are Online Travel Agencies like Booking.com or Expedia.

As a hotelier, you’ll likely be aware of OTAs, as 77% of online bookings in Europe are made through them.

The OTA Trade-Off: Visibility vs. Value

What is an OTA? Graphic showing that 77% of hotel bookings come from OTAs. — 77% of hotel bookings are made through online travel agencies.

77% of bookings come through OTAs, but at up to 30% commission. Who really profits?

While OTAs offer exposure, they come with trade-offs:

Revenue loss

Commissions of 15-30% per booking can quickly erode your profit.

Limited guest insights

OTAs often only share basic info like name and stay dates. Making it hard to upsell, follow up, or build loyalty.

Brand dilution

Guests often remember the OTA, not your hotel. Reducing the chance of direct repeat bookings.

While the bookings are great, the convenience comes at a cost. The commission ends up eating into your margins. OTAs also control the guest data, limiting your ability to market personally or build long-term loyalty. It's like renting your guest list- convenient, but unsustainable.

OTA vs Direct Booking Revenue Impact Example

Metric	OTA Booking	Direct Booking
Room Rate	£150	£150
Commission	-£30 (20%)	£0
Guest Data Access	Limited	Full
Brand Exposure	OTA-Branded	Hotel-Branded
Rebooking Control	Low	High

Shifting even 20% of OTA bookings to direct can return thousands to your bottom line and put guest relationships back in your hands.

What a Direct Booking Strategy Really Looks Like

A smart direct booking strategy doesn't just add more tools. It makes every touchpoint work harder for you. A good booking strategy focuses on three interconnected pillars:

Mindset-first

Great bookings start with great experiences. Instead of chasing transactions, optimise your guest journey to feel personal, seamless, and worth returning to.

UX-led

Your website is your digital front desk. From mobile responsiveness to intuitive navigation, every detail should guide the guest naturally toward booking.

Brand-led

People remember experiences. Your hotel or spa has a story that OTAs can’t tell. Let your brand voice, photography, and values shape how you connect with guests.

Think of this as building a digital concierge that reflects your brand and removes booking friction at every stage.

The three pillars of a successful direct booking strategy: Mindset-First, UX-Led, and Brand-Focused.

Effective hotel marketing has upgraded. It’s experience-led, emotionally aware, and designed to convert. When these three elements align, you’re increasing direct bookings and building lasting relationships.

The Independent Guest Funnel

Awareness → Consideration → Conversion → Retention

This funnel turns online visibility into lasting guest relationships.

Awareness

SEO-rich blog posts grab attention and provide valuable information. When you pair them with engaging social media and targeted ads, your brand reaches more potential customers.

Consideration

Make your offering stand out by showcasing guest reviews. People trust what others say. Use comparison tools to make it easy for them to see the differences. Highlight clear benefits that help make a smart choice.

Conversion

Encourage customers to book by providing an easy booking process. Make sure you’re highlighting special offers. Use clear calls to action (CTAs) with the booking link simple to find. This will motivate them to book with you!

Retention

Stay connected post-stay to turn guests into repeat, satisfied customers. Use your email list, loyalty programs, and referral incentives.

Fragmented funnels = fragmented revenue.

Align each stage with your digital marketing for hotels strategy to get more direct bookings online.

A funnel diagram labeled “Guest Booking Funnel” showing four stages: Awareness, Consideration, Conversion, and Retention, each with icons and short explanations. — The four stages of the guest booking funnel: Awareness, Consideration, Conversion, and Retention.

Ready to turn interest into bookings? Below is your guide on how to get more bookings online.

How to Get More Online Bookings

1. Optimise Your Booking Engine

Why it matters

A one-second delay in page load can reduce conversions by 7%.

Slow loads, a poor mobile experience, or a confusing flow block bookings. If you experience any of these, you’ll lose conversions. It’s that simple.

What to do

Step 1: Speed first

Ensure your online booking system loads in under 2 seconds on mobile.

Step 2: Frictionless checkout

Offer one-click or autofill payment options.

Step 3: Build trust

Include trust signals like secure payment icons, recent reviews, or a contact number.

Quick win: Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights or GTmetrix to test your current setup.

2. Streamline Your Website Funnel: Guide Visitors to Book Faster

Why it matters

Your website funnel is the journey from the homepage to booking confirmation. If it’s confusing or cluttered, visitors might leave before booking.

What to do:

Step 1: Prioritise the journey

Highlight one primary call to action per page. Such as “Book Now,” “Special Offer,” or “Get Offer”.

Step 2: Declutter navigation

Remove distractions like pop-ups or competing buttons.

Step 3: Visual and verbal clarity

Use short, benefit-driven copy paired with high-quality imagery.

Quick win: Test your homepage! Is the booking action obvious within 5 seconds?

3. Use Gift Vouchers (aka Gift Cards) as Conversion Tools: Turn Interest into Revenue

Gift cards were once a fast way to raise cash. Today, they’re a key part of hotel marketing. As the guest experience becomes increasingly important, voucher systems are evolving. They are designed to deliver more value at every interaction.

Diagram showing how gift vouchers lead from purchase to redemption, experience, and rebooking or referral. What is an OTA? — Gift vouchers create repeat and referral bookings by turning one purchase into a long-term revenue cycle.

Attract new guests with gifts.
Generate off-peak demand to extend seasonal reach.
Reconnect with past visitors through personalised offers.
Boost direct revenue with pre-paid bookings.
Increase sales with upsell bundles and add-ons.
Use built-in analytics and promotional tools to promote new campaigns and forecast revenue.

Leading hospitality brands treat vouchers not just as products, but as part of their experience commerce strategy.

Gift vouchers create emotional purchase moments that lead to measurable revenue.

What to do:

Step 1: Choose a feature rich gift voucher system.

Not all gift voucher systems are built the same. Choose one that not only supports your revenue goals but also avoids the common pitfalls many platforms face. This post outlines the key features that make the difference: https://enjovia.com/the-problem-with-gift-cards/

Step 2: Promote creatively

Use paid ads, seasonal content, and social media platforms to spotlight your offers and draw in potential customers. Heres a helpful guide on how to use social media for gift card offerings: https://enjovia.com/social-media-gift-cards-promotions/

Step 3: Bridge booking gaps

Offer time-limited vouchers to email subscribers or visitors who didn’t complete their booking. It’s a compelling second-chance CTA.

Step 4: Upsell at checkout

Prompt current guests to “add a gift” when booking. Turning bookings into future revenue and referrals. Here’s nother quick guide on how to introduce add-ons in your selling funnel: https://enjovia.com/create-unique-experiences-with-gift-voucher-add-ons/

Quick win: Hotels using Enjovia’s gift card system often see seasonal uplift and better cash flow. Because Enjovia integrates easily with your existing tech stack, you can launch branded, flexible vouchers that drive real bookings, without the operational headache.

Try this: Map where a voucher could live in your own guest funnel. Is it part of your booking abandonment email? A homepage promo banner? Use it to reduce friction and build intent.

4. Capture Lost Traffic (Email & Exit-Intent)

Win Back Visitors Before They Leave

Why it matters:

In the travel industry, over 80% of bookings are abandoned before completion. With, hotel websites experiencing abandonment rates around 70%!

Without a strategy to re-engage these visitors, potential revenue is lost.

What to do:

Step 1: Implement smart pop-ups

Utilize tools like Sleeknote or OptinMonster to detect exit intent and present visitors with last-minute deals or incentives.

Placement of these tools is crucial to avoid disrupting the website funnel. Trigger exit-intent pop-ups on high-intent pages like room listings, special offer pages, gift voucher pages, and cart/checkout pages.

Avoid placing them on the homepage or blog/info pages where immediate action isn’t needed. These tools pop up when the mouse moves towards the browser bar or close button, providing a last chance to re-engage without interrupting the browsing experience.

Step 2: Send follow-up emails

Deploy automated emails reminding visitors of their incomplete bookings. This is a great opportunity to include personalized offers to encourage completion.

Step 3: Personalize incentives

Tailor offers based on the visitor's behavior. Such as the pages they viewed or the duration of their visit. This increases relevance and conversion likelihood.

Quick win: Test an exit-intent pop-up offering a 10% discount for email sign-up. Studies have shown that well-crafted exit-intent pop-ups can recover 10–15% of abandoning visitors.

5. Incentivise Repeat and Referral Bookings

Increase Lifetime Value

Why it matters

Acquiring new guests is costly. Incentivising return visits and referrals maximises each stay’s value.

What to do:

Step 1: Reward repeat stays

Offer perks like late checkout or exclusive discounts.

Step 2: Create a referral loop

Give guests a reason to bring a friend.

Step 3: Use loyalty tiers

Gamify benefits with bronze, silver, and gold status.

Quick win: A simple “Refer a friend, get 20% off” campaign can boost bookings and guest loyalty.

How Enjovia Solves This

Enjovia is a gift voucher and experience commerce platform built specifically for hospitality businesses.

Many tools add layers of complexity to your booking process. Enjovia simplifies it, making it easier for guests to buy and for operators to manage experiences without technical hassle. Each capability is designed to solve the challenges that matter most:

Table showing Enjovia’s solutions to common hospitality challenges, including OTA revenue loss, low repeat rates, site friction, and poor guest re-engagement. — Enjovia helps hospitality businesses recover lost OTA revenue, boost repeat bookings, and simplify the guest journey through its voucher and experience commerce platform.

Challenge	Enjovia Solution
Lost revenue via OTAs	Voucher Strategy Engine
Low repeat rates	Loyalty & Referral Tools
Site friction	Booking Funnel Simplifier
No guest re-engagement	Email & incentive integrations
Tech overwhelm	Human-first onboarding

You don’t need to rebuild your tech stack, just rethink your guest flow.

Reclaiming control over your revenue, brand, and guest experience shifts you from survival mode to long-term sustainability.

Resulting in building loyalty, driving higher margins, owning your guest journey, your guest relationships and your brand.

Quick Recap: How to Get More Bookings Online

Action	Goal
Optimise your booking engine	Reduce friction, increase conversion
Streamline your website funnel	Guide guests to book faster
Use gift card creatively	Attract new guests, extend seasonality
Capture lost traffic	Turn site visitors into future bookings
Incentivise referrals & loyalty	Boost repeat stays and lifetime value

Ready to stop handing your profits to OTAs? Book a free strategy call with Enjovia.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to get more direct bookings?

Focus on creating a user-friendly booking experience. Reduce reliance on OTAs. Implement targeted marketing strategies, such as offering gift vouchers and referral incentives. Additionally, streamline the booking funnel to enhance the overall experience.

What does OTA mean in hotels?

OTA stands for Online Travel Agency, such as Booking.com or Expedia. These platforms list and sell hotel rooms online, helping properties reach more guests but often charging commissions of 15–30%, which can reduce profits compared to direct bookings.

Are hotel gift cards a good idea?

Gift cards/ vouchers create upfront revenue, attract new guests, and drive bookings during low occupancy periods, especially with platforms like Enjovia.

What Are the Top Gift Card Trends Shaping the Future in 2025?

Key Takeaway

Summary:
The gift card industry is evolving rapidly, driven by digital innovation, personalization, and consumer demand for flexible, seamless experiences. From blockchain-backed security to AR gifting and sustainable solutions, businesses that embrace these gift card trends can strengthen customer loyalty, drive revenue, and future-proof their gift card strategies.

Links:

Introduction
The Continued Rise of Digital Gift Cards
Personalization and Customization
Gift Cards as Budgeting Tools
Employee Rewards and Incentives
Global Expansion and Market Insights
Sustainability and Eco-Consciousness
Security Enhancements and Blockchain Technology
Omnichannel Experiences
Data-Driven Insights and Analytics
Expanding Payment Options
Social Commerce Integration
Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) Experiences
Global Market and Regulatory Trends
Strategic Brand Partnerships
Conclusion: Future-Proof Your Gift Card Strategy

Top Gift Card Trends Shaping the Future of Gifting

The digital revolution continues to reshape the gift card market, transforming consumer expectations and creating new opportunities for businesses. Did you know that digital gift card sales are projected to surpass $932 billion by 2028? As consumers shift to seamless, instant, and personalized gifting solutions, businesses must stay ahead of the trends shaping the future of gift cards.

1. The Continued Rise of Digital Gift Cards

Chart showing global digital gift card market growth reaching $932 billion by 2028 — The digital gift card market is projected to exceed $932 billion by 2028.

In recent years, digital gift cards have surged in popularity, becoming a preferred choice for consumers worldwide. Notably, in the first half of 2024, digital gift cards captured over 50% of the market share for the first time, reflecting a significant shift towards digital solutions. Tillo

The global digital gift card market is projected to reach $932.11 billion by 2028, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.1%. This rapid growth is driven by factors such as the increasing penetration of online shopping platforms, the rise of e-commerce, and the growing adoption of digital payments.

Consumers are drawn to digital gift cards for convenience, speed, and ease of use. The ability to purchase and send a gift card instantly aligns with modern expectations for immediate gratification. Additionally, digital gift cards offer flexibility in redemption, allowing recipients to choose products or services that best suit their preferences.

For businesses, embracing digital gift cards presents opportunities to meet consumer demand, enhance customer engagement, and drive revenue growth. As digital gift cards continue to rise, staying attuned to this trend is crucial for remaining competitive in the evolving marketplace.

Digital gift cards are on the rise – but what's driving this shift?

Read here: https://enjovia.com/blog/digital-gift-cards-why-they-are-the-future-of-gifting

2. Personalization and Customization

Consumers now expect personalized gifting experiences, making customization a key differentiator.

80% of consumers are more likely to purchase from brands offering personalized experiences.
Enhanced customization includes personal messages, video greetings, unique imagery, and interactive digital experiences.
AI-driven gifting platforms provide personalized gift recommendations based on customer purchasing history and preferences, significantly increasing customer satisfaction and conversion rates.

Explore how personalization increases customer engagement.

Link to: https://enjovia.com/create-unique-experiences-with-gift-voucher-add-ons/

3. Gift Cards as Budgeting Tools

Consumers are increasingly using gift cards as budgeting tools, helping them control spending on essentials and discretionary items. A Fiserv study found that 62% of consumers buy gift cards for themselves, with 25% citing budgeting as a key reason.

Gift cards function like a modern “envelope budgeting” system, limiting spending and preventing impulse purchases.

Brands can market gift cards as budgeting tools by:

Promoting them for financial control
Offering bonus cards with purchases
Integrating them into loyalty programs

By positioning gift cards beyond gifting, brands can tap into a growing consumer need for budgeting solutions.

Donut chart showing digital gift card use for budgeting: 40% groceries, 30% dining, 30% entertainment — Gift cards are now tools for managing personal budgets.

4. Employee Rewards and Incentives

Businesses increasingly use gift cards to reward and incentivize employees, offering flexibility and convenience.

69% of employees prefer gift cards as rewards over cash bonuses.
Companies like Amazon, Starbucks, and Visa Prepaid use digital gift cards for performance incentives.
Digital gift cards simplify distribution and boost employee engagement.

For employers, gift cards serve as an effective, cost-efficient, and widely appreciated incentive tool.

5. Global Expansion and Market Insights

The gift card market is growing fast, expected to jump from $835.2 billion in 2022 to $4.2 trillion by 2032. This growth is driven by changing consumer habits and payment trends. As more people shift away from cash, gift cards have become a popular, cashless spending option.

The gift card market is expected to jump from $835.2 billion in 2022 to $4.2 trillion by 2032.

Regional Growth Trends:

North America: Market reached $1.16 trillion in 2024.
Asia-Pacific: Expected to hit $1.23 trillion by 2030, fueled by digital payments.
Europe: Steady expansion from $480.56 billion in 2024 to $1.29 trillion by 2034.

How Businesses Can Adapt:

Go digital – e-gift cards are outpacing physical cards.
Customization – Consumers prefer personalized options.
Omnichannel strategy – Offer gift cards across multiple touchpoints.

Regional Growth: A Worldwide Opportunity

This isn’t just a trend in one region; it’s a global movement.

In North America, the market is already well-established, reaching $1.16 trillion in 2024.
Meanwhile, Asia-Pacific is seeing explosive growth, with the market set to hit $1.23 t rillion by 2030, thanks to increasing digital payment adoption.
Europe isn’t far behind, with steady expansion from $480.56 billion in 2024 to $1.29 trillion by 2034.

6. Sustainability and Eco-Consciousness

Environmental awareness is driving the shift from plastic to digital gift cards.

Reduces plastic waste, making digital gift cards an eco-friendly alternative.
Brands leveraging sustainability messaging see stronger consumer loyalty.
Consumers actively choose brands that prioritize sustainability.

For businesses, promoting digital gift cards as a green solution can enhance brand image and attract eco-conscious shoppers.

7. Security Enhancements and Blockchain Technology

Security remains critical as digital adoption grows.

Blockchain technology enhances transaction security, fraud prevention, and transparency.
Prevents duplication or counterfeiting of gift cards.
Retailers adopting blockchain-based gift cards improve security and efficiency.

Blockchain ensures greater trust and confidence in digital gift card transactions.

8. Omnichannel Experiences

Consumers now expect consistent, frictionless experiences across platforms. Seamless integration of digital gift cards across physical stores, websites, apps, and social commerce is essential. Enhanced consumer experience through unified, frictionless purchasing and redemption.

For gift cards, an omnichannel approach ensures customers can easily buy, send, and redeem them across multiple touchpoints:

In-store & Online: Customers can purchase and redeem gift cards both in physical stores and online without hassle.
Mobile & Apps: Digital gift cards can be stored in mobile wallets, making them easy to access and use on the go.
Social Commerce Integration: Brands can sell and distribute gift cards directly through social media platforms, increasing convenience.
Real-time Balance Syncing: Customers can check and use their remaining balance seamlessly, whether shopping in-store or online.

Retailers leveraging omnichannel gift card systems see higher engagement, as customers are more likely to make repeat purchases when they can access and use their balance effortlessly. Features like cross-platform compatibility and instant redemption enhance the user experience, driving brand loyalty and increased sales.

9. Data-Driven Insights and Analytics

Advanced analytics help businesses understand consumer behaviors and optimize gift card strategies.

Consumer insights guide marketing efforts, personalization, and inventory management.
Analytics-driven decision-making improves promotional effectiveness and customer retention.

10. Expanding Payment Options

Innovations in payment technology enhance gift card usability and appeal.

The integration of cryptocurrencies and digital wallets broadens usability and attracts tech-savvy consumers.
NFC and QR-code redemption simplify checkout processes, enhancing convenience.

Social media platforms are becoming prominent channels for gift card transactions.

Integrating gift card purchases and redemptions directly within social media.
Businesses should leverage social commerce to enhance convenience and reach a broader audience.

12. Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) Experiences

AR and VR offer innovative ways to deliver engaging gift card experiences.

Virtual unboxing or immersive gifting experiences enhance consumer appeal.
Brands leveraging AR and VR create memorable interactions, boosting customer engagement.

13. Global Market and Regulatory Trends

Understanding global market dynamics helps businesses capitalize on international expansion opportunities.

Adapting gift card offerings to regional preferences and regulatory environments.
Ensuring compliance with global data privacy and financial regulations to mitigate risks.

14. Strategic Brand Partnerships

Forming partnerships with complementary brands expands gift card appeal.

Co-branded gift card offerings attract broader consumer bases.
Strategic partnerships enhance brand visibility and customer acquisition through shared audiences.

Conclusion: Future-Proof Your Gift Card Strategy

Gift cards are no longer just a gifting tool; they have become a strategic driver of customer engagement, brand loyalty, and revenue growth.

To stay competitive in this evolving landscape, businesses must:

Embrace digital transformation by expanding digital gift card options.
Enhance personalization to create unique customer experiences.
Leverage omnichannel strategies to ensure seamless redemption and accessibility.
Utilize data and analytics to drive informed marketing and promotional efforts.
Prioritize security and innovation through blockchain integration and sustainable practices.

By staying ahead of these trends, businesses can future-proof their gift card strategy, increase customer satisfaction, and capitalize on new growth opportunities in 2025 and beyond. Now is the time to innovate, adapt, and lead in the evolving gift card market!

Want to integrate a new gift card management system for your business? Contact us here.

The Problem With Gift Cards

(And Why It's Actually a Business Opportunity)

Key Takeaway Summary: The problem with gift cards often includes challenges such as fraud, accounting issues, and legal compliance. However, with the right tools, these challenges can transform into opportunities. Enjovia’s platform assists businesses in overcoming the problem with gift cards by providing secure systems, detailed analytics, and user-friendly interfaces.

Links:

Introduction
Fraud and Security Risks
Unredeemed Balances and Accounting Complexity
Implementation and Maintenance Costs
Legal and Regulatory Compliance
Impact on Business Valuation
Conclusion & CTA

Introduction- The problem with gift cards

Are gift cards more hassle than they're worth? Not when you approach them with the right tools. While many businesses worry about fraud, compliance, or operational costs, these aren't problems—they're opportunities in disguise.

In this blog post, we’ll explore the common concerns businesses have about gift cards and show how Enjovia’s secure, streamlined, and user-friendly platform helps turn these concerns into real profit drivers. Check out our full platform offering here.

1. Fraud and Security Risks

Gift cards are a magnet for fraudsters—whether it’s through cloned cards, unauthorized access, or third-party scams. This not only impacts your bottom line but also damages customer trust.

With the rise of digital transactions, cybercriminals are constantly finding new ways to exploit gift card systems. From phishing emails to brute-force attacks on card numbers, the methods are evolving.

Solution: Turn Risk Into Trust & Loyalty

With the right digital infrastructure, security risks can be minimized and customer trust maximized.
Enjovia’s Solution:
Enjovia offers secure, closed-loop digital gift cards with unique codes and encrypted transaction processes. You can track every transaction in real-time, ensuring full transparency and control.

Business Opportunity:
A secure system positions your brand as trustworthy and professional—helping to build long-term customer loyalty and reduce fraud-related losses.

Key Features:

Secure Payment Gateway to ensure safe transactions.
Unique QR Codes for every voucher, minimizing duplication and unauthorized use.
Randomized Gift Card Numbers that are difficult to guess or replicate.
Real-time Analytics to flag and respond to suspicious activity.

2. Unredeemed Balances and Accounting Complexity

Unused gift cards can be tricky. Do they count as liability or income? How do you account for breakage (the percentage of cards never redeemed)? These are valid financial concerns.

Solution: See Breakage As Predictable Revenue

When managed well, unredeemed balances (breakage) become a predictable revenue stream.
Enjovia’s Solution:
Their platform includes robust reporting tools that track redemption rates and breakage, helping you forecast and plan accurately. Set custom expiry dates and get full financial visibility.

Business Opportunity:
With transparency over redemptions and liabilities, gift cards become a smart way to manage cash flow—especially around peak seasons.

✅ Key Points:

"Breakage" (unredeemed cards) becomes predictable income.
Accounting for gift cards is easier with reporting tools.
Some businesses earn up to 20% of their gift card revenue from breakage. (source)

3. Implementation and Maintenance Costs

Setting up a gift card system can feel overwhelming—between tech integrations, staff training, and ongoing updates, the costs can spiral quickly.

Solution: Scale Smart With Ready-Made Tools

Not every solution needs to be built from scratch.

Enjovia’s Solution:
Enjovia provides a turnkey, cloud-based platform that’s quick to launch and easy to manage. No custom development needed. Plus, it integrates with your existing booking or e-commerce system.

Business Opportunity:
You get a professional gift card solution without the overhead—ideal for both small businesses and large enterprises looking to scale fast.

✅ Key Points:

Start-up and training costs can be barriers.
Maintenance and user issues may deter adoption.

More Benefits:

Easy Implementation – set up your gift card store in minutes.
Accessible Online Training Manual for onboarding staff.
In-Person Training Options available on request.
Low-Maintenance System with intuitive dashboard and automation.

4. Legal and Regulatory Compliance

From expiration dates to refund rules and dormant account regulations, staying compliant across different regions is a headache—and mistakes can be costly.

Solution: Automate Compliance, Focus on Growth

Compliance doesn’t have to be a legal labyrinth.
Enjovia’s Solution:
Set up rules within the platform for expiry dates, usage restrictions, and region-specific compliance. Everything is logged and reportable, making audits and reporting a breeze.

Business Opportunity:
A compliant system protects your brand and gives you peace of mind, letting you focus energy on growth and marketing, not red tape.

✅ Key Points:

Laws vary for experience vs. monetary cards.
Expiry dates and fees must follow local rules.

Additional Insights:

Many gift card companies profit from expired or unused vouchers.
Enjovia allows you to configure and automate these settings based on your business region.

5. Impact on Business Valuation

Gift card liabilities can affect a company's financial statements and, consequently, its valuation. Potential buyers or investors may view significant unredeemed gift card balances as a risk.

Solution: Make Gift Cards a Strategic Financial Asset

When well-managed, gift cards signal steady customer demand and loyalty.
Enjovia’s Solution:
Detailed analytics, real-time redemption tracking, and accurate balance sheets ensure clean, trustworthy financials—great for investor reporting or M&A scenarios.

Business Opportunity:
Gift cards become proof of pre-paid customer commitment—something most investors love to see when done right.

Comparison graphic showing business valuation with and without Enjovia’s gift card platform, highlighting improved reporting, revenue, and investor confidence — Businesses using Enjovia for gift card management benefit from cleaner financial reporting, predictable revenue, and stronger investor appeal.

✅ Key Points:

Poorly managed liabilities hurt valuation.
Accurate tracking can boost investor confidence.

Verified Statistics:

A study by Blackhawk Network showed 80% of consumers spend more than the card value.
Prepaid revenue often indicates a loyal, returning customer base.

Conclusion- The Problem with Gift Cards (And Why It's Actually a Business Opportunity)

Gift card problems aren’t roadblocks. They’re strategic growth levers.

Every problem with gift cards is really a growth opportunity in disguise. With a secure, scalable, and compliant system like Enjovia, businesses can eliminate risk, unlock new revenue, and build deeper customer relationships.

???? Need help turning gift cards into growth? Explore the Enjovia platform and get started today.

What Percentage of Gift Cards Go Unused?

Key Takeaway

Summary: Many gift cards go unused, leading to billions in unspent revenue for businesses. This "breakage" becomes pure profit while also driving customer acquisition and brand loyalty. Offering gift cards is a win-win strategy for businesses.

Introduction
What Percentage of Gift Cards Go Unused?
Why Do So Many Gift Cards Go Unused?
How Unused Gift Cards Benefit Businesses
Encouraging Redemption for Long-Term Gains
People Also Ask (FAQs)
Why Choose Enjovia for Gift Card Management?
Conclusion & Call to Action

Every year, billions of dollars in gift cards remain unredeemed. This means businesses get paid without providing a product or service. But just how much of this revenue goes unclaimed? Let's explore the numbers and why offering gift cards is a smart move for any business.

What Percentage of Gift Cards Go Unused?

Key Points:

Nearly 47% of respondents had at least one unused gift card, with the total unspent value exceeding $21 billion in the U.S. alone.
This unredeemed revenue is called "breakage," meaning businesses keep the unused balance as profit.
The gift card industry continues to grow, increasing the potential for both sales and breakage.

$21 billion in gift card funds go unspent annually — Gift card breakage leads to $21 billion in unused value every year.

Why Do So Many Gift Cards Go Unused?

1 in 5 people never redeem their gift card balance — 20% of recipients forget or fail to use their gift cards.

Several factors contribute to unspent gift card balances:

1. Consumers Forget About Them

Many people receive gift cards, put them in a drawer, and forget they exist. In 2024, about a third of consumers in the U.S. admitted they forgot about their gift cards entirely.

2. Lost or Expired Cards

Although laws require most gift cards to stay valid for at least five years, many still go unredeemed due to loss, damage, or expiration. Over one in five consumers said their gift card had expired before they even tried to use it.

3. Small Remaining Balances

Consumers often leave small amounts on gift cards, thinking they aren't worth spending. In Australia, the total value of unused gift cards annually amounts to $1.9 billion.

4. Limited Redemption Options

If a store has limited locations or an inconvenient online process, customers may never use their gift cards.

Four reasons gift cards go unused: forgotten, expired, small balances, limited redemption — Top causes of unredeemed gift cards explained.

How Unused Gift Cards Benefit Businesses

Gift cards create revenue upfront, whether customers use them or not. Here's how they work in your favor:

Key Points:

Guaranteed Profit: Once a customer buys a gift card, the money belongs to your business. Even if it's never used, you keep the revenue.
Increased Cash Flow: Gift cards provide immediate income without the need to fulfill a product or service immediately.
Higher Spending: When customers do redeem gift cards, they often spend more than the card's value. On average, consumers spend 20-30% more than their gift card value when redeeming it.
New Customer Acquisition: Many gift cards are given as presents, bringing in new customers who may return.

Three benefits of offering gift cards for businesses — Gift cards drive profit margins, upfront revenue, and customer acquisition.

Encouraging Redemption for Long-Term Gains

While unused gift cards are profitable, encouraging customers to redeem them can be even more beneficial. When customers visit your store to use a gift card, they might buy more or become repeat shoppers.

???? Tactics to Boost Redemption Rates:

Send Reminders – Email or SMS reminders encourage customers to use their gift cards.
Offer Small Balance Solutions – Let customers combine low balances or use them for discount purchases.
Create Limited-Time Promotions – Give extra value on gift cards to boost sales and redemption rates.

Why Choose Enjovia for Gift Card Management?

Enjovia provides businesses with an all-in-one gift card management system designed to maximize revenue while offering a seamless experience for customers. Here’s why businesses trust Enjovia:

✅ Maximize Profits with Ease – Enjovia's platform ensures smooth sales, tracking, and redemption, reducing the risk of lost revenue from unused cards.

✅ Automated Tracking & Reporting – Stay on top of your gift card sales with real-time insights and detailed reports.

✅ Custom Branding & Personalization – Create a branded experience with customized gift card designs, messaging, and flexible pricing options.

✅ Seamless Multi-Channel Selling – Sell gift cards online, in-store, or through third-party marketplaces with a fully integrated system.

✅ Encourage Redemption for Repeat Business – Use Enjovia’s built-in marketing tools to remind customers about their gift cards and encourage redemption.

???? Learn More About Enjovia

Conclusion- What percentage of gift cards go unused?

Unused gift cards represent a major revenue opportunity for businesses. While "breakage" provides immediate profit, encouraging redemptions can also drive customer engagement and loyalty. Implementing a reliable gift card management system like Enjovia helps businesses capitalize on both.

Ready to maximize your gift card sales? Get started with Enjovia today!

9 Innovative Ideas for Hotels To Boost Revenue

Key Takeaways: 9 Innovative Ideas for Hotels To Boost Revenue

Hotels must innovate to stay competitive, with strategies that enhance guest experience and maximize revenue. Here are nine proven ways to achieve this:

Smart Room Technology – Reduce costs and improve guest satisfaction with smart thermostats, automated lighting, and voice-activated assistants.

Digital Gift Cards – Capture additional revenue by offering seamless, instant gift card solutions for guests and corporate buyers.

Sustainable Operations – Cut operational costs by up to 30% through energy-efficient HVAC systems, smart lighting, and waste reduction programs.

Mobile Check-In – Enhance convenience and security with app-based check-ins and digital keys.

Innovative F&B Concepts – Boost revenue with ghost kitchens, local partnerships, and personalized menu options.

Space Optimization – Maximize underused areas by transforming them into flexible, revenue-generating spaces like coworking lounges and rooftop bars.

Personalized Guest Experiences – Use AI-driven insights to tailor services, from room settings to curated in-room experiences.

Staff Efficiency Solutions – Automate scheduling, payroll, and task management to improve service and reduce costs.

Revenue Diversification – Expand income streams with wellness programs, extended stays, and virtual events.

Start implementing these innovations today to drive profitability and enhance guest satisfaction.

Innovative Ideas for Hotels

Hotels today must innovate to stay competitive. By understanding guest preferences, hotels can boost return rates by 13%.

Whether you're running a budget hotel or a luxury resort, you need more than basic amenities. Guests demand digital payments, personalized experiences, and technology integration.

Here are 9 proven ideas to upgrade your hotel, based on budget and goals.

1. Innovative Ideas for Hotels Smart Room Technology Integration

Smart room technology is revolutionizing the hotel industry. By 2027, the number of smart hotel devices will reach 6.4 million, with a 24.6% growth rate. This technology helps hotels cut costs and improve guest satisfaction.

Budget-Friendly Solutions:

Smart thermostats and lighting can reduce energy costs by up to 30%.
Automated systems control room temperature, lighting, and detect water leaks.
Energy-saving tech like occupancy sensors can also cut waste.

Results:

Hotels save up to 20% in energy costs and reduce operational expenses by 15%.
65% of guests prefer smart rooms, leading to higher satisfaction.
One hotel saved 630 staff hours annually with voice-activated assistants.

Implementation:
Smart room technology is ideal for both budget and luxury hotels. Budget hotels can use mobile apps and automated check-ins to provide affordable, high-quality experiences.

2. Innovative Ideas for Hotels Digital Gift Card Revolution

Digital gift cards are a game-changer for hotels. The global gift card market will reach £750 billion by 2026. Gift cards offer a significant revenue stream and promote guest loyalty.

Setting Up Digital Gift Cards:

Integrate a central platform that manages both digital and physical gift cards.
The platform should allow instant delivery and smooth redemption.

Marketing Strategies:

Use email campaigns, social media ads, and Google Ads.
Create seasonal promotions and video marketing for holidays.

Revenue Potential:

75% of gift card recipients spend more than the card value.
Corporate gifting has grown by 11.8%, generating significant revenue.

Integration with Hotel Systems:
A well-integrated gift card system connects with your property management system (PMS), streamlining operations. This helps you track redemptions in real-time.

3. Innovative Ideas for Hotels Sustainable Operations Innovation

Sustainability isn’t just good for the environment; it’s good for business. Hotels can reduce carbon emissions by up to 66% by 2030.

Energy-Saving Technologies:

Upgrade HVAC systems, which consume 50% of a hotel’s energy.
Install smart lighting systems and energy-efficient appliances.
Solar panels, like those used by a major resort, can power entire properties.

Waste Reduction:

Low-temperature washers save 8-9% annually.
Water-efficient fixtures reduce water use by 32%.
Composting and bulk toiletries also reduce waste.

Cost Savings:
Sustainable operations save hotels up to 30% on operational costs. Tax incentives for energy-efficient buildings also reduce expenses.

4. Innovative Ideas for Hotels Mobile Check-In Solutions

Self-service technology is becoming essential. 71% of consumers want hotels that offer self-service tech. Mobile check-in saves guests time and improves satisfaction.

Budget-Friendly Options:

Use web-based solutions that don’t require extra apps.
Self-service kiosks are great for hotels with limited space.

Security:

Use multi-factor authentication and encrypted data transmission for security.
Use mobile keys with digital security protocols.

Staff Training:
Train staff to handle technical issues and assist guests. Hotels with mobile check-in see smoother operations and higher guest satisfaction.

5. Innovative Ideas for Hotels Food & Beverage (F&B) Concepts

F&B operations account for up to 30% of a hotel’s revenue. Here are two innovative ideas to boost F&B sales:

Ghost Kitchens:

Delivery-only kitchens are a profitable solution for hotels.
Hotels can run multiple brands from one kitchen, lowering costs and expanding menu options.
Ghost kitchens can generate up to £6,500 per week.

Local Partnerships:

Collaborating with local chefs and restaurants can create unique dining experiences.
These partnerships help increase occupancy by offering fresh, local menus.

Menu Innovation:

Analyze guest preferences to tailor seasonal and local menus.
Personalized menu options boost F&B sales by 15.5%.

6. Innovative Ideas for Hotels Space Optimization Techniques

Hotels with flexible spaces see a 20% revenue increase per square foot. Converting underused spaces into multi-functional areas can help you maximize property value.

Multi-Purpose Design:

Convert dining areas into workspaces during off-peak times.
Modular furniture allows easy reconfiguration.
Use wall-mounted fixtures to save space and increase functionality.

Revenue Potential:

Flexible spaces like rooftop bars can generate £1,000 to £5,000 per day.
Renting out spaces like concierge lounges during off-hours increases revenue.

7. Innovative Ideas for Hotels Guest Experience Personalization

Hotels can boost revenue by 91% with personalized experiences. Personalizing guest interactions is key to increasing satisfaction.

Data Collection:

Collect guest data through surveys, mobile apps, and social media.
Use this data to create guest profiles and tailor experiences.

Customization Strategies:

Adjust room settings, amenities, and services based on guest preferences.
Personalize communication through email, SMS, or app notifications.

Technology Requirements:
AI-powered systems predict preferences with 85% accuracy, enhancing guest experience. Encrypted data ensures guest privacy.

Offering Personalised Experiences:

Offering personalised experiences through selling gift cards is a great strategy for maximising hotel revenue and boosting personalised experiences.

To do this effectively in hotels you must sell gift experiences.

One of our hotel customers went from making £700,000 in voucher sales to £2.3m in just two years.

Gift cards enable personalization by allowing customers to tailor experiences, such as adding rose petals on the bed or chocolates on arrival, enhancing guest satisfaction and increasing revenue.

8. Innovative Ideas for Hotels Staff Efficiency Solutions

Automation and training can reduce operational costs by 25%. Efficient staff management enhances guest service.

Task Automation:

Use property management systems (PMS) to automate scheduling, payroll, inventory management, and maintenance.
Cloud-based solutions reduce administrative time by 30%.

Training Programs:

Invest in detailed staff training to improve service quality by 73%.
Interactive training methods boost retention and improve guest service.

Productivity Metrics:

Track revenue per worked hour to assess staff efficiency.
Use automated tools to monitor room preparation times and task completion rates.

9. Revenue Diversification Strategies

Expanding beyond traditional room bookings increases profitability. Hotels that diversify their revenue streams report 30% higher profit margins.

Additional Revenue Streams:

Offer coworking spaces, wellness retreats, and extended stays.
Host virtual events or partner with local businesses for special services.

Implementation:

Use market analysis to identify profitable revenue streams.
Set S.M.A.R.T. goals to measure success.

Example:
By adding wellness programs and virtual events, hotels can increase revenue from non-room sources by up to 50%.

Conclusion: Innovative Ideas for Hotels

Implementing these innovative ideas can help hotels boost revenue and improve guest experiences. Whether you’re upgrading technology or exploring new F&B concepts, start small and scale up. Test new systems, track performance, and adjust accordingly.

Gift Cards: Digital gift cards are an easy-to-implement strategy that can generate extra revenue. Platforms like enjovia.com help hotels run gift card programs with built-in marketing tools, offering instant delivery and seamless redemption.

Implement smart room tech, sustainable practices, and mobile check-in tailored to your hotel’s size. Start integrating these practical solutions to see measurable results in guest satisfaction and profitability.

FAQs

Q1: How can hotels introduce cost-effective smart room tech?

Smart thermostats and automated lighting systems are affordable and save up to 30% on energy costs.

Q2: What’s the best way to implement digital gift cards?

Use a specialised platform to manage gift cards.

Q3: How can hotels reduce waste?

Adopt low-temperature washers, water-efficient fixtures, and composting systems to cut costs.

Q4: How can hotels personalize the guest experience?

Use guest data from surveys and apps to customize room settings, amenities, and communication.

Q5: What F&B innovations should hotels consider?

Consider ghost kitchens, local partnerships, and personalized menu offerings to increase revenue.

Gift Card Statistics: Insights for Your Business

Gift Card Statistics Key Takeaway

Gift cards are more than just gifts—they are a revenue-boosting business strategy. Statistics prove their growing importance, from increasing sales to fostering customer loyalty and reducing refunds. Whether you’re selling physical or digital gift cards, they should be a key part of your business plan.

Introduction
Key Gift Card Statistics for 2024
Gift Cards Drive Revenue
Gift Cards Enhance Customer Loyalty
Gift Cards in Hospitality, Spas, and Activities
The Digital Shift: Why eGift Cards Matter
Why Choose Enjovia for Gift Card Management
People Also Ask

Introduction

Looking for a simple way to boost revenue and customer loyalty? Gift cards are a game-changer. They encourage spending, bring back repeat customers, and fit seamlessly into digital commerce. This post explores the latest gift card statistics to help you understand their impact on businesses.
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Key Gift Card Statistics for 2024

Understanding the numbers behind gift cards can help you make smarter business decisions. Here are some key statistics:

Two-thirds of shoppers spend beyond the gift card amount.
Gen Z consumers are willing to spend up to three times the card’s value.
Digital gift cards now make up 52% of the market, up from 30% in 2019.
29% of UK adults received gift cards for non-gifting purposes.
UK businesses gave out £30 million in shopping vouchers as bonuses.
B2B vs. B2C Growth:
- B2B gift card sales grew by 11.7% like-for-like.
- B2C gift card sales grew by 1.4% like-for-like.
Sales Distribution:
- B2B sales accounted for 70.1% of total gift card sales.
- B2C in-store sales rose from 54.7% to 58.4% of total B2C sales.
Digital Sales Growth: Digital gift card adoption continued to rise, reflecting modern consumer habits and sustainability goals.

gift cards boost revenue.png — `Image showing how gift cards increase customer spending, improve cash flow, and reduce returns.`

Gift Cards Drive Revenue

Gift cards are convenient and drive revenue beyond their face value.

Key Points:
Gift card users spend 38% more than the card's value on average.
They create prepaid revenue, improving cash flow.
They reduce return rates, as recipients choose what they want.

???? Learn how to create a profitable gift card program

Gift Cards Enhance Customer Loyalty

Gift cards incentivize repeat visits and increase brand loyalty.

Key Points:
Over half of digital gift card users return to the same retailer.
They encourage engagement even among first-time customers.
Loyalty programs with gift card rewards boost retention rates by 30%.

Gift Cards in Hospitality, Spas, and Activities

Gift cards are crucial in experience-driven industries, offering flexibility and encouraging repeat visits.

Hospitality:

Hotel Gift Cards Market, Business Research Insights Report:

The hotel gift card market was valued at $1.387 billion in 2023.
It is projected to reach $1.501 billion in 2024.
The market is expected to grow at an 8.16% CAGR, reaching $2.811 billion by 2032.

Growth is driven by:

Increased demand for experiential gifts.
Expanding tourism.
The rise of digital gift cards.

Spas:

2024 Beauty and Wellness Benchmark Report:

Online gift card sales grew by 16% across the beauty and wellness industry in 2023.
Membership-based spas saw a 33% increase in online gift card revenue.
Non-membership spas saw a 17% increase in online gift card revenue.
Spa gift card sales grew by 2.5% in total in 2023.
25% of all beauty and wellness gift cards are redeemed by first-time customers.

The Digital Shift: Why eGift Cards Matter

The shift to digital is undeniable, with eGift cards becoming a core revenue stream. The Gift Card & Voucher Association (GCVA) released its 2024 H1 report.

digital vs physical gift card trends copy 1 — Line graph showing growth of digital gift card market share from 2019 to 2024.

Digital gift cards have now surpassed physical gift cards in market share for the first time.
Digital gift cards now constitute over 50% of total sales.
This is a significant increase from 30% market share in 2019.

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Why Choose Enjovia for Gift Card Management

Heading — Choose Enjovia for your Gift Card Management Solution

Enjovia is a leading platform for managing and selling gift cards, designed to help businesses maximize revenue and customer loyalty.

Key Features:
Customizable digital and physical gift cards
Seamless integration with your website and POS system
Comprehensive analytics to track sales and customer behavior

Why Choose Enjovia for Gift Card Management

Enjovia is a leading platform designed to help businesses streamline their gift card programs, driving revenue, enhancing customer loyalty, and simplifying the management process. Here’s why Enjovia stands out:

User-Friendly Interface: The platform is intuitive and easy to navigate, ensuring a seamless experience for both businesses and customers.
Customizable Gift Cards: Businesses can design and brand their digital and physical gift cards to align with their brand identity.
Automated Processes: Enjovia automates key tasks such as gift card issuance, tracking, and reporting, reducing manual work.
Secure Transactions: Robust security measures ensure that all gift card transactions are safe and compliant with industry standards.
Multi-Industry Solutions: Whether you operate in retail, hospitality, wellness, or experiences, Enjovia offers tailored solutions to suit your needs.
Performance Analytics: Comprehensive reporting tools provide insights into gift card sales, redemption rates, and customer behavior, helping businesses optimize their strategies.

Enjovia Success Stories

Enjovia's gift card platform helped the Celtic Manor Resort skyrocket its annual voucher sales from £700,000 to £2.3 million. With a user-friendly system and a range of flexible offers, the platform boosted customer engagement and streamlined operations, proving the power of innovative voucher management to drive growth in hospitality.

Gift Card Statistics- Conclusion

Gift cards are a proven strategy to boost revenue, improve customer loyalty, and support business growth. The latest statistics demonstrate their increasing popularity, especially in digital formats. By implementing a robust gift card program, businesses can drive both immediate sales and long-term customer engagement. With platforms like Enjovia, managing and optimizing gift card sales is simple and efficient, helping businesses maximize their potential in this growing market.

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The Ultimate Guide How To Increase Online Sales Small Business

Do you want to know how to increase online sales small business? You're not alone—last year, shoppers abandoned a staggering £4 trillion worth of items in online carts. The good news? With the right strategies, you can turn those lost opportunities into real revenue.

Right now, your small business might be losing out on sales without even realizing it. But a few smart tweaks can make all the difference—helping you recover abandoned carts and boost your conversions.

From Browsing to Buying: Optimizing Your Website for More Sales

Your website's appearance plays a crucial role in closing the deal. In fact, the look and feel of your site is often the deciding factor for consumers. Many small businesses face challenges with cart abandonment, website traffic, and conversion rates—obstacles that can feel overwhelming when you're trying to increase online sales.

But here’s the silver lining: customer behavior shows that exceptional service is a key driver in purchase decisions. With the right approach, your business has plenty of opportunities to boost sales and grow online.

Ready to transform your digital storefront into a revenue powerhouse? Let’s look at a few simple, but powerful ways you can boost your online sales that can help your small business thrive in today’s competitive digital world.

Strengthen the Foundation of Your Online Store

Your online store's credibility depends on its design. Research shows that 75% of consumers judge your credibility based on how your website looks.

Creating a user-friendly website experience

Your virtual storefront needs a clean, uncluttered design. We focused on adding white space between elements to boost readability and help visitors navigate content. Your homepage should have clear navigation, familiar labels, and an easy-to-find search bar.

Mobile optimisation essentials

Mobile optimisation is a vital part since more than 60% of web traffic comes from mobile devices. A responsive design adapts your website's layout to fit screens of all sizes. Your mobile site must load in three seconds or less. Data shows that 57% of online shoppers will leave and never come back if your site runs slowly.

Your mobile site needs these features:

Touch-friendly buttons (minimum 44x44 pixels)
Text you can read without zooming
Single-column layouts that make scrolling easy

Setting up secure payment options

Offering secure and flexible payment options can really make a difference for your business. When small businesses provide multiple payment methods, it often leads to a noticeable boost in revenue. Make sure your system supports credit cards, digital wallets, and mobile payments for a smooth customer experience.

Security should always be a top priority, and modern payment gateways use encryption and fraud detection to keep both your business and customers safe. Adding features like two-factor authentication and address verification further strengthens security. Don’t forget to consider options like “Buy Now, Pay Later” through services like Affirm or Klarna—customers tend to spend more when these options are available.

Build Trust and Credibility

Trust is the life-blood of online success, with 92% of consumers reading online reviews before making a purchase decision. Your small business's credibility grows through a well-planned approach to earning customer confidence.

Showcasing customer reviews and testimonials

Customer testimonials work as powerful social proof, with consumers trusting online reviews as much as personal recommendations. Your focus should be on collecting authentic feedback, as 72% of customers say positive reviews boost their trust in a business.

Implementing trust signals and security badges

Security concerns lead to shopping cart abandonments. Your online store needs trust badges. Place these vital trust signals on your website:

SSL certificates for secure checkout
Recognised payment badges (Visa, Mastercard, PayPal)
Money-back guarantee seals
Third-party endorsements (Better Business Bureau)
Free shipping and returns badges

These badges need strategic placement, as online shoppers feel reassured about website security when they see them.

Creating compelling product descriptions and images

Product presentation builds trust, and consumers rate product photo quality as very important in their purchase decisions. High-quality images that show your products from multiple angles make a big difference.

Effective visuals are complemented by thorough product descriptions that highlight benefits instead of merely listing features. Many e-commerce sites fall short in providing adequate product images, presenting an opportunity for your small business to stand out. Online shoppers tend to feel more confident in their purchases when they can view 360-degree images of products.

Your product descriptions should:

Address specific customer pain points
Include relevant specifications
Feature authentic customer feedback
Highlight unique selling points

Unprofessional or low-quality visuals can create doubt about your expertise. High-resolution images, polished branding, and a clean presentation help establish credibility and attract more customers. - Especially true for selling services as well as goods.

Launch Smart Marketing Campaigns

Digital marketing campaigns are the foundations of online success.

Local SEO optimisation techniques

Local SEO helps businesses appear in location-based searches. Many local searches lead to store visits within 24 hours. Your local presence needs:

Create and verify your Google Business Profile
Maintain consistent business information across platforms
Generate and respond to customer reviews
Build quality local backlinks

Mobile optimisation should be your priority since search engines now use mobile-first indexing. Location-based keywords naturally placed in your website content will boost visibility in local search results.

Social media marketing strategies

Social media opens up a world of opportunities. With so many people active on these platforms, small businesses can see real growth in online sales by using smart social media advertising.

Your target audience should guide platform selection:

Facebook: Ideal for B2C businesses and local targeting
Instagram: Perfect for visual product showcasing
LinkedIn: Excellent for B2B connections
Pinterest: Effective for DIY and educational content

Content that sparks interaction matters because 86% of buyers will pay more for better customer experience.

Email marketing best practises

Email marketing delivers an average ROI of 3,800%. Successful email campaigns need personalization and segmentation to deliver relevant content to specific audience groups.

Your email campaigns should:

Craft clear, compelling subject lines
Personalise content based on customer priorities
Implement automation for welcome emails
Track engagement metrics

Welcome emails can significantly boost engagement. A large portion of email subscribers end up making purchases through email marketing. Keeping your subscriber list clean and following best practices for deliverability ensures your emails reach the right people. And since many users check their emails on their phones, it's essential to have a mobile-friendly design.

Streamline Your Sales Process

Streamlining the checkout process can boost your online sales. This is important because 70.19% of shopping carts are abandoned. Small businesses need to simplify their purchase experience right from the start.

Simplifying the checkout experience

A complicated checkout process can cause customers to abandon their carts. By offering a simple, one-click checkout option, you can improve conversions. Here’s how to make the shopping experience smoother for your customers:

Display a progress indicator showing checkout stages
Remove unnecessary form fields
Enable guest checkout options
Show product images throughout checkout
Maintain clear, visible pricing

Offering multiple payment options

Payment options can make or break a sale. Many customers abandon their carts when they can’t pay the way they prefer. Offering the right payment methods is key:

Digital wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay)
Shopping apps (Shop Pay, PayPal)
Buy now, pay later services (Klarna, Afterpay)
Traditional credit and debit cards

Offering installment payment options can lead to higher average order values. By providing a variety of payment choices, you can appeal to more customer groups and increase your sales.

Reducing cart abandonment

Reducing cart abandonment starts with addressing key issues. Show all costs upfront, including shipping and taxes, to avoid surprise fees. Ensure your website loads quickly to keep mobile customers. Build a secure checkout process to ease security concerns.

Use retargeting to bring back lost customers. Send cart recovery emails soon after abandonment for the best results. Gift cards can boost sales and attract return customers. Digital gift cards are perfect for last-minute shoppers, as they’re instant and easy to use.

Improve your checkout design to increase conversions. By focusing on these areas, your small business can create a smooth shopping experience that turns browsers into buyers.

Implement Revenue-Boosting Tools

Revenue-boosting tools can significantly improve your small business’s online performance. Product recommendations are a powerful way to drive sales.

Setting up gift card programmes

how to increase online sales small business

Gift cards aren’t just a gift, they’re an easy tool for driving more sales and boosting customer loyalty—here’s how adding a gift card option to your checkout experience can bring in more revenue.

Gift card programmes are great revenue generators. The average gift card shopper spends 36% more than the preloaded amount. These programmes give you several benefits:

You collect revenue right when cards are bought
Your brand gets more visibility as cards circulate
Customers spend more when they redeem cards
You lose less money on returns
Customers come back more often, boosting loyalty

72% of shoppers who buy a gift card also buy something more. This buying pattern instantly boosts your sales numbers.

Using a reputable gift card system

A reliable gift card system is vital to make your programme work. Your system should handle both physical and digital gift cards, especially as shoppers prefer digital options. The system should provide:

Digital gift card delivery through email

Secure payment processing
Balance checking capabilities
Real-time tracking and reporting
Customer profile integration

Your gift card system must comply with federal regulations. Cards must not expire within five years of activation, which builds trust and protects your business and customers.

Why use Enjovia?

The perfect gift card solution for how to increase online sales small business

Enjovia offers an innovative gift card management system designed to help businesses drive consistent revenue. Here’s how Enjovia stands out as the ultimate solution for online sales:

SEO Optimization: With Enjovia, your gift card pages are optimized to rank higher in search results, increasing visibility and attracting more customers.
Custom Branding: Fully personalize gift card designs to reflect your store's unique style, providing a cohesive brand experience.
Upselling and Cross-selling Features: Enjovia empowers you to boost revenue with built-in upselling and cross-selling tools. Suggest complementary products or premium versions of items at strategic moments during the customer journey, like after a purchase is complete. You can also offer personalized recommendations based on browsing and purchase history, helping customers discover more while increasing cart values.
Advanced Analytics: Gain deep insights into your gift card performance with powerful analytics that help you fine-tune your campaigns and increase effectiveness.
Effortless Promotion: Enjovia simplifies marketing by offering tools to automate and streamline your promotional efforts.

With Enjovia, gift cards are more than just a transaction—they become a central part of your sales strategy, fueling growth and boosting engagement.

Final Thoughts

To truly boost online sales, it's essential to have a solid strategy in place, including an optimized website, trust-building elements, and effective marketing campaigns. Ensuring a smooth checkout experience and offering flexible payment methods can significantly increase conversions.

Gift card programs are a perfect complement to these strategies. They create reliable revenue streams while expanding your customer base. With Enjovia’s user-friendly platform, you can integrate SEO, branding, analytics, and upselling tools, giving you the resources to craft a seamless and profitable customer experience.

Take action today and leverage Enjovia’s platform to turn abandoned carts into thriving sales.

A Deeper Dive into Strategies

Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Optimized Gift Card Campaigns

To make the most of your gift card program, follow these steps:

Set Clear Goals: Define your objectives—whether it's increasing holiday sales, attracting new customers, or encouraging repeat business.
Craft a Targeted Offer: Tailor your offers to your audience. For example, provide bundle discounts for multiple card purchases or introduce special holiday designs.
Utilize Personalization: Leverage Enjovia’s CRM integration to personalize promotions based on customer history, making the gift card experience even more relevant.
Schedule and Launch: Plan your campaigns around key dates, using Enjovia’s promotional scheduler to automate launches.
Monitor and Adjust: Track success with Enjovia’s analytics to refine your campaigns. Metrics like redemption rates and ROI will help guide your approach.

Leveraging Analytics to Identify Trends

Enjovia provides valuable insights to help you understand your customers and optimize your campaigns. Here's how:

Track Customer Purchase Patterns: Dive into data like peak purchasing times, popular gift card amounts, and preferred redemption windows to make informed decisions.
Segment Your Audience: Create targeted campaigns by grouping customers based on demographics or engagement, delivering personalized offers that resonate.
Forecast Demand: Analyze past trends to predict high-demand seasons or holidays, ensuring you're ready with the right inventory and promotions.
Measure Campaign Impact: Use analytics to determine the most effective marketing tactics, from email campaigns to social media ads.

With Enjovia, you can craft data-driven strategies that drive greater success, turning each gift card campaign into a powerful sales tool.

Conclusion- how to increase online sales small business

Success in the digital world depends on how well several crucial elements work together for small businesses. A user-friendly website acts as your digital storefront, and mobile optimisation is crucial. Customers make buying decisions based on trust that comes from real reviews and security features.

Local SEO and social media campaigns help you connect naturally with your target audience. Multiple payment options and an optimised checkout process significantly reduce cart abandonment.

Gift card programmes are a great way for small businesses to increase revenue. They bring in immediate cash and lead to higher spending when customers redeem them. The right gift card management system can make all the difference in your programme's success.

Your gift card system needs digital delivery, secure processing, and complete tracking features. It should also blend with your current sales setup and comply with all regulations.

Want to revolutionise your online sales? You can boost your numbers through enjovia at enjovia.com. Their complete gift card management platform helps small businesses tap into the full potential of effective gift card programmes.

Note that online selling works when you combine strong digital presence, customer trust, strategic marketing, smooth checkout, and reliable tools that boost revenue. These strategies can help your small business thrive in the online marketplace today.

Don’t miss out on maximizing your sales! Start leveraging proven strategies and discover how Enjovia’s platform can help transform your abandoned carts into consistent revenue. Get started today and see the difference!

FAQs

Q1. How can I quickly boost my online sales for my small business?

To quickly boost online sales, focus on simplifying your homepage, optimising for mobile, using social media effectively, and implementing email marketing strategies. Additionally, consider offering limited-time promotions or discounts to create a sense of urgency and drive immediate sales.

Q2. What are some effective ways to attract new customers to my online business?

Attract new customers by developing buyer personas, optimising your website for search engines, leveraging social media platforms, creating valuable content, and collaborating with influencers. Also, introductory discounts or referral programmes should be considered to incentivise new customer acquisition.

Q3. How important are customer reviews for increasing online sales?

Customer reviews are crucial for increasing online sales. About 92% of consumers read online reviews before making a purchase, and positive reviews can significantly boost trust in your business. Showcase authentic customer testimonials prominently on your website and product pages to build credibility and encourage purchases.

Q4. What role do payment options play in improving online sales?

Payment options play a vital role in improving online sales. Offering multiple payment methods, including digital wallets and 'buy now, pay later' services, can increase conversions by up to 30%. Ensure your checkout process is secure and streamlined to reduce cart abandonment rates and boost sales.

Q5. How can implementing a gift card programme benefit my small business?

Implementing a gift card programme can significantly benefit your small business by generating instant revenue, increasing brand awareness, and encouraging higher spending. On average, gift card shoppers spend £38 more than the preloaded amount. Additionally, 72% of shoppers who visit to purchase a gift card end up spending money themselves, creating a dual-purchase benefit for your business.

We hope this post on how to increase online sales small business helped, for more information on improving your online sales, check out our blog.

10 Beauty Salon Promotion Ideas to Boost Your Revenue

In the competitive world of beauty salons, offering top-tier services is just the beginning.

To really shine, your salon needs smart marketing strategies that attract new clients and keep your existing ones coming back for more. With the right promotional tactics, you can boost visibility, drive bookings, and enhance customer loyalty—all while keeping your salon thriving.

This guide will share 10 powerful beauty salon promotion ideas that can help elevate your business, increase your revenue, and build a loyal client base. Ready to take your beauty business to the next level?

Why Salon Promotions Are Essential

A great salon needs more than just skilled stylists and high-quality services.

A clear strategy is key to standing out in a crowded market. Without proper promotion, potential clients may overlook your salon.

A well-executed promotion plan can help increase visibility, drive bookings, and build long-term customer loyalty. Effective promotions attract new clients while helping you retain existing ones.

Let’s explore some of the most effective ideas for boosting your salon’s popularity. These strategies range from simple discounting to long-term memberships, so you can adapt them to fit your specific business goals.

1. Launch a Monthly Membership Program

A monthly membership program offers value to your clients and guarantees predictable revenue for your business. By giving clients access to several treatments each month, you build a base of loyal customers who will visit regularly.

How It Works:

Offer a membership program in which clients pay upfront for a set package of services each month. Think of it as a fitness membership but for beauty treatments. You can offer clients exclusive benefits such as unlimited haircuts, discounted products, or monthly facials.

Benefits:

Steady Revenue: Ensure monthly income with guaranteed clients.
Customer Retention: Encourage loyalty, as members are more likely to book future appointments.
Higher Lifetime Value: Memberships often result in longer-term relationships.

How to Implement:

Design your memberships simply and clearly. Offer flexible options to appeal to clients with different needs and budgets. Be transparent with your members so they understand the services available and any discounts they may receive.

2. Run Before-and-After Photo Contests

People love to show off their makeovers!

A photo contest is a fun way to engage your customers while promoting your salon’s transformations. Using a branded hashtag, you can encourage clients to share before-and-after pictures of their services on social media.

How It Works:

Ask your clients to submit photos of their haircuts, colors, or treatments. Create a unique hashtag, such as “#SalonNameGlowUp,” for easy tracking. Choose winners each month and offer them free services, gift cards, or salon products.

Benefits:

Increased Engagement: Engaged customers create organic promotion through social media.
Social Proof: Potential clients will see real results and customer satisfaction.
Referrals: A client’s friends and family may visit based on the shared transformation.

Tip: Set clear guidelines and incentives to keep your contest fun and fair.

3. Offer Happy Hour Promotions

Fill the gaps in your schedule with happy hour promotions. Offer discounts on services or products during off-peak hours, such as late afternoons or early evenings.

How It Works:

Create time-limited discounts for certain services, such as haircuts, facials, or waxing. Promote these discounts online and in the salon. If clients can get a great deal, they will be more willing to try out new services.

Benefits:

Fill Slow Times: Reduce wasted appointment slots.
Generate Buzz: Discounts lead to new client visits and online sharing.
Cost-Effective: A small discount doesn’t mean a loss; it often turns into long-term client loyalty.

Tip: Use this strategy around holidays or during seasonal low periods.

4. Start a Product Sampling Program

Not all clients are ready to buy full-sized products, but offering them a small sample can persuade them to try before committing. After specific services, you can add samples of hair products, skincare items, or makeup.

How It Works:

At the end of treatment, give your clients small samples of products related to the service they received. For example, if they had a haircut, offer them a sample of a styling product. Pair the sample with a voucher for a discount if they purchase the full-size product later.

Benefits:

Increased Product Sales: Clients are more likely to buy after sampling products.
Enhances Experience: Clients feel like they're receiving something extra.
Trust: Clients become more comfortable using the products you recommend.

Tip: Stay stocked up on small-sized samples to increase repeat purchases.

5. Beauty Salon Gift Card System

Gift cards have always been a great way to drive business. Digital gift cards, in particular, are convenient and provide a cash flow boost. With most people spending more time online, having digital gift cards available makes it easy to sell and receive payment immediately.

How It Works:

Allow your clients to purchase and send gift cards online. Offer these for services, packages, or products. This will allow clients to buy gifts for their friends and family easily. You can also promote them via your website or social media.

Benefits:

Instant Revenue: You receive money upfront for future services.
Attract New Clients: Gift cards often bring in new customers who haven’t visited before.
Convenient: Digital gift cards are easy to distribute and redeem.

Tip: You could offer experience days with your gift card offerings to generate more interest in your services. See more about gift card experiences here: How to increase sales in salon business

6. Bundle Services for Discounts

A service bundle allows your salon to offer more while boosting your revenue. By packaging related services together at a discount, you can give clients better value while encouraging them to try something new.

How It Works:

Offer clients package deals that group services like haircuts and styling or a facial with a scalp massage. Create themed bundles for special events like bridal services or Mother’s Day.

Benefits:

Higher Sales: Bundle services to increase spending per visit.
Client Convenience: Clients appreciate the simplicity of paying for multiple services at once.
Encourage New Treatments: Clients are more likely to try services they wouldn’t normally book independently.

Tip: sell your bundles as gift cards so they can be sold as gifts. This makes excellent promotions around the holidays.

7. Send Exclusive Email-Only Promotions

Email marketing remains one of the most effective promotional tools. Offer discounts and exclusive promotions via email to increase your salon's customer retention rates and conversion levels. It allows you to keep customers updated on new services, promotions, and events.

How It Works:

Send targeted emails that include personalized promotions, loyalty discounts, and event invitations. Offer discounts like “10% off your next service” or free add-ons like a blow dry with every haircut for email subscribers. You can also send reminders for upcoming appointments.

Benefits:

Build Loyalty: Regular email communications help customers feel valued.
Targeted Offers: Personalize promotions based on the client’s previous visit.
High Return on Investment: Email campaigns typically result in strong sales and higher engagement.

Tip: Use tools like Mailchimp to set up automated campaigns based on customers’ behavior.

8. Use Social Media Challenges

Social media challenges are a fun and interactive way to build your online community. By creating a beauty-related challenge and encouraging clients to participate, you can expand your reach and visibility online.

How It Works:

Develop a challenge related to beauty trends, like styling your hair in a certain way or achieving a specific beauty look. Encourage followers to share their results on social media using a special hashtag to enter the challenge.

Benefits:

Increase Visibility: Clients’ participation helps grow your online audience.
Encourage Interaction: Challenges make social media followers feel more connected to your brand.
Expand Reach: A trending challenge can increase your visibility.

Tip: Make the challenge simple and fun, and offer small prizes to encourage participation.

9. Implement a Points-Based Rewards System

A rewards system is a great way to keep customers coming back. Create a points program where clients earn points for every visit or product purchase, redeemable for discounts or free services.

How It Works:

Every dollar spent or appointment booked adds points to the client’s rewards balance. Create tiers for clients who hit certain milestones, allowing them to redeem points for free services or exclusive perks.

Benefits:

Increased Loyalty: Clients will keep returning to earn more points.
Higher Customer Retention: Rewards systems provide an incentive to keep booking future appointments.
Better Client Insights: You gain access to valuable data on customer preferences and behaviors.

Tip: Keep rewards flexible, allowing customers to choose how they redeem their points.

10. Promote First-Time Client Discounts

Offering discounts to first-time clients is a simple but effective way to encourage them to book. Providing this discount makes new clients feel appreciated and gives them an incentive to choose your salon over the competition.

How It Works:

Offer a special rate, like 20% off their first service, or free consultations for new clients. This lowers the risk for first-time visitors and makes it easier for them to try your services.

Benefits:

Increase Visits: It encourages hesitant customers to book an appointment.
Show Value: New clients can experience your services at a reduced rate, potentially leading to long-term business.
Build Trust: Offering a discount helps people feel more comfortable trying something new.

Tip: Ask new clients how they heard about your salon to track the effectiveness of these promotions.

Conclusion- Beauty Salon Promotion Ideas

Using promotions in your salon can be a game-changer. You attract and retain customers by offering smart deals like membership programs, product sampling, happy hour specials, and contests. These methods are simple, budget-friendly, and deliver excellent short- and long-term results.

Create a strategy that works for your target market and test it frequently. Keep things fresh, be transparent with your customers, and maintain a focus on delivering exceptional service. These practical promotional ideas can help you attract new clients and build lasting relationships. Ultimately, these promotions will boost your reputation, drive more traffic to your salon, and lead to continued success.

For more information on generating more revenue for your beauty salon see: What makes a great salon experience?

FAQs

Q1. What are some effective ways to attract new clients to my beauty salon?

Attract new clients with first-time client offers, social media challenges, product sampling programs, and referrals. Also, ensure your salon has a strong online presence, especially on social media platforms.

Q2. How can I increase revenue during traditionally slow periods?

Happy hour promotions targeting off-peak hours (like 2-5 PM on weekdays) can increase bookings. Offer service discounts or bundle deals that encourage quick services and longer treatments during these times.

Q3. What are the benefits of a loyalty program for my salon?

A loyalty program increases client retention and spending. Clients in reward programs spend up to eight times more than non-members, motivating repeat visits and strengthening brand loyalty.

Q4. How can digital gift cards benefit my salon?

Digital gift cards increase sales by offering round-the-clock, easy access, and client convenience. They're customizable for holidays and other occasions, and 21% of gift card redemptions attract first-time clients. E-cards also generate 200% more sales than physical cards. Check out enjovia.com for the top beauty salon gift vouchers and gift cards you can offer your customers.

Q5. What role does email marketing play in salon promotion?

Email marketing is essential for direct, targeted communication. Offering time-sensitive email-only specials can help generate bookings and increase client loyalty. You can track conversion rates and improve your ROI with effective email campaigns.

Crafting the Perfect Christmas Gift Voucher Template

The holiday season is a great time to offer gift cards. They are versatile, practical, and loved by recipients. A festive Christmas gift card can boost your brand and sales if you run a small business.

This guide will show you how to design a Christmas gift card template using Canva. We'll explain how Enjovia's gift card management system can simplify your process and support your business.

Why Use a Christmas Gift Card Template?

A well-designed Christmas gift card does more than look good. It serves as a strong marketing tool. Here’s why:

Brand Visibility: A custom gift card keeps your business on the recipient’s mind.
Customer Attraction: Attractive designs draw more customers to your store.
Gift Convenience: Gift cards make holiday shopping easier for your customers.

How to Create a Christmas Card Template Canva

Offering gift cards is a smart way to boost sales and attract new customers.

You can create Christmas gift card designs without expensive software or design skills. Canva is a free online tool that makes designing custom gift card templates easy. Here’s how to get started:

1. Sign Up for Canva

Go to Canva’s homepage and sign up for a free account. The free version has many features for designing your gift cards.

2. Choose a gift certificate template free editable

Search for Templates: Type “Gift Certificate” or “Gift Card” in the search bar.
Browse and Select: Look through the designs and choose one that matches your brand.

3. Customise Your Gift Card

Edit Text: Click on the text fields to add your details. Include:
- Your business name
- The recipient’s name
- The gift card amount
- An expiry date
- Any terms and conditions
Adjust Colours and Fonts: Match your brand’s colours and fonts.
Add Your Logo: Upload your logo and place it on the card.
Include Imagery: Add images or graphics from Canva’s library to enhance the card.

4. Save and Download Your Design

Review Your Gift Card: Check all details for accuracy.
Download Your File: Click “Download” and choose the format that suits you—PDF for print or PNG/JPEG for digital use.

Pros and Cons of Creating Your Own In-Store Vouchers

Creating in-store vouchers can be effective but has both advantages and disadvantages. Here’s a look at both sides:

Positives

Cost-Effective: Designing and printing your own vouchers can be cheap, especially if you have basic design skills.
Customizable: You can tailor the design and content to match your branding.
Immediate Implementation: You can create and distribute vouchers quickly.
Personal Touch: Custom vouchers add a personal touch to your promotions.
Flexibility: Easily adjust the design and terms based on your needs.
Local Promotion: In-store vouchers encourage repeat business and attract local customers.

Negatives

Limited Reach: In-store vouchers only work for customers visiting your location.
Design Challenges: Creating a professional-looking voucher can be tricky if you lack design skills.
Not legally compliant: Most basic voucher templates do not leave room for information which may be legally required, like T&Cs, validity etc.
Printing Costs: While designing might be free, printing can become expensive.
Vulnerability to Fraud: Simple vouchers can be copied or forged.
Tracking Issues: Managing and tracking in-store vouchers can be challenging.
Storage and Management: You need a system to store and manage physical vouchers.

A More Lucrative Solution: Using a Gift Voucher Management System

A gift voucher management system can offer many benefits over DIY in-store vouchers. Here’s why you might want to invest in one:

1. Online Sales and Redemption

Convenience: Customers can buy and use vouchers online, reaching a wider audience.
Integration: Many systems work with e-commerce platforms, automating the process.

2. Enhanced Security

Fraud Prevention: Systems have features to prevent fraud, such as unique codes.
Tracking and Reporting: Real-time tracking helps you monitor voucher use and identify issues.

3. Efficient Management

Automated Processes: Automation handles sending out, issuing, tracking, and expiry dates.
Data Insights: Learn about customer behaviour and voucher performance to improve your promotions.

4. Professional Appearance

Consistent Branding: Ensures all your vouchers look professional.
Customizable Options: Offers customizable templates to fit your brand.

Benefits of Using a Gift Card Management System Like Enjovia

While designing your own gift card can be effective, using a gift card management system offers several advantages. Enjovia, for example, provides comprehensive solutions that can enhance your gift card program. Here’s why you might consider Enjovia for your Christmas gift card management:

1. Seamless Online Integration

Enjovia integrates easily with e-commerce platforms, allowing you to manage both in-store and online gift card sales. This integration helps you reach a broader audience and streamline the purchasing process.

2. Advanced Fraud Prevention

Gift card management systems like Enjovia offer robust security features to prevent fraud. Unique codes and secure redemption processes ensure that your gift cards cannot be easily copied or forged.

3. Efficient Tracking and Reporting

With Enjovia, you get real-time tracking and reporting of voucher usage. This feature helps you monitor performance, understand customer behavior, and adjust your marketing strategies accordingly.

4. Professional Design and Customization

Enjovia provides tools for creating visually appealing and branded gift cards. Customize templates to match your branding, maintaining a professional appearance across all your gift cards.

5. Enhanced Customer Experience

A streamlined system improves the customer experience by making purchasing, redeeming, and managing gift cards easy. Enjovia ensures that your customers have a hassle

5. Enhanced Customer Experience

A streamlined system improves the customer experience by making purchasing, redeeming, and managing gift cards easy.

See more for how you can use a Gift card system for small business:

Gift card system for small business

Making Your Christmas Gift Card Stand Out

To make your Christmas gift card more exciting:

Add a Special Offer: Include a bonus discount or gift.
Use Interactive Elements: For digital cards, add animations or interactive features.
Create Limited Editions: Offer special holiday designs to create urgency.

Conclusion- Crafting your Christmas Gift Voucher Template

Creating a Christmas gift voucher template can boost your holiday marketing and offer convenience to customers. Canva provides an easy way to design custom cards. Consider a gift card management system like Enjovia for a more advanced solution. It offers features to streamline your process, prevent fraud, and enhance customer experience.

Make your gift cards shine this holiday season with a beautiful design and a system that supports your business’s growth. To create Christmas gift cards, you can use Canva's free templates or a comprehensive tool like Enjovia.

Redeeming Gift Cards: Tips and Tricks for Maximizing Value

Gift cards are a popular and versatile present, but redeeming them effectively can be a challenge.

How to get the most value from your gift cards or get redeemed codes without hassle.

Understanding how to redeem gift cards can help you make the most of this convenient form of payment.

In this article, you'll discover the best practices for redeeming gift cards and maximizing their value.

You'll also learn about gift card redemption campaigns and how to track your cards effectively.

By the end, you will know to transform your gift cards into a powerful tool for savvy shopping.

Understanding Gift Card Types and Policies

Gift cards have various policies and regulations that differ across countries and regions. Understanding these policies, expiry dates and redemption processes is crucial to getting the most value from your gift cards.

Expiry Date Laws for Different Countries

Gift card expiry laws vary worldwide, affecting how long you can use your gift card. Here's an overview of expiry regulations in several countries:

United States: There are laws in the US regarding the expiry dates for gift cards; see what they are here.
European Union: EU regulations do not set a minimum or maximum expiry date period.
United Kingdom: There are no expiry date laws for gift cards in the UK.

Find out what the expiry date laws are for your country or region.

Best Practises for Redeeming Gift Cards

Following best practices is crucial to getting the most out of your gift cards. These tips will help you redeem your gift cards efficiently and securely.

Use a secure gift card system

When redeeming gift cards, it's essential to use a secure system. Many retailers now offer electronic gift card options, which are eco-friendly and safer to use. These systems often use unique identifiers to track and manage gift cards. Making it easier to resolve any issues that may arise.

Unique reference code for gift cards

Each gift card transaction is assigned a unique reference number. This code is crucial for tracking and managing your gift card usage.

Once the system completes a transaction, it generates a reference number that combines random numbers.

Grouped gift cards will have a combination of a ‘family set of codes’ followed by randomly generated numbers. It's used to:

Identify specific gift cards
Find grouped gift cards from the same transaction
Make customer service interactions more efficient
Help resolve queries and potential fraudulent charges
Track the status of a gift card (valid/ redeemed/ expired)

Fast redemption process: QR codes and one-click redemption

Many gift card systems now use QR codes for quicker and more convenient redemption. For customer-facing businesses needing a fast redemption process the process typically follows:

Receiving a gift card from a customer.
Type the unique code on the gift card into your gift card management system. Or scan the QR code using your smartphone.
You're redirected to a page showing your voucher and a redeem button.
Check the gift card status (expired, valid or redeemed).
Tap the redeem button to display a new QR code using a one-click button.
The shop owner or employee scans this code to redeem your voucher.

By following these best practices, you can ensure a secure, fast, and efficient gift card redemption process.

Gift Card Redemption Campaigns

Manage the timeline of gift card redemptions for inventory management

Gift card redemption campaigns can help you manage inventory for retail stores effectively and prepare for peak traffic.

Understanding redemption patterns is crucial for this. Research shows that over 90% of redeemed gift cards have a "time to redeem" of one month or less. -With most redemptions occurring within the first week after purchase.

This insight allows retail stores to anticipate demand and adjust their inventory accordingly.

To optimize your campaign timeline, consider these strategies:

Use real-time analytics to track voucher distribution and redemption closely.
Implement dynamic expiration policies, such as:
- Activation date-based expiration (e.g.12 months from activation)
- Last transaction date-based extension (e.g. 6 months from the previous use)

These approaches can help you manage your inventory more effectively and encourage timely redemptions.

Cross-selling and Upselling Opportunities

Gift card redemption campaigns present excellent opportunities for cross-selling and upselling. Studies show that 61% of consumers spend over the value of their gift cards. Moreover, consumers are 2.5 times more likely to pay full price when using a gift card.

To capitalise on these tendencies:

Recommend higher-priced items or bundles during redemption.
Suggest complementary products or services (e.g., "Pair your spa gift card with a massage oil set!").
Offer exclusive discounts or early access to new collections for loyal customers redeeming gift cards.

Customer behaviour and preference insights

Gift card redemption campaigns can provide valuable insights into customer behaviour and preferences. By analysing redemption patterns and purchase data, you can:

Segment customers based on preferences and past purchasing behavior.
Tailor offers to each segment to increase engagement and sales.
Identify when peak traffic loads may occur and plan operational responses.

These insights can help you personalize the customer experience.

To maximize the effectiveness of your gift card system:

Track and analyse sales and redemption patterns using data analytics.
Offer customized vouchers based on customer data and preferences.

Implementing these strategies can enhance customer experience, reduce fraudulent gift cards, and streamline redemption.

Consider using a reliable gift card management system like Enjovia to process unique voucher codes. It provides a fast checkout redemption process for high-traffic customer service desks.

Maximizing Value: Advanced Tips for Gift Card Users

You need to be savvy to get the most out of your gift cards. Here are some advanced tips to help you maximize their value:

Combine with sales and promotions

One of the best ways to stretch your gift card's value is to use it during sales or promotional periods. Combining your gift card with ongoing discounts can significantly increase your purchasing power. Look for seasonal sales, clearance events, or special promotions to make your gift card go further.

Resell or exchange unwanted cards

If you've received a gift card for a store you don't frequent, don't let it go to waste. You have several options to turn that card into something more valuable:

Use online marketplaces: Sites like Raise allow you to set your own price for your gift card. While it's free to list, they take a 15% commission from the final sale price.

Trade for other gift cards: Some platforms allow you to trade your unwanted gift card for one you'll use. For instance, CardCash offers the option to trade in your gift cards for select other gift cards.

Strategies for Tracking and Managing Multiple Gift Cards

Using gift card management apps

To manage your gift cards effectively, you need a system for organizing and tracking them. Gift card management software can greatly streamline operations and improve customer and staff experiences.

Using Enjovia Gift Card Management System

Enjovia offers a comprehensive gift voucher management system to boost gift card sales and improve overall operations. This system is ideal for businesses looking to manage their gift card programmes more effectively.

Key features include:

Unique QR codes: Each gift card has a unique QR code, which enhances security and simplifies redemption.
Fraud prevention: The system uses randomly allocated gift card reference numbers to prevent fraudulent use of gift cards.
Customization: Customers can personalise their experience with add-ons, allowing businesses to upsell products and services.
Data tracking: The system collects over 50 data fields on sales, providing valuable insights for analysis and auditing.
Fast checkout redemption: The one-scan, one-click redemption process is fast and straightforward for high-traffic heck-out desks.

By using enjovia, businesses can enhance the customer experience, reduce fraudulent gift cards, and streamline the redemption process. The system offers a fast checkout redemption process, making it ideal for high-traffic customer service desks.

Conclusion

Gift cards offer a versatile and convenient way to shop, but maximizing their value requires some savvy strategies. Consider expiry dates, use secure redemption systems, and combine them with sales/promotions.

Enjovia makes it easier to track multiple cards and enhance the overall experience.

Gift cards are more than just a simple present; when used effectively, they're a tool for smart shopping.

For businesses looking to improve their gift card operations, it's worth checking out Enjovia's features here. Their system processes unique voucher codes and offers a fast checkout process, boosting customer satisfaction and tightening security measures. By staying informed and using the right tools, consumers and businesses can make the most of the gift card experience.

FAQs

What is the most effective method for redeeming a gift card?

The best way to redeem a gift card is to use a reliable gift card management system with a quick redemption process. Choose a system that uses QR code voucher scanning and has a one-button redeem checkout. Enjovia is the leading gift card system with these features.

How can I enhance the presentation of a gift card to make it more special?

Read our post on ‘How to display gift cards’ for an attractive, revenue-maximising display.

How to Display Gift Cards for Maximum Impact

Best Gift Card Exchange Platforms: Where to Buy, Sell, and Trade

Friendly Reminder: Enjovia does not buy, sell or exchange gift cards.

Gift cards are popular for gifting, but what happens when you receive one you can't use?

Enter the world of gift card exchange, a solution that allows you to easily buy, sell, or trade gift cards.

This growing market has revolutionised how people handle unwanted gift cards, offering flexibility and value to consumers.

In this article, we'll explore the top platforms for gift card swaps. You'll learn how to purchase discounted gift cards, sell unused ones for cash, and even learn about gift card exchange kiosks for immediate transactions.

We'll also cover real-time monitoring features that ensure you get the best deals when buying or selling gift cards.

Top Gift Card Exchange Platforms

Online Marketplaces

Several platforms stand out when it comes to online gift card exchanges.

CardCash is a large and reliable platform that allows you to buy and sell gift cards from popular brands at discounted rates. It offers both physical and virtual cards, providing flexibility for your preferences.

GiftCards.com is one of the largest gift card retailers globally, offering cards from over 500,000 SMEs and big companies in the US.

For those interested in cryptocurrency, Paxful is a peer-to-peer marketplace that allows you to buy and sell gift cards for Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. With support for over 350 payment methods, Paxful offers flexibility in your transactions.

GiftCardGranny. This peer-to-peer platform connects buyers and sellers of gift vouchers. It allows you to compare prices before choosing, giving you a wide range of options.

Online Marketplaces for Gift Card Exchange

Online marketplaces are popular platforms for gift card exchanges. Here are some top options:

Gift Card Mobile Apps

Mobile apps have made gift card exchanges even more convenient.

In-Store Kiosks

Gift card exchange kiosk near me

Gift card exchange kiosks are an excellent option for immediate cash transactions. These ATM-like machines exchange cash for gift cards on the spot.

These platforms offer various options for buying, selling, and trading gift cards, catering to different preferences and needs. For immediate cash transactions, there's a solution available to help you make the most of your gift cards.

For immediate cash exchanges, in-store kiosks are an excellent option:

Coinstar Gift Card Exchange: These yellow kiosks offer the fastest way to get cash for your gift card. You can receive around 80 cents on the dollar for your gift card value.
GiftWise Kiosk: These kiosks provide 24/7 availability of gift card sales and allow customers to easily buy or check card balances. They offer secure, PCI-certified applications and multiple security measures to reduce fraud risks.

To find a gift card kiosk near you, search on Google Maps using terms like "gift card kiosk near me" or "get cash for gift card locations".

By utilising these various gift card exchange platforms, you can easily convert unwanted gift cards into cash or other preferred gift cards, maximizing the value of your unused cards.

How to Buy Discounted Gift Cards

Choosing a Reputable Platform

Selecting a trustworthy platform is crucial to start your journey into the world of discounted gift cards. Look for websites with solid reputations and positive customer reviews.

When evaluating a platform, consider the following factors:

Range of gift card options
Secure payment methods and data protection
Customer support quality
User reviews and ratings

Tips for Finding the Best Deals

To maximize your savings when buying discounted gift cards, keep these tips in mind:

Compare prices across multiple platforms to find the best deals.
Look out for special offers and promotions, such as cash-back opportunities. For instance, Raise offers an app where you can earn Raise cash with up to 10% cash back at select stores.
Consider the availability of gift cards. Some marketplaces have a larger inventory than others.
Check for shipping and delivery options. Some platforms offer free shipping for physical cards, while others provide instant e-gift cards.
Be aware that the best discounts are often on higher-value cards.

Avoiding Scams

While buying discounted gift cards can be a great way to save money, it's essential to be cautious to avoid scams. Here are some key points to remember:

Be wary of deals that seem too good to be true, as they may be fraudulent.
Always verify the authenticity of the gift card before completing the purchase.
Keep the receipt and record the card details for future reference.
Be cautious of anyone asking you to pay with gift cards, as scammers often use this tactic.
Purchase gift cards from known and trusted sources to reduce the risk of buying counterfeit or stolen cards.

Remember, gift cards are meant for gifts, not payments. If someone demands payment via a gift card, it's likely a scam. By following these guidelines and staying vigilant, you can safely enjoy the benefits of buying discounted gift cards while avoiding potential pitfalls.

Selling Unwanted Gift Cards for Cash

Determining Card Value

To get the most value for your unwanted gift cards, it's crucial to determine their worth. Many gift card exchange platforms offer quote tools that allow you to check the potential cash value of your card. For instance, CardCash accepts cards from over 1,300 retailers and provides unique quotes for each card.

Selling Process

The process of selling gift cards varies depending on the platform you choose. Here's a general overview:

Select a reputable platform
Get a quote: Use the platform's quote tool to determine your card's value.
List your card
Ship the card: Send your physical gift card using the provided shipping label if required.
Receive payment: Once the transaction is complete, you'll receive payment using your chosen method.

Payment Options

Gift card exchange platforms offer various payment methods:

Direct deposit
PayPal
Check
Cryptocurrency (on some platforms like GiftCash)

The payment speed varies by platform.

When choosing a payment method, consider transaction fees and processing times. While payment apps might be quicker, they may have fees that reduce your payout.

Checks take longer but offer the full cash value.

It's worth noting that some platforms charge a seller fee.

To maximize your earnings, compare offers from multiple platforms before deciding where to sell your gift card.

Remember, while selling gift cards can be a great way to get cash for unwanted cards, always be cautious of scams. Stick to reputable platforms and avoid deals that seem too good to be true.

Conclusion- How to Exchange Gift Cards

Gift card exchanges have transformed how we handle unwanted cards, offering flexibility and value to consumers. These platforms provide opportunities to buy discounted cards, sell unused ones for cash, or even trade them for more desirable options. With various online marketplaces, mobile apps, and in-store kiosks, there's a solution for every preference and need.

As the gift card exchange market evolves, it's crucial to stay informed and cautious when making transactions. You can make the most of your gift cards by choosing reputable platforms, following best practices, and avoiding potential scams.

For businesses looking to sell gift vouchers using a gift card management platform, enjovia offers valuable information to get started. Remember, gift cards open up a world of possibilities to maximise the sale of your goods and services, whether you're buying, selling, or trading.

FAQs

Which website is the best for exchanging gift cards?

According to The Penny Hoarder, ClipKard, Gameflip, and GiftCash are highly recommended for exchanging gift cards. These companies specialise in this area and typically offer better base value for gift cards than general marketplaces like eBay.

What is the most trustworthy platform for trading gift cards?

Giftcardstonaira is considered the most reliable platform for converting gift cards into instant cash.

How To Create The Best Gift Card Ads

Gift card ads have become a game-changer in digital marketing. Businesses seek new gift card advertising ideas to increase sales and attract new customers.

With the rise of online shopping, gift cards have gained immense popularity, making them an essential part of any marketing strategy. Effective gift card ads can significantly impact your bottom line and customer engagement.

In this article, you'll discover tips for creating compelling gift card ads that resonate with your target audience. We'll explore how to build a cohesive brand experience, target last-minute shoppers, and incorporate user-generated content into your campaigns.

Creating a Cohesive Brand Experience in Gift Card Ads

To create effective gift card ads, you must focus on building a cohesive brand experience. This approach ensures that your gift card marketing aligns with your brand identity and resonates with your target audience across all channels.

Aligning Ad Design with Brand Identity

When designing your gift card ads, it's crucial to maintain consistency with your brand identity. You can achieve this by:

Customising gift card designs

Add custom images that reflect your brand's ethos to elevate the visual appeal of your gift cards.

Using consistent colours and language

Ensure that your gift card ads' colours, fonts, and tone of voice match your brand image.

Personalising the experience

Tailor gift cards with recipients' names, special messages, or unique designs to create a stronger emotional connection with customers.

Consistent Messaging Across Channels

To maximise the impact of your gift card ads, you need to maintain consistent messaging across all marketing channels. Here's how:

Implement an omnichannel approach

Promote and distribute gift cards using various platforms, including your website, social media, email marketing, mobile apps, and physical stores.

Coordinate across departments

Ensure that all departments, from marketing and sales to support and IT, are aligned in delivering consistent brand messaging.

Analyse the customer lifecycle

Optimise each step of the customer journey to maintain a consistent brand image and voice, from initial interest to post-purchase support.

Leverage seasonal promotions

Highlight gift cards during holidays or special events through targeted email campaigns and homepage banners.

See here for the different annual events to promote gift cards. https://enjovia.com/the-big-holidays-for-maximising-gift-voucher-sales/

Focusing on creating a cohesive brand experience in your gift card ads can significantly enhance customer engagement and drive higher conversion rates. Research shows that 47% of consumers spend more than the face value of their gift cards, creating a natural incentive for guests to reload their balances continually.

Targeting Last-Minute Shoppers with Gift Card Ads

To maximise your gift card advertising strategy, focus on last-minute shoppers. These consumers often find themselves in a time crunch, making gift cards attractive. In fact, 44% of shoppers said they would choose a gift card if they needed a last-minute gift.

Urgency-Driven Ad Copy

To capture the attention of last-minute shoppers, your ad copy should emphasise urgency and convenience. Here are some effective strategies:

Highlight immediate delivery: Stress that digital gift cards arrive instantly, solving the problem of shipping delays.
Use time-sensitive language: Craft messages that show urgency and fulfil the needs of those who wait until the last minute.
Extend your campaign: Continue promoting gift cards until 11:59 PM on December 24th or even into Christmas Day as a procrastinator option.
Leverage multiple channels: Use agile self-service advertising channels like Performance TV, social media, and paid search to reach customers through various touchpoints.

Express Delivery Options

To cater to last-minute shoppers, you need to emphasise the speed and convenience of your gift card delivery. Consider the following:

Promote "same minute delivery": Highlight that your digital gift cards are delivered instantly.
Offer eGifts: In addition to gift cards, provide the option to send your products as eGifts, allowing buyers to choose a more personal gift without worrying about shipping times.
Address unexpected events: Emphasise that gift cards are perfect for unexpected occasions like early births or elopements, where instant gifting is crucial.

Implementing a gift card store with inbuilt SEO

By implementing these strategies and using Enjovia's gift card management system, you can better sell your gift cards to last-minute shoppers. Enjovia's online storefront uses SEO to help increase web traffic to your store, allowing you to reach more potential customers during crucial shopping periods.

That means you can incorporate targeted keywords into your gift card product listings, ensuring they appear at the top of the results page for online shoppers.

Check out more about Enjovia’s gift card store features here.

What to look for in a gift card service provider

Incorporating User-Generated Content in Gift Card Advertising

User-generated content (UGC) has become a powerful tool in gift card advertising, driving engagement and sales due to its high trust and authenticity. By incorporating UGC into your gift card marketing strategy, you can leverage the power of social proof and build credibility with potential customers.

Customer Testimonials and Reviews

Customer testimonials and reviews are essential forms of UGC that can significantly impact your gift card sales. Nearly 50% of consumers trust customer reviews as much as recommendations from friends or family. To harness the power of testimonials:

Showcase reviews on your homepage: Promise positive reviews and testimonials on your website to create a favourable first impression and establish credibility.
Encourage detailed feedback: Ask open-ended questions to gather comprehensive reviews about customers' experiences with your gift cards.
Highlight authentic experiences: Feature real customers interacting with your brand to increase trust levels and communicate authenticity.
Utilise video testimonials: Consider incorporating video testimonials, as eight out of 10 people have made a purchase after watching a brand video.

Social Media Contests

Social media contests are an excellent way to generate UGC and create buzz around your gift card offerings. Here's how to effectively use contests in your gift card advertising:

Host creative challenges: Invite customers to share photos of themselves using your gift cards creatively and offer prizes or discounts for the best entries.
Implement hashtag campaigns: Create a unique hashtag for your contest to increase brand awareness and foster community around your gift cards.
Leverage gamification: Implement a point-based system where customers earn points for UGC contributions, which can be redeemed for gift card discounts or exclusive merchandise.
Align with themes: Create UGC campaigns that align with holidays, seasons, or specific themes to encourage timely and relevant content creation.

Incorporating UGC into your gift card advertising strategy can enhance trust, authenticity, and engagement with your audience. Remember to feature and reward UGC creators to encourage ongoing participation and foster a sustainable content creation cycle.

Navigating Legal and Ethical Considerations in Gift Card Ads

Compliance with Advertising Standards

To create effective gift card ads, you must ensure compliance with advertising standards and regulations. This involves adhering to platform-specific guidelines and legal requirements. It's crucial to avoid making deceptive or unrealistic claims about your gift cards, such as offering free virtual currency to entice engagement.

When crafting your gift card ads, be mindful of the following:

Avoid directing users off-platform: Your ads should not contain unapproved URLs, partial links, or QR codes that lead users away from the approved platform.
Respect user privacy: Recent legislation, such as the Digital Services Act in the EU, may restrict personalised advertising based on sensitive information like ethnicity, religion, or sexual orientation.
Stay informed about changing laws: Keep up-to-date with evolving regulations, such as state-based US legislation like the CPRA, which aims to increase transparency and control over personal data for consumers.

Transparent Terms and Conditions

Transparency in your gift card ads is ethical and legally required. To build trust with your customers and comply with regulations:

Disclose terms and conditions clearly: Fully communicate the terms of using your gift cards, including expiration dates and any applicable service fees.
Create an accessible FAQ section: Develop a dedicated FAQ section on your website to address common questions about gift card policies.
Implement security measures: To reduce fraud risks, use multifactor authentication for digital gift cards and tamper-evident packaging for physical cards.

Remember that compliance with gift card regulations requires ongoing management. Stay vigilant about changing laws and update your terms and conditions accordingly to maintain the legality of your gift card program.

Conclusion

Gift card advertising has become a powerful tool for businesses to boost sales and engage customers.

From creating a cohesive brand experience to targeting last-minute shoppers, incorporating user-generated content, and navigating legal considerations, these strategies can significantly enhance your gift card marketing efforts.

Focusing on these key areas allows you to create compelling ads that resonate with your audience and drive conversions.

To maximize your gift card program, consider using a comprehensive management system like enjovia.com. Such platforms can streamline your gift card sales process and boost your online visibility.

Remember, the world of digital marketing is constantly changing, so stay informed about new trends and regulations to keep your gift card advertising strategy fresh and compelling. By implementing these tips, you'll be well-positioned to create gift card ads that stand out and drive results in 2024 and beyond.

FAQs

1. Does Google Ads accept gift cards?

No, Google Ads does not accept gift cards as payment. Accepted forms of payment typically include credit or debit cards, bank accounts, and various electronic payment methods.

2. What are effective ways to promote gift cards?

To effectively advertise e-gift cards, consider promoting them during the online checkout process or on the most visited pages of your website. For physical gift cards available in stores, place them in strategic locations near the cash registers, at the front of the store, or in other high-traffic areas to catch customers' attention.

3. What strategies can boost gift card sales?

To increase sales of your gift cards, focus on several key strategies:

Market the cards within your store and online
Enhance the customer experience (personalisation opportunities)
Run promotions that encourage higher spending with gift cards
Raise brand awareness in the local community
Optimise the design of your gift cards to make them more attractive to potential buyers

How to Display Gift Cards for Maximum Impact

Gift cards are now a staple for flexible and convenient gifting.

Understanding how to display gift cards effectively can drastically enhance their visibility, making them more appealing to potential buyers.

Strategically placed gift cards and creative display ideas can make them sought-after presents.

Online gift card management systems are an innovative way to showcase and promote gift cards in today's digital world. These systems ensure that your gift cards receive the attention they deserve.

This guide offers practical ways to display gift cards. It also includes the importance of online promotion and sales for reaching a wider audience.

By the end of this guide, you will have strategies for enhancing the visibility and attractiveness of your gift cards.

1. Feature Gift Cards at the Checkout

Importance of Placement

Positioning gift cards at the checkout is a strategic move to capture customer attention at a critical decision point. It is reported that 65% of buyers purchase gift cards directly from the retailer where they will be used. This is especially true if displayed in a visible, high-traffic area near checkout lanes.

Gift cards are strategically placed near the checkout to encourage impulse purchases.

Creating a Dedicated Space

Consider dedicating a specific area at the checkout to display gift cards to enhance their visibility and appeal. This can include well-lit stands or custom-designed racks that hold the cards and provide information about their use and benefits.

Additionally, ensure that your staff is well-informed about your gift cards. They should be able to assist and handle any gift card queries.

Seasonal Variations

Leveraging seasonal designs for your gift cards can significantly increase their attractiveness.

Incorporating relevant imagery and themes related to upcoming holidays or seasons captures the customers' attention and aligns with their current shopping motivations.

Using festive designs during the holiday season or floral themes for spring can make gift cards stand out. This can remind customers of upcoming events where gift cards could be perfect gifts. Gift card sales spike during holidays, with 80% of people receiving one during winter.

To optimise your gift card display further, consider using an online gift card management solution like enjovia.com. This platform can help streamline the display and management of your gift cards. It makes it easier for customers to view, purchase, and manage their cards online, enhancing the overall customer experience.

2. Signage Inside and Outside the Store

Effective Signage Ideas

Strategic in-store and outdoor signage can significantly boost gift card visibility. Consider incorporating creative designs that reflect your store's mood and theme.

During the holidays, you can enhance gift card displays with festive fonts and imagery, such as snowflakes or holiday lights.

Additionally, using clever wordplay or unique illustrations on your signage can create excitement and draw customers’ attention.

Placement Strategies

The placement of your signage is crucial for maximising gift card sales. Strategically position signs at high-traffic areas within the store, such as near the checkout area.

Outside the store, consider placing signs visible to passersby to draw them into the store. Effective outdoor signage can lead consumers to choose your gift cards when shopping.

Design Tips

When designing your signage, ensure it effectively captures your brand. This includes prominently displaying your logo, using your established brand colour palette, and incorporating your tagline if available.

For gift cards, the design should align with your store's overall aesthetic.

Implementing these strategies can ensure that your gift cards stand out and attract more customers, ultimately boosting sales.

3. Utilising Different Display Methods

Countertop Displays

Countertop displays are designed to be placed in high-traffic areas such as checkout counters. They can easily catch a customer's eye.

These displays often feature hooks or pockets that organise gift card presentations. Positioning gift card racks near cash registers prompts customers to consider a last-minute purchase, effectively increasing point-of-purchase sales.

Additionally, some businesses enhance their countertop displays with changeable inserts or seasonal designs. This helps maintain customer interest and highlight specific promotions.

Wall Displays

Wall-mounted displays are great for showcasing gift cards in stores with limited space.

You can customise these displays with your brand's logo and colours to attract attention to your gift cards. Wall displays are flexible and can easily be updated to include interactive elements like QR codes for customer engagement and simplified purchasing.

Floor Stands

Floor stands are an excellent choice for a more prominent display option. Strategically place these units throughout the store to maximise visibility and attract customers.

Floor stands can be designed in various sizes and styles to complement your store's aesthetic and can be equipped with updateable graphic areas for seasonal promotions or special events.

Additionally, integrating an online gift card management solution like enjovia with your floor stands can streamline the display and sale of gift cards. This can enhance both the customer experience and your sales efficiency.

Utilise various display methods to ensure your gift cards are visible and appealing to customers throughout the year. Each display method offers unique benefits to boost gift card sales and enhance your store's marketing strategy.

4. Online Promotion and Sales

How to display gift cards- Creating an Online Store

Setting up an online store is essential to capitalising on the growing trend of digital gift cards. Integrating an online store lets you offer your customers physical and digital gift cards directly.

This approach streamlines the buying process and enhances your brand's visibility and accessibility online. Consider using platforms that allow easy tracking and managing gift card redemptions to boost revenue. Businesses adopting digital gift cards have seen a 20% increase compared to those offering only physical cards.

Promoting through QR Codes

QR Code Display Ideas

QR codes provide a dynamic way to enhance your gift card offerings. These can be linked to unique digital or physical products, making the gift-giving experience more interactive and personalised.

You can add QR codes to your gift cards for a personalised surprise message or video, adding excitement to the gift.

Visitors to the Lindt Home of Chocolate Factory in Zurich can use QR codes to access audio guides explaining the chocolate-making process.

Additionally, QR codes can be customised with fun animations, colours, and even personal messages to make each gift feel unique.

Integrating with Marketing Campaigns

Leveraging influencers and marketing campaigns can significantly amplify your gift card sales. Implementing paid marketing strategies can substantially increase customer engagement and sales. Collaborating with influencers who can endorse your gift cards is also very effective.

Studies have shown that 80% of consumers have made purchases influenced by recommendations from influencers.

You can boost sales by incorporating gift card promotions into special events like Black Friday or industry-specific occasions.

Use these strategies to boost the visibility and attractiveness of your gift cards online and generate more sales.

Consider integrating an online gift card management solution like enjovia to streamline the purchasing process for your customers.

Display cards when gifting ideas - gift card accessories

Regarding packaging gift cards, the presentation can make all the difference. Here are five ideas to elevate your gift card program:

Gift Bags

Include a gift bag with tissue paper to draw attention to your gift cards and encourage add-on purchases.

One-Flip Box

Provide a memorable way for customers to present gift cards with boxes. These come in different styles and colours; some even have holiday-themed designs.

Sleeves

You can customise holders for your gift cards and display your business logo, making the cards feel more special.

Envelopes

Offer smaller than regular envelopes for versatility and the option to present them on their own or with a gift or greeting card.

Carriers

Consider unique and memorable packaging options that enhance the value of your gift cards and make them feel more personalised.

How to Display Gift Cards- Conclusion

Throughout this article, we have explored various strategies for how to display gift cards. We have discussed how to enhance the visibility and attractiveness of gift cards for maximum sales. These include strategic in-store placements, creative display ideas, and leveraging digital platforms for innovative showcasing. The significance of creating appealing displays, both physically and digitally, cannot be overstated in attracting potential buyers and making gift cards a prominent choice for gifting.

Emphasising an online gift card management solution, such as enjovia, has illustrated its integral role in streamlining the display and sale of gift cards, thus enhancing both the consumer experience and the seller's efficiency.

FAQs

You can pair the gift card with a related small gift, create a handmade puzzle box, or craft a fun pop-up envelope for a unique presentation

1. Gift card basket display ideas

You can create gift card baskets around themes, use seasonal decorations, coordinate colours, display on tiers, add personalised touches, incorporate themed props, and use signage for easy identification.

2. How can I effectively utilise QR codes for gift card displays?

To effectively utilise QR codes for gift card displays, consider creating interactive displays that allow customers to scan the QR code to access additional information about the gift cards or even make a purchase. This can create an engaging and convenient experience for customers.

3. What are some creative and engaging signage designs and placements for maximising gift card sales?

Some creative and engaging signage designs and placements for maximising gift card sales include using festive and eye-catching designs that reflect the mood and theme of your store, strategically positioning signs at high-traffic areas within the store, and designing the signage to capture your brand effectively by prominently displaying your logo and using your established brand colour palette.

4. Are any specific digital solutions recommended for managing and promoting gift cards online?

An online gift card management solution like enjovia is recommended for managing and promoting gift cards online. This platform can help streamline the display and management of your gift cards, making it easier for customers to view, purchase, and manage their cards online, thus enhancing the overall customer experience.

Gift Card Promotion Ideas We Love

Are you looking for gift card promotion ideas?

In the dynamic business world, finding innovative ways to engage customers and drive sales is a constant challenge.

One powerful tool that can help you achieve both goals is the strategic use of gift card promotions.

This article will explore the importance of gift card promotions, dive into creative ideas to boost your sales, and provide insights on measuring your campaigns' success.

The Importance of Gift Card Promotions

Gift cards have become an integral part of the modern consumer landscape, with both businesses and customers recognising their versatility and convenience. By investing in well-designed gift card promotions, you can unlock a wealth of benefits for your business, including:

Increased Sales

Gift card promotions can be a powerful sales driver, as they encourage customers to purchase cards for themselves or as gifts for others. This can lead to a significant boost in revenue, especially during peak shopping seasons.

Customer Loyalty

Offering gift card promotions can help you build stronger relationships with your customers, as they feel valued and appreciated. This, in turn, can lead to increased customer loyalty and repeat business.

Brand Awareness

Effective gift card promotions can help to raise your brand's visibility and recognition, making it more top-of-mind for potential customers.

Expanded Customer Base

Gift card promotions can also attract new customers, who may be enticed to try your products or services after receiving a gift card.

Why Should You Invest in Gift Card Promotions and Campaigns?

There are several compelling reasons why you should consider investing in gift card promotions and campaigns for your business:

Increased Revenue:

As mentioned earlier, gift card promotions can drive a significant increase in sales in the short and long term. By offering attractive promotions, you can encourage customers to purchase more gift cards, leading to a direct boost in revenue.

Improved Customer Engagement:

Gift card promotions can be an excellent way to engage with your customers, creating a sense of excitement and anticipation around your brand. This can lead to stronger customer loyalty and more positive brand associations.

Competitive Advantage:

By implementing innovative gift card promotion ideas, you can set your business apart from the competition and position yourself as a leader in your industry.

Versatility:

Gift card promotions can be tailored to fit a wide range of business objectives, from boosting holiday sales to re-engaging lapsed customers. This versatility makes them a valuable tool in your marketing arsenal.

Why Do Buyers Purchase Gift Cards?

Understanding the motivations behind why customers purchase gift cards can help you design more effective and targeted promotions. Some of the key reasons include:

Convenience: Gift cards offer a convenient solution for customers who are short on time or unsure what to give as a gift.
Flexibility: Gift cards allow recipients to choose their gift, ensuring they receive something they genuinely appreciate.
Occasion-based Gifting: Customers often purchase gift cards for special occasions, such as birthdays and holidays, or to celebrate a milestone.
Incentives: Customers may be motivated to purchase gift cards if offered additional incentives, such as bonus cards or discounts.
Rewards and Loyalty: Businesses can leverage gift cards as part of their rewards or loyalty programs, encouraging customers to continue engaging with the brand.

Creative Gift Card Promotion Ideas

Now that we've explored the importance of gift card promotions and the reasons behind why customers purchase them let's dive into some creative ideas to boost your sales and delight your customers:

Re-engagement Gift Card Campaign

Offer a special gift card promotion to re-engage with lapsed customers or those who haven't purchased in a while. This could include a bonus card, a percentage discount, or a gift with the purchase of a gift card.

New Collection Gift Card Campaign

Coincide the launch of a new product or service collection with a gift card promotion. For example, offer a gift card when purchasing a certain number of items from the new collection.

Thank You Gift Card Campaign

Show your appreciation for loyal customers by offering a special thank-you gift card promotion. This could be a bonus card, a limited-time discount, or a gift card with the purchase of a certain amount.

Holiday-special Gift Card Campaign

Capitalise on the increased gift-giving during the holiday season by offering festive gift card promotions. This could include holiday-themed designs, bonus cards, or special holiday-themed bundles.

Referral Program with Gift Cards as Rewards

Incentivise your customers to refer their friends and family by offering gift cards as rewards. This can help you acquire new customers while strengthening your relationships with existing ones.

Gift Card as an Incentive to Check Their Offer

Offer a gift card to incentivise customers to check out a new product, service, or limited-time offer. This can help drive traffic and generate interest in your offerings.

For more git card promotional ideas specific to your business, check out our list here:

Gift card promotions for restaurants

Social media gift card promotions

In- House gift card promotions

Gift card promotions for Christmas

Spa Marketing promotions

How to Measure the Success of Your Gift Card Promotions

Measuring the success of your gift card promotions is crucial to understanding their impact and informing future campaigns. Here are some key metrics to track:

Gift Card Sales: Monitor the overall sales of gift cards, both in terms of the number of cards sold and the total revenue generated.
Redemption Rates: Track the redemption rates of the gift cards, as this can provide insights into customer engagement and the perceived value of the promotions.
Customer Acquisition: Determine how many new customers were acquired due to the gift card promotions and calculate the customer acquisition cost.
Customer Retention: Analyse the impact of the gift card promotions on customer retention, such as the number of repeat purchases or the lifetime value of customers who participated in the promotions.
Brand Awareness: Measure the impact of the gift card promotions on your brand's visibility and recognition, such as through social media engagement or website traffic.
Return on Investment (ROI): Calculate the overall ROI of your gift card promotion campaigns to understand their financial impact on your business.

Mistakes to Avoid When Running Gift Card Promotions

While gift card promotions can be a powerful tool, it's important to avoid common pitfalls that can undermine their effectiveness. Some mistakes to steer clear of include:

Lack of Clear Objectives: Failing to set specific, measurable goals for your gift card promotions can make it difficult to evaluate their success.
Poorly Designed Promotions: Promotions that are confusing, overly complex, or lack appeal to your target audience are unlikely to generate the desired results.
Insufficient Promotion and Visibility: If your customers are unaware of your gift card promotions, they won't be able to take advantage of them.
Neglecting to Track and Analyse Data: By carefully monitoring the performance of your gift card promotions, you will be able to make informed decisions about future campaigns.
Overlooking Redemption Challenges: Ensure your gift card redemption process is seamless and user-friendly to avoid frustrating customers.

Tools and Resources for Creating and Managing Gift Card Promotion Ideas

To help you create and manage your gift card promotions effectively, consider utilising the following tools and resources:

Gift Card Management Software: Specialised software can streamline designing, distributing, and tracking your gift card promotions.
Promotional Design Tools: Canva, Adobe Creative Cloud, or other design tools can help you create visually appealing and on-brand gift card designs.
Analytics and Reporting Platforms: Tools like Google Analytics, Mixpanel, or Segment can provide valuable insights into the performance of your gift card promotions.
Customer Engagement Platforms: Solutions like Mailchimp, Klaviyo, or Hubspot can help you effectively promote and communicate your gift card offers to your customers.
Industry Resources and Benchmarks: Explore industry publications, forums, and research reports to stay informed about the latest trends and best practices in gift card promotions.

Gift card Management system

Enjovia offers a comprehensive platform for selling gift cards with built-in tools for promotions and analytics, providing numerous benefits for businesses.

With Enjovia, you can easily create and manage enticing promotions to drive gift card sales, while also gaining valuable insights through their analytics tool to monitor the effectiveness of your campaigns.

This integrated approach not only empowers you to attract more customers through targeted promotions but also allows you to assess and improve the performance of your gift card initiatives for continued success.

Schedule a consultation with our marketing experts to unlock the full potential of gift card promotions for your business. We'll help you develop a customised strategy to boost sales, delight customers, and drive long-term growth. Contact us today to get started!

Conclusion: Harnessing the Power of Gift Card Promotions for Business Success

Gift card promotions are a versatile and powerful tool to help you drive sales, engage customers, and strengthen your brand.

By implementing creative and well-executed gift card campaigns, you can unlock a wealth of benefits for your business. Remember to set clear objectives, track your performance, and continuously optimise your strategies to ensure the maximum impact of your gift card promotions.

Embrace the power of gift card promotions and watch your business soar to new heights of success.

How can I promote my gift card sales?

Consider the type of business you have and the customers you want.

Make your promotions harmonious to the image of your branding.

For example, if you’re a business with high-end luxury buyers, running often BOGOF offers may cheapen your branding.

However, if sales for your type of business typically only boost at the holiday season, consider year-round attractive promotions that can attract buyers. This may include special discounted promotions or refer-a-friend deals.

How can I make my gift card more special?

Gift cards can be made more special in a few ways.

The gift card presentation. Some companies will sell their gift cards with luxurious boxing. Shopping around different options allows you to select a gift voucher with a better presentation choice. These usually come at an additional cost but will be worth it for the wow factor.

How to run a gift card promotion?

There are many ways to run a gift card promotion; these include:

Consider teaming up with an influencer
Take advantage of important events
Engage with your audience on social media
Incorporate gift cards into your website
Offer gift card giveaways
Implement a loyalty points program
Collect feedback from customers

How to increase gift card sales?

Encourage gift card sales by offering limited-time promotions, using countdown timers, and creating special gift card options for available products. These strategies can help drive more sales by enticing recipients to take action.

The Benefits Of Gift Cards For Employees

Recognising and rewarding employees is essential to fostering a positive work environment.

Among the myriad options available, gift cards for employees stand out for their versatility and potential to boost morale.

Whether acknowledging milestones, celebrating holidays, or just a simple gesture of appreciation, choosing the right gift cards can significantly impact employee satisfaction.

These tokens of appreciation are simple to distribute and cater to your team members' diverse tastes and preferences.

Understanding the nuances around gift cards for employees is essential.

These include:

Which are the best gift cards for employees
the tax implications for them
how much you can give an employee as a gift card

Benefits of Giving Gift Cards to Employees

Enhancing Employee Motivation

Gift cards serve as a powerful tool to boost employee motivation.

Studies have shown that non-cash rewards, such as gift cards, motivate employees, especially those performing at lower levels.

This is because gift cards create a more vivid and memorable reward experience. This is especially true compared to cash bonuses, often perceived as just an extension of salary.

Cash bonuses quickly absorb into daily expenses.

By offering gift cards, you're providing employees with something that feels like a special treat. Often providing a unique experience or purchasing something they can choose.

This tangible recognition can significantly enhance motivation and encourage employees to strive for excellence.

Fostering a Positive Work Environment

Giving gift cards to employees goes beyond a simple transaction. It fosters a positive work environment and strengthens employee and company bonds.

Recognising employees' hard work and achievements with gift cards creates a culture of appreciation and respect. It demonstrates that the company values their contributions, leading to increased morale and a sense of belonging.

Customise gift cards with your company's logo and colours through platforms like Enjovia. This way, you reinforce brand loyalty and create a visible reminder of the company's appreciation. Thus enhancing the overall work atmosphere.

Flexibility for Employees

One of the most appreciated aspects of gift cards is their flexibility. Employees cherish the autonomy to choose rewards aligning with their interests, preferences, and lifestyles. The power of choice ensures that the reward is meaningful and genuinely appreciated.

This flexibility also allows employees to take advantage of special sales, maximising the value of their gift cards. Generic gift cards add versatility and convenience.

You acknowledge their hard work and achievements by incorporating gift cards into your employee recognition program. Providing them with a flexible and meaningful reward enhances motivation, fosters a positive work environment, and offers unparalleled flexibility.

Top Gift Card Categories for Employees

Best gift cards for employees

When selecting gift cards for employees, it's essential to consider their diverse needs and interests. Here are some top categories to keep in mind:

Retail and Shopping

Gift cards for retail and shopping allow employees to purchase items from their favourite stores. Whether it's clothing, electronics, or home goods, these gift cards cater to various personal preferences and needs.

Dining and Food Delivery

Gift cards for restaurants, cafes, and food delivery services are perfect. Especially for those who appreciate good food or prefer the convenience of food delivery.

Entertainment

Entertainment gift cards are a popular style of employee reward.

They provide access to movies, music, and more, helping employees unwind and recharge. Whether it's a subscription to a streaming service or tickets to a movie theatre.

Entertainment gift cards are a thoughtful way to encourage relaxation and leisure.

Health and Wellness

Promoting self-care and work-life balance is crucial, and health and wellness gift cards can play a significant role.

These gift cards encourage employees to prioritise their physical and mental well-being. From fitness classes and spa treatments to wellness-related products.

Offering options for relaxation, stress reduction, and overall health enhancement, they're excellent for fostering a positive work environment.

Ensure the accessibility of the gift cards is easy. Look for a gift card system that is functional digitally—allowing virtual gift cards for employees!

Choosing a comprehensive gift card system like Enjovia allows employees to select gift cards from their preferred retailers. Significantly enhancing their employee award experience.

Best Practices for Implementing Gift Card Programs

Best gift cards for employees

Implementing a gift card program for your employees requires thoughtful planning and execution. Here are some best practices to ensure its success:

Choosing the Right Gift Card Provider

Selecting a reputable gift card system is crucial for the smooth operation of your program.

There are two types of gift card providers, one offers you gift cards of an existing network of providers, like amazon vouchers, others like Enjovia offers a comprehensive platform that allows you to generate your own vouchers or vouchers of your businesses local partners.

Enjovia allows for customisation and personalisation of gift cards. This ensures your employees receive a reward that feels special and valued. Look for providers that offer a wide range of brands and can cater to a global workforce if necessary.

Setting a Budget

Your employee recognition budget should reflect the diversity of accomplishments within your team. Break up your budget into smaller, more frequent recognitions instead of a large sum for a once-a-year event.

Use strong dashboards and analytics tools to review your recognition spend regularly. Be sure to maximise your budget throughout the year.

Personalising the Gifts

Understanding your employees' preferences is crucial in selecting the right gift cards.

Personalisation goes a long way in making each reward feel unique and meaningful. Use platforms that allow customisation with personal messages or various options to match the recipient's tastes.

This level of personalisation enhances the reward's value and strengthens the connection between your employees and the company.

Enjovia has a personalisation feature called ‘Add-ons’, which allows for customisation. With an extra choice of items or services added to your gift card.

For example, champagne on arrival or chocolate-dipped strawberries. You can read more about add-ons here.

Create unique experiences with gift voucher add-ons

Success Stories of Gift Card Programs

Gift card programs have been transformative in numerous organisations, enhancing employee engagement, loyalty, recognition, and retention. Let's explore some success stories highlighting the impact of these programs.

Improved Employee Retention

A pivotal aspect of gift card programs is their ability to improve retention rates significantly. Organisations have observed a reduced turnover cost and a higher retention rate by rewarding employees for their accomplishments. This shows the company's commitment to its employees and encourages them to stay longer.

Enhanced Job Satisfaction

Gift cards contribute to a positive work environment where employees feel appreciated and recognised for their efforts. This recognition boosts their job satisfaction, engagement, and motivation.

You could provide gift cards to employees each December as a token of appreciation for a successful year. Providing holiday gift cards for employees makes them feel recognised and appreciated, significantly enhancing job satisfaction.

Boosted Productivity

Employee gift card programs have shown to drive performance and productivity.

When we recognise and reward employees for their achievements, it motivates them to continue delivering exceptional results.

Using employee gift cards as incentives can fuel friendly rivalries and motivate employees to excel. This approach has improved individual and team performance, benefiting the organisation's overall success.

Enjovia's gift card system can streamline managing programs, making personalising and distributing rewards easier.

Gift card programs offer a memorable experience shared with loved ones. They have also proven to be a valuable investment for organisations looking to enhance employee well-being.

Conclusion

When considering gift card programs for employee recognition, it's important to choose the right system to maximise the benefits.

Incorporating a tool like Enjovia simplifies the distribution and customisation process and significantly impacts recognition programs' overall success.

This choice ensures appreciation goes beyond a transaction and creates a lasting sense of employee value and belonging.

Organisations should use a reliable gift card system for a seamless and impactful recognition process.

Unique gift cards for employees are simple and easy with Enjovia. Contact Enjovia to set up a free store in minutes. - Marking the beginning of a transformed employee recognition journey that is meaningful and memorable.

FAQs

Why Are Gift Cards Beneficial for Employees?

Q: What makes gift cards an effective reward for employees?

A: Gift cards are highly effective in incentive and recognition programs. This is because they offer tangible rewards for specific achievements or performance. This motivates employees to excel by giving them a clear goal and a desirable reward.

Q: Are gift cards for employees taxable?

A: Yes, gift cards are considered equivalent to cash and, therefore, must be reported as taxable income. To ensure tax exemption for employee benefits, the provided benefits must meet specific criteria:

cost not exceeding £50 per employee
non-cash form
not part of a contractual arrangement
not given for specific services
limited exemption for 'close' companies.

See more here for gift card taxation UK.

Q: Why might employers prefer giving gift cards over cash?

A: Employers may choose gift cards over cash as they provide more than monetary value. Gift cards can offer an experience or memory. Making them a powerful tool for building relationships and engaging with employees meaningfully.

Q: What are the advantages of using gift cards?

A: Gift cards are advantageous because they can be an alternative payment method to cash or credit cards. That’s why they’re often used for holidays or special occasions. They also help control spending, which can help manage finances and avoid overdrafts.

Can you give gift cards to employees?

Yes, you can give gift cards to employees as a thoughtful gesture or recognition of their hard work. Just make sure to comply with any company policies or tax regulations regarding gift-giving to employees.

For federal gift card law, read here:

https://enjovia.com/gift-card-expiration-date-federal-law/

Can you give employees gift cards in the UK?

Yes, you can give employees gift cards in the UK. However, it's essential to familiarise yourself with the specific tax and employment laws regarding gifts and benefits in the UK to ensure compliance. Check out UK gift card law here: https://enjovia.com/gift-card-refund-law/

How much should a gift card be for an employee?

The amount for a gift card for an employee can vary depending on the occasion and the company's budget.

Considering the significance of the event or achievement being recognised is essential.

A more substantial gift card amount may be appropriate for milestone achievements or major holidays.

In contrast, a modest amount can convey the sentiment effectively for more minor gestures of appreciation. Ultimately, the gift card's value should reflect the appreciation and recognition you want to express for the employee.

How to Increase Revenue in a Hotel: Proven Methods for Success

How to increase revenue in a hotel?

Running a hotel is demanding, and challenging day-to-day operations can divert your attention from the bigger picture. In this post, we have listed proactive strategies to implement in your hotel that will significantly increase your revenue.

So, without further ado, let’s dive straight into it.

Focus on Customer Satisfaction

88% of customers are willing to pay more for a better experience, and your guests' experience goes beyond your hotel's walls.

To leave a lasting impression, handling queries and complaints effectively is crucial. Shockingly, for every 26 unhappy customers, only one will voice their complaint.

Most unhappy customers won't voice their complaints, so using the slim opportunity to salvage poor experiences is essential.

Customers are more active on social media, and it's more convenient for them to contact you on these platforms.

Responding appropriately on social media and review websites is crucial as they play a significant role in customer decision-making.

Most customers trust a business more when they come across favourable reviews. Answering a complaint via social media can increase customer advocacy by 25%.

1. Elevating Customer Satisfaction

Customer satisfaction is the cornerstone of a successful hotel business. By prioritising guest experiences, you ensure repeat bookings and attract new customers through positive word-of-mouth and online reviews.

Social Media Engagement:

In today's digital age, social media platforms are powerful tools for customer engagement.

Beyond providing customer service, platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram offer opportunities to showcase your hotel's unique features and engage with potential guests personally.

Responding promptly to queries and feedback demonstrates your commitment to customer satisfaction and can turn a negative experience into a positive one.

Feedback Utilisation:

Actively soliciting and utilising guest feedback is essential for continuous improvement.

Whether through post-stay surveys, online reviews, or direct interactions, collecting guest insights allows you to identify areas for enhancement and tailor your services to meet guest preferences.

Implementing changes based on feedback demonstrates responsiveness and a commitment to guest satisfaction, ultimately leading to higher ratings and increased revenue.

2. Enhancing Booking Systems and Website Functionality

A seamless booking experience is crucial for converting website visitors into paying guests. By optimising your booking systems and website functionality, you can streamline the reservation process and encourage direct bookings.

Booking Engine Integration:

Investing in a user-friendly booking engine simplifies the reservation process for guests and provides valuable data for targeted marketing efforts.

A robust booking engine should offer real-time availability, secure payment processing, and your property management system (PMS) integration.

You can personalise marketing communications and offer tailored promotions to drive conversions by capturing customer data at the booking stage.

Website Optimisation:

Your hotel website serves as the digital storefront for your property, making it essential to optimise for usability and conversion.

A mobile-responsive design ensures a seamless browsing experience across devices while intuitive navigation and clear calls-to-action guide visitors through the booking process.

In addition to showcasing room rates and amenities, consider incorporating virtual tours, guest reviews, and special offers to entice potential guests and differentiate your property from competitors.

3. Leveraging Social Media and Content Strategy

Social media platforms offer unparalleled opportunities for hoteliers to connect with guests, showcase their property, and drive bookings. By developing a comprehensive social media and content strategy, you can engage with travellers throughout their journey and inspire them to choose your hotel for their next stay.

Social Media Presence:

Maintaining an active presence on popular social media platforms allows you to engage with existing and potential guests personally.

Share captivating visual content, such as photos and videos of your property and local attractions, to showcase your hotel's unique experiences.

Encourage user-generated content by reposting guest photos and reviews, and leverage social media advertising to reach new audiences and promote special offers.

Content Marketing:

In addition to social media, content marketing plays a crucial role in attracting and engaging travellers online.

Create informative and visually appealing content, such as blog posts, destination guides, and video tours, to showcase your hotel's amenities and highlight local attractions.

By providing valuable information and insider tips, you can position your hotel as a trusted resource for travellers and drive organic traffic to your website.

4. Personalised Guest Interactions

In today's competitive hospitality landscape, personalised guest interactions can set your hotel apart and foster long-term loyalty. By leveraging technology and data insights, you can anticipate guest needs and deliver customised experiences that exceed expectations.

Guest Messaging Technology:

Adopting guest messaging technology allows you to communicate with guests in real time throughout their stay, from pre-arrival to post-departure.

Whether through SMS, email, or messaging apps, you can provide personalised recommendations, address guest inquiries, and resolve issues promptly.

You can enhance the overall guest experience and cultivate loyalty by offering proactive assistance and anticipating guest needs.

Customised Welcome Experiences:

Make a memorable first impression by welcoming guests with personalised touches upon arrival.

Small gestures can go a long way in making guests feel valued and appreciated, whether it's a handwritten note, a complimentary upgrade, or a special amenity based on guest preferences.

By taking the time to understand each guest's preferences and anticipating their needs, you can create memorable experiences that inspire loyalty and positive reviews.

5. Staff Empowerment and Upselling

Your hotel staff are your greatest asset in delivering exceptional guest experiences and driving revenue. By empowering your staff with the tools and training they need to excel, you can create a culture of hospitality that sets your hotel apart from the competition.

Training and Incentives:

Invest in ongoing training and development programs to equip your staff with the knowledge and skills they need to deliver exceptional service.

Provide opportunities for frontline staff to learn about the property, its amenities, and local attractions, empowering them to provide personalised recommendations and anticipate guest needs.

Recognise and reward high-performing staff members with incentives such as bonuses, recognition programs, or opportunities for career advancement. By fostering a culture of excellence and incentivising performance, you can motivate your staff to go above and beyond to delight guests and drive revenue.

Front-of-House Upselling:

Empower your front-of-house staff to upsell hotel products and services to guests during their stay.

Whether promoting room upgrades, spa treatments, or dining experiences, encourage staff to identify opportunities to enhance the guest experience and increase revenue.

Provide training and scripting to help staff confidently communicate upsell offers, overcome objections, and incentivise upselling with performance-based rewards or commissions.

You can drive incremental revenue and create memorable guest experiences that inspire loyalty by leveraging your frontline staff as brand ambassadors.

6. Direct Booking Enhancement

Direct bookings offer numerous benefits for hoteliers, including higher profit margins, greater control over pricing and inventory, and enhanced guest relationships. By optimising your direct booking strategies, you can reduce reliance on third-party channels and maximise revenue.

Website Optimisation:

Your hotel website is your most valuable asset for driving direct bookings, making it essential to optimise for usability, performance, and conversion. Ensure your website is mobile-responsive, fast-loading, and easy to navigate, with clear calls-to-action and intuitive booking forms.

Highlight the unique features and benefits of booking directly through your website, such as the best available rates, exclusive offers, and loyalty rewards.

Leverage persuasive messaging and visual elements to capture attention and encourage visitors to book directly rather than through third-party channels.

Digital Marketing:

In addition to your website, digital marketing is crucial in driving traffic and conversions for direct bookings.

Develop targeted marketing campaigns across channels such as search engines, social media, email, and display advertising to reach potential guests at every stage of their journey.

Utilise data-driven insights and segmentation to personalise messaging and offers based on guest preferences and behaviour.

Implement retargeting and remarketing tactics to re-engage website visitors who have shown interest but need to complete a booking.

Combining strategic targeting with compelling creative and messaging can drive qualified traffic to your website and incentivise direct bookings.

7. Sustainability and Community Engagement

Incorporating sustainability practices and engaging with the local community can enhance your hotel's reputation, attract environmentally conscious travellers, and drive revenue.

Green Initiatives:

Take proactive steps to minimise your hotel's environmental footprint by implementing energy-efficient practices, reducing waste, and promoting conservation efforts.

Invest in eco-friendly technologies and infrastructure, such as LED lighting, smart thermostats, and water-saving fixtures, to reduce resource consumption and operating costs.

8. Offer unique and high-quality experiences

Having a worthwhile experience is one of the top preferences for consumers when it comes to spending their money. A great experience is now favoured over physical goods.

This is a big win for hotels!

Offer gift experience vouchers:

So make the most of this by offering your service as an ‘experience’. What is the best way to do this? Through offering gift vouchers. Gift vouchers are a fast-track way to increase hotel revenue. One of our customers The Celtic Manor Resort went from making £700,000 in voucher sales to £2.3m in just a couple of years.

Through our own figures, we have found that,

Increased Revenue: 10%-15% of all gift vouchers expire. This is revenue directly to your bottom line without ever having to pay out for the costs of goods sold.
Increased Brand Awareness: 60% of consumers say they’ve been introduced to a new brand through a gift voucher and 17.7% have become regular customers as a result.
Increased Customer Spending: 72.1% of consumers spend more than the value of the voucher, adding 55% on top of the average value of the card itself

Combine your hotel experience with external events and activities in your local area:

A fantastic way to get guests swarming to your hotel over the competition is to combine tickets for local events with your hotel services. Work with local theatres, activity centres and so on to create bespoke and unique experiences. So if there is a wildly popular show in your local city, offer an experience package including a ticket, overnight stay, transport and an evening meal.

Inform your guests!

It’s so important to make sure your guests know about your experiences. There are many ways to do it, which we have already covered in this post.

Display it on your website.
Post about it on social media.
Instant message your guests in-house.
Front-of-house staff to upsell.

As you can see, there are many ways to increase hotel revenue. You just need to make bold decisions and implement proactive solutions like the ones we have covered in this post.

For more information on boosting your hotel's revenue, get in touch here and see how we can help!

FAQs

1. What strategies can be implemented to boost revenue in a hotel?

Here are 10 effective tactics to boost your hotel revenue:

Make online booking easy and hassle-free.
Cultivate a revenue-focused culture within your hotel.
Offer additional hotel products and services to guests.
Take advantage of local events and attractions to attract more guests.
Encourage guests to book directly to avoid third-party fees.
Prioritise distribution channels that offer better revenue management opportunities.
Hire employees who share your hotel's revenue goals.
Respond to market demand with relevant and timely offerings.
Leverage data and analytics to optimise revenue strategies.
Continuously innovate and improve to stay ahead of the competition.

2. How can hotels generate additional revenue beyond room sales?

Hotels can boost their revenue by providing extra products and services to their guests. These offerings may include gift cards, food and drink options, spa treatments, early check-in options, and event-hosting services. Hotels can significantly improve the guest experience by providing such services while increasing their revenue.

3. What does a hotel revenue strategy entail?

To maximise profits, a hotel must have a revenue strategy that considers market trends and traveller demand. This involves adjusting pricing and inventory to optimise occupancy and revenue. For example, it may be advantageous to hold back on booking a room for one night during high-demand periods to increase the rate for the following day.

We hope you found this post on how to increase revenue in a hotel helpful. Check out our post on how to sell hotel vouchers as gifts for more revenue-generating ideas.

Gift card expiration law

If you're a small or independent business in the US, you'll find this post helpful. In this blog post, we discuss the gift card expiration law.

(For UK gift card law, see here).

Find out how to sell gift cards while complying with federal and state gift card laws.

We will also discuss how the federal Credit Card Act affects your business and what types of gift cards are affected.

Please note! This post is just a general overview to help understand the federal act. It should in no way be considered legal advice or legal counsel. We recommend that you get your advisors on the law before proceeding.

Why do gift cards expire?

Gift cards expire for a simple reason: the company can make more revenue from unused cards.

However, federal protection is in place for consumers for up to 5 years after purchasing the gift card.

Gift card expiration date federal law

Why did Congress introduce gift card expiration date Federal law?

Federal Congress introduced the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009.

(Otherwise known as the Credit CARD Act of 2009).

As of 2009, federal congress updated consumer protection law to regulate credit cards, including gift cards and gift certificates.

It came about to prevent large companies from abusing the credit card system.

These companies jacked up interest rates in previous years without warning their customers. This practice was even extended to gift cards, where companies applied inactivity fees on gift cards that weren’t used within a certain time frame.

This resulted in many gift cards draining their balance before consumers got around to spending them. It was also seen as unfair to put a short expiry date on gift cards, which resulted in many consumers' cards expiring before they finally got around to using them.

What are the biggest changes to gift cards and certificates?

The biggest changes around selling gift cards are the lengthened expiry dates. All monetary gift cards have to be valid for a minimum of 5 years in the US. The legislation has decided that a fair length of time to allow consumers to spend their gift cards is a minimum of 60 months.

Consequences of violating the Credit Card Act of 2009

There are severe consequences for violating the terms of the Credit Card Act, which can result in excessive fines of between $500 and $5000 for each violation.

But don’t fret! Read on to learn how to sell gift cards ethically and lawfully and avoid those big fines.

To understand what you can do, we first need to define gift cards and establish the different types of gift cards you will sell for your business.

What is a gift card?

Gift cards are generally defined as the same thing across North America. However, reviewing and pinpointing precisely what a gift card means regarding laws and legislation is essential because different rules can apply in various states. Let’s take a look.

The federal law groups gift cards, gift certificates, gift vouchers and gift experiences as the following in the Credit CARD Act of 2009

Gift certificate means a card, code, or another device that is:

Issued on a prepaid basis primarily for personal, family, or household purposes to a consumer in a specified amount that may not be increased or reloaded in exchange for payment; and
Redeemable upon presentation at a single merchant or an affiliated group of merchants for goods or services.

Store gift card means a card, code, or another device that is:

Issued on a prepaid basis primarily for personal, family, or household purposes to a consumer in a specified amount, whether or not that amount may be increased or reloaded, in exchange for payment; and
Redeemable upon presentation at a single merchant or an affiliated group of merchants for goods or services.

State definitions of gift cards

There are also state definitions. Here are a few examples of definitions by states

Florida

"Gift certificate" means a certificate, gift card, stored value card, or similar instrument issued in exchange for monetary consideration when the certificate, card, or similar instrument is redeemable for merchandise, food, or services regardless of whether any cash may be paid to the owner of the certificate, card, or instrument as part of the redemption transaction.

Hawaii

“Gift certificate" or "certificate" includes any electronic card with a banked dollar value where the issuer has received payment for the full banked dollar value for the future purchase or delivery of goods or services.

Any certificate where the issuer has received payment for the total face value of the certificate for future purchases or delivery of goods or services and any other medium that evidences the giving of consideration in exchange for the right to redeem the certificate, electronic card, or other medium for goods, food, or services of at least an equal value.

Arizona

"Gift card" means any gift certificate, gift card or, electronic gift card or any other medium issued or sold after October 31, 2005, for which the issuer has received payment for the full face value or full banked dollar value of the card for the future purchase or delivery of goods or services.”

Find out what your state refers to as a gift card.

To make it easier to digest the law and legislation around gift cards, we like to split our gift card types into two categories and simplify our definition:

Monetary gift cards (denominated)
Experience gift cards

Monetary Gift Card

A monetary gift card is a general-use prepaid card with a monetary value (denomination amount) specified on the card. For example, a $50 gift card.

Experience Gift Card

An experience gift card is a general-use prepaid card with no monetary value specified; instead, it describes a service, such as a 50-minute full-body massage.

What kind of gift cards are subject to the card act?

This brings us to our next question. Which type of gift cards apply to the Credit CARD Act of 2009?

Gift cards with a specified denomination of dollars to spend MUST adhere to the Credit CARD Act of 2009!

To clarify, if you sell a gift card with a monetary amount (e.g. $50), you must now comply with federal law. However, there are a few exceptions.

Exceptions to the Gift Card Act

Experience gift cards

If you're in the service and experience industry, you're lucky.

Experience gift cards are EXEMPT from the Credit CARD Act of 2009!

To clarify: Experience gift cards (which are defined as gift cards or certificates issued for a specific good, service or experience that DO NOT have a specific monetary amount to spend) are EXEMPT from federal law.

However, exemption from federal law still requires you to abide by your state law for further expiration restrictions. Check out your state law here by just typing your state into the search bar.

Statutory exclusions

If your monetary gift cards are subject to federal law, they may still qualify for an exclusion under these "statutory exclusions". Which are:

Useable solely for telephone services;
Reloadable and not marketed or labelled as a gift card or gift certificate;
A loyalty, award, or promotional gift card;
Not marketed to the general public;
Issued in paper form only; or
Redeemable solely for admission to events or venues.

We must clarify: Issued in paper form is ONLY issued by paper form. If the gift card was printed via an electronic sale online or at a retailer’s physical location, where an electronic copy can be sent via email or printed, this does not qualify.

Gift certificate restrictions

Exemption from federal law, what to do next…

If your gift cards are exempt from the federal Credit Card Act, you MUST refer to your state law.

Read more about gift card individual state law.

Federal gift card regulations

State Law vs Federal Law

You need to do some homework and find out if your state law is more or less restrictive on expiration dates than the federal law of 5 years (60 months).

If your state law expiration dates are MORE than 5 years:

If your state law has a longer expiration date than five years, then the federal law won’t affect you much, and you’ll need to adhere to your state law.

Generally, federal law does pre-empt state law. But in the case of consumer protection, the Credit Card Act only pre-empts state law when they are inconsistent with its protections.

For example, states like California and Florida have prohibited expiration dates. In these cases, expiration dates are not allowed on gift cards, as this is best for consumers, not businesses.

If your state law expiration dates are LESS than 5 years:

If your state law has a shorter expiration date on monetary gift cards (denominated amount) than the federal law, then there are a few things for you to consider:

Switch the monetary gift card to the expiry date of 5 years to comply with the overriding state law.
Amend your monetary-value gift cards to ‘experience gift cards’. This way, the experience gift card can have your own state's expiration date.

For example, if your state expiration date is two years, an experience gift card, such as a “50-minute massage” (with no monetary value specified on the gift card), can expire in a year.

However, you must allow the amount paid for the gift card to be available for the two-year expiration date, which is required by state minimum terms.

However, you MUST clarify the expiration date on the gift experience card.

Setting your gift card expiration dates- gift card expiration law

Setting the expiration dates on your gift cards is a very important aspect and one you should not get wrong. If you don’t display an expiry date, then, according to some states, there is no expiry date.

Here are some ideas for setting expiration dates that comply with gift card legislation and law.

Monetary value gift cards

Please clearly set only one expiry date on your gift card, either the federal five-year amount or your state's minimum term (if it is longer than five years).

Exceptions are states that prohibit expiration dates; unfortunately, you won’t be able to set an expiry date if this is the case.

Experience gift cards

For service or experience gift cards, you could consider two dates.

The first date must be the time frame in which you’ll honour the service. You could call this “Use by [date]".

For example, 12 months is an appropriate length of time to let service or experiences expire, as it gives the consumer a fair amount of time to use the gift card.

The second expiration date needs to be the state's minimum expiration date to refund the amount paid for the gift card. You could call this "Funds valid until [date]."

For example, New Jersey has a minimum expiration date of 24 months following the date of the sale.

For states with no expiry required, you only need to apply the initial expiration date of the service.

For example, the state of Utah only requires you to make the expiration date clear on the gift card. In this case, only the first expiration date needs to apply.

Getting started with gift cards

If you have been put off by the laws and legislation surrounding gift cards, don’t let them frighten you. The benefits of selling gift cards and gift experiences far outweigh the initial research and legal advice you need to seek to begin your journey.

One of our clients, The Celtic Manor Resort, has grown experience gift card sales from $850k to $2.9 million per year! As you’ll see, the results are worth it.

At Enjovia, we solve your gift card problems and help you get on the right track. Just get in touch, and you can begin selling your services as gift experiences today!

Must-Try Gift Voucher Ideas: Strategies for Success

In this blog post we delve into the gifting landscape, inspiring you with innovative gift voucher ideas.

One of the most effective ways to retain customers is by providing them with personalised buying experiences.

By tailoring your approach to specific needs and preferences, you demonstrate value and commitment to their unique requirements.

This can help build a more profound sense of loyalty and trust, leading to increased customer retention.

One of the best techniques for leveraging these strategies is to sell gift vouchers.

Creating gift vouchers around highly searched terms

Targeting keywords streamlines the purchasing process. Customers can quickly find what they want, saving time and effort. It also helps businesses appear higher in search engine results, increasing visibility and sales.

This strategy positions you favourably in a competitive market. Leveraging the power of digital convenience and security in transactions enhances overall customer satisfaction and engagement with your brand.

To determine favourable keywords, install a browser extension such as Keywords Everywhere. This will help you decide which keywords your potential customers use regarding gift vouchers.

Benefits of Offering Gift Vouchers

Gift vouchers offer a multitude of benefits for businesses aiming to expand their market reach and enhance customer engagement:

Promote Brand Awareness and Customer Acquisition

The global gift card market is expected to grow to $1.4 trillion by 2026, underscored by the potential for businesses to tap into this lucrative segment.

Boost Sales and Improve Cash Flow

Gift card sales provide immediate cash flow. This is crucial for operational expenses and guarantees sales before merchandise leaves the store.

Enhance Customer Loyalty and Retention

Offering gift vouchers can enhance customer loyalty and retention by providing a personalised buying experience that shows customers you value them as individuals.

Creative Gift Voucher Ideas That Drive Sales

Exploring creative gift voucher ideas can significantly drive sales and enhance customer engagement. Here are some innovative strategies:

Seasonal Campaigns:

Valentine's Day Gift Card Campaign: Capture the spirit of love by offering themed gift cards.
Holiday-Special Gift Card Campaign: Tailor gift vouchers for Christmas, New Year's, and other holidays to boost seasonal sales.

Customer Appreciation:

Gift Cards for VIP Customers: Reward your top spenders with exclusive gift vouchers.

Engagement and Acquisition:

Refer a Friend Giveaway: Encourage word-of-mouth marketing by offering a gift card as a prize for referrals.
Acquisition Gift Card Campaign: Attract new customers with gift cards as an incentive to check out your offers.

With these strategies, businesses can create a more personalised shopping experience. - Encouraging both new and repeat customers to engage with their brand.

Best gift voucher ideas

In the realm of gift-giving, versatility and personalisation reign supreme.

Here are some of the best gift voucher ideas designed to delight:

Gift voucher ideas

Gift Experiences for Couples

Template Idea: "Together Forever"—Offer options like a romantic dinner, couple's spa day, or a weekend getaway, emphasising shared experiences.

Last Minute Presents for Her

Template Idea: "Instant Joy" - Design vouchers that can be immediately emailed or printed, featuring a variety of choices from beauty services to online courses. Lean heavily into digital vouchers from using an online gift voucher store.

These templates simplify the gifting process while ensuring recipients feel valued and understood, enhancing the overall experience of both giving and receiving.

Birthday Ideas for Her

Template Idea: "Celebrate You" - This voucher can be themed around pampering and luxury, offering options like a day at the spa, a shopping spree at her favourite boutique, or a gourmet dining experience. The emphasis is on making her feel special and celebrated.

Experience Days for Her

Template Idea: "Adventure Awaits" - Focus on thrilling and unforgettable experiences, such as hot air balloon rides, pottery classes, or wine-tasting tours. This is perfect for a woman who loves to try new things and create memories.

Best Gift Cards to Give a Woman

Template Idea: "The Choice is Yours" - A versatile voucher that provides many options, from cooking courses to spa days. This template is designed to cater to her unique tastes and interests.

These template ideas are crafted to offer a personalised and thoughtful gifting experience, ensuring that the recipient feels valued and understood.

Best gift vouchers for him

Template Idea: “Mister's Must-Haves” - Finding the perfect gift for him can sometimes be challenging, but gift vouchers offer a versatile solution that caters to various interests and preferences.

All-in-one gift vouchers

"All-in-One Gift Vouchers" offer versatile and personalised gifting solutions. These vouchers are perfect for any occasion and preference, making them an ideal gift for everyone. Here's a closer look at how these vouchers can be structured:

Template Idea: "The Ultimate Choice"

Description: This template empowers the recipient to choose from various options, including dining, shopping, entertainment, and more.
Customisation Options: Allow givers to personalise the voucher with a message, select the design, and choose the delivery method (email or physical delivery).

Benefits of All-in-One Gift Vouchers:

Flexibility: Recipients enjoy the freedom to select their preferred experience or product.
Convenience: Perfect for last-minute gifting without compromising on thoughtfulness.
Broad Appeal: Suitable for various demographics, interests, and occasions.
Unique Packages: An all-in-one gift voucher can encompass a few different services wrapped in one experience for a memorable experience with no need for the recipient to spend extra cash on other services. For example, an overnight stay with a three-course dinner and a 50-minute treatment in the spa for two.

How to Use:

Step 1: Purchase the voucher and customise it according to the occasion.
Step 2: The recipient explores the options available under the voucher.
Step 3: They redeem the voucher for their chosen experience or product.

These all-encompassing vouchers are designed to simplify the gifting process while ensuring a memorable and enjoyable experience for the recipient.

Gift voucher template

Given the unique request to create gift voucher templates for each keyword, let's dive into how to design an effective template that caters to various preferences and occasions. The focus here will be on versatility and personalisation, ensuring that your gift vouchers appeal to a wide audience.

Template Design Basics:

Header: Boldly state the voucher's purpose, e.g., "Happy Birthday!" or "A Special Gift for You!"
Body: Include a brief description of the voucher's offer, such as "Choose your adventure from dining, entertainment, or relaxation."
Customisation Area: Leave space for personal messages or the recipient's name to add a personal touch.

Redemption Instructions:

Step 1: Visit [YourWebsite.com] to explore available experiences/products.
Step 2: Select your preferred option and proceed to checkout.
Step 3: Enter the unique voucher code at checkout to redeem your gift.

Terms and Conditions:

Highlight key points like the voucher's expiry date, any blackout dates (if applicable), and whether it's transferable.

By following this structure, you create a comprehensive and user-friendly gift voucher template that enhances the gifting experience while ensuring clarity on how to enjoy its benefits.

Gift experiences for couples

If you're looking for gift voucher ideas for couples, consider their interests and passions. This will help you create experiences that are genuinely tailored to their preferences.

These experiences and vouchers provide a unique opportunity for couples to bond over shared activities, whether seeking adventure, relaxation, or a personalised memento of their relationship.

Couples voucher ideas

One idea is to offer adventure-based experiences, such as hot air balloon rides or skydiving. These can be great options for couples who love pushing themselves outside their comfort zones and creating unforgettable memories.

For those who prefer a more relaxed atmosphere, consider offering experiences like spa days or vineyard tours. These can be great options for couples who enjoy taking time to unwind and enjoy each other's company.

Another unique idea is offering customised journals or other gifts that cater to the couple's interests. For example, if a couple enjoys cooking together, you could offer a cooking class or a customised cookbook.

Ultimately, the key to creating a unique couples voucher is to think outside the box and offer experiences tailored to their interests and preferences. By doing so, you'll be sure to create unforgettable memories they'll cherish for years.

Conclusion

As demonstrated, gift vouchers' potential lies in their ability to mirror consumers' evolving preferences while providing a seamless and secure transaction experience. For businesses looking to implement or refine their voucher strategies, ensuring a blend of creativity, convenience, and customisation will be key to unlocking new avenues of growth and customer loyalty.

For a deeper dive into effectively harnessing the power of gift vouchers or to explore custom voucher solutions tailored to your business needs, feel welcome to reach out to us here.

This exploration has validated the meaningful impact of well-orchestrated gift voucher strategies on customer relationships and business growth, setting the stage for innovative engagement and enduring success.

Gift card refund law

Navigating the Gift Card Refund Law: What You Need to Know

‍Gift cards, gift vouchers, gift certificates, and gift experiences have become increasingly popular options for gifting. They offer flexibility and choice to the recipient, allowing them to select their desired items or experiences.

This comprehensive guide will delve into the gift card refund law. Gift voucher rules in the UK, consumer rights regarding gift vouchers, and more.

For the gift card Law in the US, please see our post, gift card expiration law.

What are the different types of gift cards?

Before exploring the legalities, let's first understand the various types of gift cards available in the market. There are four primary types:

Gift Experiences

Gift experiences are a service consumers can redeem in exchange for a token bought beforehand. The token can be a paper card or digital code sent to an email address.

Gift card

Gift cards are monetary value plastic cards used to purchase goods from a retail store.

However, in the US, they can also represent the exchange of services in the form of ‘experiences’. (As the gift experience description fits above.)

Gift Vouchers

Gift vouchers are a term most frequently used in the UK. They can be either a gift experience or a monetary gift card. They are used interchangeably.

Gift Certificates

In the US, gift certificates are used the same way gift vouchers are used in the UK.

Voucher vs coupon

Gift coupon

A gift coupon is a voucher that entitles the holder to a particular discount or offer.

Similarly, gift coupons like gift vouchers offer discounts or special deals. Businesses issue gift coupons to promote their products or services, while consumers purchase gift vouchers as gifts for others.

Now that we understand the different types of gift card names, let's delve into the regulations surrounding them.

For ease of reading this blog post, we will interchange the terms gift cards and gift vouchers.

Gift voucher law

Companies can find the rules around gift vouchers confusing and discouraging due to conflicting information.

Existing expiry date on gift vouchers law

Companies wanting to offer their products and services through gift vouchers have an easier time in the UK. There is no law in the UK set around the expiration date on gift vouchers.

The laws around expiration dates can get complicated for other countries.

US companies must follow the federal gift card law, which sets a minimum expiry date of 5 years for gift cards.

However, US companies selling experience gift vouchers are exempt from the 5-year expiration date law. See how it gets confusing? Check out how state law affects gift card expiration dates! For more details on US federal law, read our post on gift card expiration date federal law.

The Consumer Protection Gift Vouchers Act 2019

Ireland's updated Consumer Protection Act 2019 provides extra safeguards for gift vouchers sold from 2 Dec 2019.

Under this legislation, some restrictions exist around selling gift vouchers for consumer protection.

The Irish regulations include:

A minimum 5-year expiry date for all gift vouchers or have no expiry date
The expiry date must be clearly communicated to the consumer
Traders cannot require vouchers to be spent all at once if the remaining balance is more than €1.
The remaining balance of the gift voucher shall be reimbursed either in cash or another gift voucher
Prohibits traders from charging a fee for amending the names of the consumers named on the voucher

However, interestingly enough, these rules do not apply to electronic money gift cards.

Electronic money gift cards are regulated under the European Communities (Electronic Money) Regulations 2011.

However, this legislation has no law on expiration dates for electronic gift cards.

Consumer Rights Gift Vouchers UK

Gift vouchers must include accurate information about terms and conditions, including expiry date, as per the act. Misleading or inaccurate information on a gift voucher can entitle the consumer to a refund or replacement.

Expired vouchers consumer rights

Don't despair yet if you find yourself with an expired gift voucher.

While the regulations surrounding expired vouchers can vary, it is worth exploring your options.

Sometimes, retailers may still accept expired vouchers as a gesture of goodwill. Try contacting the retailer directly and explaining the situation to see if they will honour the voucher.

Retailers may offer extension vouchers for consumers to extend their product usage for a few more months.

My gift card expired, what can I do?

If your gift card has expired, there are a few steps you can take to recover the value potentially:

Contact the retailer:

Reach out to the retailer and explain the situation. Some retailers may agree to extend the expiry date or provide an option to extend the gift card usage by selling a gift card extension voucher.

Check the terms and conditions:

Review the terms and conditions of the gift card to ensure that it was sold with a specific expiry date.

Be familiar with the Consumer Rights Act 2015 and the Consumer Protection (Gift Vouchers) Act 2019.

Expiry Date on Gift Vouchers Law

In the UK, there is no law on the expiration dates of gift vouchers.

This means that retailers can sell gift vouchers for their products and services and can set their expiration date as they please.

What do the numbers on a gift card mean?

The numbers on a gift card typically serve different purposes, including identification, security, and transaction tracking. Here is a breakdown of the common numbers you may find on a gift card:

Card Number:

This unique number identifies the specific gift card. It is often used for tracking purposes and to link the card to its associated value. Some companies may also use an additional QR code to make the redemption process quicker and smoother.

Activation Code:

Some gift cards may have an activation code that needs to be entered or scanned to activate the card. This code ensures that the card is valid and ready for use

Is it legal to put an expiry date on a gift voucher?

Yes, in the UK, putting an expiry date on a gift voucher is legal. There is no required amount of time before the voucher must expire. This means that if customers fail to spend their vouchers within the required time frame, the company will keep the full revenue from the voucher.

Should gift cards have an expiration date?

Gift cards can expire in the UK. However, there is no act requiring companies to set an expiration date for a certain length of time.

Unlike in other parts in of the world like the US or Ireland.

Resources for learning more about gift card refund laws - enjovia

Enjovia is a leading provider of gift card and voucher solutions in the UK.

From articles to FAQs, Enjovia provides valuable insights into the regulations and best practices surrounding gift cards and vouchers.

Enjovia's website offers a helpful knowledge base on gift card refund laws. For US gift card law, see here.

How to be an ethical company regarding gift voucher expiry dates?

1. Make your expiry dates clear on the voucher itself

Consumers are more worried about gift cards expiring before they can be used than they were pre-pandemic. Resulting in 26.5% of consumers seeing this as a reason not to buy. This is up from 20.9% in 2020.

- The Gift Card & Voucher Association

However, an easy way to combat this is to have a clear expiration date on your gift voucher.

The person buying your gift vouchers will more than likely give it to someone as a gift. So it may be good to inform the purchaser of the validity date, but the receiver needs to know when they can spend their voucher.

By clearly displaying this information on the voucher itself, whether paper, card, or electronic, you’ll be covering your back in case of future guest complaints or complications related to expired vouchers.

Plus, you'll give consumers the confidence to spend the voucher well within the expiration date.

2. Make the expiry date laws clear

From the parliament petitions, it's obvious that consumers have an issue when they feel deceived by a voucher's validity. Therefore, the easy solution is for retailers to be transparent about the expiry details on their vouchers.

State in small print on your voucher your terms and conditions around the voucher. Include the expiry date, where and how to book (if for a service), that it is not refundable and whatever else you feel is necessary to make clear.

For example, you may want your vouchers with a monetary value to be spent all in one transaction and not part-redeemed.

3. Offer extension vouchers for expired vouchers

There are so many vouchers which expire. Many people put them away in a ‘safe place’ but out of sight out of mind found again too late.

In 2017, £300 million worth of gift vouchers bought went unspent, according to official Gov.uk reports.

With the gift voucher industry worth $405.17 billion, that number of unspent vouchers will be considerably much more now.

Here comes another opportunity for you as a business owner.

Consumers who do not want to miss out on their gift voucher experience will welcome the prospect of purchasing an extension voucher at a fraction of the value of the voucher.

4. How long to set expiration dates?

For monetary vouchers (vouchers redeemable for a certain amount, e.g. £50 gift voucher) a 12-month validation period is usually sufficient.

For services (depending on your seasonal offerings and experiences) 6 months is a reasonable length of time to set your expiration date.

Anything less than this can make it tricky for your future customers to find a suitable time to book unless it is for a seasonal event e.g. (Such as a Christmas or Easter event etc). In these circumstances, it is perfectly acceptable to have the expiration date ends when your offering is no longer available.

Just be sure to make this extremely clear for the purchaser when buying the voucher and for the receiver to spend the voucher.

5. Reimbursing an expired voucher

Although you are under no legal obligation to reimburse a clearly communicated expired voucher, you may be more flexible in some extenuating circumstances.

It can be good practice to review each individual's circumstance regarding expired gift vouchers. For these rare scenarios, you may want to implement your own returns or exchange procedure in-house.

You can make a general rule of no refunds, but for some circumstances, keeping the customers' loyalty may be of higher value to you.

In these circumstances, it may be a good idea to issue an extension voucher or book directly with a manager to get the voucher service booked in.

Benefits for companies selling gift cards:

The voucher industry has seen a market growth of 27.1% of shoppers buying a gift voucher for someone at Christmas 2021. This is up significantly from when we first published this blog post, when figures were at 11.74% in 2018.

Thus, gift vouchers are the fastest-growing consumer-spending segment in the retail UK segment.

As a result, gift vouchers are expanding into more markets, particularly within the service industry. Many companies who offer services are expanding their sales through selling ‘gift experiences’. See our post on how the experiences in the service economy is rising.

The rise of Experience gift vouchers

Research from the Gift Card Voucher Association 2022 has found that gift experiences are fast being the preferred type of gift voucher.

Leisure has paved the way for voucher growth by 7.6% for the third period running, while retail has contracted in growth by -3.7%.

Businesses in the hospitality, travel and entertainment industries are experiencing a significant growth stream. - Especially since Covid.

Make more money with gift vouchers

If you want to make more revenue by selling gift vouchers and gift experience vouchers, don’t wait! Vouchers are not just limited to retail stores or hotels anymore. If you offer any kind of service or experience, this is your next step.

Jump on this fast-growing trend and boost your revenue.

Getting started

We hope you are clear about the expiration date of the gift voucher law here in the UK.

If you’re a business wanting to introduce gift vouchers for your services or experiences, it's best to implement it using a management system that does it all for you.

How can we help?

Here at Enjovia, we not only allow you to have full control of your voucher store but also provide an easy-to-use interactive system where you can create, redeem, manage, and track vouchers, gift cards, and more.

Conclusion: Ensuring your rights under the gift card refund law

Knowing the rules around gift cards and vouchers is important to protect your consumer rights when giving them as gifts. UK laws ensure fair treatment and transparency for gift card refunds and vouchers.

Knowing gift card laws helps you sell and buy them wisely.

Always check the expiry dates, understand the terms and conditions, and contact the retailer if you encounter any issues.

Gift cards and vouchers should bring joy and convenience. Understanding gift card refund laws can lead to a positive gifting experience.

For more information on gift card refund laws and best practices, visit enjovia.com.the end.

How do e gift cards work?

Do you ever wonder how do e gift cards work? In this post, we delve into e-gift cards, how to use them online and how to sell e gift cards.

What is an e gift card?

Gift cards have become a popular gift-giving option. They offer flexibility and convenience for both the giver and the recipient.

With the advent of e-commerce, traditional gift cards are getting a digital makeover.

With the ability to personalise and send gift cards online, e gifts have become a go-to option for many.

Digital gift-giving offers a convenient and versatile solution. Meeting the needs of both the giver and the recipient.

Rising Popularity of E-Gift Cards Online

The convenience of purchasing and sending a gift card online sway many busy consumers. Removing the time and effort of buying from a physical store is easy with e gift cards, as it's not like purchasing clothes. There’s no risk factor of needing to send back the gift if it doesn’t fit. What you see with a digital gift card is what you get.

By 2025, experts estimate that the value of the gift card market will reach $506 billion.

How to use e gift card online

There are different types of e gift cards. These are:

Retail E-Gift Cards/ Monetary gift cards

How do e gift cards work?

E gift cards work similarly to traditional physical gift cards without an actual card.

The giver buys the card online and loads it with money. The recipient then receives the e gift card via email.

The recipient can then claim and activate the card by clicking a link in the email.

After activation, the designated retailer allows you to use the e-gift card to make purchases.

Remember that e gift cards make giving gifts easy and popular, as you can purchase and send them from anywhere quickly.

Experience Gift Cards

An experience E-gift card allows the user to redeem the card for a service or experience. This could be a cooking class, a spa day, or a concert ticket.

The recipient can choose the experience they want to enjoy, and the gift card covers the cost of the experience.

Gift cards for experiences make great presents for those who enjoy new things or have specific interests.

Experience e gift card

When using a gift experience to trade in for a service, there are a few things to remember:

Check the availability

After confirming the service eligibility, follow the instructions from the retailer or website that issued the gift card. This may involve making a reservation or appointment.

Provide the gift card code or physical card during service or other steps as outlined in the terms and conditions.

Check the expiration dates

It's also a good idea to check the card's expiration date and use it before it expires.

Remember that most gift cards come with strict expiration dates, and you must use them before expiration.

Is it safe to buy e gift cards online?

Buying e gift cards online is generally safe if you take some precautions.

Purchase e gift cards from reputable retailers and avoid buying them from third-party sellers or auction sites.

Ensure the website you purchase from is secure and has a trustworthy payment gateway.

Additionally, be wary of suspicious emails or pop-ups. - Especially if they ask for personal information or claim to be from a retailer or payment provider.

Can I print out an e gift card?

Yes, you can print an e gift card if you have received it via email or any other digital platform. You can download the e-gift card and print it out on paper.

Once you have printed it, you can use it just like any other physical gift card.

How Experience Gift Cards Work

Selection of Experiences in Gift Card Packages

Businesses selling services can create packages around their services and call them experiences. Successful experiences focus on the value and uniqueness of their services.

They can curate different combinations of their services and present them as a complete package. This highlights the benefits and outcomes the customer can expect from each experience.

For example, a spa can create a "relaxation package".

This package includes a massage, a facial, and a foot soak. - Emphasising each service's rejuvenating and de-stressing benefits.

By framing their services as experiences, businesses can tap into the emotional appeal of their offerings. Increasing their perceived value leads to higher sales and customer satisfaction.

2. Personalisation Options for Experience-Based Gift Cards

Selling gift experiences can feel like a personable gift for a customer. Tailoring a gift to someone's interests and preferences makes personalised gifts great.

Businesses can customise options for customers by offering a selection of gift experiences. Check out our post on add-ons to learn how you can customise experience packages for extra personalisation.

Create unique experiences with gift voucher add-ons

Successful companies often present their services as an immersive experience that customers can cherish.

Providing options that resonate with the recipient equates to a more personal and meaningful gift.

3. Booking Process for Experience Gift Cards

It's essential to simplify the booking process for selling gift cards for the consumer.

Have precise details on either the gift card or the email/text. Let the customer know how to book the gift experience by providing,

Booking details
Terms and conditions
Expiry date

This lets customers book their gift experience and know when to use it.

To know more about what to put on your terms and conditions, read here:

Gift Certificate Wording Template

The Role of Gift Experience Management Systems

How to get a gift card?

In today's retail and service industry, the significance of gift experience management systems is growing constantly.

A seamless gift card system is crucial for businesses. Allowing for easy tracking of gift card sales and redemptions provides a better customer experience.

A well-designed gift card system makes purchasing and servicing gift cards easy. Leading to increased sales and customer loyalty.

Additionally, a gift card system can help businesses reduce fraud and manage their gift card inventory more efficiently.

A seamless gift card system is essential for successful gift experience management.

Features and Benefits of Gift Experience Management Systems

Whitelabel store

A white-labelled store allows for personalisation. The design and branding should be amendable through storefront customisation.

Add on’s

A gift card system with an ‘add-on’ feature is essential for maximising revenue potential.

Simple user experience

Purchasing a gift card must be accessible and straightforward in as few steps as possible. This lessens abandoned checkout carts.

To simplify the checkout, a system should have the following:

Auto address finder
A quick buy purchase option
Multiple payment methods, including PayPal.

Mobile compatibility

Most consumers purchase now from mobile. Choosing a gift card system that is mobile-compatible is paramount.

Smooth redemption process

An automated gift card redemption process must be fast, efficient, and designed to improve the customer experience. User log-ins, gift card code grouping, and QR code scanning are essential.

Robust Security

A gift card system must have a robust security system. Companies should randomly generate gift card codes to deter fraudulent gift cards.

Promotional features

Promotional features such as allowing discounts, bundling offers and time-based promotional campaigns are necessary.

Analytics and reporting

Analysing gift card sales data is crucial for creating effective marketing campaigns and maximising revenue for your business.

SEO compatibility

A gift card store should be keyword-optimised to allow for maximum traffic to your products.

Integration with existing systems

The software must integrate with existing POS, inventory, and other business systems.

Selling tips- how do e gift cards work?

Marketing strategies are necessary to boost revenue while providing convenience and flexibility for customers.

Offering promotions or discounts on gift cards can incentivise customers to purchase them as gifts or for personal use.

Creating gift card packages with unique experiences adds value and makes the gift more appealing.

For example, a spa could offer a package that includes a massage, facial, and other treatments.

Bundle packages make the gift feel more personalised and thoughtful, which can lead to increased sales and customer satisfaction.

In summary- how do e gift cards work?

With the rising popularity of e-commerce, traditional gift cards are getting a digital makeover. -Making it more accessible to purchase and send gift cards online.

E-gift cards have become a popular and convenient option for gift-giving. They offer flexibility, personalisation, and convenience for both the giver and the recipient.

If you plan to sell gift cards digitally, choosing a gift card provider you can trust is crucial.

Get in touch with Enjovia, your online gift card management system.

10 easy steps on how to sell gift cards

Boost Your Revenue with Effective Gift Card Selling Strategies‍

Gift cards provide a convenient and flexible way for people to share the joy of giving while allowing companies to boost their revenue.

If you want to enhance your sales and increase customer loyalty, selling gift cards can be a game-changer for your business.

In this article, we will explore practical strategies on how to sell gift cards. Emphasising how to leverage the power of gift cards to drive growth.

How to Sell Gift Cards Online

To sell gift cards online, you will need a gift card platform so you can create an online store and have the functionality of managing those gift cards.
e gift card platform

The right gift card system enables businesses to:

Reach more customers
Encourage returning customers
Create unique and memorable experiences
Build credibility and reputation

Whether for hotels, spas, restaurants or activities, gift cards, vouchers and gift experiences are one of the easiest ways you can increase your revenue without making complicated changes.
But, to do this successfully, you need a gift card system that suits you.
Here are some features you should look for when selecting your gift voucher system. No element is too big- even for small businesses!

Gift Cards for Small Business Owners

Small business owners often face unique challenges when it comes to growing their customer base and increasing revenue. Gift cards can be a powerful tool in their arsenal, providing several advantages that can level the playing field with larger competitors.

How to Sell Gift Cards Online

Selling gift cards online opens up a world of possibilities for your business. It allows you to reach a wider audience, attract new customers, and provide a seamless shopping experience. To successfully sell gift cards online, consider a few key factors.

Essential gift card features:
1. Easy Implementation and Simple Design

When choosing a system to sell gift cards online, opt for one with easy implementation and a simple design. Purchasing gift cards should be straightforward and user-friendly for you and your customers. Look for a platform that provides customisable templates and intuitive features to ensure a seamless buying experience.

2. Look for a System that Encourages Increased Revenue Support

A robust gift card system should go beyond basic functionalities. It should provide features that encourage increased revenue support for your business.
Look for a platform that offers upselling options, such as suggesting higher-value gift cards or adding complementary products to the purchase. These strategies can significantly boost your average transaction value and maximise your revenue potential.

3. Create Advanced Promotions and Promo Codes to Sell Gift Cards

Consider creating advanced promotions and promo codes to entice customers to purchase gift cards. These can include limited-time offers, discounts, or exclusive deals. By offering incentives, you create a sense of urgency and value, encouraging customers to buy gift cards as gifts or for personal use. Additionally, promo codes can be shared through various marketing channels, expanding your reach and attracting new customers.

4. Encourage and Facilitate Product Add-ons to Sell Gift Cards Online

One effective strategy for small business owners is encouraging and facilitating product add-ons when selling gift cards online. By offering complementary items or services alongside gift cards, you create additional value for customers.
For example, a gift card for a massage will have the option on check-out to ‘add-on’ chocolate-dipped strawberries or champagne on ice to enhance the experience.

5. Control of Your Gift Card System and Store

Control over your gift card system and store allows you to customise and tailor your gift card offerings to match your brand and business goals.
Look for platforms that allow you to set your terms and conditions, expiry dates, and redemption options.
This level of control ensures you can create a unique and personalised gift card experience for your customers.

Branding, Imagery, and Text

When selling gift cards, it's essential to maintain consistent branding across all aspects of your online store.
Use high-quality imagery, compelling descriptions, and consistent messaging to create a cohesive and professional appearance.
This not only enhances the perceived value of your gift cards but also reinforces your brand identity in the minds of your customers.

Gift Card Store Design

The design of your gift card store plays a crucial role in attracting customers and enhancing their shopping experience. A well-designed store can increase trust, engagement, and sales.

Consider the following elements when designing your gift card store:

You also want a system to design and customise the look and messaging on your vouchers.
You don’t want to be stuck to a standard layout, style and format system that looks the same as everyone else’s. You need the flexibility to stand out and look and feel the way you want without contacting someone to make the changes for you.

So look for a system with ready-made templates with flexible design. With the ability to make it extra special by giving your customers the chance to add their message to their orders.

6. Control of Your Gift Card Prices

You need a system to log into and change pricing and promotions easily, as well as the ability to create promotions unique to your business. You also want to be able to set up as many of your gift vouchers as you’d like, with the ability to customise and make changes yourself.

Without having to rely on external support.

Managing your gift card prices allows you to tailor your offerings to suit your target audience and business objectives. Experiment with different price points to find the sweet spot that attracts customers while maximising your profit margins. Consider offering a variety of denominations to cater to various budgets and gifting occasions.

7. Secure Payment Gateway

When it comes to online transactions, security is paramount. Choose a gift card system that integrates with a secure payment gateway to protect your customers' sensitive information. This not only instils confidence in your customers but also ensures that their purchasing experience is safe and hassle-free.

You also need to be able to use a secure payment gateway that can take a variety of payment types.
It’s essential to look for a system where your gift card revenue goes directly to you instead of your gift systems company, which then passes on your revenue a month later.

8. SEO Friendly Gift Voucher Store

Optimising your gift card store for search engines can help drive organic traffic and increase your visibility online. Pay attention to keywords, meta tags, and product descriptions relevant to your target audience. This will improve your search engine rankings and attract customers who are actively looking for gift cards.
Your online profile is essential for your reputation. This is especially true for customers being able to find you swiftly and choose your store over a competitor.
That’s why optimising your SEO score even on your gift voucher store is equally as important.
Look for a gift card system that optimises SEO tagging for your online store.

9. Training Support for Using a Gift Card System

Implementing a gift card system may require some initial training and support. Look for a provider that offers comprehensive training resources, tutorials, and customer support to ensure a smooth transition. This will help you and your staff navigate the system effectively and maximise its features.
Sometimes you don’t know it all. Being able to rely on training and support from your gift card system can be the difference between you surviving or thriving.

10. Sell Gift Vouchers Online Through a Variety of Platforms

To maximise your reach and accessibility, consider selling gift vouchers online through various platforms. This can include your website, social media channels, online marketplaces, and even mobile apps. By diversifying your distribution channels, you can tap into different customer segments and increase your chances of making sales.

You need to be able to sell your experiences 24/7 on any device, anytime, anywhere!
Look for a system that can work on mobile, tablet and desktop.

Conclusion- How to sell gift cards

Selling gift cards can be a lucrative revenue stream for businesses of all sizes.

You can boost your revenue and enhance customer loyalty by implementing effective strategies, such as easy online implementation, advanced promotions, and product add-ons.
Small business owners can leverage the advantages of gift cards to level the playing field with larger competitors.

Remember, a well-designed gift card store, control over pricing and branding, and a secure payment gateway are essential components of a successful gift card selling strategy.
So, take the leap and start capitalising on the power of gift cards to grow your business today!

Start selling gift cards online and boost your revenue today! Implement these practical strategies and watch your business thrive.

How to sell gift cards on my website?

Before you worry about where you’ll find a gift card system that provides all of the above features, rest assured there is a system you can use today that ticks all these boxes.

We hope we've answered your question on how to sell gift cards.

Check out our gift card system here at Enjovia.com to sell gift vouchers online. We provide all of the above features, support, and more to ensure you get the most out of your gift card system and sell gift vouchers.
To get in touch for more information and to see what we can do for you, contact us here.

11 Monthly Spa Promotion Ideas

The spa industry took a hit with the 2019 pandemic, but it's making a steady comeback! Statistics from https://www.statista.com/ show a continued rise, almost back to where yearly spa visits were before the pandemic.

Importance of promotions for spas (170)

Introducing spa promotions is necessary to attract new clients and retain existing ones. - Resulting in the business growing and increasing in revenue.

Regular promotions can attract new customers and reward loyal clients. - Making it one of the best ways to grow your business.

Let’s consider what you must do to improve your monthly spa promotion ideas.

Importance of online marketing (590)

If a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it, does it still produce a sound?

In today's digital landscape, the same can be said for businesses. If your business doesn't have an online presence, it's practically invisible.

Like the fallen unheard tree, your business is found with an online footprint. - Missing out on opportunities to connect, engage, and thrive in our interconnected world.

Establishing an online presence isn't just about visibility; it's about ensuring that your existence is acknowledged, appreciated, and relevant in the vast forest of the internet.

When consumers desire to book a spa day, the first step is to Google “spa day promotions”, “spa day offers near me”, or something like that.

Therefore, you’ll need to create a solid online presence. You do this by:

Creating a visually appealing and user-friendly website.
Publishing content for a blog and utilising SEO strategies to pull in website visitors.
Regularly posting on social media platforms.
Utilising email marketing campaigns.
Offering online promotions.
Selling online spa gift vouchers.

Incorporating digital marketing into your overall marketing strategy can increase your visibility and ultimately grow your business.

2. Create unique spa packages

Creating spa packages for your customers is essential. This is because they help:

Attract new clients

Unique packages can differentiate a spa from its competitors by offering something new and exciting. This can attract new clients and retain existing ones.

Increase customer spending

Secondly, unique packages can increase revenue by encouraging clients to spend more on premium services or longer treatments.

Examples of unique spa packages include "The Ultimate Relaxation Package", which consists of a full body massage, facial, and pedicure, or "The Detox Package", which provides a body wrap, sauna session, and lymphatic drainage massage.

It can be promoted in various methods.

Spas can promote these packages on their website, social media pages, and email newsletters.

An excellent method of packaging and selling these experiences is gift vouchers. We’ll discuss this later in the post.

They can also offer special discounts or incentives for clients who book these packages in advance.

3. Referral system

A referral system is essential for any business, including spas. Referrals get new clients and help create a loyal customer base.

To implement a referral system, you can incentivise clients who refer their friends and family.

It can be as simple as offering a discount on services or adding a free service to their next visit.
Or create a referral program that rewards clients who refer more than one person. The program could offer more significant discounts or even free services for those who refer multiple clients.
You could create exclusive referral offers, such as a unique package deal or a VIP membership to further incentivise clients.

Ultimately, having a referral system is a win-win for the spa and its clients.

4. Form partnerships with other local businesses

Forming partnerships with other local businesses can be highly beneficial for your company.

By partnering with other businesses, you can expand your reach, increase brand awareness, and access new markets.
Additionally, partnerships can help you share resources, reduce costs, and improve efficiency.

For example, a restaurant could partner with your spa to offer an afternoon tea with a spa day experience.

To promote these partnerships to clients, you can showcase them on your website and social media channels, send out email newsletters, and offer special promotions to clients who use the partnered services.

Working with other local businesses can create a stronger community and provide better services to your clients.

5. Host events

Hosting events at a spa can provide numerous benefits.

Firstly, it can attract and retain new customers by offering unique experiences. Spa parties, wellness workshops and yoga retreats create a fun and relaxing atmosphere for clients. These events provide socialising and relaxation opportunities and educate clients on the benefits of self-care and healthy living.
You can promote these events through various marketing channels, such as social media, email newsletters, and word-of-mouth referrals.

Additionally, offering incentives such as discounts or gift cards can encourage clients to attend and bring their friends along.
By hosting events, your clients can enjoy a memorable experience, while the spa can increase brand awareness and revenue.

6. Email marketing

Email marketing is vital for spa professionals to communicate with their existing and potential customers.

It is a cost-effective way to reach many people and promote your business.

Email marketing strategy examples (390)

Effective email marketing strategies include:

creating a personalised email campaign,
segmenting your email list based on customer preferences and behaviours, and
using engaging subject lines and visuals.
Create a monthly newsletter highlighting their latest offers, services, and products.
Sending personalised emails to their loyal customers to offer exclusive discounts and incentives.

Email marketing can help spa professionals build lasting customer relationships and increase revenue.

7. Offer gift certificates (1600)

Gift certificates are excellent for boosting businesses. With an online gift experience store, you can reach a wider audience and increase sales with 24/7 availability.

By offering gift certificates, you can:

Increase your sales
Attract new customers
Improve customer loyalty
Expand on your offerings
Create personalised experiences

spa gift certificate ideas

Advertise gift certificates on your website, social media pages, or in-store with eye-catching displays and signage.
Offer discounts or promotions for customers purchasing gift certificates.
Offer exclusive or limited-time offers to incentivise customers to purchase gift certificates fast.

This creates a FOMO and increases sales in a short-term window. Which is ideal for events like Black Friday.

Read more on how to create Black Friday deals for small businesses.

Black Friday sale ideas for small business

These strategies can help increase your gift certificate sales and bring in more customers to your business.

8. Offer creative packages and promotions

Offering creative spa packages and promotions can be a great way to attract new customers and retain existing ones.

For example, a spa can offer a "Couples Package, " including a couples massage, facial, and champagne toast.

Or a "Girls' Night Out" package includes a group spa day with manicures, pedicures, and wine.

These creative packages not only offer unique experiences but also increase the revenue for the spa.

The best way to promote these packages and promotions is through your gift certificates. This is because just under 80% of gift certificates go unredeemed in a new study by Thehustle. This means that just under 80% of the time, you’ll get 100% of the gift certificate revenue. -Without ever running the service.

9. Loyalty reward

A loyalty program can be a valuable tool for businesses to retain customers and increase lifetime value.

By offering rewards and incentives to customers who consistently choose your brand, you can build stronger relationships and encourage repeat business.

Some suggestions for implementing a successful loyalty program include offering personalised rewards based on customer preferences, making it easy for customers to track their progress towards rewards, and providing exclusive perks or discounts to loyalty members.

To incentivise clients to participate in the loyalty program, you could offer a sign-up bonus, double points for the first few purchases, or exclusive limited-time offers. Overall, a well-planned loyalty program can benefit your bottom line and improve customer satisfaction and loyalty.

10. Social media

Social media has become an integral part of our daily lives, and it has also become an essential tool for spa professionals.

Social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter can help you reach out to your customers, build brand awareness, and increase customer engagement.

For example, creating visually appealing content and posting it to social media can attract more followers and improve brand recognition.

Additionally, social media can promote monthly spa promotions creatively, such as offering exclusive discounts or hosting social media contests to engage with customers and generate buzz.

By leveraging social media effectively, spa professionals can strengthen their online presence and ultimately drive more business to their spas.

11. Be tech-savvy

In today's digital age, spa professionals must be tech-savvy to remain competitive and relevant.

Streamline operations

By staying up-to-date with technological advancements and utilising tech tools, spa professionals can streamline operations and promote monthly spa promotions more effectively.

For example, booking software can help manage client appointments and send automated reminders to reduce no-shows.

Promote on social media.

Additionally, social media platforms, such as Instagram and Facebook, can be used to promote monthly spa promotions with visually appealing graphics, videos, and hashtags.

Email marketing

Another tech tool that spa professionals can use is email marketing software to send personalised promotions and newsletters to their clients.

By being tech-savvy, spa professionals can improve their business's efficiency and reach a wider audience with monthly spa promotions.

Monthly spa promotion ideas conclusion

We have discussed 11 different ways to introduce monthly spa promotions that can help you attract new clients and retain existing ones. It is important to remember that creativity and strategic thinking are key when promoting spa promotions.

Try different strategies to determine what works best for your spa and clients. So, experiment with these ideas to take your spa business to the next level and achieve great success!

Are you looking to attract more clients and boost your spa business? Consider using a gift card system to introduce promotions and attract new clients.

With gift cards, you can offer discounts, special packages, and other enticing deals to help you stand out. So, if you're ready to take your spa business to the next level, contact us today and learn more about how our gift card system can help you achieve your goals!

Restaurant social media post ideas

Stay Ahead of the Competition: Effective Restaurant Social Media Post Ideas for Increased Visibility

The restaurant industry is enormous! The worldwide restaurant market size accounts for 1.5 trillion dollars. This is estimated to grow to 1.8 trillion by 2030.

To compete with the saturation of the food industry, restaurants need to stand out! Gaining a solid social media presence is crucial in achieving the attraction you need to compete.

Social media is crucial for businesses to reach their desired audience and advertise their offerings.

We'll discuss social media's benefits for restaurants' marketing and practical post ideas to boost visibility and engagement.

Importance of social media for restaurants

Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter have billions of active users, making them a treasure trove for reaching potential customers.

With it, you can highlight your restaurant's personality, connect with your audience, and create a social media presence.- Which is essential to increasing visibility and making your restaurant a top choice for food lovers.

Benefits of Using Social Media for Restaurant Marketing

There are numerous benefits of using social media for restaurant marketing, such as:

1. Increased visibility

Social media can help restaurants reach a larger audience and increase online visibility.

2. Cost-effective marketing

It offers a cost-effective way to market a restaurant, especially compared to traditional advertising methods. Provides a cost-effective way to reach a large audience.

3. Targeted advertising

Social platforms enable targeted advertising, allowing restaurants to reach the right people based on demographics and locations.

4. Valuable insights and analytics

They offer valuable insights and analytics to track post performance, identify trends, and optimise marketing strategies.

5. Improved customer engagement

They provide a platform for restaurants to engage with customers, respond to feedback, and build brand loyalty.

6. Showcasing menus and specials

Social media lets restaurants showcase their menus, specials, and new offerings to entice customers.

7. Partnering with influencers

Partnering with food bloggers and influencers can effectively increase visibility and attract new customers to a restaurant.

8. Targeted advertising

Enables targeted advertising to reach the right people based on demographics and location.

Social media assisted restaurants in improving their marketing efforts, increasing customer engagement, and growing their business.

Understanding your target audience

Before diving into creating social media posts, it is crucial to understand your target audience.

Who are they? What are their preferences? What type of content do they engage with the most?

Market research and customer data analysis provide insights into audience demographics, interests, and behaviour.

This info can improve social media content to connect your audience and increase engagement and conversions.

Creating a social media content calendar

Consistency is vital when it comes to social media marketing. Creating a content calendar will help you plan and organise your posts effectively.

Start by outlining key dates, such as holidays, special events, or promotions relevant to your restaurant. Then, brainstorm ideas for posts that align with these dates.

Mix promotional content, behind-the-scenes glimpses, customer testimonials, and interactive posts to keep your audience engaged.

Finally, schedule your posts in advance using social media management tools to ensure a consistent flow of content.

How do I advertise my restaurant on social media?

One of the best ways to advertise on social media is to create a strong presence.

Create your account

You can start by creating accounts on popular social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Showcase your restaurant

Then, you can create engaging content showcasing your restaurant's menu, ambience, and special deals.

Target your audience

Additionally, you can run social media ads to reach a wider audience and target specific demographics.

Engage with your followers

Engaging with your followers by responding to comments and messages builds a loyal customer base and attracts new customers to your restaurant.

Partner with others

Partnering with food bloggers and influencers to showcase your restaurant can increase your online presence and attract new customers. You can do this by offering gift vouchers to influencers to come and have an experience at your restaurant. Then, they can leave you a review and promote your restaurant on their social media pages.

Social media post ideas for showcasing your menu

One of the most effective ways to entice customers is by showcasing your menu on social media.

High-quality food photography and enticing descriptions can make mouths water and drive customers to your restaurant. Consider creating posts highlighting your signature dishes, seasonal specials, or new additions to the menu.

Try using videos like recipe tutorials or chef interviews to offer a more engaging experience for your viewers.

Talk about the ingredients, where they are sourced from, how dishes are made, and the story behind them.

Encourage your followers to tag their friends or share the post to expand your reach.

You can learn here how to create captivating storytelling experiences for your content.

Promoting special offers and discounts

Everyone loves a good deal, and social media is the perfect platform to promote special offers and discounts. Create eye-catching visuals/videos for limited-time offers, happy hour discounts or exclusive deals.

Use compelling copy and visuals to create a sense of urgency and encourage your audience to take action.

Additionally, consider partnering with popular food delivery services and offering exclusive discounts for online orders, further expanding your customer base.

Be sure to sell gift cards for your restaurant. Offering gift cards for your customers to buy is a lucrative way to increase your revenue while expanding your customer base.

Create experiences that will cause FOMO

People adore experiences and prefer to gift experiences over an item.

Customers have changed their gift-giving and receiving preferences in the last decade to unique experiences. When you create extraordinary experiences with gift cards, you’re expanding your offerings to improve your customer experience.

You can create personable, unique, memorable gift ideas with gift cards. Read here on how to sell gift cards for your restaurant.

How to sell restaurant gift cards

Engaging with your audience through contests and giveaways

Contests and giveaways are a fantastic way to engage with your audience and generate excitement around your restaurant. Consider running photo contests where customers can submit pictures of their favourite dishes or dining experiences at your establishment.

Encourage participants to use a branded hashtag and tag your restaurant's social media account to increase visibility. Additionally, host giveaways where followers can enter to win a gift card or a free meal. This encourages engagement, rewards your loyal customers, and attracts new ones.

Showcasing behind-the-scenes content and staff highlights

People love to get a glimpse behind the scenes and connect with the faces behind the food. Use social media as a platform to showcase your restaurant's personality and introduce your staff to your audience.

Engage your followers with behind-the-scenes cooking videos/photos, chef highlights, and employee spotlights.

This humanises your brand and builds trust, making your restaurant more relatable and memorable.

Collaborating with influencers and local businesses

Influencer marketing has become a powerful tool for reaching new audiences and boosting brand awareness. Identify local influencers or food bloggers who align with your restaurant's values and target audience.

Collaborate with them to create sponsored content, such as reviews, recipe collaborations, or live events. This exposes your restaurant to its followers and provides an opportunity for authentic endorsements and recommendations.

Partner with nearby businesses to cross-promote and reach new customers.

How to promote a restaurant on Instagram

Instagram is a visual platform that is perfect for promoting your restaurant. To effectively promote your restaurant on Instagram, start by optimising your profile.

Use a high-quality, appetising image as your profile picture. And be sure to write a captivating bio communicating what sets your restaurant apart.

Create a consistent aesthetic using your photos' cohesive colour palette and editing style.

Engage with your audience by responding to comments and direct messages promptly. Utilise Instagram's various features, such as

Stories, IGTV, and Reels to showcase your menu, share behind-the-scenes content, and run interactive polls or quizzes.

Instagram content ideas for restaurants

When it comes to content ideas for Instagram, the possibilities are endless. Some ideas include:

sharing visually appealing food photos
featuring customer reviews and testimonials
posting recipes or cooking tips
hosting live Q&A sessions with your chef
partnering with influencers for sponsored posts

Try experimenting with different types of content to keep your Instagram feed fresh and engaging.

How do I make my restaurant stand out on social media?

Differentiate yourself and showcase uniqueness to make your restaurant stand out on social media.

Focus on your restaurant's story, values, and the experience you provide to your customers. Use social media to highlight your restaurant's ambience, interior design, or outdoor seating areas.

Share stories about the sourcing of your ingredients, the history of your recipes, or the dedication of your staff. Authentic brand storytelling attracts like-minded customers and leaves a lasting impression.

Creative Facebook posts for restaurants

While Instagram may be the go-to platform for visual content, Facebook still holds immense value for restaurant marketing. Some creative post ideas for Facebook include:

Tell your restaurant story
Share reviews- this is important as a huge 60% of customers read dining reviews before choosing a restaurant.
Sharing customer success stories or testimonials
Announcing upcoming events or live music performances
Showcasing community involvement or charity initiatives
Running polls or surveys to gather feedback from your audience
Share recipes or cooking tips
Repost user-generated content
Post about menu changes
Share cleaning, food preparation or cooking videos (behind the scenes)
Hold polls or competitions for free meals
Post about the restaurant industry

To ensure that your posts reach the right people and specific locations, you should use Facebook's targeting options.

How do restaurants attract customers?

Attracting customers to your restaurant requires a multi-faceted approach. Besides utilising social media effectively, consider other marketing strategies. Things such as:

Search engine optimisation (SEO) to improve your online visibility
Partnering with local businesses for cross-promotions
Hosting special events or themed nights
Offering unique dining experiences.

Provide exceptional customer service and dining experiences to encourage positive word-of-mouth marketing.

Analysing and optimising your social media performance

Measuring the performance of your social media posts is crucial to understanding what works and what doesn't. Social media platforms offer analytics to track metrics like reach, engagement, and conversions.

Regularly analyse these metrics to identify trends, identify your top-performing posts, and understand your audience's preferences. Utilise this data to refine content strategy, try new post formats, and enhance social media performance.

How do I make my restaurant stand out on social media?

Social media can be a powerful tool for restaurants to attract customers and build a loyal following.

To make your restaurant stand out on social media, you can use several key tactics.

1. First, encourage customers to follow your account on social media by promoting it in multiple places. On your website, in-store signage, and through email marketing campaigns.

2. Once you have followers, engage with them regularly by responding to comments and messages. Keep them engaged by rewarding them with special promotions and discounts.

3. Use relevant hashtags to reach new audiences and post attractive food photos that showcase your menu items.

4. Integrate your restaurant's branding into your social media posts to create a cohesive look and feel.

5. Consider teaming up with influencers in your niche to expand your reach and credibility further.

6. Finally, use video and live video to showcase your restaurant's atmosphere and offerings. Create story highlights to keep your content easily accessible and organised.

You can effectively leverage social media to make your restaurant stand out and drive more business.

How do I advertise my restaurant on social media?

One of the best ways to advertise on social media is to create a strong presence.

You can start by creating accounts on popular social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Then you can create engaging content showcasing your restaurant's menu, ambience, and special deals.

Additionally, you can run social media ads to reach a wider audience and target specific demographics.

Engaging with your followers by responding to comments and messages builds a loyal customer base and attracts new customers to your restaurant.

Partnering with food bloggers and influencers to showcase your restaurant can increase your online presence and attract new customers.

Conclusion

In conclusion, social media is a powerful tool that can significantly impact the success of your restaurant.

Utilise social media, engaging content, and various platforms to attract customers and stay ahead of competitors.

Remember to regularly analyse your social media performance, adapt your strategies as needed, and always prioritise providing exceptional dining experiences. So implement these practical restaurant social media post ideas, and watch your visibility and customer base grow.

How to increase sales in salon business

Introduction- How to increase sales in salon business?

Increasing sales and revenue is always a top priority for a salon owner or manager. But with so much competition in the beauty industry, it can take time to stand out and attract new customers.

Fortunately, there are several strategies you can implement to increase sales and grow your salon business.

In this blog post, we will explore some of the best ways to increase sales in the salon business. From attracting new customers to upselling strategies that can help maximise client spending.

These tips will help you increase your revenue and achieve greater success in the beauty industry.

Attracting more clients

Harnessing Social Media brand recognition

Social media is integral in shaping a business's reputation in the digital age. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, or Snapchat effectively reach a large audience and showcase your salon's offerings.

On your social pages, you can:

Share before-and-after photos of customers
Posting reviews
Maintaining a general active presence
Create an easy booking system via social media
Create social media competitions

These strategies will boost your salon's visibility and customer reach significantly.

With over 4.59 billion global social media users, it provides an excellent springboard for attracting and fostering customer loyalty.

Exploring unique marketing opportunities

Besides conventional advertising measures, exploring unique marketing opportunities can significantly distinguish your salon from the competition.

You can consider exclusive product promotions or collaborations with local businesses for mutual referral programs.

These efforts enhance visibility, attract new customers, fulfil the evolving needs of existing clientele, and guarantee their repeat patronage.

Increasing Client Spending and Visit Frequency

Implementing a customer loyalty programme

A successful marketing technique rewards loyal customers with incentives to keep them returning.

A loyalty program can shift how clients perceive transactions with your business from an inconvenience to an investment.

Some other ideas are loyalty cards and membership services that offer a fixed number of free blow dries for a month.

It keeps the customers engaged, adds value, and fosters a sense of commitment to your salon.

Upselling strategies to maximise client spending

Customer needs and wants in hotel edited

Upselling is a potent tool that can markedly elevate your salon's revenue.

Here, you encourage clients to purchase additional or higher-priced services or products. However, the process should be sincere and provide genuine value to the customer.

To make a pitch effective, it should be brief, helpful, and not come across as a typical sales tactic. You’re always suggesting the client to help with ‘their problem’.

Consultation forms before treatment are essential. On the forms, ask, ‘What would you like to improve today?’. -For example, someone may answer that with ‘improving my dry skin condition’.

This way, you know the client wants to fix a problem. And you can tailor your extra service upgrades or product suggestions based on this.

With the dry skin example above, a therapist can suggest a night cream to hydrate dry skin deeply.

With effective upselling techniques, you can significantly increase sales without incurring the costs of acquiring new customers.

Diversifying Services and Products

Offering novel, niche services to attract different clientele

Offering specialised services can help your business draw in a broader range of customers.

For example, focus on niche offerings like organic beauty treatments, men's grooming, or express services for busy individuals.

If your salon specialises in everything, it may fade into the noise of competition. Hence, effectively finding your niche and catering to its needs is a top priority.

The right strategies and offerings for your niche clientele will help differentiate your salon. - Bringing in a unique inflow of customers.

Encouraging product sales through appealing displays

Retail displays in your salon are a silent but potent sales force.

Clever placement can significantly impact customer perception and urge them toward purchases. Displays should ideally be near the entrance or other can't-miss locations. -Like next to mirrors, allowing customers to browse the products while waiting their turn.

There's a method to making a compelling display case:

Colour

Colour plays a key role. For instance, red entices and encourages buying, while yellow generates excitement. Blue and green are soothing colours. Sprinkling these colours around the display can stimulate conversation, leading to sales.

Arrangement

Furthermore, the arrangement of products is another vital factor - neatly arranged bottles, jars, and tubes create an appealing aesthetic. Ensure the best-sellers are at eye level and consider using risers to highlight particular products.

Marketing

Signage and labelling play an important role, too. Providing a guide for the customer through your product array.

Focusing on Staff Development

The power of friendly sales competitions on performance

Healthy competition among staff can ramp up the drive and enthusiasm. Translating into better service quality and increased retail sales.

Monthly or quarterly sales competitions can set a lively atmosphere, making work fun while fostering a sense of camaraderie. Setting personalised targets for every team member will encourage them to strive towards their goals.

Regular review meetings, performance discussions, and the sharing of success stories and new strategies foster a dynamic, performance-oriented environment.

Offer rewards like cash bonuses, paid time offs, or even a trophy for the best salesperson. These strategies add an element of excitement.

These reward schemes make employees feel appreciated and integral to the success of your business.

Investing in staff training and development for improved service quality

Investment in staff training and development is a powerful strategy to boost your salon's performance. Employees form the frontline for customer interaction, and their service quality directly affects customer satisfaction.

Regular training programs ensure staff stay updated with the latest trends and techniques. Thus providing clients with cutting-edge hairstyling solutions.

A sharp, well-trained team is the keystone for a flourishing salon. Your investment in their growth will pay off through satisfied customers and improved sales figures.

Sell Gift Cards using a Reliable Gift Card System

How can I increase sales in my salon?

Gift cards have proven to be a highly effective revenue driver for salons. They offer customers a convenient and personalised gifting option.

A luxurious or pampering service is always considered a real treat when gift-giving!

This has made gift cards popular, allowing salons to boost their sales and improve customer loyalty.

Why sell gift cards in your salon?

Gift cards are an excellent way to attract new customers to a salon. Gift card recipients often become repeat customers if they have a positive experience.

Gift cards can often go unredeemed, which is another way salons can benefit from them.

This means that the salon receives revenue for the gift card purchase but may not have to provide the service if a customer forgets to use their gift card.

Gift cards can promote salon services and packages, boosting sales and revenue.

Overall, offering gift cards is a smart strategy for any salon to increase revenue and attract new customers. Salons can tap into a lucrative revenue stream and grow their business by promoting gift cards. Advertising for gift cards through social media, email marketing, and in-store displays is easy.

How can gift cards generate revenue for salons?

There are several ways in which gift cards can generate revenue for your salon.

Revenue

Selling gift cards at a total price provides an immediate boost to revenue.

Promote experiences or packages

Gift cards promote specific services or packages, which can help to increase sales of those offerings.

Increase customer base

Gift cards can attract new customers to the salon, who may become repeat customers.

Increased spending

Gift cards often incentivise customers to spend more, for example, by offering a gift card with a purchase of a specific value.

Fill unpopular salon times

Finally, gift cards are a great strategy to fill spaces during quieter times. Selling gift cards by offering special discounts or promotions only available for a limited time.

Overall, gift cards are a versatile and effective tool for generating revenue in a salon. By offering gift cards as part of your marketing strategy, you can:

Attract new customers.
Increase sales of specific services.
Encourage customers to spend more.
While providing a convenient and attractive gift option.

Optimising salon booking system for better revenue

In today's tech-driven world, streamlining your salon booking system can be a game-changer for your salon's revenue.

Salons have high online booking statistics, reaching up to 60%.

You may be losing business if you don't have a 24-hour online booking system.

The benefits of online booking software extend beyond convenience. One significant feature is the reduction of no-shows. Electronic reminders sent to customers before their appointment significantly decrease the possibility of missed appointments. - Freeing up slots for other customers and maintaining your revenue flow.

Keeping track of labour costs for efficient management

An essential aspect of steering your salon towards profitability is checking labour costs.

If the figure starts to escalate, the reasons need to be identified. It could be due to the need for staff training on retail sales or an abundance of unfilled appointment slots.

You should regularly analyse all overheads to identify and trim unnecessary spending. Always check for the best fixed-cost deals, such as energy bills and insurance. Keeping track of your expenses and running costs is crucial to getting a grip on your financial streams.

Client Feedback and Satisfaction

Collecting feedback for continuous improvement

Collecting client feedback is instrumental for continuous improvement in the salon business. Understanding what your clients desire helps you tailor your services to their expectations, leading to higher satisfaction and loyalty. You may conduct surveys, set up in-store comment boxes, or create surveys online to facilitate feedback collation.

Current clients can provide valuable insights when considering adding new staff or improving your salon's atmosphere. Customers may visit your salon more often if online booking is more convenient.

Your salon's website feedback page gathers valuable insights into your service quality.

Yet, soliciting feedback is only half the battle. The other half lies in legitimately responding to feedback and taking necessary action to improve deficiencies. This helps shape your salon services and makes your customers feel valued and involved in your business growth.

Conclusion- how to increase sales in salon business

Taking your salon business to the next level

Taking your salon business to the next level entails comprehensive planning, precision in execution, and consistent evaluation. Each step you take towards improving your services contributes towards business growth.

Remember, increasing sales doesn't only mean getting more clients through the door. Incorporating upselling strategies, loyalty programs, and efficiency measures is also crucial.

Strive to build a culture of unremitting improvement that includes everyone - employees, customers, and even your suppliers. Encourage feedback and make necessary adjustments.

Invest time in understanding your market and staying updated with the latest trends and innovations. Optimising the used and available resources efficiently and effectively will be crucial.

Why use a reliable gift voucher system like Enjovia?

When you sell gift cards for your salon, it's worth investing in a reliable system rather than a paper system. This is because:

1. Prevents Fraud and Misuse

A reliable gift card system can help prevent fraud and misuse of gift cards. With a secure system, gift cards are valid and have not been tampered with. It also lets you track their usage, making detecting suspicious activity easier.

2. Improves Customer Experience

Providing an easy and convenient way to purchase and redeem gift cards improves the customer experience. A gift card system allows online sales, drastically increasing your scope for selling gift cards and improving revenue.

3. Increases Revenue

A gift card system can increase revenue by attracting new customers and encouraging existing customers to make additional purchases. It also allows businesses to offer promotions and discounts to customers who purchase gift cards, which can increase sales.

4. Provides Valuable Data

A reliable gift card system provides valuable data to help businesses improve their marketing efforts. It can provide insights into popular gift cards, effective promotions, and loyal customers.

5. Saves Time and Effort

Using a reliable gift card system can save time and effort for businesses. It eliminates the need for manual tracking and processing of gift cards, which can be time-consuming and prone to errors. It also allows businesses to automate sending gift cards to customers, reducing the staff's workload.

Gift voucher examples- ideas for your business

The Power of Gift Vouchers in Business

Gift vouchers have become an increasingly popular option for businesses to offer their customers. And for good reason - they are a powerful tool for boosting sales, attracting new customers, and fostering loyalty.

This post will explore the many benefits of offering gift vouchers. We also provide strategies for crafting tempting gift voucher examples that will keep your customers returning for more.

The Importance of Thoughtful Gift Voucher Ideas

Giving a gift is a beautiful way to show appreciation and express love. However, it can be challenging to develop the perfect gift idea.

This is where gift vouchers can come in handy. A thoughtful gift voucher distinguishes between a generic present and a heartfelt gift. Selecting a gift voucher that matches the recipient's interests and preferences is essential. A well-chosen gift voucher can demonstrate care about the person and know them well, making the gift even more meaningful.

So, how do you craft these experiences for your customers and their needs?

Expanding your gift voucher offerings

This next section reviews the many strategies you can implement to sell more gift voucher examples.

Understanding Your Audience

The first thing you should do when crafting your gift voucher options is to know who will buy them.

1. Conduct Market Research

Conduct market research to gain insights into the characteristics of your target audience. You can conduct surveys and interviews or analyse existing data to understand their interests, preferences, and spending habits.

2. Utilise Social Media

Social media platforms offer valuable demographic information about your followers and customers. Utilising analytics tools, these platforms provide can give you a clear picture of who is engaging with your brand.

3. Collect Data from Customer Interactions

Collecting customer interactions and transaction data can provide valuable information about their demographics. Analysing purchase history, geographic location, age range, and other relevant factors can help you understand your customer base better.

4. Analyse Age, Gender, and Location

Analyse the age, gender, and location of your audience to understand their preferences and needs.

If your customers are primarily young adults, consider offering gift vouchers for experiences that cater to their interests.

5. Understand Purchase Behaviour

Understanding purchase behaviour is crucial for businesses to target and engage with customers effectively. Recognising consumer buying patterns can provide insight into what motivates people to purchase. This knowledge allows companies to tailor their marketing strategies and product offerings accordingly.

6. Identify their purpose for buying

Understanding the purpose of buying a voucher is vital to creating incredible experiences that people WILL buy.

These steps will help you understand your audience and choose a gift voucher they'll appreciate.

When people buy gift vouchers for loved ones, they usually buy them for an occasion.

A list of occasions can include:

Birthday
Christmas
Valentines Day
Mother’s Day
Father’s Day
Easter
Anniversary
Engagement
Wedding
Showing gratitude
Expressing love
Black Friday deals

Identify the occasions people may buy gift vouchers. Determine the type of person buying it and what their budgets may be. Then, you can cater to specific experiences and word it as such to advertise to that buyer persona.

7. Determine their budget

For each occasion someone may buy a gift voucher, consider the person buying it and their budget. You can create a tiered system of options. Begin with the most affordable and work up to a luxury gift voucher to accommodate all spending levels.

Research competition gift voucher examples

Knowing what other businesses offer regarding gift vouchers can help you stay competitive and differentiate your offering. Know your competitors' pricing, deals, and promotions to customise your gift voucher program to suit your customers.

Studying competitors can help you find new market possibilities and improve your products. Leading to more tremendous success in your gift voucher offering.

Research Options: Research different gift voucher options that are available. Look for gift experiences that align with the recipient's interests.

Read Reviews: Review the gift vouchers you are considering. Reviews can provide insight into the experiences of others who have purchased and used the gift voucher.

Delivery: How to send the gift voucher. Are they mailed or sent electronically? Make sure the delivery method aligns with the recipient's preferences.

Purchase and Personalise: Purchase the gift voucher and personalise it if possible. Adding a personal touch, such as a handwritten note, can make the gift even more meaningful.

Following these steps will help you understand your audience when buying gift vouchers. They will be able to choose a gift voucher that they will appreciate.

Creating Customisable gift vouchers

Many people are looking for unique and personalised gift options when giving gifts.

That's where creating customisable gift vouchers with add-ons can make all the difference.

These packages offer a convenient and thoughtful way to curate an exceptional gift experience for your loved ones.

One way to do this is through voucher add-ons.

By incorporating voucher add-ons, you can offer various choices catering to the recipient's preferences. These vouchers let them choose an experience that resonates with their interests. - Whether it's dining out, a spa day, or an adventure.

So, what is a customisable gift voucher with an add-on?

Gift voucher example - add-ons

An add-on is an extra service that customers can ‘add onto’ a gift voucher. - Making the gift more memorable and personable.

For example,

When selling a luxury overnight stay for two on your website. The add-ons appear as an optional extra with a choice of various services or products such as:

A bottle of champagne on arrival
Chocolate-dipped strawberries with a glass of prosecco on arrival
Rose petals on the bed
Or a Room upgrade- (presidential suite)
Or more of your choice. The more unique, the better.

A gift voucher add-on is an option for additional services or items that personalise and enhance the experience. Making it truly unique for the gift recipient.

How are gift voucher add-ons personable?

Customisable gift experiences provide a sense of personalisation while saving time and effort for the gift giver. Create a custom gift package by selecting vouchers that match their interests instead of searching for hours.

Moreover, these packages offer flexibility in terms of budgeting. This ensures that everyone can find something enjoyable within their desired spending limits.

Customisable experiences with voucher add-ons allow loved ones to create lasting memories on their special day.

Offering personalised choices allows customers to show thoughtfulness in their gift selection.

So why explore this creative gifting option and expand on your gift voucher examples?

All you need to do is select a top-performing gift voucher system like Enjovia. Built with a gift voucher add-on option built into the product page.

Corporate Gifting Solutions

Businesses make corporate deals with hotels to buy bulk vouchers for gifting their employees at Christmas or as rewards. This is a win-win relationship as the corporate business buys the gift vouchers at a bulk discount. And the hotel receives hundreds of new customers in return.

This has the advantage of consumers spending an extra 55% more when using a voucher.

Providing Incentives for Customer Loyalty

Monetary gift vouchers with a twist offer a unique and exciting way to give and receive gifts. One popular feature of these vouchers is the concept of tiered spending rewards.

Tiered spending rewards allow recipients to earn additional benefits based on their spending. This system encourages recipients to explore different options and make the most out of their gifts.

For example, a tiered spending reward system may offer different levels or tiers based on the amount spent. Each tier unlocks additional perks such as discounts, freebies, or exclusive access to special events or products. The recipient discovers exciting rewards at each level, adding surprise and excitement.

This concept particularly appeals to businesses incentivising customer loyalty or encouraging repeat purchases. Companies can create exclusivity and value for customers with tiered spending rewards and gift vouchers.

Overall, monetary gift vouchers with tiered spending rewards provide an innovative twist on traditional gifting options.

The voucher offers flexible spending options and unlocks additional benefits at different spending levels via gamification.

Promotional Deals

Gift voucher examples can include various types of promotional deals to encourage spending. For instance, businesses can offer discounts on gift vouchers or provide additional free products or services with each purchase.

Limited-time deals like Black Friday or Cyber Monday can create urgency and motivate customers to act fast.

Promotions can increase voucher value, sales, and revenue for the business.

How to facilitate offering promotional campaigns for your gift vouchers?

Gift voucher systems like Enjovia enable effective promotions, campaigns, discounts, bulk discounts, and time-limited promotions.

Enjovia can help businesses automate and manage these promotions, making them easier to execute and track.

For example, businesses can create gift vouchers for specific products or services or bulk discounts for large purchases.

Set Time-limited promotions up quickly, motivating customers to purchase before the offer expires.

Take a look at the Enjovia promotional features here.

A gift voucher system can boost sales, revenue, and customer loyalty.

Themed Experience Gift Vouchers

Themed gift vouchers can generate interest in your products.

They offer a unique and memorable experience tailored to the recipient's interests and preferences.

While offering new opportunities for trying new things, broadening horizons, and creating memories, unlike traditional gifts.

Ideal for any occasion, the recipient can choose an experience that aligns with it, making the gift more meaningful.

A great example of a themed experience gift voucher is a cooking class at a restaurant.

The recipient can learn new cooking techniques, try new recipes, and get hands-on experience in the kitchen. This experience is perfect for anyone who loves cooking or wants to improve their culinary skills.

Whether themed around Italian, French, or Japanese cuisine adds a personal touch to the experience.

Collaborating with Local Restaurants or Venues

Teaming up with local establishments can expand your gift voucher options and provide unique experiences for customers.

By partnering with local businesses, you can offer your customers various options. While additionally tapping into the expertise and resources of your partners.

Working with local businesses for gift experiences like cooking classes or wine tastings creates cherished memories for your customers.

Plus, by working together, you can help support and promote local businesses in your community.

A voucher system to support the different gift voucher sales strategies

We hope you found this post on gift voucher examples helpful.

Enjovia's gift voucher system gives businesses a powerful tool to boost sales, attract new customers, and foster loyalty.

Businesses can attract more customers by offering diverse gift vouchers.

With promotions and add-on features, Enjovia makes it simple for businesses to create and manage gift vouchers.

This system allows businesses to expand the types of gift vouchers they offer, increasing customers and revenue.

Businesses can use the above strategies to boost their gift voucher sales and drive growth. Create your gift voucher store today by visiting Enjovia!

How to make gift cards for your business

Do you want to discover how to make gift cards for your business?

Due to the recent global pandemic, many companies have closed down or scaled back their business operations. Footfall and consumer spending have also been affected. This has greatly impacted the economy, with all sizes of organisations struggling.

Gift cards have been popular among consumers because they are one of the few ways to give a gift that is both personal and will be appreciated. According to the latest analysis by the GCVA and KPMG UK, digital and eVoucher sales have increased by 49.7% on a yearly basis.

Especially over the last two years, gift cards have grown to be more and more popular. This is because people can use them for various purposes, like at brick-and-mortar stores or for online businesses. (In the case of national lockdowns)!

Getting started with gift cards for your business

The next decision to make along this process is whether you want to set up physical gift cards, virtual e-gift cards or even both! There are pros and cons to each.

Physical gift cards: Promotional

You can choose multiple variations of gift cards to sell. The first type is selling a traditional physical gift card. This is a card that the customer can hold in their hand and use at a later time. Physical gift cards are appreciated by those who like to give and receive a physical gift that can be opened.

Many gift experience cards can be packaged into a wallet or a presentation box for the extra wow factor.

Physical gift cards are also helpful for promotional giveaways.

It's important to remember that with promotional giveaways the terms and conditions of the gift card are included. The expiry date, how-to book, and how it can be redeemed should be listed.

Even with online purchasing, physical gift cards can be delivered to your customers.

E-gift cards:

For many companies, the e-gift card is the preferred option— these work by sending an email with a digital e-card.

Digital e-cards can also be sent directly to customers, bypassing the wait for postal services. They are often more accessible for the customer to use as the gift card can be accessed immediately from their smartphone. (Providing there's access to their email).

Likewise, who says you should opt for one over the other? Many companies offer both physical and digital gift cards for their business. - Keeping flexible options for their customers.

How do you start a gift card program?

Are you looking to supply your customers with a broader range of options? Or are you trying to increase foot traffic and sales?

Introducing a gift card programme for your business is a great way to increase revenue drastically. Below, we go over the benefits of using a gift card system to generate and sell your gift card.

Do you want a gift card system with no extra cost?

Gift card systems organise and enable the processing of gift card sales through your business.

A competent gift card system is necessary to run a seamless business where gift cards can be marketed, sold and redeemed easily.

The store front

Begin with a simple white-label gift card system. With our Enjovia gift card system, you can display various gift cards and gift experiences with domain masking. The design of your gift card store can be tailored to match your website branding so it looks a part of your website.

The back-of-house system

This is the part of the gift card system the customer doesn’t see.

The admin part of the gift card software enables you to take control. Everything from creating the gift card, choosing the branding and design, redemption and analytics can be found here. Let’s talk about the importance of some:

Gift card design

Your gift card system must allow you to promote gift cards that can be altered to meet your branding and design. You’ll want the flexibility to change font, colour, text and images.

Redemption

You’ll also want a simple back-of-house system to identify and redeem the gift cards. This is important as you want fast service at the checkout to ensure the gift card isn’t a copy.

Promotions and campaigns

For the ultimate increase in gift card sales, you should consider different promotional gift card campaigns. This is supported by having the flexibility to add promotional codes and group discount bulking for your gift card store.

- An essential tool for significant consumer events such as Black Friday weekend!

Analytics

Likewise, you want to be able to look back on previous campaigns and make smart decisions on future gift card marketing campaigns. How successful have previous campaigns been? How did this campaign compare to other campaigns?

Levels of user access

It is also essential that you have different levels of user access. Should your front desk staff have access to the back-of-house campaigns and promotions? Ideally, you want them only involved with each gift card's basic identification and redemption.

Increasing your gift card sales

How you decide to market your gift cards is going to make the most significant difference between casual gift card sales and becoming a major part of your revenue stream.

Some ideas include:

Social media
Email marketing campaigns
Physical signage at the location

Set aside a small quarterly budget to go towards gift card marketing.

To learn more about how to market your gift cards properly see our post here: How to make money selling gift cards.

So, you've decided to start a gift card program for your business - congratulations! Here are some things you need to do to get started:

Setting up physical gift cards

With physical gift cards, you’ll need a fulfilment service. You can either print in-house or hand out the customers to come and collect. Or otherwise, arrange for your gift card fulfilment from online orders to be sent out on your behalf.

Choosing an excellent quality card design, wallet, and envelope should all be necessary for the physical gift card.

You’ll also need a stock of your gift cards, wallets and envelopes.

Setting up digital gift cards

With digital gift cards, you need not worry about selecting a stationary or fulfilment service. All you’ll need is your gift card store, which enables the receipt of gift cards to be delivered directly to the customers' email.

Gift Card Law

Make sure your policies follow local and federal laws. You can find out more about federal laws for the US gift card market here: Gift Card Expiration Date Federal Law. And for the UK gift card law here: Expiry Date on Gift Vouchers Law.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best way to do gift cards for small business?

Adopting a gift card system can be a lucrative strategy for small businesses, as unredeemed cards contribute to additional revenue.

Managing gift cards requires careful consideration, including digital storage, analytics tracking, expiry management, and effective marketing strategies.

To maximise sales, businesses should offer online purchasing options and easily accessible, well-designed platforms. Features such as add-ons and a 3-month extension card for expired cards can enhance customer experience and satisfaction.

In summary, leveraging a comprehensive gift card software system is essential for small businesses to tap into the vast potential of the gift card market.

How do I create my own gift card?

To create a gift card, design an attractive physical or digital version, include essential information, and distribute it through various channels. Consider legal compliance, sales tracking, security measures, and customer support for a seamless program.

Are gift cards good for small business?

Gift cards offer small businesses numerous benefits.

They generate extra revenue, attract new customers, and encourage loyalty by promoting repeat business. Gift cards also help with financial management by providing upfront cash flow and reducing product returns.

Customers appreciate their flexibility and the opportunity for increased spending. Furthermore, gift cards are valuable marketing tools, increasing brand exposure and providing insights. Strategically implementing gift cards can significantly boost small business success and growth.

How to make digital gift cards for your business?

To create digital gift cards for your business, design an appealing card representing your brand. Select a reliable online platform with customisation options, input essential details, and choose distribution channels.

Integrate the system with your payment and sales systems and promote the cards across various channels. Stay compliant with laws and offer customer support to elevate your brand presence.

Gift card fraud prevention

In just 3 years, gift card fraud losses have grown by 364%. This should raise concerns for any businesses selling gift cards. The need for gift card fraud prevention measures has never been higher. In today’s post, we will explore gift card fraud and the measures your business can take to mitigate the dangers.

Popularity of gift cards

Gift cards have become increasingly popular in the service industry. From luxurious hotel experiences to fine dining, they're the go-to gift for those who want to share and gift memorable moments.

However, in the same way you'd protect your most valuable possessions, it's crucial to ensure the security of these gift cards and have robust gift card fraud prevention measures in place.

Gift card fraud

Imagine gift cards as keys to exclusive hotel suites. When you purchase a hotel gift card, you're essentially investing in a future staycation or a weekend getaway. These cards hold significant value, and like any valuable asset, they can be a target for unscrupulous individuals. This is where gift card fraud prevention comes into play.

Think of it this way: just as a high-end hotel invests in top-notch security to protect its guests and assets, you should also invest in safeguarding your gift cards.

In the following sections, we'll delve into the world of gift card fraud, exploring the tactics employed by scammers, learning how to spot red flags, and discovering the best practices to protect your cherished gift cards.

Why do scammers want gift cards?

Gift cards are a quick way for scammers to obtain cash. They can use the card to buy items or sell them for cash.

Scammers prefer gift cards because it's hard to trace the funds once they've been spent, allowing them to remain anonymous.

Additionally, gift cards are easy to acquire and buying several during the holiday season won't raise suspicion.

Gift cards have less protection for buyers than other payment methods, which means that transactions may be irreversible.

How does scamming cards work?

Scammers often employ a variety of tactics to pilfer the value of gift cards.

Stealing gift card codes

With retail gift cards, one common approach is to scratch off the protective covering on the card to reveal the unique code. They then note down this code and wait for the card to be activated. Once it's loaded with funds, they drain it, leaving the legitimate recipient with an empty card.

Regarding gift experiences for services, some scammers will also try to duplicate gift cards and use number pattern recognition to predict valid gift cards to steal.

Phishing

Another devious method is through phishing emails or phone calls. Scammers may pose as legitimate businesses or organisations, claiming an issue with your gift card and that they need the card number and PIN to resolve it. Once they have this information, your gift card's balance can quickly vanish.

In the upcoming sections, we'll guide you on how to spot these red flags and, most importantly, how to outsmart these crafty scammers, ensuring your gift cards remain safe and sound.

Spotting the Red Flags

In this section, we'll help you, as a gift card seller, recognise the warning signs of gift card fraud. Our goal is to provide you with clear and concise information to ensure the security of your gift card operations.

As a seller of gift cards, it's vital to be vigilant to protect both your business and your customers:

Suspicious Shopping Behavior: Pay attention to unusual activity, such as an unusually high number of purchases, which might indicate fraudulent behaviour.
Customer Communication: Educate your customers about not sharing gift card information via unsolicited emails or phone calls.
Verify Your Website: Ensure that your online platform is secure and that customers purchase or redeem gift cards on the official site.
Consider Using a Gift Card Management Platform: Explore options like Enjovia to help monitor and identify suspicious purchases. This platform can be a valuable asset in safeguarding your gift card operations.

Next, we'll provide you with further insights into how to protect your gift card inventory and what steps to take if you encounter potential red flags in your role as a gift card seller.

How Businesses Can Prevent Gift Card Fraud

For reliable gift card fraud prevention, consider Enjovia. Enjovia is a gift card service provider that utilises robust security features combined with the following measures to ensure the security of your gift cards:

1. Secure Payment Gateway

Enjovia utilises secure payment gateways to protect transactions, making it as reliable as a bank vault.

2. Anti-Fraud Detection Measures

As well as the security in the payment gateway, Enjovia also uses anti-fraud detection systems that monitor purchases and swiftly halt suspicious activity—creating a double layer of protection against fraudulent activity.

3. Random Unique ID

With Enjovia, all gift cards are assigned a completely random and unique ID number and code. There is no patterning to the voucher codes, making it impossible to predict a number sequence that could be used in fraud.

With no regular format on the voucher IDs, Enjovia is distinct from many other gift card systems.

4. Easy Redemption Process- Reducing Human Error

Using a gift card redemption process is paramount. However, the redemption of gift cards must be quick to access and simple to check the status of the gift card being cashed in.

Enjovia ensures an easy redemption process, safeguarding against multi-use or duplication of gift cards.

When there is pressure on queues at the checking-in/ out desk, staff can become overwhelmed and skip checking the status of gift cards. - Preferring to redeem gift cards later when there are no lines of people waiting. But, doing this gives rise to a number of fraudulent gift cards being used.

Enjovia mitigates this issue by providing fast logging into the redemption system. With quick staff sign-in and QR code scanning, gift cards can quickly be identified. Therefore, allocating a new status to the gift card in real-time. - with no extra pressure on the other waiting customers.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I protect my gift card from fraud?

To protect your gift card, store it securely, use it promptly, and be cautious of unsolicited requests for card information.

Can you get your money back if you get gift card scammed?

Unfortunately, it's often challenging to recover money lost to gift card scams. Promptly report the scam to the issuer for any possible recourse.

Can gift card fraud be tracked?

Yes, gift card fraud can be tracked through transaction records, enabling authorities to investigate and potentially apprehend scammers.

How do I protect my gift card?

Protect your gift card by keeping it safe and using a reputable gift card management platform for added security.

Are gift cards security-protected?

Many gift cards now include security features like unique IDs and QR codes to enhance security.

Where is the security on a gift card?

The security on a gift card typically lies in the unique ID, PIN, or activation code, often found under a scratch-off panel.

How do thieves activate stolen gift cards?

Thieves may activate stolen gift cards by using various methods, including scratching off and copying activation codes before legitimate activation.

Is there a CVV on a gift card?

Gift cards usually don't have a CVV (Card Verification Value) like credit or debit cards.

How do you authenticate a gift card?

You can authenticate a gift card by verifying the unique ID, PIN, or activation code provided by the issuer before use.

What happens if a business goes out of business and you have a gift card?

It is important to know that there may be situations where your gift cards cannot be used. This is dependent on the store and the reason for its closure. When companies file for bankruptcy, they can only accept gift cards if they request permission from the bankruptcy court and if it is granted.

Conclusion- Gift card fraud prevention

In conclusion, safeguarding your gift cards, whether in the service and hospitality industry or beyond, is vital in today's digital landscape.

By adopting secure practices, such as using reputable gift card management platforms like Enjovia and staying vigilant against suspicious activity, you can fortify your defence against potential fraud.

The importance of these measures cannot be overstated, as gift card fraud can have significant financial repercussions. To sum it up, protect your gift cards like valuable assets and stay alert to ensure a secure and enjoyable gift card experience.

For more information on how to increase the security of your gift cards, see our post on Gift Voucher Law.

How to promote gift vouchers

Wondering how to promote gift vouchers?

Are you looking to increase your gift voucher sales but can't see past introducing discounts as your only promotion strategy?

Fear not, as in this post, we will not only prove how resorting to discounts every time is an ineffective long-term strategy, but we will also give you new ways to think about promoting your gift vouchers that will increase revenue and returning customers.

What is the difference between gift card and voucher?

Gift card and gift voucher are used interchangeably, but typically they are representing the same thing. Let’s have a look at this in more detail.

Gift vouchers

A gift voucher is a piece of paper or electronic code that can be exchanged for a service or represent a monetary value. It is usually purchased by a customer and usually given as a gift to another person.

Gift Card

A gift card is a prepaid card that is used to purchase goods and services at a specific store or group of stores.

In the US market, a gift card is an umbrella term for referring to gift vouchers and gift experiences.

So when we also refer to gift cards, this includes gift cards exchanged for services and not just goods.

Gift Experiences

Another way to refer to gift vouchers is gift experiences or gift certificates.

Gift cards, Vouchers and experiences are all pre-paid and exchanged for a good or service at a later date.

What is the gift card market trends?

“55% of your gift card sales will take place at the Winter seaonon between November and December.”- Enjovia.

So for this reason, it is imperative that you understand your market, products and customers to use promotions for increasing gift voucher sales.

How to promote gift vouchers without discounts

It's straightforward to increase gift voucher sales without resorting to discounts.

Many companies will use discounts to increase their gift voucher sales. Discounting gift vouchers as a marketing strategy is a great way to spike your short-term sales. We are not suggesting you should never use discounts, but they have their time and place.

With gift voucher discounts, you will see immediate results because all customers love a good deal.

But...

Long-term use of this marketing strategy can potentially cause your business harm, especially if you are in a luxury market. So it's essential to use discounting with caution.

This is because discounts can be addictive for your customers. If you're always offering discounts on your gift vouchers, they will grow always to expect a discount.

Even if they thoroughly enjoyed the experience of the voucher, they know they can get that experience at a cheaper price and they will wait until they see it at a discount again. And once they've experienced your services at that discounted price, they may not see the value in paying the whole cost- especially if they know they can get it so much cheaper if they wait for your deal to pop up as expected.

See the trap of using discounts over and over again?

So how can you increase gift voucher sales without using discounts continuously?

How to promote gift vouchers

Promoting your gift vouchers effectively is quite simple, just add value.

How to upsell gift vouchers?

Use Add-ons.

It's effortless to add value to your vouchers. Sell them at full price and then include a little something extra. We call this an 'add-on'. This gives your customers a sense of exclusivity that only comes with the gift voucher they receive.

You can make the added value as big or small as you please.

"Get an exclusive VIP experience on arrival with complimentary champagne on ice."

Limit availability

To see an increase in gift voucher sales, only offer the experience for a limited period or even have a limited number of available vouchers.

Making something scarce or limiting the available amount of time you can purchase gives people a perceived sense of added value to the experience. Knowing the experience won't be around for long, creates a fear of missing out.

A time limit is a great way to entice customers to act immediately- not wanting to miss out on the additional value.

“Runs out midnight! Get ready for the party season this Christmas and treat yourself to gel nails with a complimentary bottle of bubbly”.

Also, limiting the number of gift vouchers available will create an illusion of exclusivity, which will make the buyer feel a sense of urgency to buy before they miss their opportunity.

FAQs

How do you get people to use gift cards?

Gift cards are another way of describing gift vouchers. Most gift cards are exchanged at a monetary value, but increasingly we are seeing the popularity of gift experiences arise.

Firstly, to get people to buy your gift cards, you should ensure your gift cards will provide value to your customers.

You do this by making the gift card experience memorable, valuable or exclusive.
Secondly, To get people to buy and use your gift cards, you need to simplify the buying process.

Shortening the steps between advertising your gift cards and the checkout process will increase sales! Increase gift voucher sales here.

How do I promote a gift card on social media?

Promoting your gift cards on social media is simple.

First, make it known you sell gift cards. So create awareness around your gift cards by:

Creating gift card featured posts
Posting stories of the services and products available through your gift card

To find more ways to advertise your gift cards on social media, see our post here.

How do I advertise my gift card business?

Advertising your gift cards online is important. But it's equally as important to advertise at your location. Have your marketing for gift cards at every customer point. Great in-house advertising includes:

Customer service desks
Bottom of receipts
Signage around your premises
Outdoor signage by your carpark
Word-of-mouth from your staff

Learn more about in-house gift card promotions here.

How to promote online gift cards?

A simple way to promote gift vouchers is to improve your digital marketing tactics.

Using Keywords in your gift card descriptions and titles will appear in Google searches, reaching the eyes of customers searching for a product like yours!

To find which keywords are searched frequently in your area consider using keyword tools. Keywords Everywhere, Answer The Public or Keyword Generator are some free or very low cost tools so you can become familiar with what people are searching.

Then, ensure you fill the relevant keywords throughout the product page.

You’ll soon get more organic traffic filtering through to your gift card product pages.

Simple but effective gift voucher promotions

Adding value is a more profitable way to increase gift voucher sales in the long run for your business. Although it is okay to use discounts repeatedly, use them appropriately and sparingly. Don't put yourself in the position of only being able to sell your gift vouchers at discounts.

We hope you enjoyed our post on how to promote gift vouchers. For more information on increasing gift voucher sales, contact us at Enjovia. See you next time!

Gift certificate advertising ideas

In this blog post, we will look at gift certificate advertising ideas to drastically improve your sales and revenue.

The gift certificate market is changing. Where once gift certificates were only really considered for the holiday season, they are now becoming a preferred choice for gift giving for any occasion throughout the year.

Gift certificates are fast becoming a year-round option to treat loved ones. This is primarily due to the nature of gift certificates morphing to include unique and beautiful experiences packaged as a gift.

More and more services are including gift certificates in their business strategy- making a massive difference to their revenue streams! Generating millions of dollars in sales for hotels that can advertise their gift certificates effectively.

So how do they do it?

Take a look below at practical and easy-to-use gift certificate advertising ideas…

1. Use digital marketing to your advantage

Social media

Your social media pages grant you access to a much larger audience than you could ever imagine connecting with.

You must use this to your advantage and play smart when promoting your gift certificates.

If you’ve never used social media to advertise your gift certificates before, then begin with a simple image post depicting how they'll be used. For example, if you’re selling gift certificates for a romantic dinner for two, let the image speak for itself. Add wording around the image to communicate the availability of your gift certificates, with a direct link to the purchase page.

This first step is just informing your audience that gift certificates are available. In time, you can use social media to advertise your gift certificate offers and promotions, as well as competitions- (which we will discuss later in this post.)

Be sure to research which hashtags are popular- especially around gift-giving seasons to ensure your posts get the furthest reach.

Write blog posts

Digital marketing is exploding for businesses who use inbound marketing techniques- and it has incredible results too!

Instead of pushing your advertisements onto people, why not let them find you? -After all, most online shopping sales are driven by the consumer. If someone wants something, they’ll typically search for it online first.

It’s no different from selling your gift certificates online.

Begin with writing blog posts about gift certificates or gift-giving, and ensure you fill your pages with highly searched but low competitive keywords. This way, when one of your customers types into Google something like “Best gift certificate for Christmas” (or whichever keywords are relevant for you), your blog post will rank higher than your competition and hopefully get clicked on.

Over time, if you’re writing highly optimised content for your chosen keywords, your website will get more substantial authority, and you’ll maintain one of the top slots on Search Engine Results Pages.

Some tips when writing blog posts for gift certificates:

Keep the focus of the gift certificates on the buyer
How can you solve their problem/ improve their situation?
Give tips and ideas on what types of gift certificates to buy and why

Enrich your website with keywords

SEO goes further than just writing blog posts. Your landing pages for your gift certificates should be filled with keywords and your homepage.

There are many ways to incorporate SEO techniques into your website. For more information on SEO, check out our previous post here: How to start an eCommerce business in 2021

2. Website design

The digital gift certificate market is exploding. As well as being extremely convenient, more and more surveys show that people like the simplicity and ease of using an e-gift while avoiding shipping costs.

While an online store gives you access to thousands of more customers, you’re also competing with an ever-increasing amount of competition.

The key to selling more gift certificates online is to place them in smart areas on your website.

These should include:

dedicated gift certificate landing pages with easy-to-view direct links from your homepage
Pop-up banners that link to the landing page
Advertise a specific section to your most popular or bestselling gift certificates with a clear Call To Action button.
Links within your booking pages before a sale is finalised- this is an excellent stage to remind your buyers of any extras they can add to their order before they make any payment. This is a great time to include limited-time special gift certificate offers.

3. Email marketing

Email marketing, when done properly is one of the most effective advertising strategies. This is because you are already in the good books with your audience. With GDPR rules and regulations coming in hard and fast, it’s resulted in companies only being allowed to contact people who want to be contacted.

This is excellent news, as people subscribing to your email marketing want to hear about your newest products, latest deals and exclusive offers. Your success rate with email campaigns will be relatively high when promoting gift certificates directly to your loyal customers.

To get it right, though, there are a few things to consider:

Use CTAs

In your emails, use clickable links that make it easy for your customers to process a payment and purchase a gift certificate in as few steps as possible.

Regarding specific dates such as Mother’s Day, Black Friday, or Christmas, ensure you create CTAs for your bestselling gift certificates within your promotional email campaigns.

Personalisation

Email marketing allows you to get personal with your customers.

At every chance, you should use tools that auto-fill in their name and add personal touches. This makes the customer feel more valued and part of your brand. Making them much more likely to buy from you again.

Offers to existing customers - exclusivity

Why not reward those who are loyal to you? Once every so often, send everyone in your email list an exclusive promotional gift certificate. This is a great way to show your gratitude for their support while solidifying their loyalty to you further.

6. Event giveaways and competitions

A fantastic gift certificate advertisement strategy is to partake in a fun event giveaway competition with a gift certificate as a prize.

Not only do these types of competitions get incredible reach, but the engagement and interaction gain you hundreds of new followers in a concise space of time.

Remember, the bigger the gift, the more buzz generated!

Ways to do this can include:

Launch the competition on social media
Create rules that increase followers and engagement, such as “Follow page”, “Tag two friends also following our profile”, “post on your story”, and “like and comment on post”. These types of posts work exceptionally well on Instagram!
Winners get announced on social media
Follow up with competition winners to comment on how they enjoyed the experience they won.

You should even talk about this competition on your website with links and rules on how to take part in the competition.

7. Promotional gift certificate campaigns and offers

Last but certainly not least, use promotions and offers to generate interest in your gift certificates.

You may be reluctant to offer discounts and offers on your gift certificates, but showing them sparingly can generate interest from some buyers who may have yet to consider purchasing them.

Then, once they experience the fantastic value of your gift certificate, they may feel more content with purchasing a gift certificate at total price another time.

Types of promotional deals can include:

Buy one, get one free

This works great as most people purchase gift certificates for experiences, as the gift recipient can share the experience with the buyer. Or they may even give the gift certificate to another person- which is also great for you as another person has been introduced to your brand.

You’re not even likely to lose money. Research has shown that people who receive gift certificates spend, on average more than 35% of the value of the gift.

Limit promotions to time or availability

When sales are limited, it almost creates a panic purchase in customers. They don’t want to feel as though they’ve missed out on the offer.

Create product add-ons

Another great way to promote your product is to boast about a level of Personalisation you can add to make the gist certificate unique and special to the receiver.

In our gift certificate system, we have a favoured feature by our clients called the product ‘add-on’.

Add-ons are an incredible way to personalise the gift certificate to match the exact desires and wants of the receiver. For example, if a husband purchased an overnight stay gift certificate, they can create add-on products of champagne on ice for arrival or chocolate-dipped strawberries in the room.

Whatever you’re willing to offer as additional services, you should consider including them in your promotions as an ‘add-on’ item.

How do I advertise a gift certificate?

To effectively market your gift cards, it's important to ensure that they are easily visible to customers when they visit your business.

One simple way to achieve this is by placing them in high-traffic areas such as the cash register, hostess stands (for restaurants), dressing room waiting areas (for retail), and window displays.

By doing so, you increase the likelihood of customers noticing the gift cards and considering them as a potential purchase.

How do I promote my gift vouchers on social media?

We've put together a list of tips to help you leverage Facebook and Instagram for selling your gift cards and boosting your revenue:

1. Make sure your gift cards are prominently featured on your business profiles.

2. Schedule creative posts that showcase your gift cards in an engaging way.

3. Consider running paid ads to reach a wider audience.

4. Use videos to grab the attention of potential customers.

5. Reach out to your community to spread the word about your gift card offerings.

6. Run social media competitions to increase engagement and increase followers.

How do you present a gift card creatively?

A great way to present a gift card is to order a luxury wrapping option. Work with your gift card management company and see what options they can present to you to upgrade the packaging and posting into something luxurious.

If you offer mail-sending options to your clients it's a great idea to accompany the gift card delivery option with beautifully branded extras, that will bulk out your gift certificate into a hamper.

How do I get customers to buy gift cards?

There are 5 major things you can do to increase the number of gift cards you sell.

First, make sure your gift cards are visible in your store. Display them in a prominent location so customers can easily find them.
Second, make sure they are displayed online on your website with a clear link to your store from the homepage. This can help you retain online customers and encourage them to return to your store.
Third, use gift cards for promotions. Offer discounts or other incentives for customers who purchase gift cards.
Add personalisation. Give your customers options to personalise their gift card with product ‘add-ons’
Finally, make your gift cards look attractive. Use premium quality paper and envelopes to give your gift cards a professional and appealing look. This goes for your gift card online store.

What is a gift card promotion?

We hope you enjoyed our post on gift certificate advertising ideas. For more information on setting up an online gift certificate store, get in touch here.

How to sell gift certificates online

Introduction: The Growing Importance of Selling Gift Certificates Online

Giving gifts is a significant part of many events and celebrations. While physical presents are the norm, the popularity of experience-based gifts has recently surged.

According to studies, about 40-50% of individuals prefer giving experiences as gifts instead of material items. To keep up with this trend, countless businesses have upgraded their gift certificate options to offer more experience-led choices.

Selling gift experiences online is an important business strategy. Consumers want high-quality, enjoyable purchases with immediate results.

In this blog post, we cover the growing importance of how to sell gift certificates online. With easy-to-implement steps to begin selling online gift cards today!

Gift card statistics

The global gift card industry is rising, with a predicted market value of $1.9 trillion by 2027. North America and Europe are leading the way with over 70% of sales in 2020.

E-gift cards saw an impressive 80.7% increase in November compared to 2019 – a testament to the industry's recent growth.

71% of people prefer to receive gift cards instead of physical gifts.

Step 1: Choose the Right Platform to Sell Your Gift Certificates

Your gift certificate platform is the first thing to consider when selling gift certificates online.,

However, there are so many gift certificate system options available.

How to decide the right system?

Some main things to consider in a gift certificate platform are:

Simplicity of use
Customise options to meet your branding
Payment processing/gateways in your area
Good reporting
Multi-language support
Promotional features

There are two main areas of a gift card system that you’ll need to think about.

The gift card store where your customers can view and buy your gifts
The admin side (where the bulk of how you manage your gift cards happens)

How to make money with gift certificates?

Making money with gift certificates is simple when you know what sells to your audience.

Look for a gift certificate platform with reporting and analytics features.

Then, once every quarter, hold a 'gift certificate review meeting'. This is where you pull the sales reports from your gift certificate reports and review what packages and deals sold best and which flopped.

This is one of the most essential stages in making money with gift certificates, but it often gets overlooked.

Step 2: Design and Customise Your Gift Certificates for a Professional Look

Your gift certificate designs for your online storefront are vital to online selling.

Choose high-quality images to represent your gift
Design your storefront to match the branding of your website

A high-quality gift certificate system like Enjovia uses white labelling on the storefront. Enabling users to design and match the store to their website branding.

Step 3: Set Up an Easy-to-Navigate Online Store on Your Website

Building an online store on your website can be manageable with the right approach.

Easy user experience

When customers visit your online store, it is crucial that they can find what they are looking for quickly and easily. This enhances their shopping experience and increases their likelihood of purchasing. To achieve this, there are several key elements you need to consider when setting up your online store.

Make your store accessible from your website homepage

We recommend making your store link from your homepage for easy recognition and a simple user experience.

Navigation menu

Firstly, ensure your website has a straightforward and intuitive navigation menu.

This menu should include categories or sections accurately representing your products or services.

Organising your products into logical categories allows customers to effortlessly browse your offerings without feeling overwhelmed.

Product descriptions

Next, ensure each product has a dedicated page with detailed descriptions, high-quality images, and pricing information.

Providing as much information as possible is essential to help customers make informed purchasing decisions.

Search functionality

Consider implementing search functionality on your website. This allows customers to directly search for specific products or keywords and quickly find what they need. A well-designed search feature can significantly improve user experience by saving time and effort navigating different pages.

Fast check-out

Reduce the number of steps needed to check out a purchase. More barriers to processing a payment will increase the likelihood of abandoned carts.

Have a quick-buy option that takes the customer straight to their basket.

Mobile compatible

Your website must work well on smartphones, as more people use them for online shopping.

Step 4: Promote Your Gift Certificates through Effective Marketing Strategies

Marketing your gift certificates well is crucial to drive sales and increase customer awareness.

By implementing effective marketing strategies, you can maximise the visibility and appeal of your gift certificates, ultimately boosting their sales potential.

This section will explore key marketing strategies to help you successfully promote your gift certificates.

1. Social Media Promotion

Leverage the power of social media platforms to reach a wider audience.

Create enticing posts that highlight the benefits and uniqueness of your gift certificates. Encourage customers to share these posts with their networks, increasing the chances of reaching potential buyers.

2. Email Marketing Campaigns

Utilise email marketing campaigns to target existing customers and subscribers.

Craft compelling emails showcasing your gift certificates' value, including limited-time offers or discounts.

3. Promotions and Discounts

Create a sense of urgency by offering limited-time promotions or discounts on your gift certificates. This also works well around the major holidays such as Christmas or Black Friday.

You can learn more about creating Black Friday promotions for gift experiences here.

4. Search Engine Optimisation

Optimising your store for keywords is a highly effective method of attracting website traffic.

Using a platform like Enjovia allows for SEO on product pages.

Step 5: Easy Redemption Process for Customers and Staff

The redemption process is one of the most essential features of selling gift certificates.

Fast and straightforward gift certificate redemption minimises delays at check-in desks while quickly checking gift certificates for legitimacy.

Enjovia makes it easy to keep track of and use gift certificates. Each has a unique code you can access quickly and redeem easily.

When checking in or out, you can manually enter the product code or scan a QR code for quicker redemption.

Customers can easily use gift certificates in-store, and staff can quickly check and redeem their validity. This is important for keeping wait times down and providing fast service.

How to sell more gift certificates online?

Create product promotions for significant events in the year

You can use many events yearly to promote your gift certificates for more sales!

Easter, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Black Friday, Christmas, Birthdays, and so on!

Enjovia offers a gift certificate system that lets you add product promotions and discounts. This makes it easier to sell during special events and attracts more customers. You can apply these promotions to specific catalogues or products.

Set up a percentage discount, group discount, Buy- One- Get- One- Free promotions and many more!

Enable product personalisation

Consumers are all about giving personalised gifts and ensuring they are extra special. Our store offers this for customers to customise their experiences within your product permissions.

At the back system, managers can create product add-ons for shoppers to create unique gifts. You can add a bottle of champagne, a box of chocolate-dipped strawberries, flowers, and so much more!

What products or services to sell as gift certificates?

In your gift certificate store, you can offer any of your business's products or services as a gift certificate.

Creativity with products

For example, is your business a gift store that sells products? Create a hamper, list all your favourite products, and sell this as a gift certificate on your online store for different occasions.

E.g . A birthday hamper for her.

Creativity with gift experiences

One of the best things when creating your gift experiences is flexibility.

You can combine a few of your services together to create unique experiences. You’ll stand out from your competition with a fun experience they won’t experience elsewhere.

Review your gift certificates regularly

Assessing their sales reporting is essential to make informed decisions about your products. You can determine which experiences are selling well and which ones aren't.

While maintaining the traditional experiences is significant, focusing on the profitable ones is equally vital.

To stay popular with your customers and increase your sales, it's critical to monitor your sales regularly.

How do I sell a gift certificate?

Selling a gift card is easy once you have the right system in place, along with the proper marketing. Here's how to get started:

Get your gift certificate management system.
Select your products/ services to turn them into gift certificates for your store.
Create your gift certificate products in your store.
Train your staff in the buying and redeeming of your gift certificates.
Promote your gift vouchers on multiple platforms.

For more ideas on social media promotions for your gift cards, read here:

Wrapping it up- How to sell gift certificates online

Learning how to sell gift certificates online is a must-have for businesses today.

The Enjovia gift certificate system will boost your gift certificate sales, so get in touch!

Create a store today for free with Enjovia.

How to Manage Gift Cards

In this blog post, we guide businesses on how to manage gift cards effectively.

Between 2022 and 2023, the worldwide digital gift card market experienced an increase in value from $342.66 billion to $405.17 billion.

The market predictions continue to expand, predicted to reach $740.41 billion in 2027.

Selling gift cards is among the most effective strategies to enhance your earnings, amplify traffic, and expand your enterprise.

What is a Gift Card?

A gift card is a transactional, pre-paid card (in a digital, plastic card or paper form) that customers can exchange for a good or service at a specific business.

There are different names for gift cards. They are also called gift vouchers, gift certificates, gift coupons or gift experiences.

Types of gift cards

Monetary gift cards vs gift experiences

Monetary gift cards

A monetary gift card is a transaction for a specific monetary value.

E.g. Consumers purchasing a £50 gift card can spend it on goods or services at the place of business for this value.

Gift experience gift cards

A gift experience is a gift card selling a service. Examples include a spa day, hotel stay, dinner at a restaurant or a combination of services to create a unique experience.

Consumer Shift in the Gift Card Market

As a leader in the gift card market, we’ve watched consumer preference for monetary gift cards get slowly left behind in exchange for gift experiences.

The GCVA found that post-Coivd, more consumer spending on gift cards is redirected towards leisure spending instead of retail.

As gift experiences' popularity grows, businesses adapt to consumer preferences. The most successful companies offer unique and memorable gift experiences.

Managing your gift cards to suit the wants and needs of consumers will place you head and shoulders above your competition.

Understanding the Revenue Potential of Gift Cards

Recognising the value of gift cards is crucial if you want to learn how to manage gift cards.

Gift cards generate immediate revenue upon purchase and drive additional future sales.

When customers redeem their gift cards, they often spend more than the card's value, resulting in increased revenue for your business.

Furthermore, gift cards can help attract new customers to your store. When recipients receive a gift card from your business, they get introduced to your products or services.

If they have a positive experience, they will become loyal customers and spread the word about your brand.

Gift cards can also encourage repeat business from existing customers who may choose to purchase a gift card to give to someone else.

With this in mind, let's reach your gift card revenue potential with proper management of gift cards.

How to Manage Gift Cards Effectively

An efficient management plan ensures your gift card strategy's success. Having a plan will maximise the revenue potential for your gift card sales.

Look at how this Hotel Resort tripled its gift card sales through intentional gift card strategies.

Celtic Manor triple gift voucher sales

Let’s take a look at some of the Enjovia gift card management features:

Gift card tracking system

Tips for Organising and Tracking Your Gift Cards

To effectively manage your gift cards, it is essential to have a system in place for organising and tracking them.

Utilise gift card management software: Invest in gift card management software that efficiently tracks gift card sales, redemptions, and balances. This software can also generate reports and analytics to help you make informed business decisions.

Implement a barcode or QR code system: Use barcodes or QR codes on your gift cards to streamline the redemption process. This will make scanning and tracking gift cards easier, reducing the risk of human error.

Train your staff: Provide thorough training to your staff members on handling gift cards and the proper procedures for sales and redemptions. This will ensure consistency and accuracy in managing your gift cards. From upselling gift cards to fast redemptions, your staff's efficiency with gift cards will boost your reputation.

By implementing these tips, you can streamline your gift card operations and provide an excellent customer and staff experience.

How to Manage Gift Cards Store

Managing a gift card store requires careful planning and attention to detail. Here are some critical steps to effectively manage your gift card store:

Determine the types of gift cards to offer: Consider the preferences and needs of your target audience when selecting the types of gift cards to show.

Offer a variety of options to cater to different interests and occasions.

Provide gift card customisation options: Offer personalisation options for your gift cards, such as custom designs or adding a personalised message.

Adding a special touch makes gift cards more appealing to customers.

See our post on ‘add-ons’ and how they can help personalise each product.

Create unique experiences with gift voucher add-ons

Offer special promotions and incentives: Create promotions or discounts for gift cards to encourage sales.

For example, you can offer a bonus gift card with the purchase of a certain amount or provide discounts on future purchases when a gift card is redeemed.

Design and Personalisation: Use a system like Enjovia to change the design, font and branding to align with your branding.

By following these steps, you can effectively manage your gift card store and maximise sales.

How to Use Gift Cards Strategically to Sell Your Services and Experiences

Gift cards can be a powerful tool for strategically selling your services and experiences. Here are some strategies to help you leverage gift cards to drive sales:

Create gift card bundles: Bundle your services or experiences together and offer them as gift card packages. This allows customers to purchase comprehensive expertise or a combination of services, increasing the perceived value of the gift card.

Collaborate with other businesses: Partner with complementary businesses to create joint gift card promotions. This can help you reach new customers and expand your customer base. Collaboration creates unique and memorable gift experiences consumers won’t want to miss.

Offer limited-time gift card promotions: Create a sense of urgency by offering limited-time promotions for gift cards. This can incentivise customers to purchase gift cards sooner rather than later.

Use gift cards for customer loyalty programs: Incorporate gift cards into your loyalty programs to reward repeat customers. Offer gift cards as rewards for reaching certain milestones or to thank customers for their continued support.

By implementing these strategies, you can use gift cards to sell your services and experiences and increase your revenue.

Can Gift Cards Be Tracked if Stolen?

With Enjovia all gift cards come with a unique QR code.

If a gift card is stolen, tracking and preventing its use through the gift card system is possible.

A voucher code is a unique code associated with a specific gift card and can be used to verify its authenticity.

Gift Card Fraud Prevention

Avoid gift card fraud by implementing the following measures:

Educate staff and customers: Train your staff to recognise and report any suspicious activity related to gift cards. Similarly, educate your customers about gift card fraud and give them tips on protecting their gift cards.

Implement fraud detection systems: Use fraud detection systems to identify and flag suspicious gift card transactions or suspiciously high-value purchases. With Enjovia, gift cards have a one-time redemption, preventing a stolen gift card from being used again.

By implementing these fraud prevention measures, you can protect your business and customers from gift card fraud.

Gift Card Restrictions - Informing the Buyer

When selling gift cards, informing the buyer about any restrictions or limitations associated with the gift card is essential. Helping to set clear expectations and ensures the recipient knows any terms and conditions.

Some common gift card restrictions include:

Expiration dates: Some gift cards may have an expiration date, after which the card becomes invalid. It is vital to communicate the expiration date to the buyer and any applicable fees or penalties for expired cards.

Usage Limitations: Certain gift cards may have usage limitations, such as being valid for specific products, services, or locations. Informing the buyer about these limitations can ensure understanding and satisfaction.

By providing clear and transparent information about gift card restrictions, you can ensure a positive experience for both the buyer and the recipient.

You can find out the law around using gift card expiration dates here:

https://enjovia.com/expiry-date-on-gift-vouchers-law/

Conclusion- How to manage gift cards

A gift card management system is the best way to manage your gift cards.

A gift card system such as Enjovia has various features that can help boost the traffic to your online store and improve the design and aesthetic.

We hope you learnt valuable information from this blog post on how to manage gift cards.

Use Enjovia to take your gift card strategy to the next level with a fully supported management system.

Increase your revenue and create a free online store in minutes here.

Disadvantages of Coupons

Disadvantages of coupons for your business

The gift voucher market is exploding. While revenue reward is high, you won’t maximise your revenue potential without careful management.
In this blog post, we look at some common disadvantages of coupons and find you the best solutions to manage these.

What is a gift coupon?

A gift coupon is another name for gift cards, gift vouchers, gift certificates and gift experiences. Throughout this post, we will refer to any of these definitions.
It is important to be aware of some potential disadvantages when utilising coupons.
Let’s take a look at some of the disadvantages of vouchers.

Common disadvantages of coupons

What are the disadvantages of gift cards?

While gift vouchers can bring numerous benefits to your business, they also present specific challenges if mismanaged.

In this section, we will explore some of the most common problems when selling gift vouchers so that you can be better prepared for any potential issues.

Disadvantages of vouchers: Understanding the Legal Requirements

Like most industries, a specific legal requirement exists to sell gift coupons. Understanding the law and knowing how to comply is essential for business success.

In some countries, you could be heavily fined if you put the wrong expiry dates on your coupons.

Here are some of the basic legal requirements for selling gift vouchers:

Gift Voucher Laws for the UK and Ireland?

https://enjovia.com/expiry-date-on-gift-vouchers-law/

Gift Voucher Laws for the US.

Gift Card Expiration Date Federal Law

If you need clarification on the laws in your area, contact a lawyer or accounting professional for help.

Disadvantages of vouchers: Weak Marketing Strategies

Selling gift vouchers with weak marketing strategies can be a big business problem.

With the right approach, businesses can reach their target audience and maximise their profits from selling gift vouchers.

A well-thought-out marketing strategy is essential for companies to succeed in this competitive market.

It should include creative campaigns, digital and social media presence, and effective customer communication.

How to promote gift vouchers

Disadvantages of vouchers: Poor Gift Voucher Designs

Gift Experiences are a great way to show someone you care. But it can be a real letdown if the design is ugly.

That's why ensuring your gift card designs are attractive and current is essential.

Not only will this make your gift experiences more desirable, but it will also help ensure they will be used and appreciated by the recipient.

Unfortunately, many businesses ignore their gift card designs, making customers uninterested.

To ensure your gift cards are successful, you must invest time and effort into creating attractive and modern designs that appeal to your target audience.

Use a high-quality card for a physical voucher with a wallet. Likewise, ensure digital copies of your gift card are attractive.

Disadvantages of vouchers: Managing Gift Voucher Discounts

How you promote your gift vouchers has to be considered very carefully. You should be aware of the disadvantages of discounts.

Depending on your business type and target audience, how you use discounting and promotions can positively/ negatively affect your branding.

If you discount too heavily and you’re in the luxury hotel market, you could potentially harm your ‘exclusive’ branding. However, if you don’t discount for significant holidays, you could risk losing all customers to your competition.

Managing customer expectations based on your voucher prices is important.

We discuss promotions and discounting heavily in this blog post here:

https://enjovia.com/how-to-promote-gift-vouchers/

Disadvantages of vouchers: Limited Delivery Options

Providing multiple delivery options is essential for businesses to remain competitive. When companies fail to deliver a choice of delivery options, it can lead to customer dissatisfaction and even lost sales.

With the rise of online shopping, customers have become accustomed to having various delivery options available.

Ensure your gift vouchers are available in

Digital form over email
First class for fast delivery
Options for a luxury box add-on

Make your delivery options clear on the gift card product description.

Disadvantages of vouchers: Limited Payment Options

Limited payment options can be a significant problem for businesses.

Not having access to various payment options can prevent customers from purchasing, resulting in lost revenue.

Additionally, companies may have to pay additional fees for processing payments through specific payment gateways or methods, which can add up quickly.

As such, businesses must ensure they have access to multiple payment options so customers can make purchases without hassle. Multiple options help increase sales and customer satisfaction.

A great option is to provide a payment plan. Going with payment plan providers such as Klarna, Clear Pay and PayPal Buy Now- Pay Later can increase opportunities for more significant purchases.

How to manage your gift cards properly

Using an app to manage gift cards can transform your service.

Gift card system for small business

A gift card management system is the perfect solution to all your mistakes. With a system, you can:

Attract new customers- building on your existing customer base
Easily keep track of all your gift cards and their balances
Quickly redeem coupon codes to avoid multiple uses
Personalise gift cards to suit individuals
Utilise Seach engine optimisation to boost your gift card visibility
Make significantly more sales
Easily group gift cards for discounts and promotions
A beautiful design
An easy-to-amend product page for your gift card store
Flexibility in changing the design of your gift cards and the gift card products on your online store
Keep track of analytics to see which promotions work well and forecast the best time to run gift card campaigns

We’ve written a blog post on how to manage your gift cards effectively. See it here:

How to Manage Gift Cards

What is the Experience Economy?

Move over goods, experiences are on the rise!

This post was last updated in 2020. However, since this time, the experience market has grown significantly- with more insightful research on the experience economy and the link to gift vouchers.

Inspired by the Barclaycard research and Mckinsey & Company report on the experience economy, we decided to compile a fact post around the growing popularity of expenditure on experiences and what you can do to capitalise on it.

Consumers are favouring experience-related services 4x faster over purchasing goods.

Experience economy definition

Let's answer the first question, What is meant by experience economy??

The consumer market is changing, however, the term 'experience economy' was actually coined over twenty years ago by Pine and Gilmore in their Harvard Business Review article.

They discussed how in the future, goods and services will not be enough to compete for consumers' attention. Instead, consumers will be drawn towards companies that provide value through their experiences and branding.

What is an example of experience economy?

Let's play a quick game.

You are meeting with a friend and trying to decide where to grab a snack. You come across two patisseries.

The first is a standard patisserie, prices are cheap and the pastries and cakes look delicious. Customers are buying what they want and leaving looking satisfied.

The second patisserie has the same quality items with a 20% higher price attached. However, there is a live pianist, smiling staff and the store is decorated in lovely bright colours with inviting outdoor seating in the sunshine under big parasols.

Which would you choose?

Common sense may tell you that you'd select the cheaper store. This makes sense as instinctively, a better value for money typically takes precedence over other factors right?

However, statistics tell us a different story. Reflecting back on the report conducted by Barclaycard and McKinsey above, 81% of consumers are holding good experiences on par with receiving a good value for money. In addition to this, a huge 73%of customers say the experience is an important factor in their purchasing decision. In a survey conducted by PWC, it was found that 42% of consumers would pay more for a friendly, welcoming experience.

In the last twenty years, we have seen companies making the transformation to personalising and transforming their brand value by enabling memorable experiences. So why is this?

Experiences over things

The switch to experiences over things is driven by a number of factors.

1. The pressure on social media and the hunt for 'Likes'

The quest for 'showing off' exciting experiences has grown so wild that even stationary private jet photoshoots are becoming wildly popular, following a trend that began in Moscow. People are paying up to £300 for a photo shoot or video to capture the 'experience' and share an idea of them living the high life on Instagram.

2. There is a growing fear of missing out FOMO

This legitimate fear mainly among millennials is so prominent that FOMO was added to the Oxford English Dictionary in 2013.

3. A growing proclivity for minimalism

With the impending realisation that we have 'too much stuff,' there is a conscious decision in the minds of many to reduce their materialism and shopping obsessions. For many, the drive is to reduce their personal impact on the environment. For others, it's a personal cleanse, inspired by the Japanese Marie Kondo tidying-up method. With the focus on minimalism, learning to be content and appreciative of what you already own and saying goodbye to things that don't 'spark joy' for you.

4. Quality time with friends and family

With money in the economy becoming tight, people have switched their focus to spending their hard-earned cash on quality time with friends and family over purchasing personal goods. With unique experiences such as 'Escape Rooms' shooting up in popularity, it's no wonder people are gravitating towards experiences to bond over and share memories.

Experiences make us happier

For good reason.

Experiences are unique to purchasing material goods because with a shared experience there's a lasting memory. We then remember how those experiences made us feel. Enabling us to hold more value over experiences than physical goods.

Science supports this too!

At Cornell University, a psychology professor Dr Thomas Gilovich has found that satisfaction with the experience gifts increases over time. Whereas overall satisfaction with material goods decreases. When initial happiness with the material and experiential purchases is equal at the time of receipt.

In our own figures, we have found that 36% of consumers will spend more on a gift experience voucher over a traditional gift. The rest spend the same amount.

Experience gifts have a strong impact on consumers

This is down to 3 things:

Experiences are more open to positive reinterpretation
Experiences foster social relationships
Experiences can become a meaningful part of one's identity

With experiences having such a strong influence over people, it has now become one of the major things of importance to a consumer. With 81% saying that a good experience is important in their purchasing decisions. Similarly, 83% said good value for money was important.

So, the million-dollar question...

How can you capitalise on experiences?

As you're reading through this post you may be thinking how can I make more revenue from my existing experiences?

Simple, sell your experiences as gift vouchers

Gift experience vouchers go hand in hand with the growing experience economy, as a growing source of income. Gift experience vouchers allow experiences to be gifted and used at the leisure of the receiver with a whole load of benefits to you even after a sale.

Gift experience statistics

Gift experience vouchers are fast rising.

The Gift Card Voucher Association (GCVA) 2022 found in their research that gift experiences are now the preferred style of a gift voucher. Leisure activities are easily translated into experience vouchers. Making the gifting of hospitality, entertainment and travel industries a goldmine for selling gift vouchers.

In the GCVA research, experience gift voucher growth increased for the third period running by 7.6%! Whereas retail gift vouchers contracted in growth by -3.7%.

Since Covid, consumers are prioritising experiences far above retail spending.

1. Increased Revenue:

10%-15% of all gift vouchers expire. This is revenue directly to your bottom line without ever having to pay out for the costs of goods sold.

2. Increased Brand Awareness:

60% of consumers say they’ve been introduced to a new brand through a gift voucher and 17.7% have become regular customers as a result.

3. Increased Customer Spending:

72.1% of consumers spend more than the value of the voucher, adding 55% on top of the average value of the card itself.

To thrive with selling gift experience vouchers, you need an easy to set up, easy-to-manage, gift voucher management system.

With Our Enjovia features, you can create a store in less than a minute, take full control of your store, easily fill your store with your experiences, have an optimised store ready for any device, an automated delivery by email or post, and have a super simple redeem voucher process to keep track of all experiences.

Don't delay making great money from your experiences any longer. Contact us for more information.

Thanks for reading our post on what is the experience economy.

What to look for in a gift card service provider

Are you interested in increasing your sales and building brand awareness?

In 2022, the worldwide gift card industry reached $342.1 billion!

With evident success in the market, you can maximise your revenue potential through the right gift card service provider.

This post discusses what to look for in a gift card service provider.

What is a gift card provider?

A gift card provider is a system that allows companies to sell gift cards to their customers. It is a platform that enables businesses to create, manage, and distribute gift cards.

This system enables businesses to generate revenue and for customers to purchase gifts for their loved ones. With the help of a gift card provider, companies can increase brand awareness, customer loyalty, and sales.

What to Look for in a Gift Card Service Provider?

When selecting a gift card management system, who you go with will drastically affect how much money you’ll make selling gift cards.

Enjovia is a world-leading gift card service provider.

We have created an utterly demand-driven system by implementing customer feedback for the last eight years. With expert knowledge of which essential features maximise gift card sales,

We are qualified to advise on important factors when selecting a gift card provider.

Let’s dive in.

1. The Personal Touch

Personalisation plays a vital role in consumer satisfaction. Consumers feel valued and understood when products, services, and content are tailored to match individual interests. A platform which supports consumer personalisation will drive more sales.

Enjovia does this through the following:

Storefront Page design

The Enjovia storefront is white-labelled. This allows for a customisable design to match your website branding and unity.

Change the colour, font, web design layout and more!

The storefront creation is so simple you can create and amend your storefront independently. Alternatively, you can call our expert team to create your storefront.

Image optimisation

Over time, we have learned that small things lead to a much-improved user experience.

When it comes to your store's aesthetic, high-quality images are essential. A fast website allows for a better user experience, so image size must be optimised for faster page loading.

Enjovia supports image formats like JPEG and PNG for more efficient XP.

Product design

You can tailor your voucher with personalised designs, messages, and branding to create a beautiful gift card. Choose from a selection of layout options to suit your style.

Add on’s

Enjovia also has an inbuilt ‘add-on’ feature on their platform. Gift cards can come with extra services that allow people to customise their experience.

For example, consumers can ‘add-on’ chocolate-dipped strawberries and champagne with an overnight stay gift gift card.

This revenue builder is for selling gift cards and personalising the experience.

2. Simplified User Experience

Intuitive User Interface

Abandoned cards are more likely if your gift card store has too many steps before purchasing.

A gift card store must be simple and easy to navigate. There must be as few steps to checkout as possible. Make the shopping experience enjoyable and straightforward to encourage fast checkouts.

Enjovia has auto- auto-address finder as well as a quick buy checkout option. This drastically speeds up the buying process- resulting in more sales.

Mobile Compatible

Gift cards are all about convenience.

A mobile-compatible store is essential for not losing customers to competitors.

Mobile shopping allows faster and more efficient shopping experiences, especially for last-minute or spontaneous gift-giving occasions. - Which is one advantage of buying gift cards.

Fast Redemption

A smooth and efficient customer experience requires quickly redeeming gift cards at a checkout desk.

This simple feature drastically increases the customer experience and encourages return bookings.

Enjovia's automated redemption process streamlines validation and redemption for both customers and staff, making life easier for everyone.

These features streamline the redemption process for better efficiency.

fast user log-ins
gift card code grouping,
QR code scanning

3. Safety and Security Guarding Your Gifts with Care

Robust Security Measures

A gift card provider that uses a trusted and well-known payment processing platform is essential.

Enjovia prioritises security and ensures that your customers' payment information is encrypted and protected, giving them a trusted shopping experience.

4. Transparent Terms and Conditions: The Devil's in the Details

Expiration Dates and Fees / Limitations and Restrictions

It is crucial to outline the terms and conditions of your gift cards accurately. - Especially when selling them in various locations worldwide.

Ensuring consumer protection by providing precise expiration dates and rules for usage is essential for businesses.

We detail the laws around the gift card expiration dates here:

Expiry Date on Gift Vouchers Law

5. Extra revenue-making opportunities

Enabling discounts and promotions within the storefront

Promotional Opportunities within your gift card provider are essential.

Enjovia lets you run promotional campaigns like discounts or bundle offers to entice customers and boost voucher sales.

Real-Time Reporting and Analytics

Knowledge is power. Enjovia's reporting and analytics tools empowers you to make well-informed business decisions through real-time data on voucher sales and customer behaviour.

Our platform also lets you link Google Analytics with your store for store tracking. You can easily see the data behind successful or unsuccessful attempts when setting campaigns.

SEO and keywords enabling within the product pages

Enjovia’s storefront is built with Search Engine Optimisation in mind. This allows your gift cards to be linked to keywords for more website traffic to your products.

6. Customer Support: When in Doubt, Reach Out!

Enjovia knows the importance of customer experience.

We have multiple methods of being contacted, including email, chatbox and by phone.

As part of our service, all gift card service customers have access to the Enjovia help centre. The help centre gives additional support with easy-to-follow guides on how to use the software features.

How to Get a Gift Card: Exploring the Options

There are various options to consider when obtaining a gift card. The traditional route involves visiting a physical store and purchasing a gift card at the point of sale.

However, this method may not be feasible for some businesses, especially those operating solely online. In such cases, digital gift cards become the go-to solution.

These can be obtained through a digital gift card provider, purchasing pre-designed cards or customising them to align with your brand identity.

Understanding the Power of E-Gift Cards

What are e gift cards ?

E-gift cards have gained significant popularity in recent years and for a good reason. They offer a range of benefits for both businesses and customers alike.

For businesses, e-gift cards provide a cost-effective solution, eliminating the need for physical production, packaging, and shipping.

They also allow for easy customisation, enabling companies to align their gift cards with their brand image.

On the other hand, customers appreciate the convenience and instant delivery of e-gift cards. They can be sent via email or text, making them an ideal last-minute gift option.

How to Get a Gift Card Online: Exploring Digital Solutions

If you're looking to offer gift cards online, digital solutions are the way to go. Digital gift card providers provide platforms that allow businesses to create, manage, and sell gift cards online.

These platforms usually provide customisable templates, secure payment processing, and integration with popular e-commerce platforms.

When choosing a digital gift card provider, consider factors such as ease of use, customer support, and pricing structure.

Look for a provider that aligns with your business needs and provides a seamless experience for you and your customers.

How to Get a Gift Card for Free: Promotions and Incentives

As a business owner, you may be wondering if there is a way to offer gift cards for free to your customers. While giving away gift cards entirely may not be feasible, you can leverage promotions and incentives to make them more appealing.

For example, you can offer a gift card to reward customer loyalty.

By strategically using gift cards as part of your marketing strategy, you can attract new customers, encourage repeat business, and boost overall sales.

Conclusion

In the fast-paced world of gift cards, staying on top requires constant adaptation to market changes.

Our commitment to improvement has earned us the reputation of being experts in the field, setting the standard for what an excellent gift card service provider should offer.

As you look for the perfect gift card service provider, consider critical factors impacting your customer's experience.

Reliability: Look for a robust, secure gift card system that can handle high transaction volumes without hiccups or downtime.
Flexibility: Customisable gift card options that align perfectly with your branding.
Seamless integration: The right provider will seamlessly fit into your existing systems, making the gift card process effortless for you and your customers.
Human touch: Excellent customer support is non-negotiable. A reliable provider offers swift assistance and technical guidance whenever needed.
Reputation. Choosing a gift card service provider with a proven track record in the industry can provide the confidence you need to make the right decision for your business.

At Enjovia, we embody these essential qualities, making us a world-leading gift card service provider. Contact us here to elevate your gift card strategy and delight your customers.

Black Friday sale ideas for small business

Our top Black Friday sale ideas for small businesses.

Black Friday to Cyber Monday weekend is one of the biggest consumer spending weekends of the year. Businesses that can create effective sales and promotions properly see their revenue skyrocket.

This year, we will see the start of Black Friday weekend commencing November 24th, 2023.

In this blog post, we highlight the best ways to use social media to promote Black Friday for your small business. Read on to get started.

Social media to promote Black Friday

A recent statistic shows that 59% of the world's population uses social media. 2022 figures show that on average, people spend 2 hours and 29 minutes on it each day.

This means that it’s most likely your consumers will have the greatest chance of seeing your Black Friday deals through social media over any other forms of marketing.

How to get your Black Friday Deals to reach more people?

1. Use hashtags related to Black Friday

… such as #BlackFriday, #BlackFriday2023, or #CyberMonday in order to get more exposure on social media.

On Black Friday and Cyber Monday consumers will be looking for Black Friday deals specifically. So you need to make your posts as visible as possible. Using hashtags is a great way to do this. Your posts will not only show up for consumers searching specifically for Black Friday deals but also the social media algorithm will prioritise your posts for consumers who have previously looked for similar Black Friday deals on social media.

2. Run a Black Friday/ Cyber Monday giveaway/ competition

Social media users love competition. Let’s face it, there’s no skin off their nose, all they need to do is follow, like and comment on a post usually to enter into a prize draw to win a freebie.

On Instagram posts, the average number of comments and likes for an IG post is 10.6 percent. Those for an Instagram contest post are 64x higher.

Running your giveaway on a Black Friday weekend is genius, as it increases your exposure considerably while generating more web traffic to your page. It’s a win-win for both you and your social media audience as your increased exposure leads to more sales, while some lucky winner gets a free gift.

It can be a great idea to run a Black Friday prize draw to win either a free product or a code to your store to have a considerable discount/ free gift.

3. Work with influencers for user-generated content

You can take your Black Friday social media marketing success to the next level by working with creators.

Social media users in a particular niche with a good number of followers, produce fun and entertaining content for their audience. These influencers use their platforms to promote products and services on behalf of their sponsor.

As such, people who follow them believe their information is authentic.

There are lots of people who make purchase decisions based on the content a company publishes- so if you're to engage with them, offering your own content is an excellent idea.

4. Get people excited about Black Friday deals with early access to your deals

The majority of the people who follow you are your supporters that have been there from day one. You can gain their support even further by giving them early access to your offers.

Let them know that you appreciate their contribution to your business growth with exclusive offers. You can also integrate this technique into your email marketing campaign so that you run some promotions exclusively for your subscribers.

5. Let your followers know that you offer free shipping

Every time you mention the word “free”, everyone’s ears perk up and everybody starts paying attention. …we love free stuff and we know you do too

Inform your followers of the free shipping you offer via a social media post and see the number of items in their cart increase!

A survey from UPS found that more than half of the respondents (52%) would order more items to qualify for free shipping.

6. Offer free gifts

One of the marketing tricks employed by many brands on Black Friday is to offer free gifts with any purchase. This sounds like a pretty good idea and it seems like it would bring a lot of joy to the buyer.

At times, it can be beneficial to add a little something extra to your customer’s package. For example, if you choose to offer free extras that come in the form of vouchers for your store or other services you provide. Who doesn’t like free stuff?

A free gift always entices people to buy a product. However, this gift doesn’t necessarily have to be one of the products you sell in your store. There are tons of inexpensive items that would make great bundle promotions.

One more benefit freebies can bring is that customers are less likely to return the products they bought, as they don't want to lose the extra items. Studies have shown the rate of unnecessary returns is up by 30% on Black Friday. This means you'll likely get an effective economic boost from giving out free gifts such as these.

You may wish to consider adding a few cost-effective items to the buyer's package:

Mystery gift: give shoppers the excitement of unearthing a hidden gem
Samples of your other available items
A complimentary item to match your product.

7. Create Black Friday boxes and bundles

Another idea you can do for your social media posts is to create special boxes like gift guides and sell them as bundles.

Black Friday is a great opportunity to select a few products and pack them together in hopes of selling them at an unbelievable price.

Bulk and bundle shoppers will appreciate the opportunity to make sure they have everything they need without having to visit more than one store. And employees get the chance to upsell customers on similar items!

9 . The second chance or last chance offer

Another Black Friday marketing idea for small businesses is to offer a Second chance or Last chance sale.

We do this to allow indecisive buyers to nab a Black Friday deal. This tends to work because people who have already abandoned carts and missed out on the first sale period are going to need a final opportunity.

Other than just using the extended sale to attract customers in the after-Black Friday shopping month, you can use it as an opportunity to keep your customer engaged for long periods afterward. In order to keep a customer's purchase active, you are going to have to come up with incentives for them. You also want them to still be engaged and present in the sales period so try using a sale or other incentives at the end of the sale or promotional offer

10. Email marketing campaign

Email has been the go-to for communicating with consumers about Black Friday deals for years. This is why we recommend that marketers curate and send out exciting Black Friday email announcements, lists of items on sale, or gift ideas this time of year.

A segmented email marketing strategy is crucial for a successful Black Friday campaign. By showing customers the right products, you enable them to buy what they want with ease and thus improve their shopping experience.

It's the holiday season, which means there is lots of competition for your customer's attention. You want your subject line to stand out, so it's a good idea to focus on quality instead of quantity.

When it comes to the content of your emails, it's best to keep things concise and avoid overthinking. This will allow you to get straight to the point and maximise your eCommerce engagement.

11. Build your customer’s anticipation

Most of the Black Friday ideas are actually psychological triggers by design. Smart businesses make an attempt to build anticipation and curiosity for their customers before the event.

Promotions can be teased as early as in the first emails or countdown social media posts.

It's crucial to keep customers engaged and aware of the upcoming day. When they are more excited, they will likely buy your products faster, which gives them a chance to promote your products better

12. Compile a Black Friday sales report for analysis

Your sales performance report is an important resource that will allow you to improve your strategy in the future. This is particularly important around Black Friday, as your buyer audience becomes more diverse and purchasing increases. You'll have a greater understanding of what they want and how they can be persuaded to buy from you.

It's never perfect, so use our analysis to work on the areas that need improvement. You can also use it to find out what you did well on Black Friday and make preparations for next year's campaign which will save you time and money.

13. Extend your sale from Black Friday to Cyber Monday

Cyber Monday is very similar to the Black Friday sales and has been around for years. It was created with the intention of getting consumers to buy from online stores, which have deals available just like Black Friday. Black Friday has become a symbolic shopping holiday around the world. People are increasingly buying a lot of digital items while they're at it.

Take advantage of the entire 4-day period between Black Friday and Cyber Monday. You can offer deals for your products across this time period. It'll help boost your sales during what is traditionally a low sales period.

14. Start selling digital e-vouchers for Black Friday and Cyber Monday

Every year, Black Friday and Cyber Monday are the two busiest shopping days of the year. why you should sell gift vouchers for black Friday.

Gift vouchers are the perfect solution for shoppers who are unable to find exactly what they want as well as those who need to shop for more people than they could afford. If a shopper can't find what they're looking for, then a voucher may be the answer. They also make perfect gifts for friends and relatives because of their convenience.

E-gift vouchers are an easy and quick way to give a gift. These can be purchased online and sent via email instantly, saving the trouble of having to go out shopping for a physical gift. They are also a more personal choice as they can be sent to someone's inbox so that they can choose what they would like instead of being surprised with one item that they may not be happy with.

They also make an incredible last-minute gift if you’ve forgotten to purchase something, but want to take advantage of any cost savings. They can be bought now and redeemed later, so as long as the end user cashes in their voucher before the expiry date, then they will have ample opportunity to use their gift vouchers.

If you’d like more information on how you can set the expiry dates for your gift vouchers, then you’ll find out post on Expiry Date on Gift Vouchers Law extremely helpful!

Frequently asked questions for Black Friday ideas for small business

What to do for Black Friday small business?

For the run-up to Black Friday, there are a few things you can do to increase sales:

Use social media promotions
Discount your products and services for a limited time
Heavily promote online sales as well as in-house. people enjoy the convenience of Black Friday shopping.
Use gift cards to increase the sales of your products AND services. Creating gift experiences around your services is a very clever way to do this.
Use email promotions to past customers.
Run competitions on social media to increase interest and engagement

Is Black Friday good for small businesses?

Black Friday is a great opportunity for small business to increase their revenue. Even if your business is a service.

How do you attract customers on Black Friday?

Build anticipation on the lead-up to Black Friday. This will not only create excitement and desire for your customers to purchase your goods, but also it will attract new customers curious about your business.

To reach new customers you can promote more on social media and doing the following:

Using relevant hashtags
Run social media competitions which require tagging friends and following your account
Check your abandoned cart rates
Create sales directly on social media to minimise the steps involved in the purchasing process
Improve your SEO so you can appear on the top of search engine results from pages. Find out more about SEO here.
Use referral codes with your existing customer base.

What sells the most during Black Friday?

Gift cards are an increasingly popular team bought on Black Friday, with sales of gift cards increasing year on year.

One reason for this increase according to Rob Bates is that a gift card is an elegant solution for men not knowing what gift to buy their women. Women can choose their own present ensuring their 'gifts' from their men send the right signal that they have a devoted partner.

How to make money selling gift cards

In this blog post, we look at how to make money selling gift cards.

Growing gift card market

The gift card market is expanding. In recent years we’ve seen the popularity of gift cards soar.

“The global gift cards market is growing at a CAGR of 16.2% from 2020 to 2027. Valued at $619.25 billion in 2019, the gift card market is projected to reach $2,076.51 billion by 2027.”- AlliedMarketResearch.com

Day by day the use of gift cards is increasing!

Why sell gift cards?

Gift cards make you instant money for your business. This is because it works on the buy now use later model.

Customers pay upfront for the good or service to be used at a later date.

The additional bonus for retailers and service providers in this model is that many gift cards won’t get cashed in. Consumers will either forget they have the gift card or fail to use it before the expiry date runs out.

This means you get to keep the entire revenue from the gift card sale. Additionally, while never paying the service or goods cost.

The popularity of gift cards

Gift cards are an ideal gift to give. This is because:

People like for the recipient to choose their own gift
Gift cards are convenient to buy
Gift experience cards are luxurious and often memorable
They work as great last-minute gifts
The value ranges enormously so can find anything that fits your budget

Where can I buy gift cards for my business?

If you’re a business owner, you may find yourself low on gift cards to give your loyal customers. This can be frustrating when you want to show people how much they mean to you. Many business owners turn to the internet to buy and print out gift cards for their businesses.

Using an online retailer to design, customize and buy a stack of printed gift cards seems like an easy option. However, this method of buying gift cards is outdated and will stunt your revenue stream.

Create your own gift card store for free!

Why buy gift cards when you can create your own for free?

In today’s market, you need to be selling your gift cards online.

Buying your gift cards from an online retailer will limit your gift card sales to your in-house visitors.

Maximize your revenue by creating your own gift card store, where you can sell your gift cards online and in-house.

By using a gift card management system, you can create bespoke, personalised and professional gift cards for your business.

Your gift cards will be unique to your business, with your own branding and design to match.

Is there profit in selling gift cards?

Selling gift cards equal zero profit loss!

When you sell a gift card, the full revenue from that sale goes directly to you. This is regardless of whether the gift card has been spent by the consumer.

Unredeemed gift cards

In fact, if a customer doesn’t ever cash in their gift card, there is a 100% profit gained. Studies show that 6% of consumers never redeem their gift cards.

This is due to:

Not finding the right item to buy (if a monetary gift card is being used)
Forgetting to use it
Saving monetary cards for a bigger purchase
Waiting for the right time to use it (for experience gift cards)

Extra spending

Extra spending is also common with gift cards by up to 40%! And an enormous 90% of consumers are willing to spend more than the value of their gift card.

Expiry dates extensions

For obvious reasons, gift cards have expiry dates. These include:

To help the stores balance their books for future redemptions.
Experience gift cards have to be used while the service is still available.

Expiry dates enable companies to have better control over when gift cards can be used. This also serves as another profit-making opportunity. Many companies offer a gift card extension option.

For any expired gift cards, consumers can pay a fee to extend the expiry date so they can still use it. This works very well for high-value gift cards.

We give some advice on how to set your expiry dates on gift cards here.

How to sell gift cards

Using gift card services like Enjovia to sell your gift cards is simple and easy.

We do everything for you. All you need to do is set up a store on our gift card selling platform and add your gift card products. It's as simple as that and can be done in a matter of minutes!

Using this system will catapult your sales with our unique features that support digital marketing and sales strategies. Let's look at all the different ways to boost sales...

How to make money selling gift cards

In this section, we discuss how you can use clever strategies to triple your gift card profits!

Where once gift cards only had monetary value, they now have expanded into the experience economy.

This is where the money is!

Ramp up your revenue streams by adapting your services into gift experiences. This is simply done by creating a package experience around one or more of the services you offer. The hospitality sector is making huge strides in the experience economy. You can buy experiences for spa days, restaurant experiences, hotel stays, activity days and so much more.

What gift card system should I use?

Using Enjovia will enable you to create your own gift card store for free in minutes. While you can enjoy a wide range of features that will maximise your gift card sales.

Let’s look at these features:

Promotions

The best gift card sellers all use promotions to maximise their gift card sales.

Whether you want to use discounts, BOGOF, holiday sales or categorising sales based on a service, you have the flexibility to do so with the Enjovia system.

We have created a flexible back-of-house system that can cater to all of your promotional needs.

With specific user specifications, you can allocate certain staff profiles to create bespoke promotions on certain gift experiences for your store.

For example,

With Valentine's Day promotion, you can set all couple-themed gift experiences at a discounted price for a certain amount of time.

Or maybe if you want to boost sales during a dry patch of the year. You can create a discount to appear once a certain amount has been reached in the shopping basket.

E.g.

A 20% discount will apply at checkout if £300 or more has been spent on gift cards.

Add Ons

Add ons are another crucial way to boost gift card revenue.

An add on is where an option list of adding on extra products or services are available with a gift card.

E.g.

For an overnight stay gift card, retailers can offer additional add ons. Such as:

champagne on arrival,
chocolates in the room,
or luxurious product hotel amenities.

This allows the customer to personalise their gift card. While generating extra revenue with each sale with little extra cost to the business.

Gift Card Redemption

Gift card redemption is a very important aspect of using a competent gift card system.

Staff at service desks need to be able to identify and redeem gift cards quickly and effectively there and then.

This saves the business on gift card fraud and eliminates the prospect of double servicing a gift card accidentally.

With Enjovia, there is a unique gift card code with each gift card. With a simple click of a button, the redemption feature can either be scanned via a barcode or typed into the system and redeemed. Cashiers can easily see if the card has been used already or expired.

Tracking and Analytics

The enjovia system has an in-built analytics and tracking feature that allows you to see the effectiveness of your gift card campaigns.

How did your Mother’s Day promotion go? Did sales increase with the discounts compared to last year? What types of promotions are popular with your customers?

Companies that track their campaigns and promotions can make smart future promotional decisions that increase revenue.

SEO Techniques

It's all about landing hits.

To make more sales, you need to be driving traffic through to your website.

The Enjovia system is designed around using SEO techniques to appear at the top of Google searches. Enabling you to plug in your most competitive keywords next to your gift card products. This helps you to gain the attention of your audience from their search queries.

How to make money selling gift cards- Start selling today

For more information on how to make money selling gift cards contact one of our advisors today, we’d be happy to help!

What are the guidelines in providing great experience for guests?

3 min read

Introduction: What are the guidelines in providing great experience for guests

In this blog post, we’ll dive into the guidelines for providing great experiences for guests in hotels.

Importance of experiences in the hospitality industry.

The hospitality industry has a central focus on providing amazing experiences.

You need to ensure that your hotel or service is catered around providing a great experience for several reasons.

1. Guest happiness and satisfaction

For a great hotel experience, guests must have positive experiences. With positive experiences comes customer satisfaction and delight. For hotels providing themselves with their services, making guests happy must be high on their priorities list.

2. Customer loyalty

When people have positive experiences, they will want to repeat those memories. By focusing on positive experiences hotel guests will more than likely return in the future and even recommend their experience to others.

Repeated customer loyalty has many benefits.

The top benefit is that it's more cost-effective for hotels to retain existing customers rather than attract new ones. It can cost 5 times higher to attract a new customer.
Repeated customers tend to larger purchases and try new products or services over time.
They refer your business to friends and family, leading to more loyal customers.
This in turn leads to increased profits!

Customer loyalty is a key driver of success in the hospitality industry. By investing in improved experiences, repeat customers pay off in terms of increased profits and long-term growth.

3. Brand image

The better the experiences for hotel guests the better the reviews and brand reputation. When a hotel has a high reputation, its bookings and occupancy rates increase. Over time this creates

more demand for the hotel. As a result, pushes the hotel experience further up the market into a more luxury price bracket as people are willing to pay more for the experience.

4. Competitive advantage

With a better superior experience, a hotel is more attractive to guests. This gives a hotel a distinct competitive advantage in the market.

5. Increased Revenue

When all the above points are reached hotel revenue will naturally increase as a result. Often people are willing to pay more for a more satisfying hotel stay.

The role of hotels in the travel industry

The traditional role of hotels was to provide shelter, refreshments, and food to travellers on a trip away from home.

However, over time, the traditional purpose of hotels has morphed into so much more.

Unless travellers are focusing on keeping costs as small as possible, the role of the hotel has needed to provide much more basic functions than a bed and food.

Furnishings, amenities, services, and luxury facilities are becoming more and more of a basic requirement for hotel guests.

People are not only looking for a play to stay away from home, but guests are searching for a luxurious treat. - Better than what a typical person would experience at home.

In customer surveys, one of the most consistent and important demands is the desire for improved customer experience.

What has contributed to the increased desire for great hotel experiences?

Social media

Boasting about experiences is a common feature on social media this has created a lot of FOMO (The fear of missing out). It’s common for people to share their experiences, including their stays at hotels, on social media.

For many people, seeing the experiences of others through friends, family and influencers creates a desire for themselves to want to have those same experiences.

Social media platforms have made it easy for people to share photos and reviews of their travels with their friends, family, and followers.

This can be a powerful tool for hotels, as positive reviews and attractive photos can attract more business to the hotel, but be aware the opposite is also true!

Higher expectations

The competitive nature social media brings among people posting about their experiences increases expectations for a better and better experience. Hotels are expected to up their customer service game to compete not just with their competition but to please the rising standards and expectations of consumers.

Online Reviews

Online reviews are a double-edged sword! Hotels with a great customer experience reap all the benefits of referrals when their customers write positive reviews. This kind of feedback puts pressure on other hotels in the market to gain a competitive advantage to compete.

Along with great reviews, there’s the threat of negative feedback. Hotel guests will openly share if they have bad experiences that aren’t up to expectations. Negatively affecting hotels' reputation.

Increased Travel

More and more people are putting travel up high on their desires list. But since the pandemic, we have seen a change in attitude to travelling.

Alternative accommodations

Hotels are also facing increased competition from alternative accommodations, such as vacation rentals and home-sharing platforms, which have become more popular in recent years. As a result, hotels have had to work even harder to differentiate themselves and provide a unique and memorable experience for guests to stay competitive.

Personalisation

With the rise of data analytics and the increasing use of technology in the hospitality industry, hotels have been able to personalise the guest experience to a greater degree, which has contributed to the desire for a great hotel experience.

What are the guidelines in providing great experience for guests?

Determine your guest profile

Knowing who your audience is and how to cater to them will be the lighthouse guiding your business decisions.

Research who your target guests are, and their likes and behaviours. This will help you cater your hotel experience to their needs and wants.

Carefully choose your Designs and Decor

The physical amenities are an extremely important factor for hotels in ensuring a great experience for hotel guests.

These should include:

High comfort

Plush carpets beneath your feet, thick and heavy curtains to block out the early sunrise, and fluffy but supportive pillows. The decor and comfort of your hotel rooms will go a long way to improving the comfort and feeling of luxury for your guests.

Cleanliness

Cleanliness goes a very long way to making hotel guests feel comfortable and relaxed. If a hotel is dirty and not cleaned properly people will be left feeling very uncomfortable and extremely dissatisfied with the most basic of expectations. Strolling past overflowing bins, drinking from dirty glasses, or seeing dirt on the floor will not only prevent a hotel guest from ever coming back, but you can be sure they will leave an extremely negative review on their experience.

Bedrooms should be clean and comfortable, with fresh linens, comfortable beds, and sufficient lighting.

In addition to rooms the facilities of the rest of your hotel also make an incredible impact. Areas such as the health and leisure suites, spas and restaurants.

Even if guests are visiting just for the day, you should ensure cleanliness and comfort are high in your guest experience.

For example, swimming pools should be clean, have the facilities in working order and provide sufficient fresh towels and shower facilities.

Amenities

Access to amenities

Guests expect to have access to amenities such as a fitness centre, pool, or business centre, depending on their needs and preferences.

Free Wifi

In today's connected world, guests expect reliable WiFi throughout the hotel. This includes strong signal strength and fast speeds, as well as enough bandwidth to support multiple devices.

A reliable internet source is a very important necessity for hotel guests. Guests staying in their rooms will often rely on looking online for things to do in the local area, room entertainment and even contacting hotel services. (If suitable tools are available).

Adequate parking

There’s nothing more frustrating than having a bad experience before you’ve even reached your destination.

For guests who are driving, having adequate parking at the hotel can be important. This includes both sufficient spaces and easy access to the hotel.

Make booking easy and simple

If you want to improve the guest experience, your first point of contact is important.

Make the booking process simple and smooth to avoid any hiccups or frustrations. There’s nothing worst than waiting on a phone line for 20 minutes to be passed around a diverted line system before you finally speak to a reservations agent.

Online booking system

An effective way to do this is to get an online booking system. But endure it's straightforward to use.

Include options for your guests to personalise their stay and include many different add-ons.

Include high-quality images and videos to help guest make their booking decisions.

Chatbot and live chat options

With any customer service options, you should include a chatbot messenger. Chatbots can improve customer service by cutting down on operational costs by 30%. As well as freeing up call lines from your customer service teams.

Set guest expectations

Hotels that create clear and accurate information for guests, both before and during their stay, can help meet guest expectations. This is an important part of delivering a high customer experience. If a guest has different expectations from what they are met with (and feels disappointed) it will lead to negative reviews and overall, a poor customer experience instead of a positive one.

For example, if your hotel spa or restaurant gets booked up fast, informing your guests of this is a great way to manage expectations. Otherwise, you may get guests getting upset at the lack of availability when they arrive. Either send your guests a booking reminder before their stay, or for your reservations agents to inform them on the phone at the time of booking.

Using technology to manage guest expectations

Get your hotel an app, so your customers can make easy reservations from the convenience of their phones. This can help curb frustrations and upset by making communication easier.

Offer a variety of unique services

Hotels should aim to provide a variety of unique experiences.

In a crowded and competitive market, hotels that can offer something different or special may have an advantage over their competitors.

Some examples of unique experiences that hotels could offer include:

Special events: Hosting special events, such as wine tastings or cooking classes, can provide a memorable and enjoyable experience for guests.
Cultural experiences: Offering cultural experiences, such as guided tours or classes, can give guests a deeper understanding and appreciation of the local area.
Wellness experiences: Providing wellness experiences, such as yoga classes or spa treatments, can appeal to guests who are looking to relax and rejuvenate during their stay.
Adventure experiences: Offering adventure experiences, such as hiking or water sports, can appeal to guests who are looking for an active and exciting vacation.

We have a great post on how to improve the guest experience for hotels here.

Exceptional customer service

Hotels should aim to train all their staff to the same level. At any point, a hotel guest could approach a front desk server or even a cleaner for information.

A truly exceptional hotel will understand this and ensure that all levels of staff who may come in contact with guests should aim to be as helpful and informative to the guest as possible.

Improving the booking process and communication with the guests is a great start. You can find more about improving communication for the guest experience here.

Customer Feedback

One of the best ways for a hotel to improve its customer experience is to get feedback from its customers.

A hotel manager may think a new spa experience may be incredible, but the guests experiencing it on the ground may have their own opinions and perceptions from experiencing it first-hand.

That’s why feedback on new services and hotel experiences is vital to understanding what it is they do very well, and what it must change.

How to get crucial feedback from guests?

Post stay email
Feedback survey at checkout
Instant messaging
Through your hotel app

A great way to entice guests to leave feedback is to put their contact details into a prize.

Conclusion: What are the guidelines in providing great experience for guests?

We’ve highlighted throughout this post, that hotels that focus on a great experience for their guests go far in their success.

A blueprint for great hotel experiences starts with:

Viewing the customer journey from the perspective of the guest.
Provide a good customer service
Train staff to high levels
Meet the expectations of guests
Have a clean and comfortable hotel
Offer a variety of unique services
Encourage feedback

By following these guidelines, hotels can provide a great experience for guests and improve their satisfaction and likelihood to return or recommend the hotel to others.

We hope you enjoyed this blog post on what are the guidelines in providing great experience for guests.

To add exciting experiences to your hotel experiences a great place to start is by offering gift vouchers. To learn more about experiences and gift vouchers read about them here:

How to improve the hotel experience through gift vouchers.

Massage Promotion Ideas

In this blog post, we will look at simple massage promotion ideas and how you can make a success of your business in the health and wellbeing industry.

Is it Possible to Achieve Success in the Health & Wellness Industry in the Current Economic Climate?

The massage market is surprisingly booming since the quiet period during the pandemic. With the ability to get close and heal clients again, massage treatments have actually increased in popularity, being prioritised by up to 20% more!

In a survey by Champneys spa group, people were excited to return to spas post lockdown.

So with this in mind, you need to let your potential customers know where you are! In this blog post, we will look at different massage promotion ideas to increase your customer base and revenue.

Let’s dive in…

Introduction: What is a Massage Promotion Idea?

The goal of a promotion is to get people to try out your service or product. If you run a massage business, your promotions should focus on selling your massage as an experience that will provide a benefit to the customer. Whether this is a physical benefit from the treatment or a cost saving from a discount, your customers want to get something of value out of your services. Thus, this should be the focus of your promotion strategy.

Benefits of Promoting your Massage Services

Promoting your massage services can help you in many ways. Firstly, it can help you attract more clients. As a massage therapist, one of your main goals is to increase your client base. By promoting your services, you can reach out to potential clients and let them know about the benefits of getting a massage from you.

Secondly, promoting your massage services can help you increase your income. By attracting more clients, you can increase your revenue and grow your business.

Thirdly, promoting your massage services can help you establish yourself as a reputable massage therapist in your community. By promoting your services and getting your name out there, you can build a strong reputation and become known as a reliable and skilled massage therapist.

How to go about your Massage Promotion Strategy?

A promotion strategy is the marketing plan and tactics you use to increase your service demand.

This section will talk about the various ways in which a massage promotion strategy can be created. We will then uncover ways you can create your own massage promotion strategy.

Massage promotion ideas- How can I promote my massage business?

There are many ways to promote your massage business and get more customers. Here are some simple ways to promote your massage business and get more customers.

1. Understanding your target audience or niche

Before you start promoting your massage services, it's important to understand your target audience or niche. Your target audience is the people who are most likely to benefit from your services. For example, if you specialise in prenatal massage, your target audience would be pregnant women.

Understanding your target audience is important because it helps you tailor your marketing efforts to reach the right people. By understanding your target audience, you can create marketing messages that resonate with them and persuade them to book a massage with you.

2. Creating a unique brand for your massage business

Creating a unique brand for your massage business is another important aspect of promoting your services. Your brand is what sets you apart from other massage therapists and helps you stand out in a crowded market.

To create a unique brand for your massage business, start by defining your USP (Unique Selling Proposition). Your USP is what makes you different from other massage therapists and why clients should choose you over others.

For example, your USP could be that you specialize in deep tissue massage and have years of experience working with athletes. Or, your USP could be that you offer a range of holistic therapies, including aromatherapy and reflexology.

Once you have defined your USP, you can start building your brand around it. This includes creating a logo, business cards, and a website that reflect your brand values and message.

3. Get Listed on Google My Business

Getting listed on Google My Business is an essential step in promoting your massage services. Google My Business is a free tool that allows you to create a business profile and appear in Google search results and Google Maps.

To get listed on Google My Business, create a profile and fill in all the relevant information about your massage business. This includes your business name, address, phone number, website, and business hours.

Once you have created your profile, Google will send you a verification code to confirm your address. Once you have verified your address, your business will appear in Google search results and Google Maps, making it easier for potential clients to find you.

4. Use Digital Marketing!

Digital marketing is a powerful tool for promoting your massage services. There are many different digital marketing strategies you can use to reach potential clients, including social media marketing, email marketing, and blogging.

5. Social media marketing

Social media marketing involves using social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to promote your massage services. This includes sharing updates about your business, posting photos and videos of your services, and interacting with your followers.

To use social media marketing effectively, it's important to choose the right platforms for your business and create content that resonates with your target audience. For example, if you specialize in sports massage, you might want to focus on platforms that are popular with athletes, like Instagram.

6. Email marketing

Email marketing involves sending promotional emails to your subscribers. This can include newsletters, special offers, and updates about your business.

To use email marketing effectively, it's important to build a list of subscribers who are interested in your services. This can be done by offering a free massage or a discount in exchange for signing up for your email list.

7. Blogging

Blogging involves creating content for your website that educates and informs your audience. This can include articles about the benefits of massage, tips for maintaining good health, and updates about your business.

Blogging is a great way to establish yourself as an expert in your field and attract potential clients to your website. By providing valuable information, you can build trust with your audience and persuade them to book a massage with you.

8. Advertising on social media

Most of your audience will be on social media. Plus, they will typically want to look at your social media before visiting you, or even while there with you. (Even if only to tag you in their post).

So it’s very important in this day and age to ensure you have a consistent and active social media presence. Your customers will often judge your business based on how you engage with your audience on social media.

For the massage industry, typically Facebook and Instagram will be your main audience platforms. -Depending on the ages of your targeted audience, Facebook is generally for Boomers and Instagram for Millennials and younger. (However, this is not exclusive to these generational, just a general average.)

Be consistent with your messaging and branding on social media.

There are fantastic social media competitions that you can run to entice customers to your business or even to grow your audience and followers.

Once you’ve established a great following, you should work on maintaining their interest. One great method for a business in the health and wellbeing industry would be to provide valuable content. This could be in the form of health and beauty knowledge. Or you could give easy-to-use at-home health and beauty tips. Your followers will gradually come to appreciate and value your content, which in turn will make you a market leader.

Booking a treatment at your business will be a real treat, knowing they’re in the safe and knowledgeable hands of such experts.

9. Discounting

You can do this in a number of ways, but the most common way is by offering discounted rates through gift vouchers. You can promote the use of gift vouchers to deliver your discounts on social events throughout the year.

We talk in much more detail here on how to use gift vouchers to promote your experiences.

How to sell gift certificates online

The benefit of discounting through gift vouchers is that 5% of all gift vouchers bought are never redeemed. This means you never pay out on the service cost of this earned revenue.

Plus, gift vouchers can be given as gifts, this is a form of service referral -introducing new people to your services. This brings us to our next promotion.

Offline marketing strategies for promoting your massage business

While digital marketing is important, it's also important to use offline marketing strategies to promote your massage services. Here are some effective offline marketing strategies you can use:

10. Community events

Community events are a great way to get your name out there and connect with potential clients. This includes events like health fairs, farmers' markets, and charity events.

To participate in community events, reach out to organizers and ask if you can set up a booth or offer free massages. This is a great way to introduce yourself to potential clients and promote your services.

11. Flyers and business cards

Flyers and business cards are a simple but effective way to promote your massage services. Create flyers and business cards that include your business name, contact information, and a brief description of your services.

Distribute your flyers and business cards in high-traffic areas like shopping centers, gyms, and health food stores. This will help you reach potential clients who are interested in health and wellness.

12. Volunteer at local events

Volunteering at local events is another great way to promote your massage services. This includes events like charity runs, bike rides, and marathons.

To volunteer at local events, reach out to organizers and offer your services. This is a great way to get your name out there and connect with potential clients who are interested in health and wellness.

13. Reach out and partner with local businesses

Reaching out and partnering with local businesses is a great way to promote your massage services. This includes businesses like yoga studios, fitness centers, and health food stores.

To partner with local businesses, reach out to owners and offer to provide massage services to their customers. This is a great way to reach potential clients who are interested in health and wellness.

14. Networking

You can meet new people through networking events and trade shows, which will help you spread the word about your business.

When you’re attending these networks, ensure you stand out from the crowd. Offer free taster session massages, and free testers on products and don’t forget to send visitors away with something that will entice them to visit your business.

This could be a one-day special offer discount when purchasing a gift voucher, or a free entry into a social media competition.

Whatever it is you decide to do to stand out from the other stalls, ensure they leave remembering you.

15. Referrals

To start a referral program, create a system for tracking referrals and rewarding clients who refer new business to you. This is a great way to grow your client base and increase your revenue.

Starting a referral program is a great way to incentivise your current clients to refer their friends and family to your massage business. This can include offering a free massage or discount to clients who refer a new client to your business.

You can offer incentives for referring new clients, such as a free session or product in return for their referral to you. Business such as Hello Fresh has made momentous strides in capturing new customers through their referral program.

It can be a huge strength to get your name out there and gain lots of new customers.

16. Experiences

Create memorable experiences for your customers to leave with. Your creative experiences should be unique and provide something that your customers cannot find elsewhere.

This, in turn, promotes word of mouth. If you have happy customers, they might refer you to their friends or family members who need a massage therapist too!

Why focusing on experiences is essential for your marketing strategy?

Experiences are memorable to us. When you can create a memorable experience, your customers will not only leave more satisfied, but they will share their experience with others. Experiences have in many ways become more valuable to buyers than physical items.

Many individuals feel a light compulsion to share their great moments on social media. After all, it’s all too accepted for social media to be used as a tool for humble bragging.

Experiences are the ultimate way for people to humbly brag without looking or feeling arrogant or a show-off. This is part of the reason experiences are increasing among buyers. - As well as creating wonderful memories and being an opportunity to spend time with family or friends.

How to make a massage experience memorable?

There are many ways to promote your experience and get people interested in coming in. Quite simply, you need to make your experiences memorable.

As an example, someone who had an amazing spa experience, they will return a second time. Often this is created through personalised services.

A great way for you to personalise your services for your customers would be to give your clients an in-treatment option to make their experience personal to them.

For example, give your client the option to choose from a selection of oils which have different healing ailment benefits. Or allow them to choose an aromatherapy oil that hits their olfactory system in the most pleasant way to them.

This is where promoting your own services comes into play. You can advertise your past experiences in a positive way, as well as posting them on your website, and using social media to get the word out.

How to advertise your services through experiences?

It's important to have your branding clear and effective in order for people to know what and where you exist for them to visit.

If you are promoting a spa, it is important that you provide an escape experience for people. The take away from the daily hustle and bustle of life, to a tranquil corner of peace and stillness.

Additionally, if you’re promoting massage for a health and well-being clinic, you need to market and word your advertising around wellness and health. Talk about the beneficial advantages a massage brings to your physical, mental and spiritual healing.

How to crush the competition in your market with a niche service?

A niche service will make your experience unique to you, and even more memorable.

There are always going to be competitors in every market. However, you can crush your competition by creating a niche service. A niche product or service is one that is specific and limited in supply that people will go out of their way to find and use.

By creating a unique niche product or service, you are able to set yourself apart from the competition.

Think outside of the box on how you can personalise or add something to your massages to create a unique experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I attract more massage clients?

To attract more massage clients, it's important to focus on promoting your services and building your brand. This includes understanding your target audience, creating a unique brand for your massage business, and using a range of digital and offline marketing strategies.

By promoting your services effectively and building a strong brand, you can attract more clients and grow your massage business.

How do massage therapists advertise?

Massage therapists can advertise their services in a variety of ways, both online and offline. Some effective strategies include using social media marketing, email marketing, and blogging, participating in community events, distributing flyers and business cards, and partnering with local businesses.

The key is to choose the strategies that work best for your business and target audience. By tailoring your marketing efforts to your audience, you can attract more clients and establish yourself as a reputable massage therapist in your community.

What are some good massage slogans?

Some good massage slogans include:

Relax, renew, revive
Unwind your mind and body
Rejuvenate your senses
Rest, relax, and rejuvenate
Healing hands for a better life
Be well, feel well, live well

These slogans emphasise the benefits of massage and convey a sense of relaxation and renewal. Use these slogans in your marketing materials to promote your massage services and attract more clients.

Conclusion: Promote Your Massage Business Like A Pro!

Promoting your massage services is an essential part of growing your business and attracting more clients. By understanding your target audience, creating a unique brand for your massage business, and using a range of digital and offline marketing strategies, you can establish yourself as a reputable massage therapist in your community and grow your client base.

Remember, the key is to choose the strategies that work best for your business and target audience. By tailoring your marketing efforts to your audience, you can attract more clients and grow your massage business.

In this article, we have discussed the various ways in which you can promote your massage business effectively. These methods are sure to help you reach out to a wider audience and get more clients for your business.

If you enjoyed this post, you’ll certainly find our post on marketing strategies and promotions for a spa useful.

3 Restaurant Industry Trends To Keep An
Eye On In 2023

The past couple of years has been tough on the restaurant industry, with the global pandemic, recession, and supply chain disruptions, some major blows for restaurants globally. 2023 is the year to maximise recovery and growth with the latest technology and smart strategy.

The restaurant industry has been developing exceptionally under the influence of technology, similar to other industries. To operate your business in this industry, you must know the latest restaurant industry trends in 2023 and prepare your business to compete with others.

Let’s dig further to determine which trends will shape the restaurant industry in 2023.

What Food Trends will Emerge in 2023?

2023 is the year of revitalising yourself and your restaurant by improving your service. Look at some of the latest food trends expected to emerge in 2023.

Dynamic Menu Pricing

With the soaring inflation and decreasing customer purchasing power, people will be looking for ways to cut back their expenses at eateries. These people are a significant part of the total market, and to cater to their needs, restaurants can design free restaurant menu templates with dynamic pricing.

Instead of fixing prices of different menu items, restaurants can create an attractive digital menu where prices are adjusted in real-time. This approach will allow price-sensitive customers to order during off-peak hours instead of completely cutting off their transaction volume.

Although restaurants have been working on this pricing model over the past two years, this trend is expected to become even more popular this year.

Solo Dining

Does it feel embarrassing to ask for a table for one at a restaurant? 2023 might be the year to solve this problem. Solo dining might be one of the most popular restaurant industry trends in 2023. The increasing trend of solo dining has encouraged restaurants to make better arrangements for solo diners.

Besides offering adequate seating, restaurants would use a menu maker to include meals-for-one and smaller portions for single diners. Additionally, restaurants would focus on improving their overall services, from approaching customers to offering free Wi-Fi to enhance their customer experience.

Vouchers

Yes, believe it or not, vouchers will likely increase in popularity throughout 2023. Why? Restaurants will be looking for any way to retain customers and increase loyalty. Gift vouchers are a fantastic way to do this and allow restaurants to earn more money in the process.

Our gift voucher management system makes it even easier for restaurants to create vouchers, and we expect our busiest year yet in 2023.

Sustainability on the Menu

Increasing climate change issues and awareness makes people more inclined towards organic and sustainable food. Plant-based food and vegetarian alternatives to meat-based food will be in great demand.

To cater to this demand, restaurants must plan and redesign their menus smartly. Food items like mushrooms, pulses, and grains, might be your must-have kitchen items in 2023, as they are usually the main ingredients in most sustainable meals.

The idea of offering sustainability on the menu also means increasing transparency. Restaurants may need to train their front staff to provide diners with valuable and correct information regarding menu items. You may also include eco-friendly tableware to enhance customer experience.

Ready to Embrace the Latest Restaurant Industry Trends 2023?

After experiencing slow growth for the past years, the restaurant industry is set to gain momentum with the latest industry trends this year. You must plan well and adapt to the changing environment to stand out from the crowd.

Use a customer-focused approach to cater to economic challenges and improve your overall efficiency. Technology will be your most significant opportunity, so make it count.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the trends in restaurants?

Sustainable dining, contactless ordering, customisation, and fine dining are some of the latest trends in restaurants.

What is the future of the restaurant industry?

The future of the restaurant industry is expected to be significantly influenced by technology. Digital menus, online ordering, and technologies for improving operational excellence will determine the future of the restaurant industry.

Will there be enough food in 2023?

According to experts and researchers, there will be a food shortage in 2023 due to increasing demand, insufficient agricultural activities, and other issues.

What are the biggest threats to the restaurant?

The biggest threats to a restaurant are fluctuating food prices, high competition, and changing customer preferences. Increasing inflation and the shortage of food supply are also significant threats to the restaurant industry.

What are the three cores of a successful restaurant?

The three cores of a successful restaurant are excellent customer service, delicious food, and effective marketing. They determine the success and growth of a restaurant.

What are three current food trends?

The three current food trends are climate-conscious food, geopolitical dining, and zero-waste cuisines.

Which type of food will be more popular in future?

Plant-based food, vegetables and fruits, grains, air-fried items, and low-sugar food will be more popular in future.

What are the 4 Ps of a restaurant?

The 4 Ps of a restaurant are the product, price, place, and promotion. These 4 Ps represent the essential marketing mix components for a restaurant business.

What are the three trends in the hospitality industry?

The latest three trends in the hospitality industry are global perspective, sustainability, and customisation.

What are the 5 most important factors in choosing a restaurant?

The 5 most important factors in choosing a restaurant are food items on the menu, ambience, hygiene, location, and service.

Facial promotion ideas

The Complete Guide to Facial Promotion Ideas: How to Increase Clinic Visits with the Right Marketing Strategies

The skin care market is soaring. With the current market revenue amounting to US$3.90bn in 2022, we are expecting to see an annual growth of 6.22%.

As a spa owner or manager, it's essential to continuously find ways to attract new customers and retain loyal ones. One of the best ways to do this is through promotions, specifically facial promotions.

Facial treatments are a great way to rejuvenate your skin and maintain a youthful look. But before you can get the best treatment, you have to find the right clinic. This article will teach you how to promote your clinic and attract more clients with the right marketing strategies.

Introduction: What is a Facial Treatment?

In today's world, it is more important than ever to care for your skin. There are so many products on the market with a variety of promises. But, do they deliver? One of the best ways to start is with a facial. Facials are designed to clean and improve your skin. and are done by a professional.

Facial treatments are non-surgical procedures that are used to improve the appearance of facial features. They can also be used to reduce wrinkles and lines on the face. Facial treatments vary in their purpose and use. As we are seeing technology and skincare products develop, more and more options are available to improve facial treatments.

Importance of Promotions for a Spa Business

Promotions are a crucial part of any spa business. They help attract new customers, retain existing ones, and increase revenue. Promotions can also help you stand out from the competition, especially if you offer unique and creative promotions that your competitors don't.

Moreover, promotions are an excellent way to introduce new services to your customers. You can use promotions to launch new facial services, products, or treatments. This way, your customers will have the incentive to try out these new services, and you can get their feedback and improve on them.

So how can you improve your revenue with facial promotion ideas?

Facial promotion ideas

Understanding the Target Audience for Facial Promotions

Before you start planning any facial promotions, it's important to understand your target audience. Who are they? What are their needs and preferences? What are their pain points?

For instance, if your target audience is mostly women in their 30s and 40s, you may want to offer anti-ageing facial treatments or skincare products that cater to their needs. If your target audience is mostly men, you may want to offer promotions that appeal to them, such as beard grooming services or facials designed for men's skin.

Understanding your target audience will help you create facial promotions that resonate with them and encourage them to book appointments at your spa.

Find Your Niche

The first step is to identify which niche your clinic belongs in. You need to know which treatments are most popular in your area and what people are looking for in a facial treatment clinic. For instance, if you specialise in dermatology treatments like Botox injections or laser hair removal, then this will be your niche.

Some ideas for your facial promotion niche.

Hair removal
Scar tissue healing
Improving sagging, fine lines and wrinkles
Improving acne
Botox and non-surgical facelifts
Relaxations and holistic facial treatments and so much more!

Writing Your Unique Selling Proposition (USP) for Marketing Purposes

The USP is a marketing strategy that helps your company stand out from the competition. It's typically a sentence or two that communicates what makes you different and why customers should buy from you instead of someone else.

A good USP can help attract new customers and generate interest in your products or services. It’s important that you know your USP well and communicates this through your branding at every opportunity.

This will solidify your customer base and gain faster traction at attracting more like-minded customers.

You must remind your customers of your USP through your marketing efforts. We’ll go into this in more detail…

Create an Effective Website

Your website is one of the most important tools when it comes to promoting your business online. You need a professional-looking website with good search engine optimisation so you are easily recognised.

People also need to be able to access and find your website. That’s why you need to make your website accessible to all visitors. And to do this, it must be mobile-friendly. If your website is not mobile-friendly, then you'll be losing business to your competitors who are.

Promote Your Business Online for Facial promotion ideas

Why Promoting Your Business online is Important?

Promoting your business is important because it lets you reach out to more customers and increase the chances of them buying from you. It also increases the awareness of your company in the market.

You need to promote your facial treatments online so that you can get more business coming in the door of your clinic. You can do this by posting on your own website or social media channels. Let’s look at this in more detail:

Choosing the Right Marketing Channels for Your Clinic

In this section, we will discuss the importance of marketing channels and how they can help your clinic reach out to a larger audience.

A marketing channel is a medium or instrument that allows you to reach out to your target audience. With so many channels available, it might be difficult for you to choose the right one. But before you start choosing the right marketing channel for your clinic, here are some important points that you need to consider:

- What is your budget?

- What do you want to achieve with the marketing campaign?

- How much time do you have in hand?

- What type of patients do you want to target?

- What are the demographics of your targeted population?

- Where can you find these people?

In the next two steps, we will look into some popular types of marketing channels that work well for salons.

Use your blog and SEO techniques

What is SEO (search engine optimisation)?

SEO is the process of affecting the visibility of a website or a web page in a search engine's unpaid results. These are often referred to as "natural," "organic," or "earned" results. There are many techniques and strategies you can use with SEO to rank higher on search engines like Google. One of the simplest ways to achieve this after optimising your main home page with keywords is to focus on a blog.

How to Write a Good Blog Post That Attracts People and Leads to Clinic Visits?

A blog post is a form of content that people can publish online to share their thoughts and knowledge with others.

Some of the benefits of blogging are:

- A blog post can attract more potential patients and increase your clinic visits.

- Blogging can help you build your credibility as a medical expert in your niche.

- Your blog post can be shared on social media, which will help you reach new people who might not know about your clinic.

- Blogging helps you stay up to date with the latest medical news and research, which will give you more knowledge for treating patients.

- Blogging helps you build relationships with other bloggers in your niche, which will lead to collaborations and partnerships for future projects.

When you write consistent blog posts you’ll publish them to your social media pages, as well as optimise them to appear in the first few results of Google searches. When this happens more and more people will see your content and begin to trust your knowledge in the field. Eventually becoming a highly prioritised specialist.

With more demand for your services, you’ll be in a favourable position to re-evaluate your pricing.

Get Social Media Followers and Likes

Your company needs its own following on social media. But not just any social media will do. You'll need to have a certain number of followers and likes before you'll be considered a successful business online.

First, you need to:

Find out where your customers are (Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest etc.)
Follow your competition to see the types of posts they upload and what the engagement is like on their content. (From this you can take tips or avoid depending on their success or misses!)
Post your content regularly
Engage and talk with your audience on social media as much as possible

Types of social media posts

Below are some ideas on the types of social media posts you can publish to promote your facial treatments.

Updates on stories of daily life in the salon
Before and after facial treatment pics of willing clients
Competitions, promotions and discounts on facial treatments
Benefits of facial products you can use at home or within your treatments
Tips on facial home care routines

For more ideas on the types of social media posts, you can publish for your salon, see our post here: Spa Marketing Strategies Promotions.

Social Media Contests and Giveaways

Social media contests and giveaways are a great way to increase your spa's social media presence and attract new customers. You can run a contest or giveaway on social media platforms like Instagram or Facebook and offer a free facial service to the winner.

To enter the contest or giveaway, customers would need to follow your spa's social media account, tag their friends, or share your post. This can help increase your social media reach and attract new customers who are interested in your spa services.

Discounts and Package Deals

Discounts and package deals are some of the most common facial promotion ideas. You can offer a discount on a specific facial service, such as a 20% discount on your signature facial, or a package deal that includes multiple services, such as a facial, massage, and pedicure.

The key to making discounts and package deals work is to ensure that they offer real value to your customers. Make sure that the discount or package deal is something that your customers are interested in and would be willing to pay for.

Seasonal Promotions

Seasonal promotions are another great way to attract customers to your spa. You can offer seasonal facials that cater to the current season, such as a hydrating facial in the winter or a brightening facial in the summer.

You can also offer seasonal promotions that coincide with holidays or events, such as Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, or weddings. For instance, you can offer a bridal facial package that includes a facial, manicure, and pedicure.

Referral Programs

Referral programs are an excellent way to encourage your existing customers to refer their friends and family to your spa. You can offer a discount or free facial service to customers who refer a certain number of new customers to your spa.

Referral programs work because they tap into your existing customers' network and encourage them to spread the word about your spa to their friends and family. This can help you attract new customers who are more likely to trust your spa because they were referred by someone they know.

Personalized Facial Promotions for Loyal Customers

Personalized facial promotions are a great way to show your loyal customers that you appreciate their business. You can offer personalized promotions based on their needs or preferences.

For instance, if you have a loyal customer who always books your anti-ageing facial, you can offer them a discount on their next appointment or a package deal that includes other anti-ageing treatments. This can help incentivize them to continue booking appointments at your spa.

Collaborations with Other Businesses for Joint Promotions

Collaborating with other businesses for joint promotions can help you reach a new audience and attract new customers. You can partner with local businesses that complement your spa services, such as a hair salon or a yoga studio.

For instance, you can offer a joint promotion with a hair salon where customers who book a facial at your spa can get a free blowout at the hair salon. This can help attract new customers who are interested in both skincare and hair care services.

Create Exclusive Spa Packages or Bundles

Creating exclusive spa packages or bundles can help you offer unique promotions that your competitors don't. You can create packages or bundles that include multiple services, such as a facial, massage, and body wrap.

To make these packages or bundles more attractive, you can offer them at a discounted price or include complimentary services or products. This can help incentivize your customers to book more services and increase your revenue.

Schedule Special Events

Scheduling special events can help you create a buzz around your spa and attract new customers. You can host a launch event for a new facial service or product, or a customer appreciation event to thank your loyal customers.

At these events, you can offer discounts or free samples of your facial services or products. This can help introduce your services to new customers and show your existing customers that you value their business.

Give the Gift of Gift Cards

Gift cards are a great way to encourage your customers to book more services at your spa. You can offer gift cards for your facial services or packages, and encourage your customers to gift them to their friends and family.

To make gift cards more attractive, you can offer them at a discounted price or include a complimentary service or product. This can help increase your revenue and attract new customers who are interested in your spa services.

You can create your gift cards around many of the promotions listed above such as:

Experiences and bundles
Partnered with local businesses
Event nights
Exclusive gift vouchers for referrals
Social media competition prizes
Seasonal events for promotions (mothers day etc)
Discounts

You can find out more about using gift vouchers for your spa here.

Conclusion and Final Thoughts facial treatment promotion ideas

In conclusion, we see that facial treatments have grown over the years as people become more aware of their health and well-being.

With this, the expansion of the types of facial treatments is ever-growing. It’s important for a salon, you keep up to date with what’s popular in the industry and stay ahead of the game.

So go ahead and try out some of these facial promotion ideas, and see how they can help boost your spa business.

Looking for more ways to grow your spa business? Check out our other articles on spa marketing and customer retention strategies.

Hotel vouchers as gifts

Hotel vouchers as gifts are a great choice for anyone looking to spoil a loved one.

More and more consumers are buying hotel vouchers as gifts. There has been a radical shift in consumerism since the pandemic.

More individuals are choosing luxurious, immersive, and impactful experiences to create memories and host meaningful celebrations.

In this blog post, we take a deep dive and answer “Why buy hotel vouchers as gifts?”

The popularity of hotel gift cards is increasing

A huge 77% of consumers had the intention of buying hotel vouchers as gifts 2021.

Digital gift card sales at retailers can often generate a lot of money. It's no surprise that on average, they generated $2.6 million in income last December, a 121.1% increase from the previous year's figures of $1.2 million.

Why buy hotel vouchers as gifts?

Personalisation

A big part of gift-giving is getting it right!

So personalising gifts to make the receiver feel special and considered is vital in achieving brownie points for a good gift.

Gift vouchers for hotels can be an effective way to do that, especially if the hotel offers flexibility in their gift voucher offers.

Some hotel gift voucher systems have what is called ‘add-on’s’. This is a feature where you can add items to a gift voucher to personalise it specifically for your loved one.

For example, if you have bought an overnight stay gift voucher, there would be a drop-down list of add ons. These can include:

a bottle of champagne on arrival,
rose petals on the bed,
room box of chocolates etc

Some hotels can provide all these and more to choose from, to add a little something extra to your gift.

Experiences and FOMO

Now the worry of the pandemic is over, experiences have become even more important to consumers than buying goods.

So when hotels can package up a great overnight stay experience with a dinner or spa day, it will be an opportunity not to miss. - Especially if the hotel is only offering their gift voucher deal for a short amount of time.

Hotels may even have a deal with a spectacular event close by at a local theatre. Gift voucher experiences that involve an overnight stay, transport, and a ticket to the show with dinner at the hotel in one package deal can be made. The flexibility and uniqueness of experiences can stretch as far as a hotel is willing to go.

The fear of not wanting to miss out (FOMO) can be felt- especially if a deal is missed. It’s a good idea to catch this money-saving and also one-time-opportunities while they are available.

Creating memories with loved ones

Shared time together with loved ones is important. So many consumers will look for experiences that can be shared and experienced together when gift-giving. A hotel gift voucher is a perfect way to achieve that.

Digital Shopping

Hotels that sell their gift vouchers online are paving the way for consumer options for great gifts.

The attraction of digital shopping is due to its convenience of not needing to leave the home.

Digital gift vouchers can be sent electronically through email to the recipient. This makes is easy for last-minute gift-giving and for loved ones who live far away.

Year-round opportunities to buy gift cards

Black Friday to Christmas is the most lucrative time of year for gift cards. However, hoteliers can use many events and opportunities throughout the year to advertise and encourage the sale of their gift cards.

This is great news for consumers as their gift-giving options are endless!

Benefits to hotels selling gift vouchers (otherwise known as gift cards)

Business in the hospitality industry has recently been tough. hoteliers need to find innovative ways to increase sales and cash flow. In particular, they must explore new revenue streams beyond just room bookings.

That’s why for many hotels selling gift vouchers is an integral part of their revenue stream.

1. Boost sales and cash flow

Annual opportunities

As a hotelier, you have to sustain cash flow throughout the year.

Luckily there are many events that hoteliers can take advantage of. Valentines Day, Easter, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Summer, Halloween, Black Friday, Thanks Giving, Birthdays, and of course Christmas and New Year.

Gift cards are a perfect way to incorporate experiences around each of the annual events to generate more revenue.

Instant revenue

There is also the added benefit of generating revenue at the point of sale with gift cards.

For example, individuals could purchase pre-paid gift cards at this time in order to get the most for their money. These pre-paid card sales come in handy if expenses happen at another point in time.

Keep 100% of revenue from unspent gift cards

It’s been predicted that two million people have unused gift cards they were given last year. With Enjovia gift cards, you get paid instantly on each sale and automatically save on service costs if the vouchers are unredeemed.

Extra consumer spending

When used effectively, businesses see the customer benefits that go well beyond just getting customers in the door. Recent data suggests that when people receive a gift card they normally spend 55% more on their purchase.

2. Zero customer acquisition costs

One of the best things about gift cards is that they come with next to no customer acquisition costs. Not only is this more cost-effective, but customers who return will spend more than anticipated.

Promotional deals can get you a ton more customers. But the best part is that gift cards are cheaper than regular customers, so there's no need to pay through the nose to grow your business.

Gift cards have proven to contribute an additional revenue stream for retailers, but their usage can also grant customer loyalty.

3. Meeting changing consumer habits

As we discussed above gift cards are an easy way to meet the changing consumer patterns since the pandemic.

With a larger shift to experiences, creating memories, personalisation, and digital shopping, gift cards are the answer to tick all these boxes.

Why give hotel vouchers as gifts?

We hope that we answered your questions about hotel vouchers as gifts.

Gift vouchers are developing and changing consumer shopping patterns. This makes them a great gift at any time or event throughout the year.

If you’re a hotel looking to set up or switch to a new gift voucher system. Or if you want to offer more flexibility in your gift voucher offers, then take a look at our gift voucher management system.

At Enjovia, we pride ourselves on being able to offer a system that is feature-rich to optimise revenue, but simple and easy to use.

Looking for a better way to sell and manage your hotel’s gift vouchers? Check out our specialist system.

Technology used in hospitality and tourism

Complete guide to technology used in hospitality and tourism

Hospitality is a fast-paced, competitive industry. Businesses that adopt the latest technology and trends maintain a competitive edge and appeal to curious customers. - Especially those accustomed to and anticipating the use of advanced technology in their hotel stays.

Introduction – How is technology benefiting the hospitality industry?

Technology is the use of tools to solve problems and increase productivity. Technology can be used in many different ways to improve the hospitality industry. In this section, we will explore how technology can be used in the hospitality industry.

Technology has been a driving force for innovation in the hospitality industry for decades, and it will continue to be so into the future. One of its most important roles has been to help hotels provide better service at a lower cost. This can happen through automation, which is when a machine replaces human labour for tasks that are repetitive or need high precision or accuracy.

The advancement of technology in hotels extends beyond automation. In this blog post, we will look at the different ways technology is used in hospitality and tourism.

Elements of technology used in hospitality and tourism

The hotel industry is one of the most competitive industries in the world. It is also one of the fastest-growing industries, with a growth rate of 19.1%. The hotel industry has been undergoing a major change in recent years, and it will continue to do so. As the travel industry evolves, hotels are evolving as well.

One of these changes is that hotels are becoming more intelligent. Intelligent hotels have been popping up all over the world in recent years and they offer guests a unique experience that is tailored to their needs and expectations. These new intelligent hotels are equipped with modern amenities that make guests feel at home. Such as virtual reality headsets for kids or mood lighting for adults who want to relax after a long day at work or sightseeing. We’ll go into these in more detail…

Hotel technology trends that are set to change the industry

In the future, hotels will be able to offer a wider range of entertainment options. They will be able to offer customers a more immersive experience with virtual reality and augmented reality. They will also be able to offer customers the chance to play games with their friends on consoles, as well as watch live events in real-time.

These technologies are set to change the way that people stay in hotels. For example, this technology can allow hoteliers to expand their customer base by attracting a younger audience who love gaming and socialising online.

The options will be expansive to suit different guests and their individual needs.

So what can we expect from hotel technology?

Robotics Technology

History of robotics - We have seen robot concierges, robot staff, chatbots, and cooking robots over the years. With the recent pandemic workforce shortages and consumers' increasing demand for items around their homes - service robots are a necessity moving forward.

Robots can work around the clock to offer personalised customer support. This shows customers that they're important, which results in increased satisfaction.

With advancements in technology that allow robots to provide emotional and relational elements as well as customised service based on customer data analysis, AI's use in the hospitality industry will continue to grow.

The hospitality industry will continue to implement these and other ideas to gain a competitive advantage by fulfilling customer demand and reducing operation costs.

Contactless Technology in hospitality

Contactless payments are a technology that enables customers to pay for goods and services without the need for physical contact with a merchant. This is done by using RFID (radio-frequency identification) and NFC (near-field communication). These enable transactions to be made by tapping or waving a handheld device, such as a smartphone, in close proximity to an electronic reader at the point of sale.

Contactless payments are rapidly becoming more popular in hospitality because they offer many benefits over traditional payment methods. For instance, it saves time and reduces queues at the checkout counter. It also helps reduce card fraud due to the fact that there's no need for card details or CVV codes which could be stolen or copied from online sources.

Contactless technologies are becoming more common for a variety of reasons. They save time and hassle, and since many rely on RFID technology, they can be used with very little training.

While these technologies have been around for a long time, even before the pandemic; They provide various benefits, such as increasing customer satisfaction, speeding up payments and making things easier by removing human interaction. You can also use them to offer loyalty points and incentive schemes.

Voice Search & Voice Control

As voice search becomes increasingly popular, it is a good idea to make sure your website can be found in travel-related voice searches.

Increasingly, travel customers are using their voices to search for and book airline tickets, hotel rooms and exciting new adventures. Voice search and control are simple and convenient for your guests.

The popularity of voice search makes it important for you to design your website with this in mind. Allowing customers to find your site via voice search can help you reach more.

On top of this, Voice recognition is also playing a role in hotel rooms, controlling lighting and heating within rooms, or finding tourist information without having to leave the room.

Virtual Reality (VR)

Virtual Reality has been an emerging technology in many different sectors, but it's particularly apt for the tourism industry. Travellers are now able to get the same level of experience from their homes as they would at an exotic destination. This allows them to be in more control of what they want and can help make their decision on booking.

Visitors can explore in detail virtually anything from restaurants and hotels to landmarks, national parks and more by using VR tours. There are many different benefits to using AI in your business and it can help you get ahead of competitors.

Have you ever been hesitant to travel because of a medical condition? One of the best ways to combat that is through VR tours. 360 tours can help you see what it would be like to visit a country without having to actually leave your home.

Recognition Technology

Recognition technology is one of the most important emerging tech trends in general. But its potential uses in the hospitality industry are especially interesting. Biometrics is being used like never before, and it's helping to make authentications seamless. This can save time by not having to log in frequently and can make customer purchases safer by using a thumbprint for example (rather than a credit card). Who knows what it might improve next?

For example, imagine if a fingerprint or facial recognition software could be used in your hotel for checking in and out or unlocking hotel rooms. This not only represents a big time-saver, but it also has increased security capabilities and can save you considerable effort.

This is a new type of technology that could have success in purchases. Such as payments being authorised by touch for seamless transactions.

Conclusion – The future of Hospitality & Tourism will be led by Powerful Innovations in Technology

Technology used in hospitality and tourism is changing the way we do things and it will continue to change the way we do things in the future. It is important for businesses, especially in hospitality and tourism to embrace these changes and understand how they can use them to their advantage.

The hospitality and tourism industry is one of the most rapidly developing industries in the world. This is because it has been able to adapt to the changing times, making use of technology to better serve its customers.

The use of technology used in hospitality and tourism has a number of benefits, including:

Increasing customer satisfaction
Improving efficiency
Providing better information

The future of technology used in hospitality and tourism will be led by improving the customer experience. The industry is evolving from a one-sided transaction model to a personalised experience with the help of technology.

If you enjoyed this post on the technology used in hospitality and tourism, then you’ll be interested in our post on AI in hotels.

AI in hotels

Is there a future for AI in hotels?

Already we are seeing that it's commonplace for hotels to adopt self-check-in, mobile booking and live-chat.

But are we at the beginning of seeing tech and artificial intelligence (AI) mature into something even more exciting for hotel guests?

In this blog post, we are first going to see what AI in hotels already exists. Then we will see how effective this AI has been for the hospitality industry and make a prediction for the future use of hotel AI based on current consumer and hospitality trends.

First, let's look at the type of hotel AI out there today:

Existing AI in hotels

1. Robot Customer Service

Hilton Hotels were the first large hotel chain to adopt a breakthrough hotel-specific artificial intelligence.

They introduced 'Connie' in 2016, the first hotel robot where you could get tourist information, travel information, and even the weather forecast.

The robot learned from human interaction and speech, with the intention of improving its communication with experience.

However, trying to find an update on Connie has proven unsuccessful- there seems to be no sign of her existence in 2022!

2. Machine Learning

Machine Learning is used intelligently in hotels to deliver outstanding customer service.

This form of AI automatically learns through experience and intelligently predicts future behaviours.
Hence, it's popularly used in retail to monitor consumption and user behaviour patterns. Therefore predicting likes and dislikes of products, hobbies and food.
As a result, hotels can pre-empt the probability guests will want or need something.

Imagine knowing a customer's favourite drink, magazine or newspaper. Hotels have more opportunities to exceed guests' expectations.
In addition, machine learning is also used as a tool for hotel revenue managers. They can use it to predict and identify revenue opportunities. Leading hotels in tech use this for setting room rates to manage promotion opportunities.

3. Location-Based Machine Learning

Many hotels offer full experience packages- not just inside the hotel but outside too. Location-Based Machine Learning knows customers favourite foods or interests. Based on their interests, it sends notifications of what's available in the local area.

Furthermore, picture this:

You check into your hotel. You're hungry. You're unfamiliar with the local area. You then receive information on the best-rated sushi in the local area.

It goes without saying, favourite food + minimum effort = very happy guest!

4. Robot Butler's

Japan led the way with robotics, introducing the first 100% robot-serving hotel in 2015. Check out the Henn-na Hotel. From robot front desk to robot cleaners. This hotel really had replaced all human elements of service.

Consequently, the sound of a fully run hotel with robots sounds a little creepy rather than inviting!- We have since found a study on this hotel that confirms the anxiety-causing effects these robots had on their guests! (We cover this later in the post).

5. Voice Control Hotel AI

We are in the beginning stages of seeing voice activation used in hotels.

There are hotels that have installed voice control systems in their rooms. These allow hotel guests to control the drapes, lights, music and temperature in their room.

Most of all, we are sure to see the usefulness of voice control grow and mature into something very special.

This type of hotel AI seems the most likely to pick up in popularity. It's easy to implement and it doesn't take away from the special and personal customer service that people expect from luxury hotels.

Rolled out in the Marriot Hotels in June 2018, Amazon created Alexa for Hospitality, with many Marriot Hotels adopting the technology later on.

Guests are to ask questions about the area, order room service, control lights, drapes, heating and cooling, TV, and of course control music.

Much controversy arose since the launch around privacy concerns. However, hotel owners are unable to access the recordings or responses from the device and the account link-up is deleted automatically upon check-out.

Amazon has since updated the software to encrypt all voice communications so privacy wasn't affected. However, managers can have access to some data for analytics to understand the levels of engagement with their services.

Hotel guests also have the option to turn the microphone on/off so the speakers don't listen anymore.

Is AI in hotels counterproductive to great customer service?

The big question to ask is, how does AI in hotels impact customer service? There is a way to combine a personalised and charming human interaction in unison with technology.

Some of the best experiences in hotels come from the way staff are able to rectify problems. And if we replace a person's empathy, innovation and problem-solving abilities with a machine then could aspects of customer loyalty be diminished?

Let's look at what we have learned since writing this post originally from 2017...

AI in hotels - where are we now?

Hotel AI fails

We revisited the robot hotel in Japan (mentioned above) and found some surprising results a few years on.

Not only was the 100% robot-run hotel a complete flop, but the robots actually caused more work for humans. The robots ran into practical and technical problems such as:

getting stuck in hallways trying to pass each other
Not being able to answer questions from guests queries from the doll assistants in their rooms
Robots not being able to reach all of the rooms
Unable to photocopy guests' passports on the check-in

In the end, 243 robots were laid off by the hotel.

Hotels need to think clearly about what services they replace with AI, as some will be greatly enhanced, and some may take away from a necessary interaction that is desired.

Findings from a report conducted by the International Hospitality Review had interesting results on the Konnichiwa, Mr. Robot at the Henn-na Hotel in Japan. It states:

_{"Most visitors showed a positive attitude towards the robot. More than half of the visitors offered compliments when they first saw the robot receptionists although they hesitated and maintained a distance from them. Hotel guests were also disappointed with the low human–robot interaction (HRI). As the role of robots in hotels currently remains at the presentation level, a comprehensive assessment of their interactive ability is lacking."}

The report also highlights how the robot caused anxiety for hotel guests. Especially if the robots have imperfect human-like features. They can create an uncomfortable environment, but when this was looked into it was found that it reminded people of death! - the opposite intention of the comfort the hospitality industry should provide.

How should hotel AI be used?

It's clear that we aren't quite there with using AI robots in service industries. However, it does seem to be beneficial for hotels to utilize AI and technology in more discreet and familiar ways to help assist their guests.

AI can help your staff in many different ways. Imagine if all the repetitive questions from guests were routed through an AI and it handles over 80% of the queries. This frees up time for your staff to do other guest-centric tasks and improves customer satisfaction.

AI can also be a great tool for assisting hotel staff. We talk about the use of this in far more detail in another post of ours here. Be sure to check it out.

Updated: December 2022, Updated: December 2018, Original post: November 2017.

Best Places To Visit In Wales For Families

Wales is an excellent place for families to visit for a fun weekend or weekly holiday. So we thought it would be helpful to identify some of the best places to visit in Wales for families.

We understand more than anyone how tricky it can be to organise and book activities and accommodation to suit the whole family. Trying to keep everyone happy on a family holiday is tricky, but we know you won’t have this issue in Wales!

So whether you are heading north to Prestatyn or south to Cardiff, Wales has something to offer to each and every family. Let’s look at some of the best places to visit!

Brecon Beacons

The Brecon Beacons is an idyllic place to visit in Wales for families.

It is home to lots of gorgeous countryside walks through the beacons. It has several waterfalls along the way on beginner-friendly trails. So take a packed lunch with you and head out for the day along the woodland trails.

The beauty of the Brecon Beacons is that you can make it as challenging or easy as you like. So, if you have a young family, there are more accessible trails you can follow. However, if you have teenagers and want something to tire them out, you can always opt for the more challenging routes.

The whole area is breathtaking and shows off the beauty of the Welsh landscape. After you have finished your walk, you can stop by a nearby pub for a well-deserved lunch (and a pint if you are lucky!)

The Celtic Manor

The Celtic Manor is set just outside Cardiff in the city of Newport. Owned by Sir Terry Matthews, a successful technology entrepreneur, the golf resort is one of the best places to visit in Wales for families.

The hotel resort has 400 rooms, five luxury chalets, five restaurants, and three golf courses. Home to some of the most infamous golf courses in the world, holding the 2010 Ryder cup. If you are a golf lover, you’ll be spoilt for choice over the twenty-ten course, the roman road, or the Montgomerie.

However, although a fantastic golf resort, that is not the only thing the Celtic Manor offers. Activities for the whole family include a spa, treetop adventure, archery, laser combat, adventure golf, tennis, and even footgolf! You won’t need to leave the resort; there is that much to do!

I think it is clear to see why the Celtic Manor is one of the best places for families to visit in Wales!

Snowdonia- Zip world

Snowdonia is one of the most popular areas in Wales for families to visit. With Mount Snowdon located there, lots embark on the steep trail to the top each year.

However, if walking is not for you, you must try Snowdonia zip world. It has to be one of the best places to visit in Wales for families seeking an adventure.

It is ideal for families who are perhaps a little older and who like the outdoors. The zipline flies over a quarry as you capture the most picturesque view of wales. What more could you want from a family day out in wales?

This is also perfect for couples looking for an activity to do together!

Bounce Below

Bounce below is hands down one of the most unique places to visit in wales. Again, it is in the Snowdonia national park; however, this time, below it!

Bounce Below is a trampoline experience in an underground old slate mine! It has giant string trampolines with nets pulled across for safety, ready for you to bounce away. There are two chambers across enormous caverns in the hills of wales. You can make your way across all different levels by tunnels and walkways.

There is even a 60-foot slide! This is great for all ages as it releases the big kid inside! Oh, and guess what? It even has a zip line inside the cave!

Cardiff To Watch A Rugby Match

Where better in the world to watch a live Rugby match in wales, the heart of Rugby?

Cardiff, as a whole, is one of the best places to visit in Wales for families. But watching a match at the Principality Stadium or Cardiff Arms Park is by far one of the best things to do. These iconic venues are home to some of the most infamous rugby matches of all time.

For a big family day out you could compromise by going shopping in Cardiff centre in the day and watching the rugby match in the afternoon. Even if you aren’t a rugby fan, the whole family will enjoy the amazing atmosphere that the stadium brings.

Newport Live

Newport live is a fantastic leisure centre in Newport, ideal for families visiting wales.

If you are a family that is into fitness, this will be for you. You can book a gym class, a pool session, theatre tickets, or even cycling on the velodrome. Feel like a professional cyclist as you whizz around the track!

It is a one-stop shop to book a family activity in wales. If you have a family that is into different activities, then this is the best place to visit in wales. For example, you can book tennis for half the family while the other enjoys a theatre performance. That way, there are no arguments, and everyone is happy!

Give a gift experience to remember

If you are wanting to plan a fun-fuelled family day out then it's always a great idea to give these experiences as a gift to your loved ones. An experience gift voucher is a fantastic way to get the family day that you want while simultaneously giving a gift to remember.

Gift vouchers usually have an expiry date of 6 months to a year (check the details on your voucher). This means that you have plenty of time to organise the family day out that you're waiting for.

Conclusion- Best Places To Visit In Wales For Families

We hope you enjoyed this guide on the best places to visit in Wales for families. It is an amazing country and one enjoyed by many families every year.

If you want to find out more places to visit and things you can do, check out A Couple Things To Do, a local blogger.

For now, we hope you have a great visit to Wales, whatever you decide to do.

If you're a business that needs to get discovered more, it may be worth looking into SEO plugins, such as the Squarespace SEO plugin.

What makes a great salon experience?

Are you wondering what makes a great salon experience? A great experience rests on being able to provide something of value.

In the service industry, the customer experience essentially sets the customer's perceptions of your brand.

In this blog post we will be focusing on experiences, and more importantly how you can improve your salon experiences to increase your revenue.

Here are a few tips to help you elevate your salon customer experience:

Define Your Customer Experience

Before you can improve your customer experience, you first need to define what that experience is. You can do this by assessing the experience from the customer's perspective and then converting it into services.

To define your customer experience, you have to know what it is your customers want. So you should aim to improve your customer experience.

Identify your target market

Identifying your target market is one of the best ways to improve customer service, so it's got to be one of your top priorities. If you're not sure where to start, we have a list of target markets that could work for you and might help put things in perspective.

When people walk into your building, it’s important to understand what they’re looking for. Consider things like their:

Income
Gender
Age
Location
Values
Lifestyle

By refining your customer profile, you’ll need to work out what they want from your customer service. This will guide your marketing plan, and social media calendar and help accelerate your unique salon service ideas.

How to Create a 5-Star Salon Experience?

Now you have an idea of who your customers are, you can begin to create experiences around their needs, wants and desires.

Human touches to what makes a great salon experience

Mention Guests’ Names

Leaders like politicians, business executives and teachers know that remembering names makes people feel special. When you use a name, it's easier to forge strong relationships with them. It's nothing complicated really - just something they should try! Our warm, caring culture is what makes it easy and rewarding to be here. We believe that compassionate interactions are crucial in order to grow.

Personalise your customer’s aftercare

Matching treatments and hairstyles to your customer’s lifestyles is important to their overall satisfaction with your service. Chat with your clients, understand their lifestyle and what level of homecare they’ll be able to achieve with your treatment. Ask about their beauty routines so they'll be sure to get everything they need.

E.g. “Since you don’t have much time in the mornings, I would recommend this quick routine. Alternatively, because you don't like to use a blow dryer I suggest this wet look.”

Smile While Working

Friendly faces are just so contagious, aren't they? People visiting your salon will feel more comfortable and happy which is good news for you. Make sure you conduct tours and give clear instructions to make them at ease. Life is too short to start your day on a negative note.

Unsuccessful marketers might not realise it, but providing customers with a good experience can be as easy as transmitting a genuine smile.

This is because when the mind receives positive messages from facial expressions, it releases mood-lifting enzymes and serotonin. So, greet your customers with eye contact, handshakes and honest smiles!

Saying goodbye can also be accomplished with a few well-placed words that brighten everyone's moods - whether you're clients, customers or fellow workers. Create an environment of happy vibes.

Compliment Your Clients

Compliments are always appreciated. Giving praise is not only kind but it creates a positive experience for the customer and your business. Tell them that you admire their punctuality, clothes and personality or talent sincerely after a makeover so they know you see what they've accomplished.

Choose Words Carefully

Your team’s comments paint pictures in guests' minds. Some enhance or detract from their experience. Replacing negative "I can't", "That's not our policy", and "I don't" messages conveying what's impossible with affirmative alternatives will keep your customers happy. Speaking positively has never been more important! They’ll appreciate your helpful professionalism.

Give 100 Percent Always

Your company's employees should never forget that it’s important to give their best no matter what. Even if the office is raucous and some team members seem on edge, you should also keep in mind what you’re contributing. Your work is better and more uplifting than you think it is

Look for the best version of everything, don't focus on what's wrong with it. When you're positive and optimistic you take notice of all of the good things that are around you. The Salon is open to every person who wants to be successful and achieve their goals. Our team is here for you every step of the way, working with you to have your best experience ever. Whether it's just a haircut or a cut & colour, we promise to provide the highest quality of service possible

You should spend some time ensuring you're delivering a 5-star salon experience to your clients. This will lead to loyal customer reviews, which will contribute to a scalable business of steady customers who return for each visit

Improve the treatment services

Hand out Beverage Menus

One great way to add to your experience while making your customers feel pampered is to hand out a beverage menu.

It’s a very simple but effective way of making your service stand out from the competition creating a special moment for your customers.

When they talk about your salon to their friends, family or on social media this will be one of the memorable moments for them. Their treatments are instantly personalised and unique.

Offer Mini Service Try-outs

They say a picture is worth 1000 words, and in this case, they are right because showing customers their new look is a great way to convince them into buying it.

Highly hesitant people will feel more inclined to make the purchase when they're trying out your products on themselves and seeing how good they look!

Use your receptionist or junior team to have a chair free for mini treatments while your customers wait for their appointment.

Add Value

Salon days are an opportunity for pampering for all patrons. You can make that experience even more memorable by offering little extras. During consultations, massage clients’ shoulders briefly or offer scalp massages and treatments before shampooing the hair. Although a high-quality salon experience is a great way to pamper, customers often experience the hardest time recreating the looks on their own at home.

Stay Knowledgeable

Professionals who actively engage in the latest developments in their field of work will earn more money. Knowledgeable personnel deliver higher quality work, improve sales and gain respect from colleagues. Offer new training and classes for your employees so that each one is familiar with all of your services, colours, styles, treatments, and techniques.

Prepare for Recurring Visits

Use technology to make notes on your client’s previous treatments. This way you can best look after them and ensure you have the right stock/ services ready for their appointment.

Even just using an app as a reminder tool. You can see any notes from your sessions and refresh yourself visually as to what colours and lengths they prefer. This alone will impress your clients as they will feel listened to, valued and remembered.

Utilise technology

Keep in touch with loyal customers

Customers are more receptive when businesses interact with them on a personal level. Think about what a customer has done recently in their life, such as new promotions, upcoming trips, and more to make them feel like they matter to the company. These gestures can lead to an increased conversion rate for your business.

Use technology to keep clients coming back year-round with exclusive promotions and monthly discounts. Stay on top of big events such as their birthday, Mother’s Day, or other promotions you have going on. Offer gift cards for discounted services or products. Ongoing communications between you and your customer will solidify their interest in your salon.

Offer a Loyalty Program

The classic 20 / 80% rule shows that for every 20 customers, at least 4 or 5 of them will be your most profitable ones. Working on this group is the key to keeping your salon business as a whole successful.

It’s a lot easier and less expensive to retain your current customers than it is to earn new ones. In fact, returning customers tend to spend more money than newcomers. Your task is to create a beauty salon loyalty program that gives people what they need and wants so that they come back to me again and again.

Send Appointment Reminders

Use technology such as Text and Email reminders to reduce the number of no-shows for your business. When people are grateful for the reminder, they are more likely to show up on time. Every client's time is important, so every second counts. We ask that you contact patrons if they are to experience an unforeseen delay. If that's not possible, we can issue a 15% discount on their visit or offer them some of our products as a consolation.

Conclusion: What makes a great salon experience?

To make your salon business a fully booked hot spot, it's important to give customers good service at all times.

Providing a great customer experience is an important factor in motivating your current customers to return. The customer service you offer should be based on what they need and not just the most popular trends.

If you found this post on what makes a great salon experience helpful, you’ll certainly love to get some more ideas from a past post of ours: Unique salon service ideas.

How to increase sales of services

In this blog post, we take a look at how to increase sales of services for your business.

You can increase your service revenue by putting the customer's needs first.

In case you haven’t noticed, the customer is always right. To increase profits, it helps to focus on customer satisfaction because research has shown that happy customers spend more money. One way to do this is to become a more customer-centric and service-orientated business.

Nowadays, more businesses are focusing on growing service revenue. While service strategies are becoming more popular, many businesses still struggle to get the best out of their services.

Anticipate what your consumers want and give them the service they expect. We will show you how below….

How to increase sales in business

1. Take care of your customer service

When considering customer service, be aware that your customers are going to form opinions based on their experience. Dissatisfied customers are likely to feedback on their experiences to you directly on review sites or on your social media. Be mindful of these valuable insights. Take every piece of feedback as a valuable opportunity to see how you can improve.

The data also shows that when a company responds positively to negative feedback online, it can change people’s opinions from negative to positive.

A huge 45% of consumers are more likely to visit a business if they respond to negative reviews.

Unique ways to increase sales

2. Sell gift vouchers

Packaging and selling your services in the form of gift vouchers is one of the easiest and lowest-cost ways to boost your revenue.

This is largely due to the buy now use later model. When you sell your services as a gift to be purchased, your customers will directly buy the service as a product. But it is often the case that a significant portion of these gift vouchers will never be cashed in. This means that you have just made 100% revenue on selling a product that you’ll never pay out the service cost of.

Now even when these gift vouchers do get cashed in, in return for a service there is a whole lot of additional spending that occurs. People will spend more on extra services or products when they have a gift voucher. And if they loved the experience they’ll go on to purchase similar vouchers for someone else, or even book to come back themselves again.

How to increase sales of services

3. Ensure a smooth handover between sales and service teams

It's essential to integrate your sales and customer service teams in order to avoid data duplication. By centralising all the crucial data it'll make it a lot easier for teams to pass the information along smoothly. This results in teams communicating more efficiently with one another. Increasing the quality of the services, productivity and satisfaction of the customer.

4. Improve your community relationships

You should increase your community presence to get yourself noticed. Some ways of doing so are sponsoring community events, speaking at engagements or actively supporting a local sports team.

How to increase sales in retail

5. Introduce new services or products to sell into services

The lowest cost way to do this is to expand on your current services.

Offer unique experiences that no one else is doing. If you’re in the restaurant industry combine special chef demonstrations with cooking events. Or for a hotel create an overnight stay experience with a local theatre showing. The score for creating new and exciting experiences under your services is expansive.

How to increase sales online

6. Improve your digital marketing activities

Digital marketing is a digital-based strategy that is used to promote a business' services.

The goal of this strategy is to attract and retain customers through online channels.

It can be done through social media, search engine optimization, blogging, and email marketing

Below we’ll take a brief look at the different digital marketing strategies you can employ to improve your services…

Social media

Start by improving your digital branding on your social media channels and your website. Communicate to your customers who you are, what you’re about and most importantly how you can help them.

Remind your customers of your presence by posting regular content and interacting positively with your audience.

There are many useful marketing tactics you can use on social media to drive interest to your business. Some of these techniques include running competitions, Vlogging, Memes and using hashtags. See our post on social media promotions to see how this can be achieved.

Creating Blog posts

Writing and sharing blog posts are a great way to become a thought leader in your niche. Over time, (as blogging is a long-term strategy) you’ll have effective SEO (search engine optimization) tactics in place to help drive readers to your blog. Your blog content should either focus on entertaining, informing or inspiring your audience about your niche. In time, your blog post traffic will hopefully transform into leads for you to sell your services to.

How to increase sales of a product

7. Change your price

Running a SWOT analysis every few years is a great idea to know who your competition is and how you can have an advantage over them in the market. Sometimes this will force you to review your pricing.

Altering your prices or other marketable products can stimulate demand. Analyse the prices of your competitors to be aware of what they offer and figure out your personal margin. It may also be possible to lower your price. If this isn't an option, you could offer favourable terms in your services in exchange for a higher quality experience.

8. Be mindful of your competition

Always research what your competitors are up to. This can be really beneficial for you because you can see what their behaviour is like, how capable they are and where their limitations lie. This will help you be better prepared to defend your market position and react to changes

How to increase sales with existing customers

9. Send email promotions to previous customers

A quick way to increase sales to your existing customers is to remind them of their memories with you.

Then you pull them into action with a hard-to-refuse offer. This could be a discount or a unique experience only available for a limited time.

How to increase sales quickly

10. Know when to pull a service

If your business has sectors, services or products with low margins, low profitability or high costs to sell, you may want to consider refocusing your company’s efforts on other areas that generate a better return. If you have pre-existing commitments to existing products or services, then this can be tough. Removing less profitable offerings may help increase your revenue opportunities and allows you to reinvest wisely in promising endeavours.

Conclusion -How to increase sales of services

From reading this post you should now effectively be able to make changes to your services and start receiving more revenue from your services.

Here at Enjovia, we are experts in helping you set up a gift voucher store and turn your services into larger revenue-generating experiences. For more information, check out more about us here.

Conclusion -How to increase sales of services

From reading this post you should now effectively be able to make changes to your services and start receiving more revenue from your services.

Here at Enjovia, we are experts in helping you set up a gift voucher store and turn your services into larger revenue-generating experiences. For more information, check out more about us here.

Unique gift cards

In this blog post, we go over the reason why you should be selling unique gift cards.

What makes a unique gift card? And how you can implement this into your business? By mastering the process of generating unique gift cards, you will generate more income, and customers and lay the foundation for a long-term gift voucher strategy.

The challenge

“When you cross your comfort zone, fear zone, learning zone and growth zone, you will enter into the zone of leadership.”

― Amit Ray, Mindfulness Meditation for Corporate Leadership and Management

When you step out of your comfort zone you open your mind to new ideas. By entering the leadership zone you’ll be leading your competition.

By successfully utilising a gift card system and pushing the boundaries of what they can do, you can begin to attract more customers to your business. In turn, boosting your revenue and becoming the thought leader for gift cards in your industry.

Let’s take a look at this in more detail…

Why use gift cards?

There are many reasons why companies start selling gift cards. Before we look into the importance of unique gift cards, we need to understand the basic benefits of using the gift card revenue model.

1. Increase Revenue:

Ultimately gift cards increase your revenue stream.

Buy now reap the rewards later model

Businesses selling gift cards get immediate revenue from the point of sale. Realistically, many of these gift cards won’t ever get cashed in. This means all the revenue from the gift card is kept without the service cost or goof being spent.

Additional spending

When a customer is using a gift card to make a purchase, they are likely to make additional spending, therefore increasing the sales of the company.

Increase purchasing options

Lastly, gift cards are an excellent marketing tool because they provide the company with more exposure by being on display in stores and on websites that sell gift cards. Making them an easy and low-cost way to increase sales.

2. Increase customer base

Encourage customer loyalty

Companies can offer gift cards as incentives for customers to buy more products or services. This can be a great way to increase customer loyalty and reduce customer churn.

Attract new customers

People who are shopping for gifts are preferring to purchase unique experiences that their loved ones can hold onto memories from. It’s also important to people to spend quality time with their loved ones. So buying an experience is always a great gift as they can kill two birds with one stone.

The solution

Selling gift cards is one thing, but to sell unique and desirable gift cards is a whole new ball game. Standing out from your competition is important and here’s how you can do it…

The importance of unique gift cards for your business

Many companies are selling gift cards; it would be rare for a company to not sell them. So you need to ensure your gift cards stand out from the crowd!

To do this you need to make them unique.

What is uniqueness?

Uniqueness is the quality of being the only one of its kind.

Uniqueness in marketing

So to create a unique gift card it's important you figure out your gift card USP.

Your unique selling point must make your gift card better than the competition.

How to make your gift cards unique?

There are two ways to make your gift cards unique.

1. To create a unique experience; and

2. Create a unique message. Let’s look at these in more detail.

Think of a unique experience

There are multiple ways to create a unique gift card experience.

1. Create packages by combining experiences

You can very easily create unique experiences by combining your different services. Do you have an up-and-coming event at your business? Create a unique package around it.

E.g. Combine chefs cooking demonstration evening at your hotel restaurant with a luxury one-night stay for two people.

2. Work with your community and other businesses

Unique experiences can also be created when working with your local community.

E.g. Why not combine a luxury spa day with a day at the races?

Or tickets to a local show with a 3-course dinner with champagne at your 5* restaurant.

3. Create gift card add-ons for personalisation

You can also allow your customers to create their own personal unique gift cards. Using the Enjovia gift card system allows you to create any gift card with a special ‘add-on’ feature. You can put any combination of appropriate add-ons to a gift card.

E.g. For a golf day package gift card, you can have the option for your customers to add a variety of drinks to their package, a boot cleaning service, or even dinner.

Think of a unique message

You don’t always have to focus on creating new and different experiences either. With clever marketing, you can create a message that is unique to get customers to buy into what you’re selling.

Let’s look at this in detail…

1. Know the problems of your customers and provide the solution.

What are the wants, needs and desires of your customers?

When you know this you can easily create gift card packages with solutions to these problems.

To do this you need to develop your customer persona. This is where you must identify their paint points, anxieties, motivations and desires.

Where desires and anxieties lie is your opportunity to create an emotional connection.

2. Create an emotional connection

If you can create an emotional connection with your customers you will win them over!

So how can you create an emotional connection with your marketing?

You need to tap into the subconscious mind of your customer. This is where 95% of purchasing decisions take place.

You can create emotional connections by introducing the following into your marketing strategies:

Tell authentic stories that people can relate to
Nurture a relationship through your words, visual branding and packaging. Use emotive words, images and storytelling.
Use real customer stories and experiences.

E.g.

Heal your mind, body and soul with the full body restorative spa day. The package includes a nutritious 3-course lunch, full use of the spa replenishing facilities and a salt pool to revive and energise tired skin, and muscles and improves well-being.

Conclusion

We hope this post on unique gift cards has inspired you to get your thinking cap on and think of your own unique gift cards.

By offering a unique range of gift cards you will begin to see your gift card campaigns gaining interest and driving more sales for your business.

For more information on selling gift cards for your business take a look at our gift card system here.

Take away promotion ideas

The Complete Guide to Take Away Promotion Ideas and How to Implement Them

An average of around £5 per person per week is spent on takeaways per week in the UK.

Consumer eating habits are changing, motivating many innovative food and restaurant businesses to utilise the takeaway model.

With the popularity of street food, many people flock to the newest trends that they see on social media. Hence, why having strong takeaway promotion ideas is important to the success of your business.

The article will introduce the benefits of takeaway promotions and how to implement them.

The benefits of takeaways over restaurant models

Takeaways and street foods are generally more convenient, cheaper, and faster and can often be just as high quality or better than sit-down restaurants.

Street foods are even prized on their quality of taste. With the competitiveness arising in this market, the quality of food is being pushed higher and higher.

Takeaways are such a popular dining model that there are subsidiary businesses arising to serve the takeaway model. This can be seen with the many delivery options such as JustEat or Deliveroo.

There’s no time like the present to begin promoting your takeaway business. Ride this trending wave and get excited about where it’s going!

Why use takeaway promotions?

Using promotions for your takeaway is an absolute must! Here’s why:

They make a customer feel valued by giving them something that they can use immediately.
It also helps you stand out from the crowd. As they are offering something that is different from what other businesses are doing.
It incentivises people to come back again in the future.

Promotion for food delivery service

1. Brainstorm a list of ideas for the promotion

Promotion is a vital aspect of marketing. This can take the form of a contest, discounts, or simply social media posts.

2. Determine your budget

Look to what you have available to spend on your promotions and stick to your guide. Many businesses can over-invest in promotional ideas which go nowhere.

3. Select a channel for the promotion

The channel for promotion is an important aspect of marketing. It is the way we reach out to customers in order to promote our products or services. There are many channels available for promotion, including social media, radio, and print media. Choose the channels where your customers are.

4. Plan the promotional content and strategy

Promotional content and strategy are the most important aspects of any campaign. It is the only way for a company to create awareness about their product or service.

There are many ways in which companies can promote their product. One of the most popular methods is social media marketing. Social media marketing targets a large number of people across different demographics and interests. It can be shared easily and is highly visible.

Another method that companies use to promote their products is email marketing. Email marketing has been around for decades but still remains one of the more effective ways to reach customers. This is especially for those who have already shown interest in a company's products or services.

5. Implement and measure your promotional strategy

Create a promotional calendar for all of your strategies and ideas. Track their progress and sales to see if there are any correlations between promotions and revenue. Over time you’ll see what works and what doesn’t.

Take away promotion ideas

1. Make your branding visible

Add your branding to every order.

From the takeaway bag to a leaflet. Put something in the order to promote your brand. To do this cheaply, you can use a branded logo sticker to close boxes and bags. Or even look into branding your packaging.

One local Chinese takeaway by me handwrites positive messages on their boxes. This doesn’t cost a thing but is a small personal touch to stay in the customer’s memory. - It worked as I still remember today!

2. Offer promotions outside of peak times

If the weekends are your rush hours, offer money-saving discounts on your takeaway on your quieter days or nights. This may be the difference between someone choosing you over a competitor.

3. Use social media often!

Use your social media to share everything! From reminders on which days you’re open on your stories, to delicious mouth-watering images on your feed. Upload images of your menu and make the link to order food with your easily accessible.

When posting to social media, try to make each post a problem-solver for your audience. So, promote your fresh, light dishes and beverages on a hot day. Or your filling feasts for a social gathering.

There are loads of promotions you can use on social media too.

Add hashtags and your social media pages to all of your branding.
Run weekly competitions with free dishes.
Show the scenes in the kitchen to drive interest.
Share your dish inspirations.

4. Enter street food markets

A huge amount of your customer base can be gained from the foodies at street food markets. Sign yourself up for all the available street food stalls. As a result, watch the foodies' blog about you and share you on social media as your following grows.

5. Sign up for the delivery services

Thanks to online delivery concepts, the food service delivery market in the UK was worth 8.5 billion in 2019. Since the pandemic, this has risen to 8.9 billion in 2022.

Use Deliveroo, Uber Eats, Just Eats or simply provide your own delivery service.

6. Offer gift vouchers

Gift vouchers are an incredibly lucrative way to make extra revenue. If your takeaway service is lucrative or popular enough, it would be sensible to offer gift vouchers.

People are favouring experiences over physical items as gifts. For many foodies, receiving a gift card for their favourite takeaway is likely far more favourable than a retail gift card!

People’s perceptions of using gift cards and gift vouchers are changing. They are widely accepted as gifts with a whole range of different experiences available.

Conclusion- Food delivery promotion ideas

After reading this post, you should be able to make the first steps to creating your takeaway promotional strategy and implementing your own promotional ideas.

We hope you enjoyed this post on take away promotion ideas.

How do e vouchers work?

In In this blog post we uncover the question many of you are asking, "How do e vouchers work?" Read here to find out more.

What is an e voucher?

You can buy an electronic voucher from many different types of businesses these days. Whilst e vouchers were originally exclusive to retailers, many businesses in the service industry are seeing the benefits of turning their service into a gift. E vouchers can be in the form of monetary value or an experience- otherwise known as experience gift vouchers.

E vouchers are usually sent to customers by email sometimes SMS, often with a personalised message.

A lot of people are using e-vouchers these days, as they can be purchased and sent to recipients that same day.

There is an additional benefit of working with e vouchers. They offer instant access to deals and promotions on the go and make a great alternative to paper vouchers.

Are e vouchers secure?

As your customers can use e vouchers to purchase valuable goods and services, it’s imperative that your e-voucher system has necessary security measures in place. This is to help prevent the loss, misuse or alteration of the information received.

One of the reasons why it's important to keep information such as your passwords secure is that if they're easy for other people to access, it makes your account more vulnerable.

The generated e-codes should be stored in a safe and secure place using high level encryption to avoid data being intercepted during transmission.

You should be able to track the delivery of all e-vouchers provided by your system. Either through a tracking service or by receiving management information about deliveries.

Can an e voucher be customised and personalised to my business?

Customisation and personalisation is not only important to our end users- the consumers, but also to you selling the vouchers.

Your voucher system should be flexible and easy to use, with a variety of options for the design of your e-vouchers or you might not find much success in your marketing campaign. This will allow you to design your product and offer it to consumers as part of a seasonal offering or as a promotional opportunity. The consumer can then personalise the gift, such as by adding additional messages and add-ons for more themed experiences.

Benefits of selling e vouchers on my gift store page

E-Vouchers have many advantages over traditional vouchers. Below we will discuss the benefits:

Easy to generate

E vouchers are easy to generate with unique identification codes on all vouchers.

Cost savings

Cheaper to produce with no stock needed.

No extra charges are passed on to the customers

With e vouchers your customers won’t require shipping, which means no shipping fees to pay. E vouchers end up saving the customers money.

Receive e vouchers Instantaneously

Instant revival to inbox and can be sent to multiple customers simultaneously.

Environmentally friendly

E vouchers are eco-friendly with no paper or plastic waste.

Last-minute gift ideas

Believe it or not, many gift vouchers are purchased on Christmas Day. E vouchers make it easy for customers to purchase and send to their loved ones as a last-minute gift idea.

How do e vouchers work?

E-vouchers are a great way to entice customers to buy from your business. They are also a perfect solution for small businesses that want to offer their customers incentives but don't have the budget for it.

The idea is that you create a voucher and offer it as an incentive for customers to purchase from your business. The voucher can be redeemed online or in-person at your store. When the customer redeems the voucher, they will be able to receive a discount on their purchase or get some other type of reward.

There are many ways that you can use e-vouchers for your business and we will go over some of them below:

Offer an incentive for first-time buyers

E vouchers can be a great way to encourage new customers to return to your company and try again, which also helps your cash flow.

Provide a special deal for returning customers

This is a great way to bring back old customers that you have lost over time and it will not only help your store's cash flow but also gain new ones.

Incentivise new customers to return

Offer new customers the chance to get freebies or discounts on future purchases. This is a great way to entice new customers and introduce your store as a brand.

How to Use E-Vouchers in Marketing?

As well as the benefits of selling e vouchers for your business, e-vouchers also double as a great marketing tool for any business. They provide a convenient and easy way to give customers the opportunity to buy your products or services.

There are many different ways in which you can use e-vouchers to your advantage in marketing. For example, you could offer vouchers as a reward for completing an online survey or as part of a competition.

You could also offer them as rewards for referring new customers, or as part of an incentive scheme such as “buy 10 get 1 free”.

Many companies are now offering their e vouchers as a gift from their social media competitions. This is a great way to raise awareness for their products and services, but word will spread fast.

How to run a successful e voucher campaign?

E vouchers are a popular marketing tool for businesses. It’s mainly used as an incentive to encourage customers to buy from the business.

1) Offer a discount on the voucher price in order to make it more attractive and affordable for customers.

2) Include a time limit on the voucher so that people feel like they have to use it before it expires and they lose out on the discount.

3) Offer your e vouchers in the form of experience vouchers.

Conclusion- How do e vouchers work?

Selling e vouchers for your business is a smart idea. As well as the convenience of ease to your customers, you’ll make huge cost savings too.

If you’d like to find out more about how do e vouchers work, and which voucher systems are the best to use, check out our product. Here at Enjovia we are experts in gift voucher systems and always here to help you improve your gift voucher journey.

Unique salon service ideas

In this blog post, we uncover unique salon service ideas to generate return customers and maximise your revenue stream.

Staying ahead of the competition requires constant improvement of your services. Whether this is by introducing new services or making modifications to existing services to keep them feeling current and enticing.

Let’s look at some unique salon service ideas:

1. Loyalty Reward schemes

Maintaining your current customer base is always the most cost-efficient way to generate long-term revenue.

That’s why it’s a good idea to focus on keeping your current clientele happy. It’s common to have a points card system, which results in a free treatment once enough points have been accumulated.

Another great method is to prioritise loyal customers.

To do this, offer new services to your existing customer first with a discount. Give them discounted priority on new services as a way of expressing your gratitude for their loyalty to you.

Refer a friend- loyalty programme.

Refer- a friend loyalty programmes have incredible success with gaining new customers. We’ve seen great examples of this with HelloFresh.

They’ve generated thousands of new customers while showing appreciation to existing customers. This marketing tool is a great way to provide a trusted source of new referrals for your business.

2. Experience services

The goal of every salon should be to make their customers feel incredible! After all, that’s your purpose.

But as well as making your clients feel welcome and comfortable, you also need to give them a wow factor. This has much to do with your salon's vibe, the look and smell as it has to do with your services.

One of the most effective ways to entice customers to your business is to offer experiences that they want to be a part of.

Generate FOMO

FOMO is a powerful emotion that can really motivate people to part-take in an experience, to eliminate their fear of missing out. The most effective way to generate FOMO is to offer a service that is unique and memorable.

Offer unique experiences to specific buyer personas

Offering services to a specific clientele can be a powerful persuasion for the right audience.

There are many different ways to offer unique experiences to specific audiences. One simple example of this would be a salon offering a hair cutting experience catering to children.

Children's salons attract clientele from a much larger radius, as parents would be more willing to drive further to have their children’s hair cut with an experienced children’s hairdresser.

Many hairdressers offering this specific experience for children take the experience further than the chair. The waiting room typically has children and toddler toys and colouring tables.

The hairdressing chair can be a funky car, or a seat with TV screens to occupy the kid’s attention for a safer haircut. A great example can be found here with FunkylittleChickens hair salon.

This works with any type of customer base too. Just think about what they would specifically want, and create a unique service dedicated to their needs.

Add extras to services to wow clients

Another way of generating great experiences would be to add an extra service to their treatment.

A glass of champagne and some scrumptious chocolate-dipped strawberries to accompany a treatment is simple, but can make all the difference to making our customers feel special and have a memorable day.

Create unique salon service ideas packages by combining treatments

Creating packages with deals is another great way of improving your services to create unique experiences. A simple combination of treatments at a discounted price is an easy solution.

For example, adding a pedicure to a cut and colour. When your guests are sitting with their colour, they can feel even more pampered with another treatment to pass the time.

Create unique packages by offering a product & treatment package deal

We are sure you’ll be using the best products in your salon. You can make huge margins on your revenue by selling products with your services. A great idea is to sell packages with the products included for your customers to take home.

3. Competition Services

Social media competitions are a really good idea for salons wanting to generate interest and spread the word about their business.

These work by offering free treatment, experience or product for the competition winner. Then you have to make specific competition rules to generate more followers. For example, “To enter the competition you must like the post, tag two friends below and be following our Instagram page”.

Competition winners usually repost and share their experiences to influence their friends and family. And when friends of competition winners have seen the success they will more likely enter future competitions.

4. Invest in training to offer new services.

It's so important to invest in your resources. So sending your team away on new training to keep current with trends and techniques is vital to your success.

Stay current and aware of what your audience wants by following influencers for salons on social media. Take note of what’s popular and watch closely.

5. Offer gift experience vouchers to sell more unique salon service ideas and entice customers

Offering gift vouchers is a great way to package and sell all of the services mentioned above.

People are always stuck for gift ideas, and offering a wide range of unique service gifts is a great way to solve their gifting dilemma while generating more revenue.

Here’s how it works:

Let’s take the unique experiences package examples above.

You could sell a gift experience voucher that has the treatment and product offer, or the treatment and service offer. People buying that gift experience for a loved one can feel satisfied in knowing that they haven’t just bought a standard monetary gift voucher, it has that something extra that makes the gift that little bit more special.

6. Discounted services

There are many ways you can offer discounted experiences that can be an enticing experience for your clients.

Offering a discount on your gift voucher packages is a great way to do this.

Your customers get to have unique and memorable experiences while saving on money. Who could argue with that! This can also tie in seamlessly with the loyalty reward scheme above.

Offering discounts at specific times of the year is a great marketing tool.

Black Friday, Christmas, Mother’s Day, and Valentine’s Day are some great times of the year to promote your gift vouchers.

7. Online bookings

Salons offering online booking have a 29% higher turnover. Offering an online booking service is crucial to capturing more customers. The more convenient you can make your service the more likely you’ll be chosen over your competition.

Some local salons even accept bookings through social media. This works well if posting day discounts to fill up free spaces. Instagram is a great place to offer a one day only discount through your story, with a small note directing customers to directly message for a spare slot. You could even post the story with a direct link to your online booking page.

Having an online precedence and booking store is great for selling gift cards too. Your products and services can reach a much wider range of customers and can be conveniently bought from the comfort of their own homes.

Conclusion of unique salon service ideas

We hope that this post has helped inspire you to think of your own unique salon service ideas.

Thinking outside of the box and creating unique experiences will set you apart from your competition. You’ll begin to attract a larger client base and watch your revenue soar.

If you enjoyed this post on the different unique salon service ideas you could incorporate into your business, you should take a look at our post on hair salon advertising examples. We’ll see you next time!

Hotel packages examples

In this blog post, we look at hotel packages examples for a successful business

Introduction: What is a Hotel Package?

A hotel package is a set of products or services that are bundled together and offered at a discounted rate. These packages are typically aimed at the tourist market, with the hope that they will generate more revenue than if each component were sold separately.

A hotel package includes many different things. It can include transportation from the airport to the hotel, or it can include breakfast in the morning. It might also include a tour, such as a visit to an art gallery or historical site.

Tourists purchasing these packages often find them more convenient than purchasing each component separately. This is because they don't have to do any research themselves about what they need and where they need to go.

For hotels that have enticing packages, it can also be a major factor in a tourist’s choice of hotel. Whether they are getting a deal or a unique experience, packages can boost your hotel revenue.

How to Create an Effective hotel package for your business?

Hotels are in a unique position to offer packages to their customers. They know what customers want and how they want it.

The most important thing when designing a package is to make sure it is tailored to the customer’s needs and preferences.

There are many different types of packages that you can create for your business, but one of the most popular is the all-inclusive package. It includes things like room accommodations, meals, transportation, and more.

Leading hotels think much further than this. They consider their guest’s experiences and create hotel packages for the ultimate memorable stay.

how to improve guest experience in hotels

Creating gift voucher experience packages for your hotel

What makes a hotel experience special?

A hotel, in order to stay competitive, needs to offer more than just a room. It also needs to provide guests with an experience. A memorable experience. The best way for a hotel to do this is by creating a gift experience package for the guest.

A gift voucher experience is an easy way to provide your guests with a personalized and unique memory. The gift voucher can be used for overnight stays, spa treatments, restaurant dining, and more. You can also customize the experience by adding in a drink or two at the bar. All of this comes together to create an unforgettable stay that will keep your guests coming back for more!

A simple way a hotel can package an experience could be to include a welcome note from the hotel, some local items, and some personalized items that are related to the theme of the trip or event that is taking place at the hotel.

For example:

- A welcome note from the hotel front desk staff with a personalized message and signature

- A small souvenir from the city where they are staying

- A personalized letter with recommendations of places to visit or things to do in their free time

- Drinks on ice on arrival

- Dinner with evening entertainment

- An experience in the hotel spa the following day

- include a quirky or memorable experience

- To incorporate high-end luxury

Hotel packages examples with unique experiences

Let’s next look at some famous examples that hotels have tried with success!

1. Hotel Erwin

Standing out for very a unique experience is at the Hotel Erwin in Venice Beach in California.

They have a dedicated their brand to creating unique and memorable experience packages for their guests. From car valet hotel packages known as the ‘Dude, where’s my car” experience, to the ‘Party like a rock star’ concert/hotel package.

They’ve created incredible hotel packages that plan and bundle up an itinerary for their guests. All their customers need to do is to show up, experience Venice Beach and let Hotel Erwin take care of the rest.

2. The Frenchman’s Reef & Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort

The Marriott in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands put their experience packages into niche customer profiles.

Catering to children, the resort sells an ‘Under the sea’ experience. Perfectly balancing education with fun activities such as paddle boarding, kayaking, swimming with turtles and snorkelling. As well as tickets to the St. Thomas Coral World Ocean Park. This is a great example of how a hotel can attract families to their resort using their hotel packages.

3. The Alfond Inn in Winter Park, Florida

This unique hotel knows the importance of dogs to families. That’s why they offer hotel packages with pet dogs welcome. The dogs get special treatment too with a private dog walker, keepsake water bowls and turn down treats. The Alfond also makes a donation to The Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando with each package booked.

They also offer extravagant shopping packages with an overnight stay, as well as adventure park packages including local city tours.

All of these hotels have a commonality- they are prioritising experiences! Whether by including dogs on the family holiday, or encouraging exploration of the local area. When their guests stay with them, they have a full experience that leaves them with wonderful memories.

Conclusion and Next Steps: The Future of Hotel Packages

The future of hotel packages is bright. With the introduction of AI and machine learning, we are able to provide personalized offers to customers and give them the best possible experience.

We are already seeing hotel packages examples of this available today. Where machine learning is utilised to deliver customer service. It works through AI learning of consumers’ choices and then predicting future behaviours. Hotels benefit from this as they can pre-empt the probability of guests' needs.

You can read more on the AI development in hotels here.

Hoteliers who are using technology and gift experience vouchers to update their hotel packages are leading the market. Tourists are looking for experiences, hotels should aim to provide unique and memorable experiences for success.

If enjoyed this post on hotel packages examples and you’d like to know more about gift voucher systems, get in touch with us here.

Best gift voucher ideas UK

In this blog post, we go over some of the best gift voucher ideas UK to help inspire you to choose a thoughtful gift for your loved one.

The UK is one of the most lucrative markets for gift vouchers.

Over the last couple of years, consumers' preferences for gift cards have soared. Resulting in gift vouchers becoming one of the preferred gifts to receive.

Introduction: What is a Gift Voucher and Why Should You Choose one as a gift?

A gift voucher is a gift which can be redeemed for goods or services. It is usually given as a present for special occasions. When it comes to birthdays, Christmas, Valentine's Day Mother’s or Father’s Day and even with Thank you or Celebration gifts, they can be relied upon.

They are the perfect gift for any event. And with the popularity of gift vouchers soaring, the options available for consumers are abundant!

Are gift vouchers received well by loved ones?

It might seem like a very impersonal gift to give. But a gift voucher is a great gift for many, especially those who are hard to buy for.

This is true for two reasons:

It will give them the freedom to choose their own perfect present. (If buying a monetary voucher).
A carefully chosen experience gift voucher will be received well because it can provide memories, shared special moments and a unique experience to participate in.

A gift voucher is an excellent present for people who are hard to buy because it provides the recipient with a choice of what they want. It is also a good idea if you have money in mind but don't know what will suit the person best. The recipient can choose from a range of things that they like best, which means that there is no risk of buying something they won't like or use.

What are the Different Types of Gift vouchers Available in the Market?

Monetary gift vouchers

There are many types of gift vouchers available in the market. One is the pre-paid voucher, which can be loaded with any amount and given to the recipient for them to spend as they wish. This is also known as a gift card.

Experience gift vouchers

An experience gift voucher is where a service is provided in exchange for the gift voucher. These can take many forms. -A spa day, Overnight hotel stay, golf and so much more.

Any service can basically be packaged and presented nicely in a gift voucher.

Digital gift voucher

Another type is the digital gift voucher, which can be sent via email or text message and doesn't require any shipping fees or physical copy.

These can be in the form of monetary vouchers or experience gift vouchers.

Let’s look at these in more detail.

What are Digital gift vouchers?

Digital gift vouchers are a great way to give the gift of choice. The recipient of your gift can choose from a variety of products and services. This is a fast and secure way to make sure that your recipient gets exactly what they want. A digital gift card can be bought and sent to the recipient all electronically.

The recipient will receive an e-gift voucher in their email inbox that can be traded for a service or product at the store it's purchased from.

Benefits of sending a digital gift voucher (or e-gift card)

Many consumers opt for digital gift vouchers over physical copies as it’s more convenient and can be used right away. This can be especially useful if wanting to take an advantage of an exclusive gift voucher deal to be used right away.

Physical gift voucher

A physical gift voucher in luxury packaging is a great way to present your best wishes.

It can be used for any occasion like a birthday, anniversary, or wedding where the gift should give a wow first impression.

The gift voucher is delivered as an envelope with a card that has the recipient’s name on it. Sometimes they can be presented in a luxury box or wallet for that extra grand impression.

These can be collected in person from the retailer or delivered to the recipient's home.

What is a Gift experience voucher?

Gift experience vouchers are the perfect gift for people who have everything. They can be redeemed for any experience from top-rated restaurants, to adventure parks, and even paintballing.

Gift experience vouchers are a great way for people to spend money on experiences rather than material items. There’s no need to worry about size or colour, and you can buy one for a loved one without having to guess what they might want.

Types of gift experience vouchers

There are few things that motivate people more than the fear of missing out. FOMO is a powerful emotion that makes people take action in order to avoid regrets. With this in mind, it’s important to offer your customers plenty of ways to redeem their vouchers before they lose interest in it.

In the world of hospitality, the most important thing to remember is that a customer is not just buying a room. The customer is buying an experience.

The hospitality industry has seen a rise in experiential marketing tactics and one of the most successful ways to market these experiences is through gifting. Gift vouchers are one of the best ways for any business offering a service to sell their services because they can be given at any time and for any occasion.

From a spa experience day, 3-course dinner, an overnight stay or deep water diving! Anything that is a service can be packaged and presented in the form of a luxury gift experience voucher.

Monetary gift voucher

A monetary gift voucher is a voucher that can be used to purchase goods or services with an outlined amount of money. For example, a £50 voucher.

There are many reasons why people choose to buy monetary gift vouchers. They can be used as an alternative to cash; they can be given anonymously; they are easy to send and receive, and they offer the receiver more choice in what they spend the money on.

Best gift voucher ideas UK

How to Choose the Best Gift voucher For Your Needs?

The gift voucher is a perfect gift for people who are hard to buy for. It is a great way to give someone the freedom of choosing their own present.

For many people, the idea of picking out a perfect gift for someone they care about can be stressful and exhausting. The decision on what to buy and where to buy it can be challenging when you have no idea what the person would like. A gift voucher solves this problem by giving them the opportunity to pick out something for themselves that they really want and need.

A gift voucher can be used in any store or restaurant in your local area which means that there will never be an issue of not finding something that suits their needs or tastes.

Picking the Right Gift Voucher Ideas for Her

There are so many gift voucher ideas out there, that it can be difficult to pick the right one.

The following list of gift voucher ideas will make it easier for you to choose a perfect one. Gift vouchers are a great option when you don't know what to buy for her. They are also a good way to show how much you care and that she is important in your life.

You can find vouchers for all sorts of things, from spa treatments to shopping sprees, so there's always something perfect for any occasion or personality type.

A gift voucher for a spa treatment is a great option since it gives her the opportunity to choose exactly what she wants to do. Spa treatments can be anything from getting a facial to luxury massages, so get exactly what she needs! And there’s no need to do it simply, there are many spa experiences out there which include full package days. A treatment, spa day, lunch and even champagne! The different types of things you can experience with a voucher are limitless!

If you're shopping for someone who is more of an outdoor girl, then why not get them something like a gift card for a day out in the countryside? This can be a great way to introduce them to new activities, as well as breathing in that fresh air and nature- something they might be lacking in their lives.

Let a relaxing outdoor day take your fancy, from strawberry picking to drinking wine in a vineyard. Or for more thrill-seekers, you could try underwater diving or car track racing.

Gift Vouchers for Him

Gift vouchers are a great way to show your loved ones that you care. If you're struggling to find the perfect gift for him, experience gift vouchers will make the perfect present.

If he’s an outdoor guy, a golf day experience may be a great fit. Many golf clubs and hotels will offer monetary gift vouchers to be redeemed at their clubhouse too.

Or maybe he’s a foodie and would prefer to try an eating experience. There are a wealth of restaurant and food event gift vouchers to choose from.

From chef demonstrations to cooking classes the options of experiences around food are endless and bound to surprise passionate foodies.

And even as we mentioned earlier in the post, getting a monetary gift voucher is also a great option if you’re unsure what to get.

There are many reasons why a voucher is the best choice as a gift. Firstly, they're easy and hassle-free to buy - there's no need to worry about sizing or whether it matches their preferences.

Secondly, they can be redeemed in a store you know they’ll love and can be spent on anything - clothes, gadgets or even food. (Depending on where you get your voucher from!) And finally, they're much more affordable than most other gifts and make for an excellent present for those with limited budgets.

Best gift voucher ideas UK

Hopefully, this poston the best gift voucher ideas UK has given you a little idea about the types of gift vouchers out there and helped clear your decision on what you’d like to gift a loved one.

For more ideas on British outdoor experiences, take a look at a past post of ours here.

Ideas to enhance hotel guest experience

In this blog post, we look at how to generate your own ideas to enhance hotel guest experience.

Why give a man a fish to feed him for one day, when you can teach him to fish to feed for a lifetime?

You’ve come to this blog post to get ideas for your hotel experiences. We’ll teach you the process of generating many of your own unique and special experiences to keep ahead of your competition.

Become the inspiration for the hospitality industry with your own innovative experiences to enhance the guest experience.

Experiences on the rise

Experiences are the new way to attract customers.

It is not enough to have a good product anymore. People want more than that. They want a story, they want to be part of something, they want an experience.

The popularity of experiences is on the rise and this trend is expected to continue in the future as well.

Why are experiences so popular?

Experiences are becoming popular because they have the power to change our perspective and make us feel a certain way. For example, when we go on an adventure, we will think about it for a long time afterwards. Experiences can also help us learn and grow as people.

The experience economy is one of the biggest trends that is shaping the future of business. In this economy, people are spending their money on experiences rather than things.

Experiences are the new way to attract customers and make them loyal for life. The only question is how you are going to provide it?

The Power of Innovative Ideas to Create a Unique Experience

Innovative ideas are the key to a successful business. They not only help you stand out from the crowd, but they also provide an experience that is unique and memorable for your customers.

Ideas can come in many shapes and forms, such as brainstorming sessions, innovative partnerships, or even just a new way of presenting your product or service. The most important thing is that you are willing to take risks in order to create something new and exciting.

Ideas to enhance hotel guest experience: How to create great experiences

What’s the formula for a great experience?

Below we talk about what you need to consider when creating a wonderful experience for your hotel guests.

Make it Memorable

The experience you provide to your customers is one of the most important factors in determining whether they will come back. A memorable experience not just ensures that they will come back but also that they will recommend your hotel to their friends and family.

Uniqueness

We are living in a world of constant change and innovation. This is why hotels need to be constantly updating their services and improving the quality of their stay to make sure they stand out from the competition.

One way to do this is by providing an experience that is unique and memorable for your guests.

People are looking for experiences, not just a place to sleep. They want to feel special and have a story to tell.

One way to make your hotel stand out is by having something unique that no other hotels in the area have.

Some hotels have gone beyond just customer service and amenities to incorporate other innovative ideas into their guest’s stay. These may include things like connecting with local culture, utilising natural beauty, or exploring new technology

Personalise it

It is hard to stand out in the hospitality industry. But, hotels are finding new ways to make their guests feel special. One way that hotels are doing this is by using innovative ideas that create a personalised experience.

Hotels are using personalization as one of their innovative ideas to create a unique experience for their guests. They do this by providing personalised customer service and amenities based on the guest’s preferences and needs. This can include everything from food and drink choices, room upgrades, or even personalised welcome messages on arrival.

There are some very basic tips that should be included within every experience to help you create a memorable, unique and personalised experience.

Provide each guest with a personalised welcome message
Offer them a treat or gift or souvenir upon arrival
Make a point of learning their name and using it throughout their stay

This special treatment with the addition of your unique experience will have you at the top of the list for hotel stays.

Next, we look at how to generate these great ideas for your experiences.

Ideas to enhance hotel guest experience: How to Brainstorm Creative Ideas?

Creative ideas are the backbone of any successful marketing strategy. It is important to come up with creative ideas that will make your hotel stand out from the competition.

Creativity techniques

Creativity is an essential ingredient to success in any profession. It is the ability to come up with new and original ideas, or see things from a different perspective. The art of creativity is very important for any business, especially for those in the hospitality industry.

Creativity is the process of generating new ideas and making connections between existing concepts.

Creative techniques are different ways to spark creative ideas. They are often used to generate new ideas for a project or problem space by exploring uncharted territory or by combining two dissimilar things together.

Brainstorming

So how can you brainstorm ideas to enhance hotel guest experience? Brainstorming is the process of generating ideas by talking with others and sharing thoughts. It can be done in a group or alone. Brainstorming has been proved to be an effective way of generating creative ideas for any kind of project.

There are different ways in which brainstorming sessions can be conducted. One of them is the "brainwriting" method where each person comes up with an idea on their own and then writes it down on a piece of paper. The other one is "brainstorming" where everyone gets together and starts throwing out ideas in an unstructured way.

The best way to start brainstorming is by listing all the ideas that you have. This may sound simple, but it’s important because it will get your brain working and help you generate more ideas.

Asking your customers

In order to come up with creative ideas, it is important to know what the customer wants and needs. A good place to start is by conducting surveys and asking customers what they think of your product or service. This will help you figure out ways in which you can improve your product or service and make it more appealing to the customer.

What are the Steps for Turning Creative Ideas into Reality?

The process of turning creative ideas into reality is a difficult one. It starts with the generation of creative ideas. The next step is to develop the idea and create a plan for it before finally executing it.

Brainstorming is the most popular way to generate new ideas and come up with new solutions to problems. It involves generating as many possible solutions as possible in a short period of time and then evaluating them later on. Brainstorming has been proven to be an effective technique when it comes to generating new ideas but there are some drawbacks, such as groupthink and lack of creativity in some individuals that may have less experience in brainstorming sessions.

Idea generation can be a difficult process. Sometimes you may find yourself running out of ideas or simply not being able to come up with a creative solution. The second way people generate creative ideas is by using someone else's ideas. For example, if you have trouble coming up with an idea for your business, you could simply look at what popular options your competitors are offering. Take their ideas as inspiration for yours, make sure you add something different to offer to make it unique to you.

Conclusion: The Importance of Creativity and Innovation in the Hospitality Industry

A hotel is not just a place to stay, it is a place to experience. It is the gateway to the world and its culture. The best hotels are those that have an identity of their own and provide guests with unique experiences.

By using the tips above, you can come up with your own unique ideas to enhance hotel guest experience.

For some ideas on different experiences that enhance the guest experience check out our post on: Unique hotel service ideas.

Plastic Jungle Acquisition - Introducing Enjovia

Please note: Enjovia is not a gift card exchange, we help businesses to sell their services as gift cards online. We cannot buy or resell your gift cards.

Here at Enjovia, we are thrilled to announce the acquisition of Plasticjungle.com. We loved the work being done by the team behind Plasticjungle.com, and we are excited to introduce their readers to our content and services.

Gift cards are often taken for granted by consumers. If you own a business, you’re likely wondering, is setting up a gift card service really worth it? And, what exactly will my business get from it?

Well, we are here to tell you that gift cards and vouchers are an invaluable tool for many different types of businesses! They can significantly increase your revenue, widen your client base, and help with promotional strategies.

Don’t believe us? Well, you don’t have to take our word. To learn more about why gift cards are good for business, and to understand our unique complete gift voucher system, take a look at the information below.

Why Gift Cards Are Good for Business

Whether you’re a small business owner just starting to explore your potential or you have a thriving company with several branches and a desire to continue expanding, using a gift carding system will help you along the way.

In fact, here at Enjovia, we are dedicated to giving you the tools you need to take your business to the next level. Our Gift Voucher Card Management & Processing System Software aims to streamline your processes and help to increase your business's revenue.

It works to do so by providing you with a range of innovative and high-quality features. For instance, with our system, you can get personalized customer messages, advanced promotional tools, google analytics integration - and much more!

If you’re sceptical about the ways in which gift card systems can transform your business, we don’t blame you! To learn more about how it works, and what gift cards can do for your business, take a look at the information below.

Restaurants

First, let’s discuss restaurants. If you own a restaurant business and you don’t offer a voucher or gift card system, you are seriously missing out! You can easily make more restaurant profit using vouchers.

In fact, vouchers are arguably the most profitable thing you can sell in a restaurant. This might sound a bit crazy, but we believe it to be completely true! At a time when the hospitality industry is struggling, gift vouchers can be a saving grace.

Here at Enjovia, we have an in-depth and up-to-date understanding of the restaurant industry and consumer spending habits. The past few years have been tough and many giants in the industry have crumbled - Jamie’s Italian, Zizi's, Carluccio's, just to name a few.

Consumer spending habits within this industry have also changed. Most people are currently experiencing a burdening sense of financial insecurity, which, in turn, means many are grasping those purse strings far tighter than they may have done in the past.

As such, your average customer isn’t going to give up their money just for a nice plate of food. Why would they if they can save a good proportion of their hard-earned cash and cook at home instead?

However, trends suggest that customers are more willing to splash the cash for a unique experience. In the current climate, going out is an occasion. Consumers want this occasion to be as memorable and perfect as possible - from the food to the decor to the service.

If you want to get more customers through the door of your restaurant, why not start selling experiences using vouchers? You could sell a number of different vouchers, each offering a unique dining experience or promotion at your venue.

The statistics to back this method are very promising. For instance, 10 to 15% of vouchers never get redeemed, which means that you get to pocket all of the revenue! Additionally, 72.1% of customers tend to spend more than the value of the voucher when they use it.

In fact, there is a huge range of benefits associated with e-commerce within the hospitality industry. You gain access to a much wider audience, achieve more visibility, have access to a range of low-cost promotional tools, and much more!

Interested yet? Well, here at Enjovia we aim to make introducing gift cards at your restaurant a breeze. We have a dedicated restaurant gift card software system that works to enhance your customers’ experiences, and thus, your profits!

Activity and Leisure Businesses

Activity and leisure businesses can profit from the use of gift cards in a similar way to restaurants. In fact, the experience economy arguably applies more so to the activity and leisure industry.

The notion ‘experience economy’ was coined 20 years ago by Pine and Gilmore to describe what they predicted to be the future trend in consumer spending. And, it has become rather relevant in recent years.

They predicted that consumers would become more interested in spending their money on unique experiences rather than material products. This prediction is quickly coming true for a range of reasons.

Thanks to social media, there is an ever-growing pressure to gain more clout online. One great way of doing so is being photographed in beautiful places, posting images of yourself engaging in unique activities, and generally showing everyone all of the fun things you do.

Although, it isn’t all about popularity. Experiences are known to make us happier than material items. They provide a way to learn new things with your close family and friends, and to make wonderful memories whilst doing so.

Whilst this push toward an ‘experience economy’ can mean good things for restaurants that invest in a gift card system, it is excellent news for all activity businesses - even small ones! Providing all of your services in the form of gift cards opens many doors for your business.

By doing so, you are allowing your customers to gift wonderful experiences for their friends and family’s birthdays, anniversaries, and other special occasions. This will not only make things easy for your customers, but it will also likely increase your revenue.

Using gift vouchers also works to introduce people to your business. In fact, Enjovia has found that up to 60% of customers say they have been introduced to a business via a gift card or voucher. This increased brand awareness can only be considered a positive thing!

If you’re totally sold, take a look at our gift card system for activity and leisure businesses. Our service is certain to streamline and boost your business, regardless of how small or large it may be.

Spas and Salons

If you are a part of a spa or salon business that doesn’t provide customers with the option of purchasing a gift card - you are missing a trick. For such businesses, gift cards work to significantly increase revenue and broaden your customer base.

There are a number of gift voucher strategies that work wonderfully for spas and salons. For instance, you should design your gift vouchers so that they speak directly to your specific audience. Are your clients primarily fitness-obsessed or looking for an ultra-relaxing break?

Designing a gift voucher that really appeals to your audience will work to increase your sales. In addition to the visual design of the gift card, you can utilize language to draw in your customers too.

For example, if you’re offering an experience ideal for your older clients, you should aim to use words like ‘rejuvenate’ and ‘refresh’. If your target audience is health enthusiasts, use words such as ‘organic’, ‘raw’, ‘vigorous’, ‘fresh’, and ‘natural’.

You can even design gift cards to bring in new customers. For instance, at the end of the school year, why not create a voucher specifically for teachers looking to rewind after a long year? This makes a great gift for teachers, and opens up new client possibilities for you!

Additionally, when it comes to special occasions and holidays, gift cards can really aid to increase attention and revenue for spas and salons. From valentines day (or Galentine's day) promotions to all-in-one Christmas glam treatments, the possibilities are endless!

For example, take a look at this incredible Valentine's Day Experience at Park Plaza Cardiff. The wonderful people behind the Park Plaza have utilized gift cards to offer a huge range of unique and incredibly tempting valentines day experiences!

Now, it is impossible to ignore that one of the trickiest aspects of running a spa or salon business is the labor costs. As you’re probably aware, the labor costs of treatment can often exceed 50% of the price of the treatment.

However, gift cards can help you overcome this problem. For instance, if someone purchases a gift card for a facial treatment, your staff could suggest that they add on an Indian head massage treatment so they can feel relaxed as the facial treatment settles.

Our Spa and Salon Gift Voucher Software System enables you to easily add on treatments to your customer's vouchers and packages. It also allows you to sell gift vouchers in-store and online, which should open up many possibilities for your business.

Hotels

Finally, if you’re in the hotel business and you’re wondering how to increase your hotel revenue, Enjovia’s gift voucher system for hotels has got you covered. Enjovia has many customers within the hotel industry who are thriving thanks to our products.

Hotel gift vouchers allow you to provide your customers with one-off, unique, and special experiences. Creating memorable moments for each of your guests is paramount to a thriving hotel business.

However, being able to partake in the experience economy isn’t the only benefit of using a gift card service like ours. These days, in the hotel industry, to be successful you need to provide a range of practical services.

For instance, technology is becoming an increasingly important part of any hotel stay. It is important that your guests feel as though all of your online services and processes are clear and user-friendly - regardless of what their preferred language is!

That’s why Enjovia provides hotel customers with multi-language support. This means that your customer can purchase a voucher in a language of their choice! We also make it super easy to purchase add-ons and for you to upgrade your customers’ packages.

Additionally, one strategy to increase hotel revenue is to form tight relationships with other corporations - and gift cards are a perfect way of doing just that! With our system, you get access to the bulk voucher creation feature that makes this process incredibly simple.

Finally, we think it is worth mentioning that, in terms of marketing, gift vouchers can be a godsend for hotels. E-commerce in general provides business owners with low-cost promotional opportunities.

As a hotel business owner, it is 100% necessary that you are using social media to the fullest extent. Using social media, you can promote unique experiences and special promotions for your followers in the form of easy-to-purchase gift cards.

If you’re still sceptical about how a gift card service can help your business, then you need to take a look at a few wonderful success stories. Take a look here to be blown away by the Celtic Manor’s success following implementing a gift card system!

Summary

Here at Enjovia, we are thrilled to have acquired Plasticjungle.com. We hope that our services and content encourage you to put yourself out there and help you to increase your businesses’ revenue. Gift cards really can make a huge difference!

How to sell restaurant gift cards

Are you thinking about how to sell restaurant gift cards?

Over the years the restaurant industry has been fighting tooth and nail to survive.

Restaurants were hardest hit by the global pandemic. On top of already challenging economic circumstances, restaurants had to try and operate with a background of isolation, lockdowns and social distancing.

Today, we are still feeling the effects. But one thing that does have the attention of consumers is experiences!

Why gift cards are boosting restaurant experiences

Gift cards are now morphing into gift experiences.

These experiences are just what consumers are looking for!

While the isolation and lockdowns were a devastating part of the pandemic, it did change the way consumers were motivated.

Instead of buying ‘stuff’, people have almost realised the importance of experiencing and making memories with loved ones. - Things they were deprived of for 2 years!

That’s why experiences are becoming more and more desired.

Luckily, for restaurateurs, there’s the perfect solution- gift cards. Otherwise known as ‘gift experiences’.

How to sell restaurant gift cards- Deciding what experiences to sell

The first step when you learn how to sell restaurant gift cards is deciding what gift cards to sell.

Monetary gift cards

Most restaurants that decide to sell gift cards will begin and end with monetary gift cards. This is selling a gift card at a monetary value. E.g £50 gift card.

While monetary gift cards have their place and will always sell, we are seeing the most growth from gift experiences.

Gift experiences

Turning your gift cards into gift experiences is what will set your restaurant brand apart from your competition.

Consumers are looking for experiences to share with loved ones and to build memories.

Create dining events, dishes and dinner packages around a unique experience to generate interest and lure in more customers!

Which experiences sell when deciding how to sell restaurant gift cards

When it comes to restaurant gift cards, the more memorable and unique the experience the better it will sell.

Many restaurateurs have taken their restaurant experiences to the next level.

Some of these experiences include:

Themed dining nights (e.g Argentinian)
Chef demonstration experience
Wine tasting
Cheese tasting
Cooking classes with the head chef/ hire a famous celebrity chef (if budget allows!)
7 course meals

The list goes on! I’m sure you can think of some spectacular dining experiences.

Marketing your gift cards

Now creating and selling your gift cards is one thing. It’s a whole different ball game when it comes to marketing your gift cards.

This is one of the most important steps in selling restaurant gift cards.

The marketing of your gift cards should cover in-house marketing, digital marketing and word-of-mouth.

Let’s look at each of these in more detail:

In-house gift card marketing

Your service staff in your restaurant should be using their many opportunities to upsell your gift cards.

Whether this is through bringing it up in conversation naturally or offering a discount on all gift card sales. This is important because in-house marketing turrets your existing customer base, who may not know about your gift cards.

This way, they are likely to purchase your gift cards either for themselves or for friends and family. It’s an easier sell as they are already familiar, loyal and accustomed to your dining experiences. If they are loyal customers they will appreciate this handy bit of new information.

By offering a discount for in-house guests, is also a great strategy for rewarding your loyal customer base.

Digital gift card marketing

Your digital marketing encompasses everything you do online.

By utilising your website, email campaigns, Google My Business and social media channels you can reach a larger range of customers for your gift cards.

Social media

We have a great blog post written on Social media gift cards promotions that you should read about. When it comes to deciding to promote on social media, the first and foremost action should be to determine which platforms your target market hangs out.

Typically you’ll find professionals on LinkedIn. You’ll find millennials and younger on Instagram. And you’ll find Boomers mostly on Facebook.

There are also great campaigns and competitions you can use to promote your gift cards on social media too. This helps spread awareness and boost gift card sales.

Why use a gift card platform?

Selling gift cards for your restaurant can be made simple and easy with a gift card platform.

Online store

When selling your gift cards, ideally you should look to sell them on your website.

This will broaden your customer base and be more convenient for your customers to buy!

An online gift card store will also enable you to more easily promote and sell a wider range of gift card experiences for your restaurant.

Discount and promotions

The right gift card management platform will not only enable you to sell gift cards online, but also enable you to offer promotions and discounts.

This is necessary for boosting revenue. - Especially around the holiday seasons.

Discounts and promotions will lure many shoppers to your store.

Easy tracking and redemption

When a customer comes to your restaurant, it should be easy and fast to identify and redeem their gift card.

With the traditional handwritten gift cards, many vouchers could easily be counterfeited and used again.

Electronic gift cards all have a unique identification code, which can easily be entered into the back of house gift card system and redeemed. Staff can quickly and easily check the status of the gift card to see if it’s unused or already redeemed.

We hope you found this blog post on how to sell restaurant gift cards. There are many more reasons to use a gift card platform which you can find much more about here: Make more restaurant profit with vouchers.

Gift card revenue recognition

Gift card revenue recognition case study: Starbucks

Gift card revenue needs to get the recognition it deserves.

The gift card industry continues to grow around the world, businesses are enjoying soaring success with their gift card sales. Today we’re going to take a quick look at just one example that perfectly illustrates the level of success that can be achieved. Let’s dive into some detail about Starbucks Gift Card Program…

Starbucks, one of the world's coffee shop giants, makes billions each year- and it isn’t on coffee…

In this blog post, we look at why Starbucks wouldn't be the global coffee house they are today without their impressive gift card business. We also look at why selling gift cards is so successful for them. While considering what you can do to improve your gift card sales.

Starbucks Gift Cards

The gift card business for Starbucks is worth an incredible $12 Billion USD. For context, that makes it bigger than the combined revenue of Chipotle, Dunkin Donuts and Keurig! So why has the success of Starbucks gift cards grown so rapidly?

The start of Starbucks gift card journey

From way back at the beginning, Starbucks discovered early on that their gift card business was the start of something HUGE.

Starbucks introduced their gift cards in 2001. Impressively, in just 8 months they had reached 4 million gift card sales.

Starbucks gift cards today

Today, the company's gift card business accounts for a huge 41% of all company sales. - Almost half of the sales from a coffee shop is dedicated to its gift cards. Wrap your head around that!

The gift card flywheel

In business terms, a flywheel is a series of small actions that increase the momentum of a service or product exponentially.

Starbucks has created a successful flywheel with their gift cards.

The flywheel works like this….

1. The first purchase

You purchase a gift card for a colleague for their birthday. Spending £20 on a gift card. While you’re there you get something for yourself. Spending more than the £20 gift card- let’s say you spend £30.

2. The gift card spend

Your colleague spends their gift card over a few visits. As the exact amount is hard to master, they’re likely to spend more than the value of the gift card again. For this example, let’s call this an additional £10.

3. The gift card breakage

In the gift card industry, the term we use for unused gift cards is ‘breakage’. With all gift card sales and gifts, there is a certain percentage that will never get spent. This means Starbucks keeps the entire revenue from the sale of the gift card without ever giving out the cost of the products and service.

Starbucks understands this and plans for it. They make a huge $155M in pure profit off of unused gift cards. By the end of 2021, Starbucks reported a huge $1.6 billion in gift card sales that are yet to be redeemed.

4. The float of money

When you buy a gift card, initially you purchase without getting anything in return.

This is the genius of selling gift cards.

In this flywheel lifecycle example, a £20 Starbucks gift card can bring in as much as £40.

Why have Starbucks gift cards been so successful?

1. The default gift giving option

When it comes to the holidays, gift cards are one of the major gifts to be bought.

This can mostly be because shoppers may not know what to buy, so a gift card is a safe option.

73% of adults surveyed by the National Retail Federation’s Gift Card Spending reported that they would buy at least one gift card. With more than 15% of these adults purchasing 6 or more of the gift cards.

2. Spending more than the value of the card

According to the same survey, shoppers spend an average of $44.83 per gift card.

Another study from First Data 2015 Consumer Insights also found that due to a gift card, shoppers were more likely to visit a store more often. With 69% of the respondents spending more than the value of the card.

3. Keep repeating card use

More than one-third of the Starbucks transactions in North America are paid using a Starbucks card.

Starbucks gift cards encourage repeat use. When downloading the ‘My Starbucks Reward Programme’ app, users can receive many loyalty features, including points, customised offers, birthday rewards and so on.

But most importantly, loyal customers can purchase and send gift cards through the digital app to their friends. This increases gift card spending dramatically.

What can we learn from Starbucks gift cards?

One of the best decisions you can make for your business is to consider new revenue streams that coincide perfectly with your product and services.

Using gift cards is the perfect way to boost your revenue without much additional effort. You work the gift cards around your business.

Starbucks and many more businesses like it are showcasing the way for the prosperity of gift cards.

To get started on your gift card journey, take a look at what we do!

Hair salon advertising examples

Bounce back from lockdown with successful hair salon advertising examples to engage with your customers.

The hair salon industry is a very competitive one. It's hard to get new people in the door, which is why it’s important that salons do what they can to advertise to potential customers.

Utilise social media

A business would be foolish to not have a social media presence these days. With that being said, we’re sure you already have at least one social media account.

But how should you be using social media to advertise your salon?

Which social media platforms should I use?

Of all of the social media marketing tools out there, Facebook and Instagram are two of the most powerful. Approximately 67% of marketeers say Facebook is their top social media channel and many hair focused brands use this platform to get their message across

An important part of any social media strategy is being consistent. So being able to use all three platforms (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) can be a great way to reach more people without getting too repetitive.

Advertising on one platform also makes it easier for users to find you when they're looking for something specific.

Implement Facebook Ads for your local customers

Facebook ads are different from PPC ads because it works more passively, while PPC is more of an active form of promotion. – specifically, Facebook ads appear as a result of non-specific searching habits. In that case, your objective as a business owner is to catch their attention, get them to interact with you and hopefully convert them into a customer.

It's important to provide discounts on Facebook bookings when potential customers are browsing social media. And providing a compelling CTA when they have a limited time offer can help encourage them to make a booking.

Give your social media presence a personality!

The beauty industry is an inherently people-centric business. To have repeat customers, you need to retain relationships with them so they trust your brand.

Social media is a great way to showcase your business to the world. It can be a fun and interactive way for potential customers to get a feel for the company and its personality.

Injecting your personality into your social media presence will help you connect with potential customers. Just make sure to think about the types of things you post and how it could impact your brand.

Marketing through social media can be done in many different ways that range from posting pictures of promotions, making videos, or even creating humorous memes that will have people scrolling through your content.

Run a social media contest

Establishing a social media contest is a great way to engage followers and potential customers.

The first step is to create an original, interesting prize that people will be interested in. The prize doesn't have to be expensive or elaborate, but it should have some value. You can choose from anything from a free haircare treatment at the salon to a gift card for a restaurant.

Next, publicize the contest by posting an image of your prize to your social media channels and tagging your followers in the post. If you don't have enough followers on social media, try reaching out to friends and family for help or boosting your posts with paid ads on other social media platforms like Instagram or Facebook.

Create video content

One of the best ways to market service is through a video series. It might sound like a daunting task, but it's actually really simple if you have the right tools.

With a video series, you can provide information on your services and let potential customers see what they have to look forward to when they come in for their first appointment!

A study from Smart Insight found that 53% of customers who engage with a brand after watching a video on social media maintain that video can be an effective form of marketing.

A video of a stylist giving a haircut to a customer might be viewed for 20 seconds or more, while an ad banner or image post may only be glanced at for 10-20 seconds before being dismissed.

In addition to this, when someone is scrolling through their feed on social media, they are able to skim through videos and ads much faster than they can with text or images that must be actively read. This means that these hair salon videos are more likely to grab customers' attention and keep it longer than other types of content.

Compilation videos of inspiring hairstyles and before and after hair treatments are popular.

Create a selfie station in your waiting area

In order to offer a more personalized experience to customers, many hair salons have installed selfie stations inside their establishments.
People are always looking for ways to express their individuality, and this is one way that salons have been able to meet the needs of customers.

By your customers uploading these images and tagging to your social media account, you can get free marketing. Reaching audiences on platforms outside of your company, which means you get to sell to more people.

Work with local influencers

By spending more time on social media, hair salons can create an alternative publicity channel that enables them to reach potential customers by strategically partnering with influencers.

Influencers can draw in potential customers and increase awareness of the business. This is because people tend to trust what they read on social media and influencers can help spread information about the salon that may not be seen otherwise.

The rise of influencer advertising is due to the fact that they are able to reach a larger audience. They are popular because they are able to provide information about the product or service that is not available through traditional advertising methods. They can also show specific details about how people might use their products.

Advertise out of normal working hours

One of the most effective ways of hair salon advertising is to advertise out of normal working hours. Hair salons are often competing with other similar establishments, so it is important to use every possible method to advertise effectively.
You can have a simple yet effective advert in your window, which will show customers that your business is open even when it might not be obvious. You can also have a window banner or even a large sign outside the building that advertises the opening hours.

Online, you should include your opening times on a homepage banner, and even showcase on your social media. Either through posts or by adding to your daily stories.

Some people might feel that advertising outside of normal working hours is too expensive to do, but if you consider how many customers you are potentially missing by not being open during these times, it may be worth investing in.

In general, most hair salons open from 9 am to 8 pm. However, they should consider advertising out of these hours as well.

Simplify your booking service

There are many ways to make your service booking process easier for customers, but what do you do if you don’t have enough staff to answer the phone?

By setting up a telephone line specifically for booking appointments, you can harness technology to allow your staff to focus on more important tasks.

You must also consider that some people are simply too busy or just don’t want to call. For these individuals, online booking is the way forward. By having an easy-to-navigate website with an intuitive booking system, you won’t have any problems getting new clients through the door again.

Reward Referrals

The objective of hair salon advertising is to bring in new customers. One way to do so is by rewarding customers who refer new clients.

Reward customers who give referrals with a discount on their next haircut or styling service or a free haircut card for their friends!

Referral advertising is highly trusted by all groups. Whether Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X or Boomers, they all favour and trust referrals by above 80%.

Get listed on Google My Business

In the past couple of years, salon owners and marketing teams have been using digital marketing channels like Google My Business to target their audiences and get more customers.

If you want to make your salon visible to potential clients, we recommend you to register your salon on Google My Business.

Anyone searching online for hair treatments in your local area will be automatically shown your salon. When they otherwise may not even know of your existence.

Sell gift cards

A great way to entice new customers is to use gift cards with a hair salon.

Gift cards are a great way to provide your customers with an experience they will remember.

Imagine the satisfaction of being pampered in a hair salon after spending hours cutting, colouring or styling your hair- all for free. That’s why gift cards for hair salons are a wonderful idea.

Many customers go to salons to have their hair styled and cut anyway. Gift cards enable shoppers to give loved ones gifts that they know will be appreciated and used.

It's also a good idea to have gift card deals. A little bit of extra savings can go a long way when it comes time for the customer to make the decision of whether they want to buy your product or not.

Create a salon gift package

This ties in perfectly with setting up a gift card store for your salon.

You can never go wrong with a gift card. It's a great way to show someone how much you care and it's also perfect for people who enjoy getting creative with how they spend their money.

Gift cards for hair salons are pretty popular and they're a great way to pamper someone without them even realizing it. But if you want to really make your loved one feel like royalty, getting them the ultimate salon gift package is the best option.

By creating and selling a combination of treatments, some lucky customers can have the ultimate all-day treat and get them wanting to come back for more.

Getting started with your hair salon advertising examples

We hope you feel inspired by our list of hair salon advertising examples. For more information on setting up a quick and simple gift card store for your salon, contact us here.

What is a digital voucher?

A digital gift voucher is a type of voucher that is purchased online and can be redeemed at a later date. It can be purchased as a gift for someone else or as a personal purchase.

In this blog post, we will go over the benefits of digital gift vouchers, and why you should consider using a digital voucher system for your goods and services.

The digital voucher system is becoming more popular in the retail and service industry. This is because it makes it easier for businesses to sell vouchers and easy for customers to purchase from. There are no restrictions on time or place!

What is a digital voucher system?

Digital voucher systems are used by many companies to sell their products and services in the form of vouchers online.

Importance of a digital voucher system

With ecommerce becoming more popular and convenient for shoppers, it makes sense for companies to open up digital access to their gift vouchers.

1.Attract new customers

Digital voucher systems are important because they allow companies to make their product easily available online. This gives customers the freedom to search for the perfect offer at their own pace. A luxury not often afforded at a physical retail location.

2. Increase range of gift vouchers sold

Selling online enables companies to offer a much wider range of gift vouchers. Therefore maximising the revenue-generating potential.

3. Instant delivery to recipient

Digital gift vouchers make it easier for customers to buy and send gifts to loved ones. One perk is having the option of sending their digital voucher via email for immediate delivery to the recipient.

This makes for easy last-minute or long-distance gifting. It has become an especially important shopping tool since social distancing over the last year too!

4. Advertise sales and discounts to a wider audience

A digital voucher system is a good way to market your services to your customer. You can provide them with an offer that they can't refuse. This is especially important around major holiday events, such as Black Friday, Christmas, Mother’s Day and Valentine's Day.

Linking your social media or email campaigns to your gift voucher homepage is a great way of driving sales around these occasions.

5. Redeem and track gift vouchers more effectively

With each gift voucher generated on a digital store, a unique identification code is generated. This means that no vouchers can be replicated, duplicated or re-used as they can all be tracked and redeemed through the digital store.

6. Builds customer loyalty

Digital voucher systems are a great way for companies to build customer loyalty. They can also help with customer retention by providing discounts and promotions to customers who have been loyal to their brand.

A digital voucher system is even a good idea for a company on a budget. It's cheaper than any other loyalty program and it still provides the same benefits.

7. Improve customer retention

A digital voucher system can be an effective way to improve customer retention. It is an easy way to get customers to come back and try out a company's services.

Conclusion: What is a digital voucher?

A digital voucher system is a digital marketing channel that is used by businesses to promote their products and services. It offers new customers the opportunity to get discounts on particular products or services that they are interested in.

Digital voucher systems are cost-effective and time-saving too. They can be integrated into any business website, which makes it easier for the company to distribute vouchers among potential customers.

We hope you enjoyed this post on what is a digital voucher? If you would like more information on how digital voucher systems work, contact us here.

Community outreach ideas for restaurants

Throughout this blog post we discuss community outreach ideas for restaurants attracting local customers.

Are you looking to improve your community relationships? Restaurants who improve their local relationships may trade some short-term profits, but they will gain far more long term.

Benefits of connecting to the community for restaurants

1. Attract customers to your restaurant

The importance of connecting to the community for restaurants is that you can connect with customers and build relationships. This will help increase sales and revenue as well as allow you to compete with other restaurants in your area.

2. Keep your restaurant in the forefront of people’s minds

If the locals are seeing your restaurant attached to many other attractions they will become more interested and intrigued in your restaurant.

3. Establish yourself as a community brand

When you work with the local area, your restaurant develops a wholesome brand image that shows you’re part of the community.

4. Creates an emotional connection with your customers - deepening loyalty

Showing a more wholesome and caring attitude towards your community and local area allows customers to feel an attachment to your restaurant.

5. A great promotional tactic

With so much negativity in the world, truly great stories and endeavours stand out. When you contribute to your community through your restaurant, you not only improve the area but people take notice.

What ways can restaurants connect to the community?

Source ingredients locally

One of the best ways to support the local area for a restaurant is to source all produce locally. Support the neighbouring butchers, farmers, bakers and vineyards.

With organic eating being a more important factor in people's eating habits, eating fresh, home-grown produce is an appealing choice.

Likewise, people like to make consumer decisions that support their local community too. By showing which companies you work with locally, you’re also advertising their business too.

Food truck or delivery service

With the recent lockdowns and social distancing over the past two years, the take away eating industry soared in popularity by a huge 76% in just a few short months.

Many innovative restaurants recognised this and used the lockdown as an opportunity to deliver restaurant-quality food to their customers. Instead of waiting for the lockdown to end.

Lead a community fundraiser

Hosting a charity event for a local charity is an amazing way to raise money for the local cause. In addition to this, it allows customers to get a glimpse of your company brand and try your products.

If they like what they see, they’ll come back again.

Host a themed event

Experiences are soaring in popularity. People are looking to create memories and experience new events. As a restaurant, you can create these experiences for them.

Cocktail making, coffee tasting, chef demonstrations, cooking classes and so much more. These types of experiences give your community something of value to experience while buying your services. It’s a win-win model.

There are also many different groups you can market towards who are searching for experiences. Think of stag do’s and hen do’s as one example. These are large groups of people, looking to experience something different, fun and exciting.

You can monetize these events by selling the events in the form of gift experiences.

Gift experience vouchers are a fantastic way for people to buy into your brand while gifting fun and memorable event for their loved ones.

You can read more about experience gift vouchers here: What is the experience economy?

Offer space to local community groups

If you have a great space and some time to give, allowing your locals to use your space is a fantastic service to them.

Ensure you work with people you trust and set clear boundaries of what's acceptable and what isn’t when they’re using your space. You still have your business to look after!

But with mutual trust and care for your local community, your relationship with them will flourish and thrive.

Stay in touch with local events

If there are local events in the community, sign up and get involved. Whether this is sponsoring local teams or partaking in community activities.

You’ll get your name out there, make great friends and strengthen local relationships.

Getting started with your community outreach ideas for restaurants

In this post, we’ve outlined a list of practical community outreach ideas for restaurants. We hope these ideas inspire you to create community projects that benefit both your restaurant and your local community.

For more information on making your restaurant profitable see a past post of ours here: Make more restaurant profit with vouchers.

Black Friday Marketing Strategy

It’s now time to start thinking about your Black Friday marketing strategy.

On Friday the 26th November 2021, we will see the return on Black Friday. While Black Friday has always been known as the biggest sales event day of the year, it has now turned into a whole sales weekend, with Cyber Monday following on the 29thDecember 2021. For the US with Thanksgiving just a few days before, it’s a whole sales week!

Cyber Monday took the lead in online sales last year with a total of $10.8 billion. This is a huge jump from 2 years ago when sales reached $7.9 billion in the US.

For the UK the total sales throughout Black Friday to Cyber Monday reached 7.5 billion British pounds in 2020. Cyber Monday has become one of the biggest shopping days of the year. Whether this is down to it being the last major shopping day of the year, the wealth of online deals, or the fact that it’s online- we are yet to figure out. But one thing is for sure, it is obvious from looking at growing trends that Cyber Monday is a growing popular retail day and one that you do not want to miss out on!

For many, this weekend is where the majority of their Christmas shopping will take place. Consumers purposely wait for this very moment to catch the best deals and shop to their heart's content with that one thing on their mind. – Deals, Deals, Deals!

That’s why it is so important for you to consider and carefully plan a whole marketing strategy around Black Friday weekend to make the most revenue you can.

Coming up in this post:

Stats for Black Friday 2020
Stats for Cyber Monday 2020
Black Friday Marketing Strategy
Mobile Optimisation
Plan Your Promotions
Use Flash Sales!
Start Marketing Early
Increase Average Order Value
Promoting your deals
Social Media Black Friday, Cyber Monday
Black Friday & Cyber Monday Email Campaign
Website Optimisation
Black Friday & Cyber Monday Landing Page
Add a countdown timer to require swift action FOMO!
Retarget
Follow up abandoned carts
Create Funnels

Lessons learnt from last year!

Stats for Black Friday 2020

Black Friday generated $9 billion in revenue last year in the US. That’s a 21.6% year on year growth!
For some perspective in 2018, Black Friday processed 8 million online transactions.

Stats for Cyber Monday 2020

Cyber Monday generated $10.8 billion in sales in the US in 2020.

Online vs in-store

As you will probably guess from the fast-rising Cyber Monday stats, online shopping is now doing much better than in-store purchasing. This is even true for Black Friday, with 68% of Black Friday shoppers participating online rather than in-store.

The results speak for themselves. Over the last year, the offline footfall for Black Friday weekend was lower than the previous year. A survey taken by Salecycle.com found that 0% of Black Friday shoppers would ONLY complete their shopping in-store. Yes, we said that right, 0%!

Where most people from the survey said they would shop from desktop only. With desktop and mobile-only coming in at a close second.

Black Friday Marketing Strategy

So with these statistics in mind, let's sink our teeth into a revenue soaring Black Friday Marketing Strategy for 2021!

Gift cards and gift vouchers are on the rise

If you sell products or services, then gift cards and gift vouchers are your tickets to skyrocketing your revenue over Black Friday weekend.

A good experience is more important to consumers than price.
Gift cards are one of the top items that consumers purchase on Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

A good experience:

Customers are searching more and more for a good experience over the cheapest price. This not only translates to the types of goods and services people are buying but also to the shopping experience. Having a seamless, trustable website to purchase from is a top priority to shoppers.

People are also preferring to spend their hard-earned money on experiences that create memories, rather than on goods and products. This is another reason why gift vouchers and gift cards are becoming more and more popular.

Gift Cards at Black Friday

When it comes to Black Friday the results are in and it looks like it’s men who purchase the big-ticket items! Men are 10% more likely to spend over $1,200 on Black Friday than women and 6% more likely than women to spend over £1,200 on Cyber Monday.

What does this tell you when it comes to looking at gift vouchers?

Cater your Black Friday gift voucher experiences to men!

How can I set up gift vouchers before Black Friday?

It’s not too late, if you act fast you can set up an online gift voucher store in minutes with Enjovia.com, see here for our system features.

Mobile is a new frontrunner for online shopping!

Mobile Optimisation

It’s now more important than ever to be optimised for mobile.

A huge 57% of users say they wouldn’t recommend a business with a poorly designed mobile website.
With over 61% of users turning away from website they had trouble accessing through mobile.
More than half of all cyber visits last year came from mobile representing 4 per cent of site visits (43.6 per cent smartphones, 7.8 per cent tablets).
Tablet users spent more last year on Cyber Monday, with an average of $131 per order.
Smartphone users spent an average of $114 per order last year on Cyber Monday.

To be mobile-ready not only do you need to have your website design configured and optimised for mobile and tablet screen sizes, but your load times need to be quick too!

To make the most of your Black Friday and Cyber Monday online mobile sales, you should send your customers BFCM (Black Friday Cyber Monday) promotions with clear Call-to-actions directly to their smartphones. For more information on how you can be mobile-ready, check out our past post: 5 Reasons Why Mobile Optimisation Is The Key To Successful Ecommerce.

Plan Your Promotions

Now it is time to start deciding on what promotions you will run for Black Friday weekend.

You don’t need to offer crazy discounts that you can't afford. But do show that your buyers are getting a deal or discount if they buy during this period. Even 10-20% off can be enough to encourage people to buy.

Types of discounts you can include:

Buy one get one free
Spend over £200 get a free “something you can easily offer” (This can be an upgrade to a package if you offer services or an additional product).
Everything 20% off this weekend only
Spend £150 get a free £50 monetary gift voucher

Things to make sure your promotions go smoothly:

Set up your discounts directly at the checkout, so customers don’t need to type in codes and potentially mess up their orders. – causing distress!
Show the full price amount with the discounted amount, so people can see how much they are saving.
Use the monetary value that people save on discounts, instead of using percentages. People are more attracted to seeing deals with the amount already worked out for them. They don’t need to do the math to see how much they save this way.
Keep your deals simple, and don’t offer too many. Too many deals can leave buyers feeling confused and undecided.

Use Flash Sales!

People get very excited at the prospect of a flash sale. It also helps them make a decision faster than it would normally take them, as the prospect of saving extra money or getting an exclusive offer is too good to miss.

Running a flash sale the day before Black Friday saw a 51% growth in traffic, 50% rise in conversion rate and a whopping 236% increase in revenue.

What to consider with flash sales?

Don’t run them for long! – They need to appear exclusive and need to encourage people to buy fast.
Place flash sale promotions on a sticky header at the top of your homepage.
Limit your product offerings on a flash sale.

Maximize FOMO (Fear of Missing Out)

This legitimate fear mainly among millennials is so prominent that FOMO was added to the Oxford English Dictionary in 2013.

That’s why maximising people’s FOMO is so successful for Black Friday year on year. Often logic is replaced with an emotional drive to make sure they are getting great deals that they wouldn’t otherwise have a chance to get.

So to maximise FOMO you can do the following:

Set limitations on discounted products.
Use countdowns, timers and remaining stock counters to hasten purchases.
Have pre-flash sales exclusive to your most valued existing customers.

Start Marketing Early

Plant the seeds into your potential buyer’s heads early, and give them time to sow.

You do this by showing gentle reminders of the up and coming sales that are soon to arrive from Black Friday weekend. You can do this on social media, physical marketing in-house and email marketing.

Set up a sign-up to get deals and promotions for Black Friday early list. This way your shoppers who are interested in receiving notice of your deals first will get exclusive emails with direct links to products when Black Friday arrives.

They will appreciate the reminder, and it is great for business too, as these people are more likely to purchase f they’ve had it in their mind for a while. You can then use this list for future deals and promotional email campaigns.

Increase Average Order Value

As part of planning your promotions, it’s a great idea to create exclusive deals and packages that are only available this Black Friday weekend. These can include:

Bundles:

Create bundle offerings that are exclusive to BFCM only. For example, if you are selling gift voucher experiences, you could offer an overnight stay with 3-course dinner, with a full spa day for £300 when usually these two items would cost £450. This incentivises people to spend more, as they feel they are getting a fantastic deal that would be just too great to miss out on. For the extra £100 they spend they get a £150 discount on an overnight stay package.

Add-ons:

For gift voucher experiences especially add-ons are the way to boost revenue instantly. People love to have personalised and unique experiences, so having the option to add-on an item to your experience gives it that personal touch just for you (or more likely your loved one).

Through our gift voucher sales, add-ons create 5% more revenue- and that's throughout the year-imagine how this figure skyrockets for Black Friday.

Up-sell:

Up-sell your items by creating a suggestion on cheaper products to upgrade for only “a discounted amount” or however you want to present your more expensive items. Put larger discounts on the more expensive items to encourage people to spend more. They will feel like they are getting a better deal, and you make more money. Win=win!

Cross-sell:

Show customers before the checkout stage of complementary items that go well with what they are purchasing. You can encourage sales with this by saying, “buy 3 or more items to receive 20%”.

Promoting your deals

Shouting loud and proud about your offerings is what you need to do to attract people to your website. If they don’t know what you’re offering, they won’t know to buy from you.

Social Media Black Friday, Cyber Monday

#BlackFriday, #CyberMonday, #BlackFriday2019, #BFCM, love it or hate it, Black Friday trends on social media every year. So why not jump into the hype and produce content that can be shared and talked about.

Get social and current with Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Use the relevant hashtags in all your posts to increase awareness and engagement. Now let’s look at some of the ways you can use social media to get trending this Black Friday weekend.

Type of content

Pictures

People love to see pictures, so when advertising your Black Friday sales on social media, use high-quality images. Be sure to include a link to your Black Friday sales with every social post.

Create posts up until the weekend and over the course of the weekend.

You can use great scheduling websites such as Buffer and Hootsuite to plan and schedule your social media content ahead of time. The best part? Both these sites are free! The best thing about these scheduling platforms is that you can use different social media platforms. Plus, they have a catalogue of images that you can use for free if you want to add some variety to your posts in between your own images.

Be interactive

With new features on many platforms such as the opinion polls, or Q&A with Instagram stories, businesses have so many opportunities to reach out and engage with their audience. Black Friday weekend is a perfect time to do just that.

Use Questions and Answers or polls option to find out what people are buying. People love to share their great deals, so you could give them an opportunity to brag about their best buys. In between engagement, use this as an opportunity to plug sales from your website for Black Friday.

Keep content relevant, consistent and fun! Black Friday is a great time to show a humorous side of your brand if it’s applicable.

And don’t forget to use those hashtags!

You may even get questions, complaints and compliments from people on social media. If this occurs, reply to them in a swift and timely manner, while being polite and professional. It’s amazing how responding to negative reviews online can drastically change someone’s bad perception of your brand into a positive one. We talk about this in our post on Marketing strategies and promotions.

Social referrals

On Cyber Monday alone referral traffic from social media goes up 240%!

There’s nothing that holds more value than a trusted friends option. That’s why recommendations through friends and family are the most trusted form of advertising.

For example, when it comes to gift vouchers, 60% of consumers have been introduced to a new brand by receiving a gift voucher, and 17.7% have become a loyal customer as a result.

Social referrals for Black Friday?

Create hype and a sense of urgency for people to share loud and proud about your Black Friday sales.

With every Black Friday sale, you can enter buyers into your free social media giveaway prize draw and send them a link to enter. Make the requirements of the competition entry to tag 2 or more friends into the post. This way word will spread exponentially of your Black Friday competition and of course your official Black Friday Sale on your website. Make sure to announce the winner before the end of the Black Friday weekend sale. You could even host a separate competition for Cyber Monday too.

Also be sure to send the winners of the prize your free item, with the request that they share their win on social media.

This type of promotional strategy gets people on social media sharing and recognising your brand immediately. You’ll gain a truckload of new followers quickly and instant brand recognition.

Black Friday & Cyber Monday Email Campaign

“A huge 60% of customers actually want to receive promo emails from companies they love.”

That’s why it’s important to make sure you send a Black Friday weekend email campaign to your customers, it can increase revenue by a huge 330%!

Things to consider in your email campaigns:

Send the email blast far ahead of time as we mentioned earlier, to get ahead of the competition.
Use a catchy subject line to get buyers attention and interest. Use the biggest percentage of discount applicable by saying “up to 50% off….”
Include save-the-dates so they can easily add your Black Friday events to their calendars with a link to your website.
Send emails on the Monday and Tuesday preceding Black Friday, open rates for Black Friday was highest on these days.

Gift Guides

Creating a bespoke Black Friday gift guide is a great way to help indecisive shoppers make a decision on what gifts to buy people for Christmas.

You can create your gift guides on specific landing pages, through email campaigns, on social media and through a blog post if you have a blog.

Here are some gift ideas you can write about:

Get the best Secret Santa gift for under £20!
Gifts for men who have everything
Gifts for her who wants everything!
Best educational toys for babies/ children/
Tech gifts under £50

Website Optimisation

Black Friday & Cyber Monday Landing Page

Create a specific landing page for your BFCM that lasts all year long. Long-standing landing pages of a year or more have a backlog of previous search positions which Google will recognise and prioritise over a fresh Black Friday page with a new and clean SEO.

So re-use your Black Friday landing page year after year to be more likely listed top of the search engine results. Just be sure to optimise it for all devices.

Create a new homepage header image

You need to communicate to website visitors that you’re participating in Black Friday. And where could be more important than on your website homepage? Create a link within this header image that takes shoppers straight to your Black Friday Sales page.

Add a countdown timer to require swift action FOMO!

Remember we spoke about FOMO and flash sales earlier? Well, this is another tactic that gets decisions made and persuaded fast.

Adding a countdown timer to your website for certain products makes it less likely that consumers will ‘shop around’ competitors websites and decide to buy there and then with you on the spot.

Retarget

Follow up abandoned carts!

It’s so important to follow up with abandoned carts. So many times I’ve put items into a basket only to decide whether or not to buy later when I’ve received a reminder email that has convinced me to go and check out the order right away. (Usually, this is when companies have sent me a 10% off code to persuade me). And it works!

Sending an email to customers who abandoned their carts with a reminder, or discount will convert at least some of them back to your store and make that final checkout. It worth doing. It costs you nothing, in return for recaptured lost sales!

Create Funnels

You want to be persuading your previous customers to come back to your website. This is easier than chasing new visitors. Creating funnels are an easy way to do just that. It’s even more important on Black Friday weekend!

Convince new customers to sign up to your mailing list or social media so you have a way for them to come back to your store.
Use your email marketing sales funnel to drive previous customers back to your store through the Black Friday email campaigns mentioned above.
No purchases on Black Friday? That’s ok you still have Cyber Monday to go. Make sure you retarget past customers with ‘last chance’ offers.
Get in touch when carts have been abandoned- especially over Black Friday weekend.

Conclude:

With just around a month until the big day, it’s time to get prepared and make the most revenue you can this year. Good luck with your Black Friday marketing strategy!

For more information on how you increase revenue with experiences check out our post on how experiences are changing the buying economy.

What to write on a restaurant gift card?

Are you a restaurateur considering what to write on a restaurant gift card?

As a restaurateur looking at alternative ways to generate revenue, turning to gift cards is a lucrative option. In this blog post, we aim to guide restaurateurs into utilising an efficient gift card system. While helping to inspire what to write on a restaurant gift card.

The gift card basics

When gifting a gift card it’s important to remember that the person receiving the gift has a blank slate to go from. This makes it incredibly important to have provided all the necessary information that the receiver will need to know.

Things that are important to include on your restaurant gift card:

What the gift card entities the receiver for and where (The name of the restaurant and what you can get from the restaurant)
How many people the gift card is for
The validity period (when the gift card has to be used by)
How to redeem the voucher
Where to book and get more informaiton

Gift Card Title and description

The gift card should state clearly what it is so the receiver has no confusion over what the gift card is about.

The description of the gift card should not only match the restaurant branding but should also be clear and understandable about what exactly the receiver will be entitled to.

E.g. A restaurant may have a gift card such as:

“3 Course Dinner for Two with chef demonstration at the *Name of Restaurant*”

“This voucher entitles two people to enjoy an evening dinner demonstration with a three-course meal including a complimentary bottle of Champagne.”

The description should be concise but give all the relevant details a restaurant guest would need to know. There should be more details in the terms and conditions labelled somewhere clearly on the gift card itself.

Language and branding

The style of writing and wording must also match the branding of the restaurant.

For example, if the restaurant is a high-end, luxurious dining experience, then you should avoid using language such as “BOGOF” or “Big Savings!”. Think about the impact this would have on the receiver of the gift. The gift would not appear as luxurious or special if they were exposed to “sell-fast” language.

Instead, the language could be more descriptive and inviting such as:

“Exclusive Celebrity Chef Demonstration with a Private 3 course A La Carte Dinner for Two.”

Gift Card Validity

It's so important to include the gift card validity period on the gift card itself. This way, if a guest tried to use the gift card well past the expiry date, they can’t claim ignorance to the expired date.

This works in your favour as the restaurateur as you’ll have still received the payment for the gift card but won’t need to pay out on the service costs of the gift card.

Leave Room for a Personal Message: What to write on a restaurant gift card

Studies have shown most people prefer to give and receive gifts with a personal touch, rather than generic items or large brands. Creating a space for your customers to write a personal message on their gift cards is a very important feature. It makes the experience of gift-giving feel more personalised and special.

So what to write on a restaurant gift card?

Our experience has shown that having a space that allows for up to 400 characters is ideal and covers the basis for most customers buying gift cards.

You want to leave room for the customer to address the person they are buying the gift for.

Give them a small personalised message (such as thank you, happy birthday or even Merry Christmas.

Then to finish with a ‘Love from’ and their name.

Gift Card Unique Code

Each restaurant gift card should come with its own unique identifier code. This is so that there are no duplicates of each voucher, but more importantly, the gift card cannot be forged or used repeatedly for the same service.

It's a good idea to use a digital gift card system, this way a unique code can be generated for each individual gift card that can be searched for and redeemed simply and quickly.

Gift Card Terms and Conditions

The terms and conditions on a gift card should essentially be a protection for your restaurant against potential issues. The T’s& C’s should be tight with no wiggle room for customers to take advantage of.

We cover in detail what a great example of gift card terms and conditions should look like in our post: Gift Certificate wording template.

You should also include the booking process details so the guest can book the dinner reservation prior to arrival.

Final details

Of course, with every gift card, there should be a link to see the specific gift card online, with full details on what to expect, dress code, and other frequently asked questions available for the guest to find out. You could even put the restaurant contact number on the gift card for more information.

Where can I get a free digital gift card system?

For more information on implementing a free gift card system for your restaurant, you should consider using Enjovia.

Here at Enjovia, we pride ourselves on providing a simple, easy-to-use and beautiful looking gift card service.

You can create a free gift card store with us in just a few minutes where you can create tailor-made gift cards for your restaurant.

Each gift card is generated with a unique code for easy tracking and redemption. Our gift card set-up is very simple, all you need to do is fill out the different sections of your gift card creation for a full and finished product. You can even upload your own images for the voucher design and choose your own font to match your branding.

Our gift card system makes the whole journey of creating, selling and redeeming gift cards seamless and simple.

We hope you found our post on what to write on a restaurant gift card useful. For more information on setting up a gift card store for your restaurant contact us here.

Customer needs and wants in hotel?

What are the customer needs and wants in hotel?

Guests are the lifeblood of any luxury hotel. Understanding their needs and wants is key to providing an exemplary experience. Especially when encouraging them to return time and time again.

Since the pandemic began in 2019, consumer spending in the hospitality industry decreased by a devastating 70%. While it is slowly and steadily growing again, the negative effects of the pandemic are still painfully obvious to those within the hospitality world.

Throughout this post, we will look at the different customer needs and wants in a hotel. By understanding your target customers' desires you can create a hotel experience that they won't forget.

Analyzing customer needs and wants in hotel

Different customer groups have different expectations.

The first step to meeting your customer's needs is to identify your buyer persona.

Whether it's fitness and well-being, memorable guest experiences or even a good value family break, deciding on your target audience is key to choosing which needs and wants you should cater to.

Throughout this post, we will talk about the generic needs and wants of hotel guests for a luxury hotel. There will obviously be more specific needs and wants for your particular target audience. But you should be able to use this post as a skeleton to build on.

So what are the customer needs and wants in a hotel for 2021 going into 2022? Let's take a look.

The customer needs to be well-informed

Communicate and set expectations

The guest experience starts even before guests walk through the door. The hotel must create a great first impression before providing an experience that exceeds expectations.

By utilising an online presence to build a hotel brand, hotels can directly communicate to their customer base. Not only does this effectively entice customers to the hotel, but it also helps set guest expectations.

By using social media, their website, email and even text, hotels can communicate to the guests at each step of their guest journey.- Prior to arrival, during their stay and after their stay.

By keeping in touch with the guest, hotels can improve communication, guest loyalty and guest personalisation. -All key factors in setting and meeting their hotel needs.

Some information to share should include:

Unique hotel services (spa treatments, dining experiences or resort activities to lure guests to the hotel).
Local area information on things to do (to provide support and a fuller service to the guest during their stay).
COVID regulations and what to expect throughout the stay.
Parking, arrival and departure information.
Dress codes and hotel etiquette (if there are any).
Cancellation and refund policy.

Speak the customers language

Understanding your target audience is key to getting noticed and enticing customers to your hotel.

Find out which social media platforms your target audience are mostly at.

For business/ professional clientele use Linkedin. For Boomers, use Facebook. For Millennials, jump onto Instagram.

Your marketing, language, brand design and content should all reflect and speak out to your target audience's needs and meet them on their level.

For example, a high-end hotel shouldn’t use language with “BOGOF”, “Big Savings” or “Cheap deals” as their target audience has the financial capacity to avoid the ‘value travel stays’. They're looking for hotels that offer exclusivity and luxury.

Perhaps you could argue that free Wi-Fi connectivity is now an essential need for hotel guests. - especially if travelling.

The customer needs to have a decent connectivity

Everyone uses their internet for different needs. No matter how necessary their reasoning, guests have come to expect and need a hotel with a good internet connection. To not supply a free connection, you may as well wave bye-bye to almost all of your hotel guests.

The customer needs a high-quality customer service

Once guests have checked in, the hotel must deliver on what was promised to them during their stay.

This includes personalizing services, delivering on time, and offering attentive service at all times.

While we are moving fast into a technological world, the basics of hospitality are still fundamental to the guest experience. Hotels that can be attentive while using innovative technology to engage with their guests will strengthen their relationship and see them returning. This is easily achieved with contactless guest communication apps such as Benbria’s Loop customer engagement app.

Hoteliers can utilise customer communication through text messaging and receive valuable feedback from guests through a customer feedback touchpoint.

The customer wants mobile check-in and check-out

Mobile check-out is becoming more popular at hotels too. Many guests prefer the convenience of being able to leave using their phone rather than being forced to wait in line for hours at checkout time.

Providing this optional service can speed up the checking in and out process- vastly improving the experience.

However, hotels should still allow an in-person checking in and out for those guests who don't want to use technology. Some guests really do prefer face-to-face service. It's important to meet these needs if required.

The customer needs a clean and tidy hotel

A clean and presentable hotel is a must- especially in hindsight of the COVID pandemic. With the virus still present, hotels need to carefully manage guests expectations around their health and safety practices. Especially to avoid the spreading of the coronavirus between hotel guests,

There are many new cleaning procedures that hotels have adopted into their daily cleaning practices that can meet guests expectations while reducing the spread of Coronavirus.

These include longer, deeper and more thorough cleaning practices after guests have checked out and prior to new guests checking in. However, hotels need to be careful not to harm guest expectations with their new COVID procedure.

Some of the COVID cleaning practices include:

Taking away non-essential room amenities

Hotels need to manage room amenities carefully. Some hotels have now removed expected amenities such as face flannels and cleansing packs (Including earbuds, cotton pads and a shower cap).

These are disposable items anyway, so it doesn’t make sense for them to be taken away from the service due to COVID (In my personal opinion anyway!)

Larger spacing in public areas

Tables and seating have been moved further apart, allowing more privacy and less crowding in public areas such as bars, lounges or restaurants.

Limiting the number of guests in certain areas

Some hotels have introduced a lower maximum number of guests on the poolside. Even ensuring pool and spa facility use is pre-booked for a certain amount of time. While this can be frustrating to guests if they can't book a slot during their stay, it can also make the experience more enjoyable for guests who can enjoy the space with less crowding.

As with any COVID restrictions, there is a delicate balance to allowing guests to feel safe while trying not to restrict them and remove their wants and needs.

The customer needs a comfortable stay

It goes without saying, but as this post is about hotel needs and wants, a comfortable stay is an absolute must!

A hotel room must meet the basic needs of comfort and total relaxation.

Beds must be comfortable, with clean and inviting bedding. The room lighting must be soft and calming. While the sounds are managed well from other rooms, corridors and external sources. - A night's stay with constant noise such as traffic or blaring nearby music can totally ruin a good night's sleep.

Hotels should aim to create the perfect sleeping environment for their guests.

Other important room comforts include a complimentary tea and coffee station, complimentary room amenities such as shampoo, conditioner and body wash. Especially plenty of clean towels!

The customer wants personalised experiences

Personalisation and unique experiences are the needs of most consumers. This is especially true of the hospitality industry.

So how can hoteliers make their guests have these personalised and unique experiences?

Create personalised services

The first way to achieve this is to make your guests feel special through personalisation.

Hoteliers who use technology can increase their levels of personalisation. By simply welcoming guests to their hotel through text, and updating them on available services throughout their stay.

Even hoteliers who aren’t adopting text messaging services can create personalised moments by placing a handwritten note in the room. Or training staff to welcome guests by name at check-in desks or restaurants.

Offer unique experiences

Hotels that think about their guest's wants and needs can deliver exceptional experiences. These can come in many forms, whether through unique dining experiences, spa treatments or even working with local businesses in combining services to make complete experience packages.

We’ve witnessed many ‘outside of the box’ ideas on providing unique experiences throughout the pandemic, which has enabled many innovative hotels to ride through the crushing wave of the lockdowns. Take a look at the Celtic Manor Resorts 'Dining at home’ experiences.

One of the most lucrative ways to introduce experiences is through selling experience vouchers and gift cards to attract guests to your hotel. Even providing customers with desirable gift options for their loved ones.

Gif vouchers allow hotels to meet the needs and wants of their customers whether they’re guests at the hotel or not. Enabling hotels to generate more streams of revenue.

What are your customer needs and wants in hotel?

Different customer groups have different expectations. Think about each of your customers and their individual needs. Are you creating a service that can meet and compliment their needs and desires?

We hope you enjoyed this blog post on the customer needs and wants in hotel. For more information on improving your hotel's services, please see our blog post, “Unique hotel service ideas”.

Virtual gifts for internet friends

What are some good virtual gifts for internet friends?

In this blog post, we’ll explore the world of virtual gifts and how they have become a significant part of human interaction online.

The internet is a place where people can connect with others without having to be physically present. People have developed a system of gifting to show appreciation for one another. This practice is often done through comments, feedback, and virtual gifts. These digital gifts are given as a gesture of goodwill and to say thank you for contributions made by friends online.

The growing popularity of virtual gifts

Virtual gifts are becoming more popular because people want the ability to thank others without having any real-world cost associated with it (such as time). They want something that is quick, easy, but thoughtful- a sentiment that every online user can relate to these days.

What is a virtual gift?

A virtual gift is an item or a service that is given to someone in an online environment. The receiver of the gift does not need to be near the sender in order to receive it. This means that a sender can choose a gift for one of their friends who lives on the other side of the world.

The person who receives it doesn't have to receive any tangible item. The gift can be sent digitally and/or electronically and may or may not be given in person.

Who can I give virtual gifts to?

You can give these types of gifts to any person who you know through online social networking sites, blogs, forums, or games. All you really need is their email address.

Virtual gifting is a cost-effective way to show your appreciation for your friends and family. It's also a great way to show someone that you care. With virtual gifting, you can even do it anonymously!

Benefits of Virtual gifts for internet friends

Online gift-giving has been on the rise in recent years, and it is a sign of the times. In a world where people are so reliant on technology, (and recent Covid lockdowns), it is not surprising that many people feel inclined to send virtual gifts to their online friends.

The popularity of virtual gifts has been boosted by the games and social media platforms that allow users to send them easily. Some users may be put off by the idea of giving a virtual gift because they want a tangible one instead.

However, this is just another way for people to share their love with each other without having to spend money on physical goods. -Which can end up being wasted or unused.

Gift experiences can be bought and given virtually, and will always be received with open arms.

According to an Eventbrite survey, over 60% of U.S. adults would prefer to receive a gift experience over a material gift.

So before you think of ordering those online chocolates and flowers to be delivered, you should turn to gift experiences.

What is a gift experience?

We don't want to take away from the joy of exchanging physical gifts with one another. However, when we're too far away from each other, it's difficult to do that. That's why gift vouchers are such a great idea. Gift vouchers let you send a virtual gift that the recipient can use near them and experience in real life!

Gift experience vouchers provide the ultimate experience in giving.

When you want to send an experience as a gift for your internet friend, there are different types of experiences you can send them. There are certain experiences that would be better than others depending on the situation and the person receiving it.

Whether from a spa, hotel, restaurant or activity centre, there are so many options of finding an experience that can be bought and sent to a virtual friend. Just remember to search for gift experiences close to the area where your virtual friend lives.

Dining gift experience

Is your virtual friend a foodie? Look for hotels and restaurants that provide memorable food experiences. From cooking classes to live cooking demonstrations, there are many amazing dining options that place the foodie experience at the core.

Drinking gift experiences

Some of the best gift experiences involve drinking! There are many drinking experiences to choose from too. From wine tasting, cocktail making, whiskey, gin and even coffee tasting- the list goes on and on to suit everyone.

Spa gift experiences

A spa day is one of the original gift experience gifts to give a loved one. From massage treatments to bathing in salts, muds and detoxing in steam. Finding a spa day gift experience for your virtual friend is easy, and even better if they love to pamper themselves.

Activity gift experiences

Rising in popularity are activity days. From tractor driving, archery, golf, axe throwing, zip lining and so much more! They are typically for people who love the outdoors and getting physical.

Hotel gift experiences

For a real treat, you could send a virtual friend an overnight stay gift experience at a luxury hotel. Typically, with overnight stay experiences, they would include a dining option, and you may even be able to choose gift options with spa treatments or activities included.

Gift the gift of an experience

Gift experiences are not just fun, but memorable too. Your friend will forever attach you to the memory of their fabulous experience- whatever it is you choose.

We hope this blog post on virtual gifts for internet friends has inspired you to find personal gifts for friends. And if we did that for you, please share this post on your social media! Follow us on Twitter @enjovia for more gift experience ideas.

Unique hotel service ideas

Are you looking to create unique hotel service ideas?

When it comes to a night stay at a hotel, a bed, TV, coffee and WiFi spring to mind. But expectations for the hotel experience have come a long way since meeting these basic room amenities.

This is where unique hotel service ideas come in. From soundproof rooms for peaceful sleep to in-room games arcades for entertainment. Creating unique and memorable hotel experiences will not only attract new customers but make your hotel stand out to unique crowds.

Unique hotel experiences are a new form of marketing

Unique hotel experiences are a new form of marketing. They generate buzz and create viral content that turns heads and piques interest.

Sensory Marketing for hotels

Sensory marketing is a way of branding that is more direct and personal than ever before. It is a way for brands to tap into the five senses, create an emotional connection with their audience, and deliver their message in an immersive environment.

Sensory marketing incorporates various techniques including sight, touch, taste, smell and sound or music to engage customers on a deeper level.

1. Scent

Customer satisfaction can increase by up to 55% by introducing sent marketing!

The scent is one of the most powerful influences on our experiences, but one so often overlooked.

Many successful Real Estate Agents who take their roles seriously will bake cookies right before a house viewing. The powerful smell of home baked goods will evoke nostalgia and enable viewers to feel right at home in an instant.

The use of scent can be used to create an emotional response in a consumer. It evokes nostalgia, makes memories more powerful and generates an emotional connection.

How to create smells through the hotel experience?

Creating a scent can be difficult and expensive, but there are plenty of ways for marketers to get creative. One way is by making essential oils and infusing them into candles. The other option is to try out diffusers where the scent will be dispersed through the air instead of burnt on a candle.

Scent marketing can be a powerful tool in the hospitality industry, with most people able to recall their emotional and physical response to a particular smell. Hoteliers should choose smells wisely. Scents like lavender and vanilla are calming while peppermint or apple pie can make people hungry.

Think carefully about what smells should be dispersed and where.

Hotels creating room experiences around invoking specific smells can attract customers looking for an immersive experience.

2. Visuals

Visual marketing is a new trend in hospitality that has been steadily rising in recent years. Hotel marketers should take advantage of this opportunity and make their campaigns more memorable and effective.

Visual marketing is a marketing strategy that uses images and videos to persuade or inform consumers. In hotels, visual marketing can draw in the guests, provide insights into what the hotel has to offer and make it easier for guests to book.

The use of visuals in hotels has been on the rise with social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook providing a platform for hotels to share their content with their followers. When these followers see images of hotels, they are more likely to want to visit them than if they just saw some words on a page about what the hotel advertised.

Instagram followers are three times more likely than Facebook followers to purchase a product from an online store.

With visual marketing, you can create a more memorable and effective hotel experience. Some hotels achieve this with luxurious designs in their rooms. Some incorporate different visual mediums such as waterfalls or indoor vertical gardens. (This is with live plants covering walls).

Hotels can use visual marketing in various ways such as:

Posting high quality, visually appealing images on social media
Putting up marketing around the hotel that capture the mood or highlight an event or offer
Selfie stands are gaining popularity with a dedicated hashtag.
Providing branded merchandise like mugs, blankets, t-shirts, etc.
Having specific and unique art designs in rooms

3. Sound

Sound design is a form of art that can be integrated into the hotel experience. One way that sound design can be used in hotels is through the use of a soundscape.

A soundscape is a record, in time, of what one hears as one walks through a particular environment. It consists of all the sounds that exist naturally: human voices, car horns, birds singing and so on. These sounds are recorded over a period of time and then played back in sequence so that it appears to be happening all at once.

The soundscape of a hotel should be carefully designed to make the guests feel welcomed. It should also be designed to change as they move through different parts of the hotel, linking them to their experiences in different rooms.

Soundscapes are intended to have an emotional effect on listeners by evoking memories or associations with the past and future. This is done by using foregrounds to create specific moods or atmospheres for different areas of the hotel: reception area, living room, bedroom.

How to incorporate soundscape throughout the hotel experience:

Soundscape installs: These are speakers installed in various spots of the hotel that play music or ambient sounds from locations around the world.
Sleep aids: These are sounds that help customers fall asleep faster and sleep better.
Soundtracks for guests’ stay: This involves playing songs from movies or other sources in order to create a specific experience.

The background noise can be used for many things - to create a soothing environment or something more stimulating, depending on what is needed. It can also be used for storytelling and creating moods.

4. Touch

Hotels and resorts are often great places to enjoy a variety of leisure and entertainment options. From dining to the spa, to live music and more- they all offer a touch experience.

Touch experiences are important for hotels because it’s what sets them apart from other hotel chains in their respective markets. They can be the feature that gets people to remember your hotel or resort over your competitors.

The key is using touch experiences that have meaning. Touch experiences that are new, different, or unusual can be memorable for guests.

One of the simplest ways to improve the touch experience is to design the room with materials and designs that are pleasing to feel. Remember that stroke the furry wall scene in Get Him To The Greek? Think of what designs you can incorporate into your hotel room to give a unique feel.

Touch can also include in-room spa services or immersive in-room video games such as VR.

Technology Touchpoints

A hotel company's customers have a higher chance of returning if they provide them with an enjoyable stay. One way to provide this experience is to design a strategy for customer happiness with touch technology.

With the influx of technology in the hospitality industry, many hotels are beginning to use touch screens for ordering food and drinks, controlling room temperature, and booking tours.

Touch experiences are interactive digital installations that give customers an opportunity to utilize the technology at hotels. These touch experiences are becoming more and more common in hotels. Touch experiences also allow customers to be in direct control of their own experiences from the comfort of their rooms.

5. Taste

As the world becomes more and more digitalized, we are finding that people want to experience things in person. One way that hotels have been trying to do this is by giving customers a taste experience.

Taste experiences are an excellent way to turn a hotel stay into an experience to remember.

Hotels are finding success with creating experiences around food and drink, from cooking classes to themed dining experiences. It’s important for hotels to provide immersive experiences where the guest can disconnect from technology while still feeling connected to the outside world.

Something simple, such as coffee tasting experiences are gaining in popularity throughout the hospitality industry. It offers guests a premium experience where they can taste coffee varieties from around the world, without the premium price tag attached like wine tasting.

The options for taste experiences are boundless and always remain popular with hotel guests.

Getting started

Hoteliers, thinking of unique service ideas needn’t be difficult. Start with the senses and how you can create memorable experiences around these first.

To find out more improving hotel marketing strategy with hotel experiences, read our post on What is the experience economy?

White label voucher site

Are you looking for a white label voucher site?

This blog post will go over the benefits of using a white label voucher site to promote and sell your gift vouchers.

You may be considering doing it yourself when it comes to selling gift vouchers on your website.

After all, you’ll be in charge of the customization, pick your tools and do things your way.

But is this the best for your business?

There are many pitfalls involved when building your voucher website. It can lead to you being late to market as you learn to code and create your site. You may spend too much money developing the tools and solutions that already exist. You can lack the right amount of expertise in specific areas as you try to do it all yourself.

Why use a white label voucher site?

Opting for a white label gift voucher site saves you all the hassle of building one yourself while maintaining your branding and image.

What is a white label voucher site?

A white label voucher site is where a reseller can use their branding, identity and logo on products and services manufactured and serviced through an experienced third party. Allowing resellers to customize their product branding and enable their customers to associate the product as their own.

White labelling enables you to offer gift vouchers to your customers without them ever knowing where the vouchers are coming from. This is an attractive option for companies who want to sell gift vouchers, but don’t want to deal with the running’s and hosting of a gift voucher store on their server.

To the customers buying the vouchers, they would generally have no idea that the vouchers are sold via a third party. It would appear that the end product is produced by the brand they are buying from.

Benefits of a white label voucher site

1. Immediate start

Using a white label voucher site allows companies to get on with selling their gift vouchers right away.

They provide the convenience of generating both printable and digital vouchers at low costs without any effort.

2. Save costs

Using a white label voucher site allows you to save costs on research and development, server costs, manufacturing costs, service costs and more.

The design, building and testing of a new site take a long time and a high amount of resources. You’ll save a considerable amount of time and money deciding not to develop your site from scratch.

3. Quickly add new features

The white labelling voucher sites are experts in their field. A good white label voucher site will consistently be improving its services by adding features and updates as the market changes.

4. Frees your time to focus on marketing and sales

Without needing to worry about the running of your voucher site, you can dedicate this time saved to essential promotional work to increase sales. Perfect building your brand and selling your services.

Where can I get a white label voucher site?

Here at Enjovia, we specialise in proving a white label voucher site to increase your sales and conversions on your gift vouchers.

Our gift voucher management system is designed around increasing your gift card sales.

With an immediate voucher ready website to slot your branding into, you’ll also have a simple, feature-rich site that will increase your gift voucher sales.

How does enjovia increase gift voucher sales?

The difference between our system and other white label voucher sites is that we are a technology company first and foremost.

Our system is completely designed around our customers.

A few years ago we went through a vigorous reinvention of our system. We spoke to our customers and asked them what THEY needed, instead of what we wanted. They told us and we listened.

That’s why we created our fully white-label system Enjovia 2.0.

Our system is designed around you having full control.

You get to customise your branding, web address, voucher design, promo codes, add-ons and more.

You’ll see your sales increase with our additional features that have been tried and tested with all our existing customers.

These include:

Promotional grouping for events on specific vouchers
Creating product add-ons with vouchers to increase revenue and promote flexibility with guest customization.
Apply promotions and discounts
Fast staff voucher tracking and redemption
Full voucher statistics and analytics, perfect for planning voucher campaigns.

How much is enjovia?

Our store is completely free to create.

How easy is Enjovia to get started?

Our gift voucher solutions make it incredibly fast to get started.

You can create a store in minutes while uploading your customised vouchers, logo and branding to make your store(s) unique to you or your customers.

Then sit back and enjoy selling your gift vouchers immediately. It’s as simple as it sounds.

Contact us

If this sounds like the white label solution you're looking for, then have a chat with one of our specialists!

How to Improve Guest Experience in Hotels

This blog post will identify how to improve guest experience in hotels.

We are living in an era where customer satisfaction is king. If a company wants to survive in this competitive world, they need to make their customers happy. Customer satisfaction comes through the guest experience.

A huge “86% of buyers are willing to pay more for a great customer experience”

- Superoffice.com

The guest experience is important to consumers, so hotels need to ensure they are meeting these needs.

Here are some ways hotels can improve the guest experience.

1. Provide a clean and comfortable stay

Presentation and cleanliness have always been very important for the hospitality industry. A dirty hotel room will result in guests being less likely to return and may even complain about it.

With the COVID19 pandemic, hotels have needed to improve their cleanliness to new levels to reduce the virus's possible spread.

To achieve these new cleanliness expectations, hotels have introduced all-new cleaning procedures. One of the ways hotels can reassure guests is by sealing doors with a just cleaned sticker. This is a visual method to show guests on arrival they’re the first to enter the room since it was cleaned.

As well as this, deeper cleaning schedules have been introduced. Ensuring all commonly used areas in the hotel rooms are sanitised, wiped down and replaced with fresh items.

Even service and cleaning robots have been introduced into many industries as a way to automate tedious tasks saving both time and money (with little human interaction- further reducing the spread of covid-19).

However, it's not enough to just have a clean hotel room, it needs to be comfortable too.

Comfortable hotel rooms are an important part of the hotel experience. They need to be designed to provide a relaxing environment for the customer. Warm colours, natural light and soft textures achieve this best.

Hotels that provide room amenities such as shampoo, soap, tea, and coffee enhance the guest experience by meeting simple physical needs.

Then some hotels think past needs and into luxury with their room comfort.

Heightening the senses with music as a way to relax the environment and create an experience for their guests.

2. Focus on your team

The best way to improve guest experience is to provide great customer service, and that starts with the staff. All employee interactions with guests should aim to provide excellent service. Staff should be friendly, courteous, and attentive to the guests.

The hotel may have all types of amenities available, the physical structure of the hotel can provide some of these things. However, the staff is what makes a guest feel welcome and valued over the course of their stay.

Your team should all aim to provide an exceptional experience that will lead to repeat visits.

Creating moments of magic

Your team should look at every guest interaction as an opportunity to create moments of magic. This is when your services aim to personalise and make each moment special for the guest, paying particular attention to meeting their needs.

This includes Introducing themselves and learning the guest names. Then going further with this, by remembering and using their names in interactions. Guests are left feeling important, valued and special.

Check-in and check-out

This is the first and last point of call where your staff can make an impact on hotel guests.

As a hotelier, you want to make sure that your guests are having a good stay with you. One way to do this is by improving their experience as they check-in and out of the hotel.

First, greet them with a warm smile and ask them how their day has been so far.

Then they should be greeted with the name of the hotel and whether it is their first time staying there.

They should be asked about any preferences for amenities or room location, which will help to accommodate them better than if they had not given any preferences at all.

Finally, the staff should also provide information about the hotel amenities and services that are available to the guests on a timely basis. Thus, they can plan their stay and have a more enjoyable visit.

3. Creating memorable moments

A hotel is more than a place to sleep. It is a place where people go to create memories with their families and friends.

Hoteliers need to focus on providing a memorable experience, from the time they book until the time they leave. They should inform guests of all hotel services before arrival. This can help guests pre-plan activities, spa treatments or restaurant bookings and avoiding any last-minute disappointment on the day they arrive if not available.

Gift experiences

To ensure a great experience, hoteliers should focus on creating memorable customer experiences. One of the best ways to achieve this is through offering gift experience packages.

A gift experience package is ideal for guests wanting to treat themselves or someone they love to a memorable experience.

Many hotels will create their gift experience packages to combine several services with additional options to personalise the experience.

An example of this is a two night overnight stay with a three-course dinner and a 60-minute spa treatment for two.

Then to personalise this gift experience, hoteliers should offer the option of add-ons.

For example, the guest can opt to add-on champagne on arrival, or chocolate-dipped strawberries after their spa treatment.

Hotels can be as creative and flexible as they please when it comes to providing those subtle but impactful details which add the touch of luxury and excellent service.

For more ideas on creating unique experiences take a look at this post: Create unique experiences with gift voucher add-ons.

4. Using Technology

Technology goes a long way to enhancing the guest experience. While we strongly believe it should never replace that all-important human interaction, it can certainly be used to improve guest experiences.

With innovative technology solutions, hotels can offer their guests personalised services.

One of the most exciting innovations in hospitality today is chatbots. Chatbots provide important information about your room and services that you may need during your stay at the hotel. They also allow you to make reservations and requests without having to call or email the hotel company for assistance.

Some of these chatbot features are: checking in and checking out of your hotel room, making restaurant bookings, answering general questions about restaurants and services in the hotel, receiving tourist information on the local area.

This is similarly used with hotel AI.

Aside from the cleaning robots and self-service check-in. Hotel AI can be used to provide personalisation and service for the guests. It’s used to remember guests' details like their names, what they like to eat, preferences, and likes. They are used to monitor customer service quality, lobby functions, room services, and more.

Conclusion

By improving the guest experience, you’ll likely see a huge increase in hotel revenue and reputation.

Each hotel is different, and the types of guests visiting hotels are different. Try some of the suggestions above and see how it works for you.

We hope that you've found this blog post on how to improve guest experience in hotels helpful. For more information on improving the guest experience, take a look here: What is the experience economy?

Our new system! Enjovia 2.0

At last, we have launched an all-new gift voucher management system creatively called - Enjovia 2.0.

Why have we made a new system?

In 2017 we hit the road to visit our customers, taking an audit of their needs and found that our system needed a major modernisation!

Over the last year, we have been hard at work on our new system, and here it finally is

What’s improved?

1. You can create and design your own store

The biggest change we've made to our new product is the self-sign up feature.

So what does this mean?

With the likes of Canva, Shopify and WordPress, we are beginning to see digital e-commerce take a huge shift into the self-serving industry, gone are the days of long waits and expensive custom-built webstores, more and more businesses want a quick and easy store they can create in minutes.

Just like these self-serve e-commerce giants, our new voucher management system will allow any company to self-set-up their own gift voucher store independently of our involvement. Similarly, you’ll be able to design your entire gift voucher store exactly how YOU want in minutes and be ready to sell your experiences within the hour!

Our old system required our in-house team to create a store for you on our server. This meant that aside from images, your voucher homepage looked almost identical to all of our other customers. It also meant that all the uploading of vouchers, designing and edits was in our hands.

We wanted to free up the options and flexibility for you. That’s why in Enjovia 2.0 you have the ability to create and edit banners, colours, fonts and styles to design a gift voucher store in line with your unique branding. The Enjovia 2.0 image uploader will also allow you to crop and edit any product images at almost any size, as well as optimising the image for SEO.

Store creation has never been so simple for gift vouchers. All you’ll need is an email, password and store name then the rest is down to you to create.

As well as our interactive onscreen step by step start-up guidance, customers have access to an on-page chat to get help in real-time and a dedicated help centre to guide you through the process- should you need it.

2. We have simplified the Voucher Store Management

Enjovia 2.0 gives you back the control. With our self-management store, you are able to add your own vouchers, promo codes, discounts and add-ons whenever you need.

The design is simple and easy to follow. Allowing you complete ease when using the system that will require little to no training at all to manage your vouchers. Our new Voucher Store Management has improved:

The ease of use for users
Easier input of vouchers into the system
Customizability
Create different roles for departments within your organisation
Edit management permissions, this can limit majority of staff ability to make back of system edits and create management profiles that can only have access or permissions to create certain tasks. E.g. change prices of vouchers.
Easy to view order history of vouchers
Easy to view promotions on vouchers, with simplified ability to edit
Quick sell option for in- house sales

We have even taken the management store one step further and included content management tools to allow maximum gift voucher exposure and revenue. This will enable marketing and content managers to use our inbuilt meta description option for SEO, schedule their voucher offerings and discounts around marketing campaigns and upselling at point of sale through add-ons.

We have split our voucher management into 3 categories:

Categories
Product
Add-ons

Categories:

Our categories section gives you the ability to group your products. Whether you want to group via promotions, bulk editing or specific groups, for example, you could group all of the spa vouchers together.

Product:

The products are the vouchers, the process for adding your vouchers is so simple. Just fill in the template sections and it will create a beautiful looking voucher on your store.

Add-ons:

Add- ons are a revenue-generating must-have feature. In our own data, we have seen when add-ons are present, they are added onto 8-10% of orders. People like to personalise their gifts and experiences and we recognise this as an important aspect of gift vouchers. That’s why we have incorporated add on’s as a vital part of the store management. Receiving a one-night bed and breakfast stay at a luxury hotel would always make a great gift but when a bottle of wine and flower petals are added to the order, that one-night stay becomes a romantic one-night stay.

It is super simple to do too, see our quick demonstration video here on how to create an add-on in the management store, add it to a product, and view how that product looks on your front end store.

3. Improved Promotions ability

Enjovia 2.0 has an advanced tool to create flexible promotions to suit store managers. As you may have even experienced yourself, promotions are a great way to encourage additional spending.

Our promotions can be split into two categories:

Product discount e.g. 10% off Black Friday Sale
Checkout offer e.g. free spa when spending £150 or more

4. Improved Voucher design options

Enjovia 2.0 gives you the ability to change the content of your vouchers too. With a range of voucher templates to choose from, you’ll also have the ability to change wording, logos and voucher T&C’s.

5. Voucher Sales and Delivery is now easier than ever

We have redesigned our shopping experience to simplify the process and minimise in abandoned shopping carts.

How do we do this?

We have shortened the steps from selection to payment in just 3 simple steps. We found that compiling each of the steps to one page made it a more enjoyable shopping experience.

1^st Step: add a personal message to be copied onto the voucher, choose to package, add any promo codes.

2^nd Step: Choose a delivery option: postal, collection or e-mail

Here at Enjovia, we take care of the postal fulfilment for business in the UK. For international business, we have designed Enjovia 2.0 with a self-contained fulfilment functionality built into the system. With one simple click, all fulfilment orders including vouchers and corresponding envelopes can be printed off.

From our fulfilment options dashboard, you can now change shipping prices, packaging options and prices, collection options and prices and delivery options.

3^rd Step: Billing address and Payment

At the end of this process, your shoppers will be able to download a printable PDF of their voucher and they will receive a receipt and confirmation of the order via email.

Your customers will have the option to buy your vouchers online or in-house. With the latter in mind, we have designed staff check out system that allows staff to process the shopping experience faster for any front-facing customers.

6. Improved Voucher Redemption and Tracking

With 3 simple clicks staff can easily redeem vouchers on the spot, without taking time away from their service.

Video on redeeming a voucher:

Voucher Redemption:

Enjovia 2.0 has improved its redemptions process by allowing you to have total flexibility when it comes to changing a voucher status.

We also allow partial redemption on monetary vouchers. We know that one of the biggest frustrations people face is needing to spend their entire monetary voucher in one go otherwise say goodbye to the amount you didn’t spend. The system keeps a track of how much is left on the voucher so there’s no worrying for you or your customer.

Complying with GDPR:

We have created a new system to comply with GDPR, resulting in all personalised dada being deleted from the Enjovia database 6 months after expiry.

Tracking:

We have built a tool that allows you to track your sales, vouchers, scheduling and fulfilment.

For example, you can export in an Excel file what products sell well vs which don’t, your promotions vs non-promotions and so on. This will allow your management team to run a complete analysis of your voucher process, maximising your revenue potential.

7. Employee Checkout

For some of our customers, as much as 50% of their sales are done face to face using their own point of sale systems. Enjovia has incorporated a quick checkout especially for staff, this allows a voucher to be generated and sent out while you take payment with your card machines or cash. This checkout is even quicker than our normal checkout, reducing those front of house pressures! You can also use Enjovia’s quick checkout to create unlimited commission-free complimentary vouchers for you to give to your loyal customers.

8. Analytics

Our reporting and analytics have also evolved, we have fully integrated into Google's advanced e-commerce analytics. Why re-invent the wheel right? Our analytics dashboard will now allow you to compare your current sales to past sales, show you itemized sales, redemptions and more, all in one easy to see graphical dashboard. With google advanced e-commerce analytics you will be able to track and tag more than ever!

9. Money straight to you!

Here at Enjovia we feel it’s only right that you instantly receive your sales. Most gift voucher management platforms hold onto your revenue and distribute it to you at a later date.

We have set up the platform so that you get your hard-earned funds into your own account instantly.

Enjovia 2.0

As you can see here at Enjovia we have completely transformed our product and have delivered exactly the product based around our customers’ needs. Our gift voucher system not only looks so much better, but the management process is smoother, faster, simpler and most importantly will generate more revenue than ever!

This is just the start, we’ll make sure we keep you up to date as our system gets better. Our aim is to create the most flexible and advanced gift voucher and card e-commerce platform in the world.

Additional services we offer:

Online training tutorials and videos

Even though the product is simple and easy to use, we have completed and made available online training tutorials and videos to aid you in your entire process of using Enjovia 2.0.

We have 24/7 Support and our customer success managers will ensure you’re getting the most from your store.

Our Blog

Follow our blog for new and updated gift voucher sales, marketing and industry update support.

We keep on track of industry trends in the experience economy, gift voucher market and e-commerce tech. We write detailed posts with marketing and sales support on how to get the most out of your gift voucher management system. You can follow us on Twitter here to get access to our industry insights too.

If you’ve enjoyed this post, please give it a share. For more information contact us at here.

Gift card marketing slogans

This blog post highlights gift card marketing slogans for different occasions to inspire you with unique ideas.

When selling gift cards you need yours to stand out from the rest, that’s why attracting the right attention with clever gift card marketing slogans is a must!

What is a slogan?

Your brand slogan is a clever way to use wording to catch the attention and entice your audience.

You can use slogans to not only draw attention to your gift cards but point towards the benefits of your product.

Use meaning in your marketing

Great slogans should not only highlight your brand but hit a chord with your customers with meaning, as this tells your customers what your brand stands for and confirms their alignment to your product.

Importance of clever marketing with words

To achieve meaning with your slogan, you need to select your marketing words carefully. Your slogan needs to stand out and attempt to stay within the mind of your customer.

Benefits of marketing slogans

Here are some reasons why using clever marketing slogans will be beneficial:

Brand recognition

With your catchy slogan, unique logo, and brand name, you can create your brand identity. Your slogan needs to be in line with your brand identity so it is easily recognisable and relatable to your target market.

Your slogan will help bridge the gap between your business and customers. Your voice and the words used in your slogan speaks to them and helps them relate to your products.

Your slogan will also enable you to stand out from your competition, making your marketing distinctive and recognisable.

Global companies like Nike and McDonalds have created unique and memorable slogans that are globally recognised. “Just do it” and “I’m loving it”- I’m sure you know which slogan belongs to who.

While you may not have a globally recognised brand, you can use slogans to your advantage using the same clever marketing techniques that increase attention and demand for your product.

What should slogans include?

Your slogan should be a way of communicating to your customers what the product is about, its best qualities and what your customers can gain from it.

Take a look at the list below for some qualities that a strong gift card marketing slogan should include:

Make it catchy and brief- maybe three to five words long.
Make it align with your brand identity.
Make it memorable.
Include an emotional attachment.

Emotional Trigger Words

We’ve discussed the power of words in a previous post on how to sell customer experiences.

But it’s important to reiterate the importance of using influential words in your marketing, as they can strongly encourage a customer to purchase your product.

Using emotional trigger words are an effective way of doing this, especially when using positive power wording such as ‘Delight’, ‘Boost’, ‘Indulge’ and so on.

When it comes to gift-giving, people are looking to give gifts with meaning- this is especially true when buying gift experience cards.

Experiences tend to evoke feels of thought and care much more prominently than a product or cash gift.

Should I optimise my gift card marketing slogans with keywords?

Before we get into some examples of gift card marketing slogans, it’s important first to acknowledge that your time and energy in selecting the right slogans are wasted without the right exposure.

Successful marketers are using Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) to their advantage. When looking for a product title or slogan, try to carry out some keyword research first and find any popular search terms that relate to your product.

Find keywords with high searches and low competition. Then when you’ve found a strong keyword, you should base your slogan on it for high rankings on search engine pages.

Gift card marketing slogans by event:

Below are some gift card marketing slogans that you can use for inspiration.

Christmas

Christmas is the biggest gift card event of the year. While shoppers all over are looking for new, unique and thoughtful gifts to make their loved ones feel special, they are also more likely to make purchases on gifts they wouldn’t usually buy. They visit places, eat at restaurants and even wear clothes they wouldn’t usually.

Some Christmas slogans to try:

Get into the festive spirit with e.g “Festive high tea for two” [Insert Christmas theme gift card experience]
Is it too late to be good? Seize the moment with [Insert Christmas theme gift card experience]
Make it a December to Remember with the indulgent [Insert Christmas theme gift card experience]
Immerse your loved one in joy with [Insert Christmas theme gift card experience]
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Make it even more blissful with [Insert Christmas theme gift card experience]
It’s the season of giving! Give a gift of love with [Insert Christmas theme gift card experience]
It’s the most wonderful time of the year, be merry and bright with [Insert Christmas theme gift card experience]

Mother’s Day

Mother’s day is that one day in the year we get to show our mother’s our appreciation for their role. Create memorable and emotionally targeting slogans to win the hearts of shoppers looking for the perfect gift.

There’s no greater gift than a mothers love.- but a close second is our [Insert the name of your gift experience] “luxury overnight stay gift experiences”
It’s Mother’s day today; make her day special.
Tell Mum how much she means to you; it’s Mother’s Day.
Tell Mum you care for her; it’s Mother’s Day today.
Today do that one special thing to show you care; it’s Mother’s Day.
Your mother always pampers you; today on Mother’s Day you can pamper her too.
Your mother deserves all your love; show it to her on Mother’s Day.

Father’s Day

You don’t get many chances in the year to tell your father how much they mean to you and how you appreciate them. Here are some fatherhood gift card marketing slogans to introduce into your marketing campaigns. On father’s day, you can get away with being slightly more tongue in cheek as well as being sentimental.

A father carries pictures where his money used to be, fatten his wallet again with [insert gift card experience].

A father doesn’t tell you that he loves you. He shows you. Show him back with [Insert your gift card here]

Valentines Day

Valentine’s day is about sending a message of love and care to your loved one. Create slogans that speak of love and devotion that does the talking for the buyer.

This Valentine's Day, get your sweetheart just what they deserve, [insert your gift card experience here].
Valentine's Day is finally here, deliver them their heart's desire…
Make sweet savings with our Valentine's Day deals.
Celebrate love this Valentine's Day... show you care by giving them a gift to remember.

Whatever the occasion your gift card marketing slogans should make a connection to your buyer. To do this your gift card marketing slogans must match your marketing brand.

For example,

If you’re a high-end luxury spa you don’t want to use slogans that cheapen your branding.

Likewise, if you’re promoting a low cost, fun and family orientated activity experience you shouldn’t use wording that suggests your brand is sophisticated and exclusive. It will be more successful if it’s communicated as affordable, fun and memorable.

Conclusion

We hope you’ve found some inspiration for your gift card marketing slogans from this post.

If you found what you’ve read helpful, please share on your social media and tag us on Twitter or Linkedin.

For posts on promoting your gift cards and gift experiences, look at our past post: gift certificate advertising ideas.

Spa revenue generating ideas

In this blog post, we are going over different spa revenue generating ideas that you can incorporate into your business strategy right away to maximise your revenue potential.

Health and fitness is on the rise

Health, fitness, and wellness industries are growing at a global rate of 8.7% per year.

Research has shown this increase in the market growth isn’t only due to the services and prices increasing in the industry, but more closely aligned with consumer interest in health and fitness as a way to boost body image concerns and improve physical and mental health.

Individuals who look after their bodies with an active lifestyle have fewer health problems, improved mental health and more energy on a daily basis. When positive habits form in one wellness component such as exercise, it will reinforce habits in another such as healthier eating.

Spas are in a prime position to promote and encourage many different aspects of health and wellbeing as this trend continues to rise.

A growing revenue strategy in the hospitality sector is creating ‘experiences’. Experiences work especially well for spas, as the promotion of a healthy lifestyle, fitness and wellness all incorporate into the services offered. Resulting in attracting clientele who are dedicated to this lifestyle and are looking for experiences that incorporate their interests.

Profitability assessment for increased spa revenue

While cultivating a holistic spa experience is important, you also need to carefully manage the day to day operations of the business to maximise your spa revenue potential.

Before you can get started on your spa revenue generating ideas, the first thing you need to do is assess your profitability.

Your spa assessment should include average treatment rates (ATR), treatment room utilisation (TRU), and therapist utilisation.

Treatment room revenue

It’s important to maximise the revenue potential for your business. You should view your spa with each treatment room being perishable. If you miss an opportunity to fill a room for an hour with a treatment, you’ve missed out on revenue potential.

On average a spa loses around 15% of their daily business from turning away bookings. This amount can stack up to thousands of pounds in missed opportunities very quickly.

It should also be noted that first-time customers who are turned away tend not to ever come back.

Treatment bookings need to be tightly managed and booking slots need to stick to either an hourly or 30-minute duration of time to maximise booking potential in a day.

If customers are being turned away, you should consider incorporating spa management software tracking into your booking system to see turn-away trends.

Maybe you don’t have enough treatment rooms or therapists to fill treatment rooms? Maybe you don’t have enough qualified therapists for specialist treatments? Once you know the trending reasons for losing business you can make smart business decisions to reduce turn-aways and maximise your booking potential.

Staff service delivery

One of the most painful truths for spas is the labour cost of delivering treatment can sometimes exceed 50%. With treatments being one of the central attractions to a spa, it’s important to initiate methods of maximising the earning potential of each service when possible.

One clever way to do this is to create win-win scenarios to align the motivations of your therapists with your spa goals. Encouraging a compensation strategy for your employees to deliver on your values is one of the most successful strategies you can implement.

There are a number of ways to do this, to name a few:

1. Create treatment add ons or upgrades.

Within treatments, spa therapists can offer to add on services to enhance the guest experience. For example, they could suggest additional treatments within treatment blocks for an additional cost. (Such as an Indian head massage or hand massage while a facial mask is on).

2. Share business targets and revenue goals with the team.

This is something you can reserve for the spa receptionists as they’ll primarily be managing the bookings mainly for walk-ins. But each day, allow them to see the revenue generated and have a daily goal to reach based on therapists working that day.

If they can be motivated with a monthly bonus, they will be motivated to maximise booking space and cater as many walk-in bookings as possible.

For example, if a guest wanted to book a full body massage for an hour slot but there was only a 30-minute slot available, instead of turning the guest away, the team will be motivated to offer a neck, back and shoulder massage for 30 minutes instead.

3. Upselling with sales targets and rewards

Therapists should offer product recommendations with each treatment serviced. The suggestion of products should suit the identified needs of the guest.

For example, if a guest has identified on their consultation form that they have trouble sleeping, the therapist should take them to the product display and upsell products that promote better sleep.

We will go into more detail on spa retail later in the post.

It’s essential that the rewards for your employees suit their interests. So you can give team bonuses for each time a monthly revenue goal is met. Or for retail, therapists can earn free products when they reach their sales targets.

When you reward and celebrate your spa successes with your employees, you create a unified team- all working towards a shared goal. This creates more satisfied and loyal staff which is absolutely essential to keeping turnover low, as the cost of rehiring is a huge sunk cost to the business.

Treatment mix, pricing, and quality of service provision

You need to offer a level of service with suitable pricing to meet your target market.

To get started on this, review your treatment list and ensure you’re not only offering services that are profitable for your spa but a variety of treatments that reach your quality of service provision within a justified price.

Getting your treatment list right is essential for attracting the right customers who are willing to pay the prices you set.

Treatment upgrades and retail upselling

As your team becomes more experienced in offering treatment upgrades, they will be more able to identify other customer needs that the guest will benefit from. Tying back into the lifestyle and wellness experience.

From my own personal experience in a spa, making recommendations to guests on the different types of treatments or products that will benefit the guest was almost always well received. Especially if the therapist can share scientific facts to support the body and health improvements in their suggestions.

Upselling tips for therapists

The best way to have success with treatment upgrades or retail upselling is to ask the guest what it is they are mostly wanting to achieve from the treatment.

Guests have a range of needs from wanting to be relaxed, to improving aching muscles, or even improving skin conditions.

From identifying the guest's problem area from both the consultation form and discussion prior to treatment, the therapist should pay special attention in these areas when carrying out the service.

Post-treatment, the therapist should provide at-home solutions for the guest to implement in their spare time to improve their problem area.

These should be a mixture of lifestyle changes with using the available spa products to enhance the effectiveness.

For example, for someone with trouble sleeping, a therapist can recommend limited screen-time before bed and set up a bedtime routine to encourage better sleep. Then complimenting their new routine with incorporating a lavender room mist and nighttime face mask to support the new routine and encourage better sleep.

Likewise, for a guest with aching muscles, a therapist could suggest an in-treatment upgrade to switch a Swedish massage to a hot stones massage. Then post-treatment, the therapist should suggest a course of deep tissue massage to drain the lactic acid build-up and encourage muscle recovery. They can then upsell products for an at-home care routine by recommending a deep muscle bath soak and cooling muscle gel to be applied after exercise.

Product training

Retail should be used to boost top-line revenue. This can sometimes be up to 30% of total spa revenue if done correctly- revenue you do not want to miss out on!

You should 100% be selling products for your spa.

If you’re already selling spa products, then product training is absolutely essential. Organise quarterly product training sessions with all your therapists and your product retailer.

Therapists who are able to educationally upsell and describe eloquently the product benefits have a much higher success rate than those who don’t. Guests who are into the health and fitness experience value the recommendations as part of the service and appreciate the additional advice their therapist is able to provide to improve their wellness.

Yield management

We’ve touched upon this throughout the post, but yield management is a key component for maximising your revenue so it deserves special attention.

The best way to manage your yield is to adjust your prices in response to demand and competition.

You should aim to optimise intake and minimise your downtime to improve revenue and efficiency.

You can implement spa management systems that automatically do this for you by adjusting the prices when demand increases or drop prices when demand falls. And you can set your own parameters so the pricing stays within your brand.

You can also incorporate manual yield management simply by adjusting prices for walk-ins. If your spa is in a hotel you can send the concierge and front desk team daily promotions for guests checking in with special offers to maximise bookings.

Another method is to use email campaigns for your local market, by sending out ‘last-minute’ spa promotions to sell spaces fast. Your loyal spa community will welcome the huge savings they’ll make from your offers, while you get to fill all unsold spaces.

Online and Mobile Booking

Last but certainly not least you should create a well-established online presence and allow online and mobile booking as standard.

Did you know 70 percent of salon and spa customers prefer online booking over calling in?

A surprising but consistent trend also shows that guests who book online also spend more! This is estimated to be down to the fact that the easier booking makes guests visit the spa more frequently. Maybe it’s due to convenience, avoiding discussions with phone agents, or even booking at the last minute.

All we know is that if you can offer online booking- especially over mobile devices you are maximising your guest pool.

Spa revenue generating ideas

For more information on spa revenue generating ideas and the different promotions you can introduce to maximise your returns take a look at some of our past posts here: Spa Marketing Strategies Promotions.

Good luck with improving your spa revenue. If you found this post helpful, please help us in return by sharing it on your social media.

See you next time!

How to start a successful ecommerce business?

How to start a successful ecommerce business in 2021?

There has never been a better time to start an eCommerce business. The eCommerce market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.9% over the next five years, totalling $3.5 trillion in value by 2025. Many experts even forecast that eCommerce sales will eclipse those of physical stores within a few decades. With your own eCommerce business, you can take advantage of this rapid growth in demand.

In this post, we’ll lay out six practical steps you can take to start a successful eCommerce business in 2021. By the end, you’ll have everything you need to launch your store with confidence.

6 Steps to a successful eCommerce store

1. Choose a selling method

The first step in launching a successful eCommerce store is to choose how you will source your products. There are three primary options available to you:

Dropshipping

Dropshipping is an eCommerce business model where the store owner does not hold the inventory for the products that they sell. Instead, you partner with a dropshipping supplier who stores the products. You list the products on your website or third-party marketplace. When a customer places an order, you buy the products from the supplier, giving them the customer’s shipping details. The supplier will then ship the items to the customer.

Wholesale

Wholesaling is the selling method used by traditional brick and mortar retailers. It functions in a similar manner for online stores. You buy products in bulk from a supplier or manufacturer. Because you purchase a large quantity at a time, you are able to get the items at a discounted price. You then sell these products to consumers at a marked-up price.

Private label

With private labelling, you have a manufacturer produce a product for you that you then brand as your own. This allows you to create your own products without the massive expense of having to invest in manufacturing equipment.

2. Do niche and product research

After you choose your selling method, you’ll want to research to find what niche market you want to enter and what products you want to sell. Here are some of the most effective ways to find profitable niches and products:

Use Google Trends

Google Trends is a tool offered by Google that allows you to see the popularity of search queries across the Google Search Network. You can search for any eCommerce product or niche to see if it is gaining or losing interest over time.

Follow social trends

Another way to find profitable products is to monitor trends on social media. Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest will reveal what types of items consumers are interested in. Look to see which types of products are getting the most engagement and which types of brands have the most followers.

Use Amazon

You can also search on Amazon to find products to sell. The majority of consumers begin their search for a product on Amazon, making it a great place to see what is in demand even if you intend to sell on your own eCommerce site.

Start with the Amazon Trend Report. Every year Amazon compiles a report of the niches and products they anticipate being the most successful. You can also search the Best Sellers category on the Amazon marketplace. Simply click the Best Sellers tab in the header menu beneath the search bar. You’ll find a list of different product categories. Select one to see the top 100 products for that niche.

3. Find a supplier

Once you know what product you want to sell, it’s time to find a supplier for your business. The best place to look for a supplier will depend on the selling method that you choose. If you are looking to wholesale items or create private label products, a great place to start your search on Alibaba.

The online marketplace is home to millions of suppliers providing products from nearly every niche. You can search for products and suppliers as you would when browsing any other marketplace. You want to make sure that you choose a supplier that is trustworthy and reliable. Look at their listings to see if they look professional. You should also look for extensive details about the products as well as information about their factories and quality control process.

If you use dropshipping, a commonplace to start the search for products is Alibaba’s sister site AliExpress. The site is similar but is more geared toward consumers and buyers ordering small quantities of items. It is a solid choice for finding dropshipping products as it has the same breadth of selection as Alibaba. You can also get started right away as you do not need to get a reseller’s license to sell items found on AliExpress.

If you want to find suppliers based in the U.S., you can use a service like Thomasnet to find wholesalers or Wholesale2B to find dropshippers.

4. Create your store

The next step is to set up your sales channels. As an online merchant, there are two choices: selling on a third-party marketplace and building your own eCommerce website.

Let’s examine how to get started with each sales channel along with its advantages and disadvantages.

Sell on marketplaces

The most popular online marketplace for eCommerce sellers in the United States is Amazon. You start by creating your Amazon sellers account. You’ll have the option of choosing between an individual account and a professional account. The difference between the two is the fees that you charged. Professional accounts have a monthly fee while individual accounts have an extra fee for every item that sells.

Once you create your account you can begin listing your products and choosing your fulfillment method. You can use Fulfilled by Merchant where you will store and ship your products yourself. Or you can use Fulfilled by Amazon. With this method, Amazon will store and ship your products for a fee.

Selling on Amazon is a great choice especially for those who are new to eCommerce. You don’t have to worry about any of the technical factors that come with setting up an eCommerce website. You also get access to Amazon’s built-in audience so it’s easier to start getting traffic to your products to generate profit right away. The downside is that you will have to compete with other sellers on the marketplace, and for some products, with Amazon themselves. You’ll also earn lower margins per sale as you have to pay referral fees.

Create own site

The next option is to create your own eCommerce site. To do this, you’ll first need to buy a domain name. You’ll then need to set up web hosting and your eCommerce platform. Web hosting may come with the platform depending on which one you choose. Some of the most popular hosted eCommerce solutions are BigCommerce and Shopify.

Platforms like Magento and WooCommerce are self-hosted solutions, meaning you’ll need to set up your own web hosting.

Once you decide on a platform, you can begin creating your web pages and adding your products to your site. You’ll want to add pages for:

Shipping and returns
About us
Contact
Terms and privacy

The benefit of creating your own eCommerce site is that you have complete control over the customer experience. You can add whatever branding and designs that you want and do not have to pay any marketplace fees.

The drawback is that you’ll have to get visitors to your store on your own. You are also responsible for maintaining the site. If you’re not technically savvy, this can be a bit of a challenge. If this is you, consider an easier-to-use solution like Shopify.

5. Plan your marketing strategy

Once your eCommerce store is up and running, you’ll need to get a consistent flow of visitors in order to see sales. Creating a marketing strategy will help ensure that your business is getting in front of the right audience. Here are some of the most effective types of marketing for eCommerce stores.

Advertising

With digital advertising, you create ads showcasing the benefits of your business. You then pay an advertising platform to show these ads to people who may be interested in your products. The most popular advertising platforms for eCommerce businesses are social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest — and search platforms like Google and Bing.

These platforms focus primarily on a pay-per-click (PPC) ad model. This means that you only pay for an ad after a customer clicks on it. They provide extensive targeting options so you can ensure that your ads are shown to a relevant audience.

Direct Marketing

Rather than paying for ads, you can also market to your customers directly. The most effective type of direct marketing is email marketing. With email marketing, you get people to subscribe to your email list and then send them follow-up campaigns about your products. Email marketing can lead to very high returns on investment (ROI) as you don’t have to pay for marketing. Once you have someone on your list, you can market to them again and again.

Sales Promotion

Sales and promotions are a great way to increase conversions. By offering your customers discounts, you incentivize them to make a purchase. Promotions can complement your paid and direct advertising efforts. For example, you can include a coupon code in your emails or show discounted products in your Google Shopping campaigns.

You can also use gift cards and vouchers to promote your store. Gift cards provide pre-paid store credit on a physical card. Vouchers include a discount code for a specific amount or can be redeemed for a specific product.

Gift cards and vouchers both include your branding and logo which can help increase brand awareness. Every time someone sees the card, they'll be reminded of your brand and your unique product offering.

They are great for increasing sales, particularly during the holidays as they allow customers to gift something from your store without knowing exactly what the recipient wants. Research shows that customers who use gift cards spend more on average. Many will place orders with a value well beyond the original gift card balance. They also help to expand your customer base as shoppers may buy gift cards for others who have never heard about your brand.

You can list vouchers on your eCommerce store as you would a traditional product catalogue. This is particularly useful if you sell products or services that are not redeemed until a later date. Some examples include spa services, hotels and accommodations, tickets, and cooking classes.

With Enjovia, you can quickly launch an online voucher store for your business. You can create an unlimited number of discount codes and there are plenty of pre-made templates to help get you started. Once a customer places an order, they are automatically sent their vouchers by email or mail.

6. SEO optimization

Search engine optimization (SEO) is the process of getting your web pages to rank at the top of Google’s search results pages. High SEO rankings can be one of an eCommerce business’ greatest achievements as it will lead to a consistent flow of high-quality visitors. Here are some steps you can take to improve your site’s SEO:

Use target keywords: Adding relevant terms to your site will tell Google what your pages are about, encouraging them to rank you for those queries. You should include keywords in your product titles, meta titles, image alt tags, URLs, and throughout your product and category pages.
Optimize your site’s performance: Google weighs a variety of technical factors when ranking pages and speed is chief among them. Make sure your site loads quickly.
Ask for reviews: Good reviews from customers can establish your business’ trust and authority. They are also great for increasing the amount of content on product pages which tend to be thinner by nature.
Start a link-building campaign: Backlinks are one of the most important SEO factors. When another site links back to your site it boosts your domain authority and makes it easier to rank for your target keywords. Look to create quality content and then reach out to popular websites that may be interested in linking to it.

Conclusion

eCommerce is a rapidly growing industry and a solid choice for those looking to start their own business. Whether you want to sell on Amazon or start your own website, you have a great opportunity for success if you plan and take consistent action. This post has refined what you need to do into six easy to follow steps:

Choose a selling method
Research your niche and product
Find a supplier
Create your store
Plan your marketing strategy
Optimize for SEO

We hope you enjoyed this post on how to start a successful eCommerce store. If you liked this post please share it on your social media!

Gift vouchers for holidays- manage COVID cancellations

Hotels and holiday suppliers dealing with the booking and cancellation cycle brought on by covid-19 lockdowns should consider promoting gift vouchers for holidays.

Today we’re going to share with you why it’s a great idea…

The impact of lockdown on the hospitality industry

It’s fair to say the impact of the Coronavirus lockdown has hit the hospitality industry particularly hard. With the UK’s economy having its lowest performance since the Great Frost of 1709, it's no surprise that constant closures and an uncertain roadmap out of the crisis are making hotels suffer right now- with many not surviving.

When we look at global hotel giants such as Hilton Hotels, we can get a pretty clear idea of how hard the coronavirus pandemic has hit the hospitality industry.

They suffered an 81% net loss totalling an enormous sum of $430 million!

To make things worse, the lockdown restrictions have forced so many hotels to not only close but to begrudgingly cancel upcoming bookings and issue full refunds, not helping already weak cash flows.

Each week the lockdown restrictions are in place, the harder and harder it becomes for hotels to make it through. Even with grants, furlough and the termination of non-essential staff, hotels are barely able to keep their heads above water with so many outgoing costs and few resources allowed to generate enough revenue to make a difference.

When will lockdown end?

Over a year ago, if you were told you would be under national lockdown, restricting where you go and who you see you’d more than likely laugh at such a preposterous idea. But look over what we’ve all experienced.

‘This is the last lockdown!’ - we keep getting promised, but in the UK we’ve been told this 3 times already. How many more lockdowns could potentially come?

With the future so unpredictable, hotels need to strategize a plan for any eventuality.

Implementing lockdown revenue-generating strategies

In this post, we will be looking at how to create gift voucher holiday packages that will enable hotels to forget about cancellations and refunds, and focus on generating instant revenue for future service. - An ideal revenue-generating strategy that can continue to be promoted during and after lockdowns.

What do people want?

Holidaying

Over the year major UK airlines are losing on average £100million a week.

With Britain's borders being effectively shut and the anxiety of international travel, UK hotels have a major advantage in capturing the interest of their fellow countrymen and women to consider an at-home holiday with loved ones instead.

Family and friends

Lockdown has been a weirdly dystopian time for many. People have been separated from family and friends for some time now. Many will be planning to unite with their loved ones in an intimate and memorable way!

As a hotel, you are in a fortunate position to create an experience that allows these special memories to be created.

You simply need to sell the perfect gift vouchers for holidays experience.

New ways to make money with gift cards and gift vouchers

We have witnessed hotels across the globe turning to the ‘pay now service later’ bailout that selling gift cards can offer during the pandemic.

While not a complete bailout- it has surely been a great method of staying engaged with customers while bringing in a steady income where usual business is paused.

However, new gift card strategies are needed!

We’ve highlighted the absolute importance of selling experiences as a way to interest customers and sell better and more gift cards during the lockdown restrictions of the coronavirus pandemic.

The experiences are now opening the doors to bigger and better ways of thinking.

Hear us out with the think-big, win-big benefits for both hotel and guests.

A way to deal with the constant cancellations?

Due to uncertainty and to offer reassurance many holiday suppliers have offered no argument full refunds for advanced bookings. The problem with this method is it will take money back out of the business if lockdowns or rules are extended. Gift vouchers can be offered instead of refunds, allowing the customer the full value of their booking at a later date. In this way, they can hold onto a ‘promise’ of a holiday to come. This keeps the money in the business and the customer retains the security and safety of not having their money/deposits wasted.

Why use gift vouchers for holidays?

Instead of limiting your experiences to single experiences or small packages you should consider broadening your horizons and offering fully-fledged holiday packages for the family.

Offering a holiday experience with all aspects taken care of is a real stress reliever for the organiser- which elevates the experience in new ways.

Benefits of a gift voucher holiday package to guests

Hotel guests get to purchase a holiday package at a steal of a deal that can be used anytime when a hotel is back open for business.
Guests can enjoy a stress-free booking that means

no ringing around trying to organise and tie people in to commit to a date,
lock in a great deal on price with no worry about inflation of prices
book at any time when the hotel reopens
can be given as a special gift for future use

Packages can be flexible to allow for personalisation. - An important feature trending for consumers.

Benefits of a gift voucher holiday package to the hotel

Hotels can get large instant payment enabling a steady stream of revenue while the business is closed due to lockdown
Booking cancellations and refunds can be avoided

What is a holiday gift experience?

A holiday gift experience voucher should be the embodiment of a holiday package. These should have a number of people, night stays, food and even activities included.

Overnight stays for multiple nights and people
Including breakfast and dinner
Include spa treatments, golf, kids activities or other services your hotel offers.

Begin your gift vouchers for holidays today!

We hope you enjoyed this post on gift vouchers for holidays. For any more information on setting up a gift voucher store today, get in touch at enjovia.

Gift card system for small business

What should you look for in a gift card system for small business?

First, let's define the question, what is a gift card?

A gift card is a cash-based token to be used at a specific retail or online location. As the name implies it's usually given as a gift. Growing in popularity, gift cards are the most wanted gifts during the holiday season (National Retail Federation (NRF) survey).

The gift card industry is one of the most lucrative retail markets. With the international gift card market hitting sales of $318 billion USD in 2017. This number is projected to rise to almost $506 billion USD by 2025.

The transformation of the gift card into experiences

The gift card, sometimes referred to as a gift certificate for North American market or gift voucher in the UK, is transforming and expanding into the experience and service markets.

Growing in popularity is the desire for experiential gift cards. While still relatively new to the North American market, many early adopters are cashing in and offering gift cards for their experiences.

In the UK, experiential gift vouchers (as they are referred to) are already in popular demand. This trend is continuing to surge.

With the move towards digital commerce in the gift card industry, it is likely that plastic card will be redundant as more shoppers are preferring the idea of having an e-card on their mobile device instead. Especially among millennials.

Throughout this post we will be referring to gift cards and gift experiences as ‘cards’ or ‘gift cards’.

So why should you adopt a gift card software for small business?

A great way to make additional revenue and maximise your sales is to offer gift cards for your services!

Here’s the potential

One of our clients The Celtic Manor Resort has grown gift card sales to $2.9 million per year!

How?

One of the fascinating facts about experiential gift cards is that once purchased, many of them go unredeemed. Meaning, you never actually spend on the service cost of the card.

This means you get to pocket ALL the revenue from the sale.

A great example is one of my own, a few years ago I received a restaurant gift card as a wedding gift, I still haven’t got around to spending it.

It’s not that I am not interested in the gift, the restaurant is one of my favourites. I just haven’t got around to booking my reservation yet. Now it’s most probably invalid!

This is what you’ll find with a portion of your gift card sales too.

Your cards will be bought as thoughtful gifts to someone special. Sometimes the receiver will book right away and become loyal visitors of yours, and sometimes they may forget to use the card altogether like me. This is where you still win- as the sale is done, but you’ll never fork out the service cost of that card.

So, whatever your services, it makes sense to promote and sell them in the form of a gift card. Just so you can capture that extra revenue.

Managing your gift cards

As you grow and progress you’ll need a useful strategy in place to manage your gift cards properly.

Things to consider for gift card management

Storing gift card details
Tracking analytics for increasing sales and accounting
Managing the expiry life of a gift card
Marketing gift cards properly
Presentation of gift cards
Add-ons for gift cards
A system to sell the gift cards (online and on location)
Having a 3-month extension card
Well-designed gift card platform
Shopping enhancing features

Storing gift card details

In time you’ll need a useful system where the details of purchased gift cards are stored.

The best way to do this would be to have a digital management system. A great system will allow you to manage and process your cards simply and effectively.

You’ll need a system that can do the following:

Details of who purchased the card, when it was purchased
Who received the card
gift card number generator software
A gift card barcode to track the card (in case it gets lost or misplaced)
Expiry date tracker
A card redemption process
Analytics of card redemption
A card/ certificate delivery process
A payment processor

Managing life expectancy of a gift card

According to The Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure (CARD) Act of 2009, gift cards cannot expire within a 5 year period from the date they were activated. The US federal law has given a floor for regulation which can be subject to individual state regulation. However, this regulation is subject only to monetary gift cards.

That means you can put an expiry date on your gift experiences as there is a transaction of service and not monetary value.

By putting an expiry date on your card for your experiences, you can get control over your card and services. This is important as you don’t want someone turning up to your business with a 5-year-old card, for a service you don’t offer anymore.

As mentioned above, you’ll also want an effective way to redeem used cards. This is to stop fraudulent copies of cards being made and used repeatedly. Now if you really want to take it up a notch, using a digital system to redeem cards also will allow you to track your card analytics. You’ll get to see;

How many cards don’t get redeemed.
Which are the most popular- so you can keep selling these.
Which cards may not be selling at all- so you can better invest money and time on promoting other more popular cards.

With this tracked information, you can make effective marketing decisions based on analytics and improve your future sales.

Marketing your gift cards properly

To really take your sales to the next level, the marketing of your gift cards will play a huge part in the process.

Marketing your cards is such a HUGE process, there are many things to think about. Because of this, we have split up our marketing of cards into separate posts, where you can read in more detail.

Marketing your gift card in-house is a great way to get visitors to be aware.

There are so many events throughout the year that you’ll want to capitalise on and ensure you maximise your gift card sales.

You’ll want to promote your gift cards digitally too. As this section is so detailed we’ve got another blog post, dedicated just to the digital marketing of gift cards.

Add-ons for gift cards

Whatever your product or service you are gifting, you can create extra revenue from it by having add-ons with your card.

What is an add-on?

It’s something complimentary to your product or service that customers can buy additionally with their gift card, to enhance the experience making it extra special and personalised.

For example, let’s take a spa experience gift card. You could have the option to ‘add-on’ a glass of Champagne or chocolate covered strawberries to really make the experience worthwhile.

The add-on option gives the buyer an opportunity to make their gift extra special.

Gift card system for small business

To truly make the most money from your gift cards, you will really need to have them available online.

You may have loyal customers that travel from across the country to experience your offerings. They may want to buy a gift card for a family member or friend, so make this process easier for them by offering the cards on your website.

You’ll need a system in place that can process online payments and transactions effectively. Plus, the purchasing of the card online needs to be simple and easy to use. Just like a familiar shopping online experience.

Make sure your gift cards are easy to find on your website with clever website design, this is crucial!

Delivery of gift cards

With the popularity of e-commerce and trust among shoppers, more and more are preferring to use electronic tracking of gift cards over a physical card.

That’s why with our system, we also send the gift card details via email.

For the shoppers that still like a physical copy. We offer an easy to download printable PDF of the gift card.

All in all, you want the purchasing of your cards to be an extremely easy process. Complicated and difficult shopping experiences will almost always make customers give up the process and abandon their purchase.

Having a 3-month extension card

For those who forget to spend their card within the expiry period, it’s a great idea to have an option for them to purchase an extension card. 3 months in which to spend it is usually a reasonable amount of time.

These are very popular and provide a solution to those who really do want to use their card without paying the full cost of another.

The extension cards must be priced properly. Not more than the price of the original card, but enough so that you make a decent amount of extra revenue from them.

Gift card platform design

You also want your gift card website to be attractive, but also fit with the design of your own brand.

It also needs to work easily and effectively so that your customers can navigate around the page.

It must be easy to use on the back-of-house end for you and your staff too. You’ll need an easy and simple way to retrieve the information you’re looking for.

Take a look at the features of our gift voucher system to get a more in-depth idea of what may be important to your business.

Your gift card platform will also need to be mobile compatible too!

Shopping enhancing features

This will include things like making multiple orders. A protected payment process for security. Adding promotional codes to allow the ability to process high volume orders in a single day (important for days like Black Friday!)

You’ll also want the ability to add promotional codes to some cards if you are doing a short-term promotion.

Start using gift card software for small business today!

Seeing the benefits of gifting your services and products yet? There’s a lot of potential extra revenue to be made in the gift card market. Make sure you jump on board and sell your cards the proper way.

Advantages of e commerce in hospitality industry

In this blog post, we are going to look at the advantages of e commerce in hospitality industry.

What are the advantages of e commerce in hospitality industry?

First let’s start with a quick definition of ecommerce. Electronic commerce- otherwise known as e commerce, is quite simply where transactions are exchanged over the internet.

The rise of e commerce in hospitality industry

The use of e commerce is continuing to rise across all industries. Even companies in the service industry are incorporating e commerce into their business strategies to remain competitive in the marketplace. This is especially true of the hospitality industry.

With the Covid-19 lockdowns still in effect across many global countries, e commerce is continuing to rise. According to Ecommerce Guide, 95% of all purchases are expected to be via ecommerce by 2040.

They concluded that this is largely due to the fact online shopping is convenient and available 24/7.

E commerce is a lighthouse in the storm for many organisations throughout this crisis.

With the impact of the Coronavirus causing many businesses across the hospitality industry to close or restrict services, companies are needing to adapt.

How e commerce hospitality industry is changing

E commerce has made drastic changes to the hospitality industry.

People can now search for places to stay, where to find the best deals, things to do all from the comfort of their own home and even on their mobile.

Advantages of e commerce in the hospitality industry

There are many advantages to organisations within the hospitality industry that are adapting to incorporate e commerce into their business strategies.

For hospitality businesses, e commerce has no doubt changed the services and outreach to customers in significant ways. An online presence is a given. Whether this is with a company website, social media page, or even a Google My Business listing. But to really have a competitive advantage, restaurants, bars, hotels and more services in the hospitality industry need to be doing so much more.

1. Increased visibility

E commerce has allowed hospitality businesses to dramatically increase their visibility. Customers will turn to Google or their social media pages to find new places to eat, drink or have spa days.

What does this have to do with e commerce? - Everything.

To be able to book services with you online, your customers need to be able to find you.

2. Access to a wider audience

Increased visibility gives businesses access to a much wider audience.

Even when it comes to the hospitality industry, e commerce has opened up accessibility to international markets.

Now when people are planning to travel overseas, they typically research thoroughly places to stay, places to eat and things to explore. Having an online presence that not only communicates your brand, but perks, prices and while providing the ability to book and reserve online will boost visitor preference over any of your local competitors.

3. Marketing - low promotional costs/ use web and email marketing- visitor contact information / retargeting

Promotional material

If your attractions and promotional material is excellent, you may even encourage new travellers to your area. Take the Celtic Manor Resort with their international Ryder Cup Golf course. For golf fanatics this is a must for the bucket list! Many golfers from all over the globe travel to the small town in Wales, United Kingdom to experience one of the best golf courses in the world.

To reach global eyes effectively, your marketing and promotional activity must showcase the very best of your services.

Low promotional costs

In comparison to traditional marketing, e commerce is allowing businesses to promote their businesses on a global scale for a fraction of the cost.

Digital Marketing tactics

Businesses using SEO (search engine optimisation), paid ads, social media marketing, email and retargeting marketing are not only getting further reach with their audience but are more successful in attracting new customers, increasing returning customers, increasing engagement and interactivity and improving sales.

You can read in more depth on each of these digital marketing tactics for hotels here.

Marketing tracking and retargeting

One of the best ways to utilise e commerce strategies is to keep up to date on the latest digital marketing tactics.

Businesses in the hospitality industry who are using sophisticated tracking and retargeting tactics are increasing their sales by 70% over competitors.

spiralytics.com explain how potential customers who browse your site, will view and compare many websites for research. Retargeting those visitors helps nudge them back into your direction. With as much as 25% of them enjoying seeing retargeting ads, while 60% remain neutral. So you don’t have to worry about alienating any website visitors.

4. Sales

E commerce is drastically changing the way businesses in the hospitality industry are making sales. By opening up accessibility, more and more businesses in this sector are utilising online revenue-generating services.

To generate extra e commerce revenue many businesses in the hospitality industry are discovering the power of selling gift vouchers for their services.

Gift vouchers

Gift vouchers are an extremely effective way for hotels, restaurants, pubs, spas, salons activity centres, and more to generate extra revenue alongside their services.

The huge sales that can be made through an excellent gift voucher strategy are often overlooked. Hotels can make millions with the right gift voucher system and marketing.

Especially in the midst of the Coronavirus crisis, selling gift vouchers have been a great support for businesses in the hospitality industry. You can read much more about selling gift vouchers and promotional activities here.

Some tips to increase online sales:

You need an easy-to-navigate website.
You must have a simplified booking process- the fewer clicks to the sale the better!
Use autofill for forms (e.g address finders).
Use secure and well-known payment gateways.
You should Optimize your website for mobile.

5. Ease of online bookings, and payment processing

Ecommerce makes the booking and payment of hospitality services simple and easy online. Businesses that have online bookings are making the booking process faster and more convenient for shoppers than those who don’t.

6. Flexibility on discounting and promotional activity

Having an online e commerce booking or shopping store on hospitality websites allow businesses to make discounts and promotions more accessible and available to customers. Whether this is through email marketing, website banners or automated at checkout. Thus, encouraging more customers to make purchases.

7. Convenience of audience shopping 24/7

The convenience of shopping online anytime at anyplace will attract more customers to your services. Many potential customers are not available to call to make a booking during open hours, or even visit the business in person to book.

8. Personalised experiences

We talk often in our blog posts about the importance of personalisation. An e commerce platform can greatly allow businesses to create personalized experiences.

Shoppers are looking for experiences that are not only memorable but personal too.

We are hitting new heights in the ecommerce world, and personalised experiences are what's turning heads.

Whether it’s sending a birthday discount code or tailoring product recommendations based on shoppers tastes, e commerce is allowing businesses to gather a wealth of data to customise and personalise the customer experience.

Promoting individualism and inclusiveness to your brand is a clever way to entice and keep customers returning to your brand.

You can create personalized shopping experiences by using visitor tracking tools or simply by providing opportunities for shoppers to tailor purchases to their wants and needs.

A great example of this is with selling gift vouchers.

Businesses who use the enjoiva gift voucher system are able to easily incorporate item ‘add-ons’ onto their voucher experiences to create bespoke packages exactly to their shopping needs. By using a special feature called ‘Add-on’s a dropdown box appears and allows shoppers to add extra products or services to the voucher experience.

For example, an overnight stay with a spa day package may come with an ‘add on’ choice to purchase champagne or chocolate-dipped strawberries with their gift voucher. Thus making the voucher bespoke and exclusive to the shopper's needs.

We have more on gift voucher add ons here (Create unique experiences with gift voucher add-ons) if you want to know more.

9. Virtual room tours

Leading off from the importance of personalisation, website visitors also enjoy transparency too.

Businesses that can provide online virtual room tours are taking the experience to the customer and are 75% more likely to convert sales. Virtual tours for the hospitality industry get around 50% more clicks than using a standard photo gallery.

It’s important to allow shoppers to envision their potential product and their use of the product or service. It will help them make a purchase decision much faster.

Conclude

We hope you enjoyed our pose on the advantages of e commerce in hospitality industry.

For a business in hospitality, you can always improve your digital footprint. Any small detail you make to your website can have huge effects on the traffic and amount of customers. And don’t forget to review any small changes you make on your website over time. E Commerce is a fast-moving process, constantly adapting to new technologies and new trends in the market.

Sell MORE with your Valentines Day gift vouchers

In this post, we will demonstrate how you can increase sales with your Valentines Day gift vouchers.

Valentine’s Day is one of the major gift-giving events of the year with more than 1 Billion being spent on loved ones in just the UK alone. In the US, a whopping $27 billion is spent on Valentine’s Day gifts!

What we found most interesting about the recent study taken by MuchNeeded was that 'gift experiences' are wanted by a huge 40% of people!

It's clear that experiences are more and more desirable to consumers. So don't get left in the lurch. If you haven't yet set up a gift voucher store then you need to do so fast!

Valentine's Day campaign ideas

No doubt you’ll be selling gift vouchers for this special occasion, so here are 5 simple steps you can maximise your revenue and sell more gift vouchers this Valentine's Day.

1. Create Bespoke Valentines Day Gift Voucher Packages

Valentine’s Day is where loving gestures is the name of the game. It’s important that you provide bespoke and unique gift voucher experiences to create a feeling of exclusivity for a special experience.

Here’s the fun bit! Whatever your industry, you can easily create unique gift experiences by simply adding extra items as part of a voucher package.

For example, a spa can add chocolate-dipped strawberries and champagne to a treatment. A hotel can include rose petals on the bed and complimentary chocolates in the room. A restaurant can include a free bottle of wine with Dinner.

Whatever you choose to put together, just make sure it’s unique and exclusive for Valentine’s Day.

It may be worth working together with local attractions, vineyards, restaurants or experiences to widen your offering. It will show that you can provide the very best service to your customers and that you are aware that there are some things you just can’t or don’t do, however, that won’t detract from their great day!

2. Who’s the voucher for?

Valentine’s day can be a bittersweet day for some. Particularly for singles, romance is everywhere in sight. That’s why you can use some clever marketing at this time and create packages not just for couples but single people too.

1 in 4 people buy Valentine's day gift for their pets!

Without any presents to buy, singles will have more disposable income. You'll be missing a trick by not including everyone in this Valentine's promotion.

Some ideas to target singles for Valentine’s Day:

Create a 2 for 1 deal on an experience to use with a friend
Provide a “Show someone you care” experience.
Or even as a “Show some love to yourself”

Now let’s not forget that Valentine’s Day is primarily for people in Love. That could be for the beginning of something special, or even that reminder for couples that have been married for years. It’s important to create packages that reflect the different stages of people’s relationships and that all-important gesture of love.

3. Images and Wording for your Valentines day gift vouchers

Use high quality and original images for your Valentine’s Day Vouchers. The best kind of images is of people immersed in the experience. This way people can imagine themselves (or their intended) using the voucher. Check out our post on how images are best used for Marketing here.

Use clever wording to capture your buyer’s attention. Think about words that evoke a feeling, or something they can relate to. Think about the different kinds of people buying your experiences.

For the buyer that has no idea:

“Haven’t planned Valentine’s Day?… Let us help!”

For the buyer who knows what they want:

“Make Valentine’s Day gift truly special…”

“Make her feel special this Valentine’s Day…”

For the long-term married buyer:

“Rekindle the Romance with …”

And for singles:

“Show that special person you care”

“The Single Friends Spa Package”

“Why should couples get all the fun?”

4. Website Promotion

Maximise your sales by promoting your offerings through all available online and offline channels. This can be through a physical display of products at key point of sale areas or online through your social media or an email campaign.

Read more about the in-house promotion here.

For your online vouchers, there’s a cleverer way you can get attention to them.

Landing Page

Dedicate a Valentine’s Day gift landing page exclusively for your gift experiences.

Make sure the link to this page is featured right on your homepage! It’s also a good idea to add many internal links for the most visibility.

Catalogue Category

Create a Category to promote and group your Valentine’s Day Offers within your voucher browsing page. Then position it to number 1 in the catalogue order on the gift voucher page.

Personalisation

Create add-ons for your vouchers. Customers wanting to construct their experience themselves can make a truly personalised and thoughtful gift to suit their valentine.

You provide a fully personalised experience while boosting your revenue simultaneously. Win=Win.

The type of add-ons available could be an additional spa treatment, maybe a bottle of wine or even some rose petals, couples love that stuff!

Emotional purchases certainly drive up revenue on Valentine’s day.

5. The Final Push

For those last-minute buyers, (which from our Valentine’s Day figures show there are many!), ease their pain by highlighting a last-minute deal or by simply promoting a ‘Last Chance’ for vouchers to be delivered for valentine’s day.

Do this by sending out a last-minute email campaign on the day before and the day of Valentine’s Day. You’ll be surprised how many sales come through on this day.

The ease of online shopping for Valentines Day gift with an instant email confirmation- it will look like the voucher was planned all along!

For more information on how you can improve your valentines day gift vouchers, contact enjovia.com.

Christmas business promotion ideas

Are you looking for competitive Christmas business promotion ideas?

With the ongoing threats of lockdowns and closures, experts are forecasting online sales skyrocket by around £5.6bn according to Internetretailing.net. With so many people expected to stay at home this holiday season, the increase in online spending comes as no surprise.

But for retailers like yourself, this does mean a more competitive online market. In this blog post, we are going over Christmas business promotion ideas to make you stand out from the crowd!

Let’s get started!

Christmas Business promotion ideas:

1. Who are you targeting?

With each of your Christmas promotions, you need to be specific in targeting a certain buyer. This is so that your audience will feel compelled to purchase what you’re selling as you’ll be directly solving a problem that feels personal to them.

You want your customers who see your ad to feel like you’re not only talking directly to them, but you understand their needs and wants too.

Ask yourself, What are their needs?

For example, let’s take restaurants targeting home food deliveries for the Christmas period.

Their customers either desire a hassle-free meal without all the fuss of cooking themselves, they could be poor cooks, or they quite simply want to treat themselves and the family to a restaurant-quality meal- without risking being in public places.

Any messaging like these examples in their promotions will certainly attract buyers. People are drawn to experiences that fit within their lifestyle. Promoting opportunities that give people solutions to their problems will guarantee you more sales than a mere generalized holiday promotion.

2. Be Merry with Christmas themed designs!

Christmas CTA’s (Call to Action Buttons)

When your customers see your updated website with Christmas themed designs it subconsciously communicates that not only are you current, but there are Christmas offers to be had!

Introduce a Christmas themed banner on your homepage that clicks-through to your specific Christmas sales page. This creates an improved user experience as the customer has less actions to take to get to their desired page.

As we all know, fewer clicks to checkout= higher sales made!

Pymnts.com found that a huge 40% of online sales are abandoned due to frustration with websites that make you take too many clicks until checkout!

Do the same with email signatures or Call-to-Action links. Do this by adding at least one link in your email marketing campaign that takes customers directly through to your Christmas offers.

3. Give the gift of Christmas

Build on your customer relationships by giving this Christmas. There are many ways to ‘give back’ with Christmas promotions.

Some examples include:

Enter your customers into prize draws with substantial prizes to be won! For example, our clients Welsh Rarebits have a fantastic Christmas promotion this year where upon purchase of a gift voucher you'll be entered into a prize draw to win a £100 Welsh Rarebits voucher.
Give away little extras that are valuable to your customers in the checkout.

Customers are all looking for advantages they can gain out of their Christmas shopping experiences. Giving a little back could make all the difference between choosing between you and a competitor.

4. For services - be giftable!

For all businesses who operate through services, you need to switch up your promotions and sell gift experiences.

Too many times we see hotels and restaurants on social media promoting their room rates, spa days, restaurant meals with the link going through to direct bookings either through the website or to a phone line.

Sending a link directly to your gift voucher page has two advantages.

Customers can purchase the voucher right away and they can think about a time that suits them best when to use it or gift it to someone for Christmas.
It eliminates customer decision delay. When needing to book deals directly, customers need to check the availability of their party, times etc.

Selling the same option available in gift voucher form encourages spontaneous buying as people don’t need to make a decision on any of these things yet.

If you’re stuck for ideas on which services or products you can promote in gift vouchers, don’t worry, as we’ve written a blog post on this exact topic which you can read here: What are the best gift cards to give for Christmas?

5. Create promotions to create a feeling of togetherness.

The year 2020 has been a challenging year. With the global pandemic still lingering, fear and isolation is still a residing reality for many.

This year, promote ‘togetherness’ in a way to unite people. Whether that’s providing opportunities for your customers to donate to charitable organisations, working with local businesses or even providing opportunities for your customers to have memorable experiences with their loved ones.

In your promotions use wording that communicates care, love, sharing.

Create packages that give families opportunities to make beloved memories and to focus on what matters most- even in such an unexpected year.

6. Solve holiday headaches!

Christmas is a wonderful time of year- but it also comes with its headaches!

If you can provide solutions to common holiday problems, you could be onto a winner.

Offer a gift wrapping service with your sales or a dinner delivery experience as we mentioned above.

Think outside of the box for unique experiences that would make your Christmas easy. If you can provide effective Christmas solutions, people will be driven towards your offerings.

7. Maximise website and social media visits with holiday-specific keywords

Keep up with trending keywords by finding out what customers are searching for this Christmas.

Use tools such as Keywords Everywhere which provides keyword trends commonly asked questions on search engines, and related searches to give you great ideas on what people are looking for this Christmas.

Choose to use keywords that have high searches across search engines and social media, and be sure to include these in your product descriptions, social media posts and even blog posts to increase web traffic.

8. It doesn’t end on Christmas!

We see thousands of gift voucher sales go through on Christmas day itself!

So it’s important to recognize that not only are people still shopping on Christmas day, but also all the way through until the New year.

Quite often, customers will hold off purchasing gifts until the after-Christmas Boxing day sales.

Strategise your promotions so that customers who missed out on your holiday sales can still get a slice of the pie in the after-sales.

9. Increase communication

If you’re lucky enough to struggle with online shopping demand you’ll be amazed at how understanding and forgiving your customers can be if you’re upfront and honest in your communication.

Be sure to send communication about your delivery times and scheduling promptly as soon as you notice an issue in the fulfilment of orders. A great tip is to prioritise customers who need gifts before Christmas.

An example of this would be to prioritise urgent birthday gifts while the fulfilment backtracking gets sorted. This way you provide a solution for your urgent customers who are very unhappy with the delay.

As long as you make a promise to send all other packages by a certain date, the majority of your customers will be understanding and forgiving.

Whatever you're offering this year, play it smart with implementing some of our Christmas business promotion ideas mentioned above. It’s not too late to introduce your Christmas promotions to capture this great end of year opportunity.

What are the best gift cards to give for Christmas?

We’ve compiled statistics and surveys from the public to see which are the most popular gift cards for the holiday season and why.

Let’s take a deep dive into the best gift cards to get someone for Christmas.

The popularity of gift cards at Christmas

It is expected by the National Retail Federation that $27.5 Billion will be spent on gift cards this year in their NFR 2020 consumer holiday survey.

They also concluded from the survey that consumers will purchase 3 gift cards on average, and spend an average price of around $50 per gift card.

So why are gift cards so popular at Christmas?

NFR insights found that the most popular gift that consumers want to receive this holiday season is gift cards.

54% of people preferred to receive gift cards and gift certificates as their holiday gift. This is higher than all other types of gifts. Clothing is the close second preferred gift with 47% of people.

Online shopping is also expected to grow this Christmas.

With the threat of Coronavirus still looming we predict online shopping for the holidays to rise substantially.

Around 60% of consumers plan to purchase online this Christmas.

And around 70% of consumers plan to make purchases on their mobile too. This makes it ideal for businesses with an online gift card store.

Who are gift cards popular with?

67% of women wish for gift cards at Christmas compared with 50% of men.

What are the best gift cards to get someone?

While both men and women desire to receive gift cards at Christmas, 38% of these said they would love to receive an experience gift card over a monetary value.

This is reflected in another NRF 2020 consumer holiday survey, As you can see from the graph the most popular type of gift card people plan to purchase is restaurant gift cards.

We also found that 45% of women also desire weekend breaks as a Christmas gift.

Experiences are favoured over physical gifts!

The statistics above demonstrate a true shift in the consumer spending habit in embracing the experience economy.

We have found through our gift card sales that our experience gift cards sell way better than monetary value gift cards, with experience cards sales increasing year on year.

We believe this to be down to:

Fear of missing out (FOMO).
Families wanting to spend quality time together and making memories.
Participating in experiences that align with one's identity.
People want to share unique experiences on social media.

How to create experiences that deliver lasting memories?

Think of unique experiences- moments of evolution
Create opportunities to personalise (statistic)
Create experiences where the whole family is engaged
Create opportunities for extra perceived value

1. Experiences

People are desiring unique experiences more and more. These can be looked at as giving your customers the opportunity to experience a moment of elevation. These are experiences that rise above our routine. We chase these experiences as they promote feelings of joy, amazement, motivation and make us feel engaged.

Think outside the box when creating your experiences. Can you partner with other local enterprises?

What little quirks can you add to your normal services to elevate them and make them memorable?

Some ideas for inspiration can be found in our blog post: What makes a good dining experience?

Unique experiences are often popular on social media. These get posters their ‘likes’ that reaffirms what a great experience they had. The additional benefit of sharing experiences on social media is that it will convince others to participate in your experiences too.

To really promote social sharing, have your marketing team create a fun hashtag that can be associated with the experience.

This will also tap into the dreaded FOMO people experience.

2. Personalisation

Personalised gifts are a huge market, with the global figures expected to rise to $38 Billion by 2021.

One of our favoured features on our gift card system is the ability for all customers to customize and personalise gift experiences.

We achieve this through a little feature called ‘add-ons’.

Our add-ons are quite simple, a drop-down choice menu of additional extras appears next to gift experiences when shoppers are choosing their gift card.

A quick example which demonstrates add-ons easily is an overnight stay at a hotel. The add-on extras for the overnight gift card experience can include a bottle of wine, chocolates on arrival or even rose petals on the bed.

Our figures show that our clients who use add-ons generate an extra 10% sales.

It’s a win-win situation.

You can also enhance your services by adding opportunities for people to identify with the experience. Coffee, Gin, vegan or big steaks- these are very common food identities that people will proudly associate themselves with! A great example of a restaurant catering to these identities can be found in a past blog post of ours on the Park Plaza. The hotel nails creating experiences that cater to people's identities.

3. Engage the whole family

Have a variety of experiences available, but try to include a ‘family participation’ experience too. This in a simple form can be through dining. But thinking outside the box to create unique experiences that include all the family takes something special.

Activities such as miniature golf, escape rooms and petting farms are great activities that promote families spending time together and creating memories. What can you introduce into your services?

4. Create a feeling of value!

For shoppers to really desire to buy your gifts this Christmas ensure you create package experiences where there is a perceived value for money.

Whether this is combining different experiences together to create a super package deal or even quite simply having a limited time on exclusive experiences. People like to feel they are getting something more out of their purchases, which leaves them feeling more satisfied and more likely to purchase again.

If you’re selling gift cards for Christmas this year we very much recommend that you check out our post on how to promote your gift cards on social media. It can go a long way to reaching a wider audience and increasing your sales.

What are the best gift cards to give for Christmas?

We hope you’ve enjoyed our post on the best gift cards to give for Christmas. Stay tuned as next month we’ll be talking about Christmas promotion ideas!

Which is better Black Friday or Cyber Monday?

Are you wondering which is better, Black Friday or Cyber Monday? Let’s find out...

Black Friday Deals

Each year as Black Friday approaches the retail world flies into a frenzy with huge discounts and promotions, even resulting in crazy stories of stores being overrun by discount mad shoppers fighting over the last product left on the shelves. We’ve even heard the horror stories of people being hurt, and in the worst-case scenario, a Walmart employee was trampled by a stampede of shoppers, who tragically died as a result.

So why does Black Friday get shoppers so riled up?

In the US, Black Friday is the busiest shopping day of the year. Billions are spent by shoppers looking to get the best deals in time for Christmas.

Black Friday is the best in-store shopping event to buy new, big-ticket items. You’ll likely see shoppers walking away with a top of the range flat-screen TV for half price or less.

However, as the shopping event newcomer, Cyber Monday is making huge waves for e-commerce and even taking over Black Friday as the superior discount shopping day.

In this post, we are going to look at why we believe Cyber Monday to be the far superior day for shopping discounts, and what businesses can do to maximise sales while delivering on the best deals to their customers.

History of Black Friday

Black Friday emerged from the 1950s where stores would introduce big sales to begin the Christmas shopping season. The sales from these events were so big that often annual profits would tip into the black after being at a revenue loss throughout the year.

History of Cyber Monday

Cyber Monday on the other hand emerged loosely as a result of Black Friday. Ellen Davis, senior vice president of research and strategic initiatives for the National Retail Federation coined the term Cyber Monday after noticing year on year increased online spending the Monday following Thanksgiving. (This was estimated because of a faster internet connection at the office in the days before high-speed home internet). In 2005, the name was given to this day as ‘Cyber Monday’ which has then spread like wildfire ever since as marketing from businesses promoted the term. That first Monday in 2005, sales reached almost half a billion dollars- increasing exponentially year on year.

Expenditure growth: Black Friday vs Cyber Monday

Cyber Monday has now outgrown both Black Friday and Amazon Prime day as the largest consumer spending day of the year. With sales last year in 2019 hitting $9.4 billion in the US. Up from $7.9 billion in 2018, in one year alone, sales increased a huge 19% according to Forbes.

At the peak hour, spending increased to $11 million on average for every minute!

Whereas Black Friday spending for 2019 reached $7.4 billion.

With Cyber Monday being such a young event in comparison to Black Friday, we can expect to see future online sales for the Cyber Monday event increasing ever more exponentially than they already are.

How Long Does Cyber Monday last?

You will have noticed that Black Friday deals and Cyber Monday deals can begin up to a week in advance. In some cases even a month before the actual day!

Companies are taking advantage of this shopping event online, promoting week-long deals referred to as Cyber Week.

This is even true for Black Friday too. Many companies are even promoting their online sales as ‘Black Friday Deals’ as this is what shoppers are mainly accustomed to. But more and more shoppers are catching onto the term Cyber Monday.

Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2020

Black Friday and Cyber Monday will commence this Friday 27th November through to Monday 30th November 2020.

With the devastation of the Coronavirus crisis and public caution still high in areas around the world, we can safely estimate that more shoppers will be turning to online shopping instead of visiting stores this year.

With online sales you don’t just have your local area to compete with- you have the entire world!

So how can you differentiate your deals and stand out from the crowd? Let's take a look at some easy marketing strategies you can implement to get more Cyber Monday sales this year.

Cyber Monday marketing strategies

With a huge drive towards eCommerce and digital shopping, what should your business do about it?

Facilitate gift-giving with selling gift cards

Most people shopping for Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals will be on the search for Christmas gifts for loved ones.

The best promotions are when shoppers don’t have to think too hard about purchasing something. So make your gift cards clear and concise with messaging that promotes luxury, desirable gifts that will make someone happy. And it doesn’t have to stop at monetary gift cards either.

Gift cards are the perfect Cyber Monday deal item to sell as you can apply them to both physical gifts and even experiential gifts.

If you’re in the hospitality industry, no doubt you’ve experienced a great deal of hardship this year. As the Covid-19 pandemic resulted in enforced closures, many hotels, restaurants and pubs turned to using gift cards to help bail out the imminent revenue loss.

Selling gift cards or as we like to call them here in the UK gift experiences, allows businesses to sell their services as gifts. Making them ideal to sell for Cyber Monday deals.

Hotel rooms with dinner, a spa treatment or round of golf can be packaged up into a fantastic bundle or individually into a money-saving deal for Cyber Monday.

We talk more about selling gift cards as gift experiences in our post on Black Friday Marketing strategy if you want to know more about why consumers are choosing experiences over physical goods.

Benefits of selling gift cards for Cyber Monday

Gift cards are one of the top items that are bought on Cyber Monday.
Quick and easy to purchase online and on mobile.
Gift cards usually have an expiry date of 12 months plus to be used so there is no pressure to book something right away.
Companies can create unusual and exciting experiences through their gift cards.
Gift experiences can even be used during lockdowns, see our case study on The Celtic Manor Resorts ‘Celtic at Home’ gift experiences and how they survived the enforced lockdown closures by offering these unique gift experiences.

Encourage treating yourself with gift cards too!

Each year consumers are buying digital gift cards and experiences for themselves, increasing by 13% since 2014.

So be sure to use messaging that encourages self-pampering. This is especially the case in gift experiences. Restaurant gift experiences work particularly well for this. Ensure that this is extended across social media as well as your website and email campaigns.

Promote your Black Friday Cyber Monday deals on social media

Social media has a huge influence on the reach of people viewing your deals. It’s imperative you run many social media campaigns promoting Black Friday through to Cyber Monday to catch as many eyes as possible.

Whether you run competitions, include influencers or post live content you want to focus a high amount of effort on your deals to achieve high web traffic which is half the initial battle.

We have a great post on how to run social media campaigns to sell gift vouchers, take a look it will be worth your time!

Marketing design on online products

As shoppers are more familiar with the term Black Friday over Cyber Monday you need to enhance your online product design with marketing that will scream Black Friday Deals for you. This is to quickly catch the shoppers eye, and they will automatically assume they are getting a discounted deal.

A good way to achieve this is to design the main backdrop of products to be black or to include black within the image. For promoting special Black Friday gift experiences, it will be worth doing a custom photoshoot to enhance the visual of Black Friday.

Launch email campaigns to existing customers

Shoppers everywhere will be looking to bag deals as the holidays approach. You need to not only cash in on this shopping trend, but it also gives you an opportunity to reward your loyal customer base with great deals too.

A great way to entice them with your deals is to offer gift cards and gift experiences which will not only encourage them to return, but also upon return they will likely spend additional money with you during their visit.

Which is better Black Friday or Cyber Monday?

If we haven't yet convinced you that Cyber Monday is better than Black Friday, then check out these little extra benefits to consumers. (We think any Black Friday deal online technically counts as Cyber Monday!)

Online shopping is more convenient.
Shop from the convenience of your smartphone. In 2019 Cyber Monday mobile sales generated 42% of total revenue.
Fewer items will be out of stock on Cyber Monday compared to Black Friday.
You can consider shopping for gifts more carefully instead of impulse buying when shopping in-store deals.
Cost comparisons are easier with online shopping.
You have the availability of the entire internet to shop and aren’t restricted to one shopping Centre or the limited stores at the location.
You avoid the hectic and sometimes dangerous crowds associated with the Black Friday rush.
Online stores will often have free shipping as well as multiple deals to be competitive for Cyber Monday.
Cyber Monday typically lasts the entire weekend, even stretching front the week prior as ‘early deals’.

Social media gift cards promotions

Want to know how you can sell more gift cards with social media gift cards promotions?

Ensure optimal success with your gift card sales by promoting them in the right places.

There are over 3.6 billion people on social media today, with this number estimated to grow to over 4.41 billion in 2025.

The marketing landscape is changing, to be competitive you need to be proactive on social media, especially when it comes to promoting your gift cards.

In this post, we are going to look at the different ways you should be using social media to promote and sell your gift cards.

The purchasing behaviour of gift cards is changing

2020 so far has been full of turmoil for the hospitality industry with forced closures, furloughed staff and sadly even mass job losses.

One of the major crutches many businesses leaned on during the lockdown of the Coronavirus pandemic was selling gift vouchers, (or for the US market, gift cards). While the damage to revenue from COVID19 closures could not be saved, gift card sales certainly helped mitigate revenue losses.

As we highlighted in our Case Study: Celtic Manor Resort gift experiences during COVID-1 we can see a prime example of how The Celtic Manor Resort has perfected the art of promoting gift cards to the individual to enjoy a gift experience themselves. With their ‘Celtic at home’ takeaway experience, more people were purchasing the gift cards to treat themselves as well as others.

For businesses like you, this turns the marketing of gift cards on its head!

One thing we can learn from the Coronavirus pandemic is that people don’t necessarily need an occasion to consider purchasing a gift card. Enabling you to create a constant drip-feed of voucher sales throughout the year.

That’s why it’s important that you communicate directly with your audience through social media. According to Hootsuite a whopping 52% of all online brand discovery happens in social feeds.

So without further ado, let's dive into the social tactics you can use to sell your gift cards directly to your audience.

Social media promotion tactics

Here are some social media promotion tactics to boost the sale of your gift cards.

1. Choose your images with precision

Get your message across with an impact! Careful considerations must go into the images you choose for your brand’s marketing. That also includes the images you choose for social media. Not only do images communicate a message, but they also leave a print on your memory and help create sales!

Hootsuite found that in less than a second, weak social ads create a negative emotional response. So using high-quality visuals for your promotions is paramount!

Here’s how you can create images that persuade buyers:

Include people in candid shots

Images that display just one person, who looked away from the camera sold the best according to Contently. They found that candid images made viewers be able to imagine more easily they were the person in the frame.

Take a look at these images for example. Which sells an experience better? We'll leave it to you to decide.

When it comes to selling gift cards, it is the experience that people are drawn to.

Capture a feeling

Another way to draw desire to your images is to convey a feeling. For example, you could focus on capturing the feeling of ‘love’ rather than making someone look rich. Do you notice the subtle difference between the two? One focuses on the feelings created, the other focuses on an image.

Sizing of images

Make sure your images are all sized correctly for your different social profiles. Each network requires different dimensions. A great way to get around this is to post through tools such as Canva which are designed ready to fit your social network pages.

2. Use persuasive wording to create an emotional appeal

Experiences have a strong impact because of how they make people feel. This is worth more to consumers than just plain old ‘stuff’. So use persuasive wording to accompany your gift card promotions on social media such as the following:

‘Make memories’

‘Don’t miss out’

‘Give yourself a break/ treat’

All these phrases create an emotional appeal and tap into the FOMO (fear of missing out)!

3. Make the gift experience feel exclusive

If someone knows something is always available they will almost always put it down and come back to it later at a more convenient time. However, if they feel the item is running low in stock there is a stronger compulsion to purchase right away!

This is certainly the case with selling online gift cards. Therefore, a great social media promotional tactic is to make them feel more valuable by limiting the purchase time.

Whether you sell for a limited time or a limited amount, try to create that feeling of scarcity and exclusivity.

4. Promote User-Generated Content

Around 50% of all purchase decisions are driven by word-of-mouth marketing. This is because your customers want to see real people using your products and services.

People also want to relieve any worries about their intended purchases by reading reviews from normal people just like them.

But don’t worry as you don’t necessarily need Influencers to sell your brand. You can effectively entice your existing customers to be your brand advocates with simple encouragement in the form of freebies and discounts.

You can simply do this by asking your customers who have purchased your gift cards to share photos of their experience on social media using certain hashtags. This way, all your brand advocates and their testimonials appear in one place if you get searched by new customers. It’s also easy for you to find if you want to share (with permission) on your own social media pages.

Having others vouch for your products and services is the easiest way to gain credibility to your brand.

Hashtag tips:

It's important for all of your social media gift cards promotions to have a significant hashtag. Create your branded hashtag to be evergreen. This means that it can be used far into the future. So exclude dates and seasonal events in your hashtags. A hashtag also allows you to find all the content with your promotions easily in one place.

Send an email campaign to all of your existing customers who have previously bought a gift card to share their photos online using your hashtag. Be sure to include social sharing buttons in your message to make this process seamless and convenient.

Use Influencers

Influencer marketing can bring in huge returns with an average of $6.50 in revenue for every $1 spent on an influencer. With many marketers rating influencers as their fastest-growing channel for acquiring customers.

Twitter ran a study which found that people put the same amount of trust in an influencer as their own friends.

So try and find an influencer for your brand before they get swamped with demands!

5. Hold a contest on social media

Social media giveaways and contests are one of the fastest ways to gain new followers and increase engagement with your brand. Outgrow.co found that Instagram is the fastest platform for growing followers through competitions by a massive 70%.

For the amount of exposure and new sales generated, holding social media contests for your gift cards are an extremely cost-effective marketing tactic.

Take a look at our spa marketing ideas and promotions where we discuss how to run social media competitions.

6. Talk and engage with your audience

For 23% of people, a brand with high engagement is more compelling for them to purchase from. So be sure to reply to comments on your posts, how you engage will have an effect on people's perception of you as a brand also.

7. Make the purchasing process simple

Use clickable and trackable CTAs (Call-to-action’s). These are clickable buttons that you install on your social media posts that will prompt your audience to do something. In the case of gift cards, it’s to make a purchase.

Have direct CTAs such as ‘buy today’, ‘purchase now’. This avoids the transparent beat-around-the-bush messaging that can be off-putting to people. If someone likes your advertising they will appreciate the directness because they WANT to buy it. Make this process as fast and convenient for them as possible.

8. Get a verified business badge for your social profiles

A verified business badge conveys the message that you’re a trustworthy and reliable business. This will enable your audience to feel more confident with purchasing from you, especially if they have anxiety around not knowing what to expect as a first-time customer of yours.

Good luck on your gift card sales. As we’ve mentioned in previous posts, it is essential that businesses are setting up well-executed social media promotions to sell more gift cards.

If you want any further information on the gift card system we provide, please get in contact with us.

Spa blog ideas to increase website visitors

Are you looking at ways to bring in more traffic to your spa website but are stuck for spa blog ideas?

In this post, we will give you lots of ideas on spa blog topics to generate traffic to your blog at no cost!

The world of digital marketing may be completely alien to you. But your passion and knowledge in the health and beauty world is your key to success.

Importance of a blog for your salon or spa

To be competitive in this day and age you must have a strong online presence- beginning with your website.

Many successful spas and salons all share their news, expertise and entertain with their audience via a blog.

Online presence and image

First of all, maintaining an up to date online presence is vital to keeping up with the competition.

Your potential customers will not only judge your online activity, but they will compare it to your competition. The website with the most persuasive and active online presence will sway votes in their favour.

Your online activity will tell your audience a story about your brand and image.

Appear at the top of Google search results

Your blog is where you can provide your customers and followers with a place to engage and be educated in your expertise! But more importantly, your blog is where you will be able to use SEO techniques to drive traffic to your website over competition.

The most important factor in getting high rankings on Google is to use keywords effectively, through a marketing strategy called Search Engine Optimisation (SEO).

Become industry experts

People will follow someone who knows what they are talking about. Your spa blog will be recommended and gain a reputation for having knowledge in the health and beauty industry.

People will pay more or be willing to travel further for better results. And better results often come with industry experts.

You need a platform to share your expertise and professional knowledge and what better way to do this than through your online presence?

How to create a spa blog ideas that your audience will want to read?

Step 1: Create your buyer persona.

The most important thing when deciding to start a blog for your spa is to decide on your target audience or your ‘buyer persona’. Each time you create a piece of marketing content, create it with your buyer persona in mind.

Step 2: Create content dedicated to your buyer persona.

Does your audience want educational content? Entertaining? Informative?

An easy way to determine this is to look at your niche.

For a wellness spa revolving around holistic treatments and relaxation, your buyer persona is likely to be someone who looks after their health and well-being.

Or if you're a cosmetic spa or salon, your clientele may be more interested in ways they can maintain a youthful complexion.

Step 3: Apply SEO techniques to your content to yield the best traffic results

The key to using SEO techniques is to write about topics that include keywords your audience is searching.

We ran a quick check on the topic ‘reduce wrinkles’ for the purpose of this blog post, and we can see the most common questions asked by people around reducing wrinkles.

spa blog ideas research — screenshot of SEMRush keyword research

This is a great way to write topics that match the exact phrases your audience are looking for. It also shows the volume of searches per month. So the keyword phrase ‘how to reduce wrinkles’ is searched for 260 times a month.

By plugging as many of these related keywords as throughout your post, you’ll improve your SEO score and people will likely click on your content for answers on their problems.

Over time, your audience will learn to view you as an expert and naturally turn to your services in the future.

Try out Keywords Everywhere, SEM Rush or even Answer the Public for some tools to find related keyword questions to your blog topics.

Spa blog ideas to increase website visitors - Try these topics!

Remember to write content that is either educational, entertaining or informational.

Here’s a quick list to give you ideas, combined with the application of the above steps.

Pro’s and con’s of certain treatments
'How-To' tutorials or beauty tips for your audience at home
Treatment benefits
Latest spa news or beauty trends
Special events in your spa or upcoming changes
New treatments coming to your spa
Introduce a ‘Get to know’ feature of your team
Spa product reviews
Customer success stories- this is especially important for recommendations! Tell the story of how you’ve helped an individual on their personal journey. Readers will relate or even feel inspired to try for themselves.

Include a CTA

A CTA (click through action) is usually at the end of a blog post or where you see applicable. But you want to lead your audience to another area on your website.

'Book here’, 'subscribe to our blog', or even a link to another blog post are some examples.

Marketing opportunities

For more content marketing ideas on how you can use marketing strategies to promote your spa check out our post on Spa marketing strategies and promotions where we talk about social media pages, email campaigns and enlisting more potential clients.

Topics for your restaurant blog

Are you looking for topics for your restaurant blog?

The dining market is extremely competitive. We speak frequently of ways restaurants can enhance their offerings by creating dining experiences that give a customer more than just a nice meal in a restaurant.

People are drawn to wonderful experiences, and this couldn’t be more true of the restaurant industry. However, to stay current and win over a large share of customers, you need to have a fully visualised online presence.

Why a high-quality website matters

The bigger your net, the more fish you’ll catch.

Expanding your online presence is important to reach more people. Especially, these days when people rely on the web to tell them where it is best to go.

When people want to dine out, they often look to the internet for directions on where to eat.

Whether through a Google Search, reviews or recommendations on social media, the internet is heavily relied on. This is especially true when visiting new areas.

Having a website to inform your customers of your menu, directions and contact details is no longer enough. Successful restaurants will use strong digital marketing strategies through blogging and social media.

Through the use of interesting, educational and even entertaining articles, restaurants can entice website visitors to enjoy their content and in time, sway them to indulge in their dining experience.

Benefits of a restaurant blog

A blog is important for a few reasons.

1. Communication and connection

You have a platform where you can directly share stories, information and news to your customer base through articles. This also gives you richer content to share on your social media profiles.

2. Improve position in search engine results

You can harness SEO (search engine optimisation) techniques to boost you to the top of Google results, skipping ahead of all your competition when diners are deciding where to eat. This is essential, as most internet searchers only consider the top 3 results on search engine result pages.

3. Capture customer information

A blog also gives you an opportunity to capture personal details of website visitors. By using a pop-up email subscription to your blog, you have the desire and permission from readers to send them new content, promotions, and dining information. This is key to forming a relationship and encouraging returning visitors time and time again.

It’s important you create email campaigns to support your digital marketing strategy. - Remember if they give you their personal contact information they want to be notified of this information.

Regular posting

Setting up a restaurant blog with one or two articles won’t give you successful results.

Restaurateurs need to have a regular flow of content to not only keep loyal readers interested but to get higher SEO rankings on Google. Which equates to more website visitors!

Topics for your restaurant blog- types of content

So now you may realise the importance of a blog, but your next question is, “what do I write about?!”.

Maintaining a mix of content that entertains, educates and informs will capture the interest of an audience for your blog. Below we will give you ideas of content that follow each of these categories.

Entertaining content for your restaurant blog

Think about the style of your writing to suit your audience. If your audience is the hipster, foodie crowd then use a relaxed and friendly tone in your posts. Likewise, if you’re a fine dining restaurant, think about the tone and language used of your customers, this tends to be more formal.

1. Share your story

A great place to start on an entertaining blog post is to share your personal story of how you started and where you are today.

People love stories. Sharing your story is a really important way for people to understand why and how your restaurant started. It connects them to you and creates loyal followers.

A great example of people buying into a brand and wanting to be more involved is the Welsh restaurant, The Hang Fire Southern Kitchen. Two local female Welsh butchers had a dream of producing locally-sourced ethical food, away from the congested chain-led culinary landscape we often see bloating the dining industry.

They share their epic journey to success starting with travelling the states to master BBQ.

On their return, they put into place what they learned. They began small with pop up BBQ restaurants throughout Wales. From this, they gathered a HUGE following (myself included!) Until they grew large enough to open their own restaurant.

With their dream realised, they now sell branded merchandise, sauces and even a cookbook sharing their recipes and giving instructions on how you can BBQ yourself. - I’ve purchased most of these items!

Their epic journey draws in supporters as people want to experience a part of their tale.

Be personal.

People love to hear a success story and love to support hardworking, passionate local businesses. You can create this with your personal story too. Each restaurant journey is unique and special, and people like to feel a connection with them.

You can share the origins of your dishes if some have been passed through your family, or inspired by your hometown.

Or maybe even the history of the restaurant building is an interesting and captivating story.

Just remember to make it personal!

2. Share entertaining information from the global culinary world

This topic can be entertaining or informative depending on how you deliver your message, but a fun topic can be sharing culinary behaviours and practices from other cultures in the world.

Do you remember the HSBC advert of the difference in eating behaviour between the British and Chinese? I’ll remind you. The British man, among a crowd of Chinese businessmen, is served eel, and as a British courtesy, he finishes the dish -not to offend the Chinese. However, in China, finishing a dish is an indication that you’re questioning their generosity. So you can imagine how this ad plays out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_WAmt3cMdk

Shining light on the different dining cultures and behaviours of the world could be a fun category you can routinely bring to your blog.

Educational content for your restaurant blog

Share insider knowledge!

3. Recipes

Sharing cooking and dining tips in your articles can be a great way to establish a loyal readership base. Then over time once they have grown to love and appreciate your content they will absolutely HAVE to dine at your restaurant as the connection and relationship is already present.

You can share the recipes of your best dish, and at the end of the post ask them to share their version on social media to generate more interest and a deeper relationship. Make sure to engage with your audience through these posts. You can even encourage them to come to try your version of the dish someday!

4. Dining Etiquette

The prospect of eating an elaborate dish incorrectly in a public restaurant can be embarrassing to many people. So they typically stay away from ordering it, even though they may really want to try it!

You can inform your readers of dining etiquette and how best to enjoy eating certain dishes. For example, showing the right way to eat meat from a lobster or how to eat oysters, can be desired pieces of information that your readers will search for and value.

5. Drink and dish pairings

You could create a list of favourite dishes which pair exquisitely with the best wines at your restaurant.

Your alcohol sales make a huge difference to your profit margins. At every opportunity, you need to be upselling your finest wines with each dish served. The best way to do this is to become an expert at wine and food pairing and to sell this through your educational blog posts.

Informative content for your restaurant blog

6. Share your new menu items or weekly special dish

Defining your cuisine style is a very important step in establishing your culinary brand. You can get some ideas here about what culinary styles to choose.

Once this is established, its a great idea to share this with your audience. One of the best ways to do this is to have recurring content that your audience can become familiar with, whilst getting informed of your dishes at the same time.

This is your opportunity to really sell your dishes, describe where the inspiration came from, what in-season ingredients you use, where you obtain your locally-sourced produce etc.

7. Inform your readers of upcoming events

Whether it’s your 1st, 5th or 20th restaurant birthday. Or maybe you’re hosting some spectacular events. -This is your platform to make all singing and all dancing praise around it.

8. Share local information

Informing readers about your local area will give them more incentive to visit and dine in your restaurant.

You want to attract a wide range of diners to your restaurant. But for many, the distance will be off-putting if it’s too far to travel. By creating a full holiday experience by including local businesses around you, you will sway the desire to visit in your favour.

Talk highly of neighbouring hotels, shops, attractions and communities in your restaurant blog. By being proud of your local area you are supporting other local businesses while encouraging your own business. Give your readers an idea of places to see, things to do and places to stay to make a well-rounded and memorable experience when they visit you.

9. Get to know your chefs

You could produce personal pieces that inform your customers about your team. Where your chefs have come from, their level of training, their favourite dishes. This could be in an interview form of questions and answers, or in a neat biography form. Either way, this is a great opportunity to engage your audience by encouraging them to get involved and ask questions of what they would like to know about your restaurant team.

Conclusion

We hope that you can feel inspired by our suggested blog topics for your restaurant blog. Half the battle is getting people through the door of your restaurant, so make sure that you are fulfilling every opportunity to attract and entice customers through your online profile.

If you want more information on how to increase your revenue in your restaurants see our post refer to "How to make more profit in your restaurant with vouchers".

Latest News with the hospitality industry and COVID-19

The hospitality industry and COVID-19, no one could have predicted the events that transpired this year.

The turmoil we have all faced due to COVID-19 is beyond a shock, and it will take years for the hospitality industry to recover from the knock-on effects.

However, if you've been keeping up to date there is good news on the horizon for the hospitality industry. From July 4th, pubs, restaurants and hotels can officially reopen their doors in England since the forced closure from March 20th.

For this to work sufficiently, Boris Johnson discussed relaxing the regulation around the two-meter distancing rule in England to one-meter. However, the regulations haven’t relaxed completely, hotels will need to make changes to shift patterns, the arrangement of their restaurants needs to adapt to the one-meter distancing rule and there will need to be an increase of hand sanitisation.

The re-opening of the hospitality sector for Wales will be discussed July 9th, the 15th for Scotland and 3rd of July for Northern Ireland.

The hospitality industry and COVID-19

It goes without saying that the hospitality industry has been one of the hardest hit by the Coronavirus crisis.

For the majority of us, life has gone on with weird but adaptable changes. But for businesses in the entertainment and leisure sectors, the cost of the Covid-19 epidemic has been catastrophic.

Worldwide, the travel sector has either been forced to close or slow so dramatically businesses are needing to make large-scale redundancies and even worse- close down for good. The WIRC carried out a survey in Wales and found that out of 92 hospitality businesses, only 7% were confident they would still be operating by the end of 2020.

For reducing the spread of the virus, temporary closure of public spaces has been essential.

The nation will need to move on at some point for the sake of the economy, but it is imperative that the opening progress to the public is done in a safe and careful manner.

Likewise, we are to expect a very different experience in the aftermath of the coronavirus crisis.

Let’s look at what changes may be necessary...

What will hotels look like after coronavirus?

While the hospitality industry needs to reopen at some point, it may come with a heavy price if careful action is not taken.

Hoteliers must implement increased sanitisation and social distancing to avoid an increase in spreading the coronavirus.

What changes may be necessary?

Increased sanitisation
Increased mobile app technology
Reduced touchpoints
Social distancing practices
Increased PPE

Increased Sanitisation

Previous to the Coronavirus epidemic, few people gave mind to the hundreds of previous guests sleeping and using the same hotel room as them. But with the crisis, alarm bells for cleanliness must put travellers minds at ease if they want to attract guests to their hotels again.

There are so many areas of a hotel room that gets touched by each guest without a second thought, the door handles, drawers, wardrobe, light switches, plug points, TV remotes and that's without mentioning the obvious, bed and bathroom facilities.

With the potential of infected surfaces becoming more present on people’s minds, hotels need to increase their cleaning and sanitation efforts throughout and communicate these effectively to their guests and staff to relieve worries.

Real- case examples

To reduce the spread of the disease and encourage guests to visit, we are already seeing hotel giants put in affirmative action into their cleanliness and sanitation protocols since the epidemic.

Hotel chains such as the Marriott and Hilton have put in high-intensity cleaning regimes into ‘high-touch’ areas. The Hilton has even gone one step further and is considering the use of door seals to tell guests that they are the first to enter the room since it was sealed.

Sandals Resorts are also putting into place a minimum of 3 checks daily on the enhanced cleaning standards across their resorts. Including the use of advanced technologies to sanitise bedrooms. These include, “ hospital-grade disinfectants; electrical aerosol sprayers for advanced cleaning; the use of UV-LED lighting equipment to inspect cleanliness; air duct sanitization for each arrival and upon each departure; weekly steam-cleaning and sanitization of carpeting; placement of anti-bacterial gels and soaps in each guest room”.

Increased mobile app technology

More and more hotels have already implemented or are now considering the introduction of hotel mobile apps since the Covid-19 pandemic as a way to reduce person- to person contact.

Contactless check-in and check-out

A major feature of hotel mobile app technology is the contactless hotel arrival and departure. Through the mobile app, guests can check into their hotel room via a check-in system and a digital key. By skipping the front desk and foregoing the use of a door key, the risk of virus transmission is dramatically reduced.

While this is a seamless way to reduce the spread of COVID-19, it may feel cold and distant to travellers who enjoy the warm and friendly welcome they have come to expect from hotels. This is why we recommend that hotels make up for the lack of customer service interaction with some friendly welcome packs to get them ‘feeling-at-home’ in the room.

Monitoring and measuring sanitation and cleaning efficiency

How will travellers know if a hotel's cleaning measures are effective enough to reduce the risk of catching viruses?

Maybe soon we will see the introduction of a new governing body of sanitation and cleanliness levels that hoteliers will need to adhere to.

There has been talk of the 'consumer mark' which is a set of cleaning guidelines that hotels will need to follow. They can then advertise their 'consumer mark' cleaning levels to travellers to communicate this is a good place to stay.

Reduced touchpoints

Hotels may need to even update their facilities to make a dramatic reduction on touch points. Obvious areas include automatic sliding doors to replace push and pull handles, sensor faucets in public restrooms, contactless sensors for elevators and possibly even voice activation technology introduced to bedrooms.

Failing the implementation of (expensive) high tech equipment, hotels at the very least will need to introduce touch-free sanitiser stations throughout all their public spaces.

Social distancing practices

One of the bigger challenges to the hospitality industry will be implementing the social distancing measures. Politicians around the world have already acknowledged the difficulty this will bring to many organisations, and have reduced the social distance requirements to a minimum of 1 meter to ensure some hotels and restaurants may still be able to function.

But they won’t be functioning as normal. For the social distancing to be effective, all public spaces must arrange furniture, check-in desks, concierge services, gym, pool and even spa facilities to a minimum of 1 meter apart.

Challenges to businesses

Businesses who are used to running at full capacity with high occupancy rates will see a devastating blow to their revenue streams with the 1m distancing rule applied. There will be much fewer tables in restaurants, seats in bars and we haven't even touched upon what will happen in spas delivering treatments.

While the opening of businesses will allow the ability to generate some revenue, the restrictions on occupancy levels may still mean the further redundancies of staff as the business may be unable to keep their jobs.

Social distancing effects on room service

We may even see a huge increase for in-room dining, as guests may prefer to avoid eating at restaurants. If this is the case, we will likely see extra measures hotels will need to take to ensure the careful preparedness of food and the transporting of it. It's possible we will see food arriving in cling film, cutlery with sanitisation wipes and glasses or drinks in pre-packaged bottles.

Managing social distancing

It will be the responsibility of hotels to ensure strict social distancing behaviour is conducted within their premises.

Hotels need to consider all areas of their businesses. This is especially true when it comes to elevators or other small spaces, hotels may need to introduce minimum person restrictions to adhere to the social distancing measures.

Increased PPE and sanitisation on staff

A strange but more common sight we can expect to see is the increase of Personal Protective Equipment throughout hotels.

Front desk, concierge and even restaurant staff will more than likely be required to wear masks and gloves at the very least to reduce the risk of spreading the virus. Hotels can even introduce a ban on wearing hotel uniforms travelling to and from work. It is also likely that hotels will introduce routine hand washing intervals for staff.

Some hotels such as the Sandals Resorts have even begun requiring temperature checks for all staff at the start of shifts to eliminate possible carriers of the virus.

What effect may this have on guests?

When it comes to PPE staff and guests need to be protected from the possible change of infection. However, this will come at a cost to the communication abilities of a hotel. Foreign speaking and even deaf travelers will no doubt have a hard time communicating with the covering of the face and mouth. Hopefully hotels can largely overcome this issue with the use of mobile app technology to reduce staff-to guest in-person communication.

Conclusion on the hospitality industry and COVID-19

While the reopening of the hospitality industry is music to the ears of hoteliers, it doesn’t mean this is the end of their troubles.

Right now, half of the population are enjoying the relaxed measures and going about normal life as close as it once was. - The other half are still frightened, and are very wary of socialising again, let alone entertaining the idea of visiting a public space!

This no doubt will have a huge impact on hotels.

Don’t hold your breath for maxed-out occupancy rates just yet. It may take a while for hotels to see their revenues hitting the heights that they were used to before the pandemic.

With nervous travelers and even restrictions on social distancing, hotels are unable to take the full amount of bookings as they used to. This will have a dramatic effect on revenue streams and may even force hotels to cut more staff to keep their heads above water.

While there is light at the end of the tunnel, there is still a long way for hotels to go before everything is back to normal. Maybe the above changes may just be the new normal for the future of the hospitality industry.

What are your thoughts on the direction of the future of hospitality services? Let us know in the comments!

Mobile apps for hotels

A huge 74% of travellers say they would use mobile apps for hotels.

The technology-era has created many opportunities for hotels to strengthen their guest experience by giving people exactly what they want. Guests are looking for personalisation and convenience in their travelling experiences and mobile services can go a long way in satisfying that demand.

In this post, we are going to dive into a list of the best hotel engagement apps for mobile.

Benefits of a mobile app for hotels

When it comes to hospitality you can’t beat impeccable customer service. Whether it's a friendly warm smile from the front desk or the concierge team acknowledging you with a simple ‘good day’ as you walk by. These small but consistent interactions elevate the experience of a hotel, making each guest feel special.

While at the same time, customers are looking for more from hotel services.

Hotels making a shift towards the evolution of mobile apps are opening their doors to a wide pool of new clientele who are specifically searching for hotels with technological services. This has become even more urgent in the post covid-19 environment as guests will demand the same level of service but delivered in safer more remote ways.

Here are the benefits a mobile app can bring to hotels:

1. Meet the demand for self-service check-in

Many travellers are now looking for hotels with mobile check-in. This is where hotels replace keycards with a mobile app they can download to their smartphone and use that as a key to access their hotel room.

This provides major benefits to both the hotel guest and the hotel themselves. Hotels will see a reduction in ques all trying to check-in and check-out at peak times. Plus, guests have the convenience of being able to directly access their room after a busy day of travelling, instead of queuing and filling out the required paperwork to get a room key.

2. Have direct communication with your guest any time, any place.

A mobile app allows hotels to have a direct line of communication with their guests. This means that guests can contact and get responses from hotel personnel easily, increasing the effectiveness of hotel services, and overall satisfaction with the hotel experience.

Hotels can improve the experience also by sending restaurant, golf or spa booking reminders, a welcome text, local area information and even access to the room. In many ways, an app can make the guest experience more personal.

3. Opportunity to inform and up-sell hotel services

Hotels can increase their revenue by upselling hotel services through the app.

Got last minute spa cancellations? Send out a note to the app for all hotel guests to see. Offer last-minute discounts to fill empty booking spaces to gain back any lost revenue.

4. Gain a competitive edge

There are so few hotels that have mobile app services, that you will have a major competitive edge in your location.

By including additional local tourist information within your app, travellers will appreciate the convenience and availability of accessing this information without needing to even look up from their phone.

It may seem to hotels that using in-app communication and services is distancing themselves from providing a personalized guest experience, but in actual fact the app allows hotels to be with their guests throughout the lifecycle of their stay. Vastly improving the intimacy of the guest/hotel relationship.

5. Meet the demands of rising mobile commerce

A huge 76% of travellers state their mobile is their number one travel accessory. Travellers use their mobiles to find local attractions, restaurants, GPS and transport information. It is clear that travellers are used to using their smartphone when travelling and would comfortably extend this mobile use to their hotel stays and services.

Introducing mobile apps for hotels

Building and creating a hotel mobile app in-house is expensive and time-consuming, but it’s not as difficult as it may seem. There are many hotel mobile apps out there that can easily integrate with your hotel's vision and brand. Let’s take a look at the best platforms on the market.

1. Criton

Criton is a leading guest engagement hotel mobile app allowing you total control over your hotel app.

Features:

List services and add-ons for direct bookings through the app
Personal in-app branding
Push Notifications
In-app messaging
Loyalty programme
Digital Key to avoid front desk check-in
Location based-push notifications
Maps
Directions
Local recommendations on places to visit
Restaurant menus
Opening Hours
Spa Treatments and other hotel services
Link to social media for guest sharing experiences
Guest Feedback tool
Order in app room services

Best for customization:

Customer reviews from the hospitality industry all favour Criton for the customizability factor. Hoteliers have full freedom to change and create their own content with no limitations.

The team at Criton seem to be a huge selling point also. A great app to use if you’re looking for a supportive network.

2. Benbria Loop

Benbria Loop is an advanced guest feedback platform allowing you to track your hotel performance at all locations. While the system is primarily based on hotels installing a guest engagement touchpoint, there is a mobile app feature for continuous guest engagement before, during and after their stay. While maintaining communication between guests and hotel staff.

The mobile app for hotels also comes with a task routing feature to staff, allowing the correct escalation to the needed departments and staff. All engagement is tracked for in-depth reporting and analysing for long term strategizing.

Features:

Real-time guest engagement feedback tool
SMS text engagement with guests
Guest Feedback tool
Social Media integration
In-house communication and job allocation between staff
Reporting and analytics tool

Best for guest feedback:

Hotels wanting to receive in-depth guest feedback across all departments and locations within their hotel.

3. InHotelApp

InHotelApp is an app generated for hotels who want to equip their guests with useful information during their stay.

Features include:

Holds all information in the app- so it doesn’t need to be connected to any wifi to access information

Mobile booking
Link to social media
GPS find hotel button
Store all hotel information including services, swimming pools and restaurants
Allows discounts and offers for future stays
Area Travel guide, so you can upload all of the local information useful for tourists in a map form or a content or image page, this includes sightseeing, restaurants and even local useful phone numbers (taxis, airport, police, first aid, etc).

Best for local tourist information:

If you’re looking for a hotel app that doesn't want to replace face-to- face interaction but want to enhance the guests stay with local information then this is the app for you.

4. OpenKey

If you’re looking for a simplistic digital key then look no further than OpenKey. OpenKey is solely focussed on door lock systems, specialising in digital security. They have a tiered payment system starting from just $3 (per door) per month.

Features include:

Easy integration with your current locking system.
They also sell hardware so you can buy the whole package if you’re looking for a totally new door locking system.
Three-tiered pricing system to find the option that best suits your hotel.

Best for a digital key:

However, there are no other features on this hotel mobile app, while it’s not suited to hoteliers looking for the whole package of in-app benefits, this may suit those who are looking just to upgrade their digital key process.

5. M-Hospitality

M-Hospitality has created a mobile app for hotels that allow guests to communicate directly with the hotel.

Features include:

Mobile check-in / check out
Making mobile hotel bookings including restaurants, spa golf and other activities.
In-room orders
Maintenance and housekeeping communication
Guest feedback tool
Staff in-house task manager for responding in real-time to guest requests and monitor operations.

Best for staff task manager:

If you’re looking for a hotel app that connects guests as well as managing real-time guest services then this is the app you’re looking for. With the staff task manager, team members can be allocated operational roles and meet the demands of guests all through the app. Allowing managers to have better control over their staff remotely and improving in guest response time.

6. Alfie

Alfie is a hotel mobile app designed to meet guests demands prior to arrival. The creators of Alfie began with servicing an in-room tablet where guests could make reservations and requests from- which turned out to be highly successful! But equipping each room with a tablet was a high cost so made no returns. Instead, they decided to work around a ‘bring-your-own-device’ model, which worked out perfectly as pretty much all guests have their own smartphone device.

Features include:

Low subscription cost
Multilingual chat
Personalisation for individual hotels
Guest feedback tool

Best for hotels with international guests:

One of the most prized features of the Alfie app is the multilingual feature. Non-native guests can look at restaurant menus, spa brochures and communicate with staff in their native tongue through the app.

7. INTELITY

Another all-in-one hotel app from mobile check-in to in-app booking and reservations. But INTELITY is all about contactless and touchless customer service. Removing as many staff-to-guest interactions as possible.

Features include:

White label design
Contactless Mobile Check-In
Mobile Key
Contactless Service Requests
Push Notifications & One-Way Messaging
Mobile Dining Ordering & Touchless Delivery
Booking & Reservations

Best for hotels who want to minimise staff to guest interaction:

If you want to update guest information without knocking on doors or calling rooms, eliminate face-to-face check-in, and deliver in-room services at the touch of a button then this app is for you.

8. Nuvola (Angel)

This app is great for not only communicating with guests but also your team. Track and manage each department's performance and make data-driven decisions for hotel operations.

Features include:

- Track incidents and hotel activities from a dashboard

Web-based app for service request needs
Schedule preventive maintenance program
Manage MOD and Shift Pass On report digitally
Track your packages and lost & found items
Access your Nuvola dashboard from any smartphone or tablet
Set up your automatic alerts and scalability notifications
Schedule VIP greeting calls
Digital room-key

Best for hotels who want data-driven results:

The most prominent feature of this app is the data collection. Over time see which departments are responding and functioning well, to make key operational decisions. Great for in-house communication between staff and managers.

Conclusion:

However, you look at it, the introduction of mobile technology can work symbiotically with good old-fashioned personal interaction, to bring about a higher standard of hospitality experience.

Any hotel looking to get ahead of the market and adopt mobile guest experiences is onto a clear win. The hotel of the future is no longer a fantasy, it’s here ready for you to adopt. Your customers are ready, don't make them wait too long.

For more hotel revenue generating advice see this blog post: Strategies to Increase Hotel Revenue.

Spa Voucher Strategies

Are you looking to introduce spa voucher strategies to increase your revenue with spa vouchers?

There are many spa voucher strategies that not only entice new customers but to get your customers returning time and time again.

Let’s take a deep dive into the spa voucher strategies you can implement today:

1. Speak to your audience

Use packages that appeal to your spa clientele’s desires:

Creating your customer profiles is one of the first steps to a successful spa marketing strategy.

When you do this effectively, you may find that there are multiple personas of customers that you want to attract to your spa.

Could this be the health and fitness crowd? The ladies of leisure? Or even your everyday mum who needs a pampering treat for a pick me up?

Once you’ve created your buyers’ personas and figured out their interests, you can create spa voucher packages to cater to their needs.

Use clever wording:

Each of your persona groups will be drawn to your spa vouchers through your messaging. When describing your vouchers make sure you use persuasive and descriptive writing that enables your customers to vividly imagine their experience with you. - Especially, if it’s meeting their desires.

For example:

A spa voucher for older clientele will be drawn to experiences that rejuvenate, refresh, renew and reinvigorate the mind and body. This is because these adjectives all promote youthfulness. - Something that mature audiences typically want to feel and look.

A spa voucher for the health and fitness seekers may prefer vouchers described as healthy, vigorous, fresh, organic, raw, and natural.

Think about your audiences wants and needs, then create experiences around them. It’s a very simple but smart voucher strategy to attract people buying your spa voucher gift for either themselves or someone else.

2. Identify your customers in your voucher promotions

Do you remember the Coke advertising campaign with the names on bottles? That campaign went viral. People were sharing their pictures with bottles all over social media. They were going out looking to purchase bottles of Coke with their names on. It was such a clever marketing campaign!

Before you think we are suggesting you sell vouchers with names, we aren’t. But we are suggesting you take the same concept.

People like to feel included and special. So personalising your marketing is the way forward. We propose that you create vouchers around peoples identities.

For example:

How about a spa day for teachers? At the end of each year, many parents out there like to buy their children’s teacher a gift. Here’s where you make the decision easy for them.

In this example, create a spa voucher that is specifically for teachers. Include a message to say ‘you deserve a break’, ‘thanks for being the best teacher’ etc. you get the picture.

The parents can select a luxury gift online that delivers on the exact message they want to convey. It sure would knock the teacher’s socks off too! So at the end of each year before the summer holiday begins you can ramp up this voucher promotion.

But it doesn’t just stop with teachers. You could do this with many types of groups. Put your thinking caps using this strategy to maximise sales.

3. Create vouchers around events

If you look online at sites like Etsy you’ll see people being creative using events going on in the world to their advantage. I was recently looking for a birthday hamper for a friend and came across a ‘Stay at home’ hamper in response to the Coronavirus lockdown.

You can create similar packages in your voucher strategies by directly speaking to your audience.

You could create a specific spa day for bridal showers, baby showers, anniversaries, birthday’s and so on.

People searching your website can be easily convinced to buy a voucher if it speaks directly to what they’re looking for. This could be something as simple as a voucher named ‘the anniversary experience for two’. -A great idea when it comes to people looking to buy spa day gifts.

Or controversially, you could even have a spa day with kids.

Link your spa voucher to a specific dated event where the whole spa is catered to parents wanting to treat their children to a spa day. The plus side, not many spas would be open to this offering which does leave very little competition in the market if you were willing to try new strategies. Spa day for kids gets over 1000 Google searches per month, so there is a desire out there if you were so bold to try it.

Try this strategy with similar ideas!

4. Extend the time spent at your spa

It’s likely that if you’re selling vouchers for your spa, you’re already creating packages with lunch.

Each month there are over 2,400 Google searches for a spa day for 2 with treatments and lunch. (Searched via Ubersuggest)

But this is where you can get creative.

Most packages you can buy offer the same thing, so you can create themed spa experiences with afternoon tea, lunch or dinner options.

How about Moroccan themed treatments with Moroccan style lunch? Or have an evening spa experience with a twilight dinner to catch the after-work crowd.

5. Combine spa vouchers with additional facilities

A great way to offer more with your spa vouchers is to create an experience like no other.

By thinking about your audience you can cater experience packages that suit their needs and interests.

For the health and fitness groups maybe you could combine detoxing body treatments with a fitness camp with a trainer from the health and fitness suite?

If your spa is part of a hotel, create overnight stay packages.

6. Allow personalisation to voucher packages with add-ons

Personalisation is a big aspect of gift-giving now. People like to give and receive gifts that reflect on their personal interests. The Coke example above is a perfect reflection of this.

So having a system where you can allow your vouchers to be altered and tweaked to suit the customer is a must-have feature for great customer experience.

Our voucher system here at enjovia allows personalisation with a feature we call ‘add-ons’.

For example, if someone is buying a spa day voucher for their wife, you can offer the ‘add-on’ items to personalise the experience. Options of the add on items could be chocolate-dipped strawberries with champagne or even a personalised birthday cake.

7. Mix spa packages with local events

Is your spa close to other local amenities?

Partner up and create packages that mix your spa day with their experiences. One of our clients mixes a local fishing experience with their hotel overnight stay.

As an example, maybe you can mix a local wine tasting session followed by a day of relaxing treatments.

Chat to local businesses to you to explore options.

8. Include a parting gift

Offering a take-home spa goodie bag with one of your experiences is a great way to get people interested in purchasing a voucher.

There are multiple pro’s to this method too.

They not only have a luxurious and relaxing spa day, but the experience gets to go home with them too. Include mini products or your spa-branded items, and people will get sharing their photos on social media and perhaps later by the bigger version of the product!

If you had a luxurious item exclusive to the goodie bag, some people will feel the desire to purchase the voucher to collect the item. You could include a luxurious dressing gown or even lavish branded slippers. If you created separate bags for different voucher experiences it could motivate people to buy and try all the different vouchers over time.

Give it a go, introduce these spa voucher strategies today!

Whether you’ve just introduced selling spa vouchers, or have been at it a while, by implementing any of these spa voucher strategies you will attract more people to your luxury retreat and keep them returning.

If you want more information on setting up a gift voucher store please get in touch! Contact us here.

Case Study: Celtic Manor Resort gift cards during COVID-19

Case-Study: How the Celtic Manor Resort is triumphing with their gift cards during COVID-19 crisis.

We wanted to do a quick case study on how the Celtic Manor Resort has used gift cards during covid-19 to help mitigate some of the serious impacts of lockdown.

Since launching their Celtic at Home campaign, their gift experiences have sold out, week after week. Let us look what they’ve done!

The Celtic Manor Resort Gift Cards During COVID

The Celtic Manor Resort, like almost all hospitality and leisure businesses, has had to close its main operations due to the coronavirus social distancing measures put in place by the UK government.

With the extension of at least another 3 weeks of lockdown, we don't know how long businesses in the hospitality industry must remain closed to the public.

However, like many restaurants in the hospitality industry, Celtic Manor has utilized their gift cards during covid-19 to bring in some revenue during the Coronavirus crisis. But with one major difference- they have changed their marketing strategy to fit within the stay-at-home guidelines.

This simple, but logical decision has turned out to be a major hit with the locals!

What are they doing?

Many businesses have swarmed to the voucher industry in a panicked frenzy while the impact of Corvid-19 has devastated their revenue streams. But few are using the correct approach in how to sell the gift experiences during this time.

The innovative ‘Celtic at home’ takeaway experience is a clever way to utilize gift experiences to keep business ticking over as much as possible during these bleak times for the hospitality industry.

In our last post, we stressed the importance of promoting your gift experiences the right way. During this Covid-19 crisis, this is now more important than ever!

We have written an extensive post on how you can use clever marketing promotions to increase sales during the Coronavirus crisis. We urge you to give it a thorough read if you want to sell gift experiences successfully during this time.

But back to the case study.

gift cards during COVID-19 — Safe distancing n place to collect your gift experience meal

The Process

The Celtic at home service allows you to purchase a gift experience in the form of a takeaway meal. Essentially, allowing you to enjoy a restaurant-quality dining experience at home.

It’s a pretty simple process:

Order online at home via the Celtic at home gift experience page.
Call up reception to book your one-hour collection slot and read out your voucher reference code to redeem the order.
Drive to the location to collect your order.

In our case, we ordered The Rib Sharing Platter for Two. The Hotel have strict social distancing procedures:

You drive up to the gazebo, give your order number, and the staff bring your takeaway meal and place it on the table next to your car. There is no exchange of hands. Everyone is adhering to the strict 2-meter distancing guidelines.

Take your meal home and follow cooking instructions. (Which are extremely simple, you just heat up the entire meal following a set of clear instructions).

Benefits of gift cards during COVID-19 to the hotel restaurants

Keeping jobs

Over the past 2 months, we have unfortunately witnessed many hard-working people in the hospitality industry lose their jobs or be placed in furlough due to the huge impact of the Coronavirus crisis on the hospitality industry.

This successful gift experience strategy employed by the Resort not only serves as a delightful treat to customers during difficult times but ensures as many staff as possible get to keep their jobs.

Earning Revenue

With strict social distancing measures and the forced closure of dine-in restaurants, it’s likely we will witness the closure of many businesses in 2020. Without the footfall of customers through the door it’s difficult for restaurants to continue making any meaningful revenue.

The pick-up and take away dining option offered by the hotel one way to keep business running whilst adhering to the guidelines.

Big names in the hospitality industry have urged restaurants to sell gift experience vouchers, as a strategy to continue making revenue while the dining floor is temporarily closed.

But as we have stressed to our own clients, just selling gift experiences won't be enough. In these uncertain times, many people won’t be influenced to buy a gift experience with uncertainty to when it can be used.

The Celtic Manor have sensibly introduced the relevant changes to their dining gift experiences to ensure that their customers can immediately use their gift experiences while staying safe and not compromising on the government's social distancing measures.

Benefits to customers with gift cards during COVID-19

Additional option to acquire food

For many people, going to the supermarket right now can be a stressful experience. With official guidelines recommending that vulnerable people avoid going out to supermarkets at all. While the situation is improving, sourcing food right now can be quite difficult.

Online shopping delivery slots have over a two-week waiting period, and even then, many basic items on the shelves aren't available.

The dine-at-home gift experience service offered by the Celtic Manor Resort acts as the perfect solution for both the above problems.

Having great dining experiences at a reasonable price

Making gift crds during COVID-19 available is a great way to keep your business ticking along.

The dining at home gift experiences is very reasonably priced for the amount of food you get. Especially compared with the price of a coffee these days.

For £25 we received a full BBQ platter with half a chicken, sausages, pulled pork, BBQ spareribs, cheesy nachos, mac and cheese, potato wedges, corn on the cob, chicken wings and coleslaw. It was so much food we split it over two meals between two of us.

If you have vulnerable family members or friends, this is not only an enjoyable but practical gift to give them in these stressful times. Enjoy the experience of having restaurant-quality meals at home.

Don't forget to check out our post on how you can use promotions in your restaurant.

We hope you found this post on gift cards during COVID-19 helpful. Please help us in return and share on your social media.

Gift Card Promotions Restaurants

In this post, we will show you how you can use different gift card promotions for restaurants to sell more!

Are you running a restaurant but looking for a better way to entice new customers?

With the social distancing rules in place (Covid-19), you may need to find a way to generate revenue for your restaurant - and fast.

Selling gift experiences is a great way to not only welcome new customers to your restaurant, but it’s also a great way to keep loyal customers returning time and time again.

If you don’t sell gift experiences for your restaurant yet, then take a look at our post, Make More Restaurant Profit With Vouchers.

However, if you’ve already introduced vouchers, then you may be looking for something more.

This post is dedicated to restaurateurs who already use vouchers but are looking at marketing promotions that will skyrocket your sales.

Let’s explore the importance of gift card promotions for restaurants…

Importance of gift card promotions restaurants

‘Why do I need restaurant gift card promotions?!’ I hear you ask. It may seem that implementing a system is all you need to do to watch the cash roll in.

But, to generate higher revenue on gift experiences you need to go one step further and implement smart promotions to make your gift experiences really pop.

It’s all about experiences

As the gift experience industry grows, people want more than just monetary value. (e.g. £50 for use in your restaurant).

We have found that people are chasing experiences, not just for themselves, but to give as a gift. That’s why as a restaurateur, you need to stay ahead of the curve and create fantastic promotional experiences that will entice people to your restaurant.

Sidenote: if you want to find out more about why people are looking for experiences, check out this post here. What is the experience economy?

Restaurant experiences are easiest to sell with the use of prepackaged experiences selected by you which can be purchased as gifts.

Types of gift card promotions for resturants:

Many people may think that gift experiences for restaurants are limited. But, thinking this way is what separates the successful from the mediocre. By creating truly unique and memorable experiences, you will stand out from the crowd.

Here are some desirable ideas, and hopefully we can inspire you to create your own renditions of these restaurant gift experience promotions:

1. Themed Dining Evenings

Creating themed dining experiences are limitless. You can focus on holidays, seasons, countries and their speciality dishes. Is there any local inspiration to you that you could incorporate?

2. Chef demonstrations

People love to feel special, and what can be more special than having your very own personal chef for the evening. Sell an experience where a dedicated chef can cook at your table, demonstrating entertaining skills. That would make an unforgettable dining experience.

3. Wine tasting

Bring in a sommelier and provide a wine tasting experience to remember.

4. Cocktail making

Think about the different groups of people you can sell experiences to. A hit with bridal parties is cocktail making experiences.

5. Cooking demonstration

Cooking demonstrations and classes are a great way to provide wonderful experiences related to food. You can even expand these offerings by creating a beginner or intermediate cookery gift experience.

6. Entertainment alongside dinner

Can you have live pianists or a jazz band to play light music as a background to the dining experience?

This is a simple but attractive way to enhance a gift experience, as it can draw in people attracted to a certain type of music, or even for those who like entrainment while dining.

If you do have themed dining evenings, maybe you can introduce dancers to entertain every hour or so for a short song or two. For example, if you put on a Spanish themed evening, maybe you could have Flamenco dancers intermittently perform.

7. Combine dinner with another service

Is your restaurant part of a hotel?

Creating a dinner, bed and breakfast package will entice guests looking for an experience to last all night, or even for a few nights! Combining your restaurant with other services is one of the easiest ways to create desirable experiences.

8. Work with local businesses

With the recent closure of all services and unnecessary businesses due to Corvid-19, it’s no doubt that many businesses are suffering. But through difficult times comes great opportunities.

Reach out to a local business or service to you and work together to create a fantastic experience like no other.

Do you have a local vineyard? Farmers Market?

Combining each of your services together can draw in so many guests wanting to not only support local businesses but delight in a different experience too.

Maybe they can handpick all in-season vegetables or fish for salmon or trout at a local activity experience. Then come along to your restaurant for their selected goodies to be cooked up by your chefs and served in your beautiful restaurant setting.

This idea is very popular in eastern and middle eastern markets where it is commonplace for shoppers to buy their meat at the market and take it to a local restaurant within the market to be cooked for them.

9. Create ‘Add-ons’

As part of our system, we offer a feature called product add-on where we allow our clients to sell ‘add-on’ items to enrich an experience. For example, a 3-course dinner voucher can have the option of a bottle of Champagne, Red or white wine as an add-on which the shopper can choose when purchasing the gift.

Remember, when it comes to selling gift card promotions for restaurants the more memorable and unique the better.

We hope you enjoyed our post on gift card promotions resturants. Good luck on creating your own promotions, and if you’re looking for more gift experience advice please get in touch! We are Enjovia, a global gift card platform, where we can easily set up your own store in minutes.

Mitigate the effetcs of Coronavirus crisis by utilising gift cards

Generate revenue during the Coronavirus crisis by utilising gift cards and gift vouchers.

We are amidst a crisis that is new to everyone. While the COVID-19 virus is affecting the health of many people across the world, our governments are urging us to stay at home, away from unnecessary socialising - especially in public places.

The necessary procedures put in place to try and prevent the spread of the Coronavirus has already had a devastating impact on the hospitality and leisure industry and unfortunately, it’s looking like it could be here for a while yet.

While the UK Prime Minister has advised people not to go to these public places, he hasn't yet ordered entertainment establishments to close- leaving these businesses in a vulnerable place without any financial support from the government.

These businesses rely on footfall through the door to survive. With the safety recommendations in place, it is inevitable that less and less people will visit these places. Already we are seeing the impact of the social distancing on these establishments as occupancy rates are at an all-time low.

We don’t know how long this virus will last, and how long we need to remain out of public places. This results in even further pressure on local businesses to make it through this crisis.

While struggling to make revenue, there is a knock-on effect to the economy and local communities as many jobs rely on the hospitality industry, with over 6 million employed in pubs, restaurants, other outlets and the wider supply chain.

It seems inevitable that we will see the closure of many businesses in the next coming months and the potential loss of a huge amount of jobs.

What can my businesses do?

While it remains uncertain as to what our governments will do to help, there is a cry of help from many companies reaching out to their customers for support through public service announcements.

Inboxes are filled with companies notifying customers of their increased sanitation efforts and actions to reduce the spread of the Coronavirus crisis.

They are also urging customers to support local businesses in safe ways. This includes shopping online, not cancelling reservations and even purchasing gift vouchers.

So what can be done to save businesses while reducing the risk of the COVID-19 virus?

Selling gift vouchers and gift cards

Industry leaders are recommending that companies put all their efforts into selling gift vouchers and gift cards as a solution to keep their heads above water.

Articles from big names such as CNN, CBS News, Forbes, Vox , Big Hospitality and many more all recommend and urge customers to support local businesses by purchasing gift vouchers during the Corona Crisis.

This advice is being taken seriously.

Improving cash flow problems with vouchers

Over the last week (we at Enjovia) have seen a surge in voucher system installations as businesses of all kinds are desperately searching for ways to improve cash flow through this crisis.

While it’s certain that selling gift vouchers will help these businesses right now, we feel a duty to inform companies that they must do more to support voucher sales during this time.

Encouraging people to part with their money right now and to give it to you is a large ask. That’s why you need flexible strategies and promotions to make your vouchers attractive to your customers. As realistically they can’t be used for maybe weeks or even months.

In light of this, we hope that gift cards and vouchers can be a suitable solution to help many businesses tick over until the crisis is averted. Which is why this post is dedicated to how companies can introduce a voucher system and how they can effectively encourage customers to purchase them.

What strategies can I employ to get voucher sales?

Create win/ win scenarios. These are times none of us has ever experienced before and all of us are affected in some way. This is when we need to come together as a community and as one to lend support through these difficult times.

Offer incentives for more desirable vouchers

Make your vouchers more desirable for your customers right now. With the economy in such a bleak state, you can’t afford to be strict with your offers. You need to keep in mind that the customers who are buying your vouchers at this time are bringing you instant revenue that you wouldn’t otherwise receive.

The more sales you can make in this time the better it will be for you to get through the Coronavirus crisis.

The types of voucher incentives can include:

Reduced prices.

By slashing the price of your gift vouchers, you’re going to make them a more attractive purchase. People are wanting something to look forward to once this is over. Convince them your experiences will be that dream while making a huge saving.

Offer percentage discounts on vouchers.

Big hospitality published an article on the success restaurants are experiencing to combat the Coronavirus cash flow problems, through selling gift vouchers. The success of some restaurants' sales is from offering discounts. Hearts Group is offering a 25% discount in vouchers right now on a voucher usually sold at £1,200 is now £1,000.

Offer additional value percentage on top of a purchased voucher.

Indian group Krickett is offering ‘loyalty vouchers’, these are vouchers which can be purchased for any amount over £250, and will have an additional 20% added on as a goodwill gesture.

Include free ‘add on’ items to vouchers.

For example, an overnight stay for two with dinner can include a complimentary bottle of wine with dining, or complimentary spa treatment or even room amenities such as chocolates.

Increase the validity or even remove the expiry date.

We recommend businesses being flexible on their voucher expiry dates. We don’t know how long the social distancing will last and each day that passes cuts into their expiry date. Extending or removing the expiry date demonstrates to customers your fairness and appreciation for supporting you when you needed it most.

Send email campaigns out to existing customers.

With support needed now more than ever, you need to update notify your customers of the measures you're taking to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

Within these emails create a list of things that your loyal customers can do to help support you. In that list include the sale of your vouchers along with any or more of the above promotions.

Your number one priority is to make sure people know that you’re selling these gift cards, so communicate it on all your communication channels. This includes social media, email campaigns and on your website- even your homepage.

Be active on social media.

People are becoming anxious and scared at home. Lighten their moods by creating fun and uplifting trends that they can get involved in on social media. Include competitions with your vouchers as prizes to spread awareness.

There is a lot of activity around making people smile and laugh at the moment, maybe you can cleverly tap into this trend.

What can the public do?

While health is a priority over supporting local businesses right now, there are choices you can make that will help (if you are in the financial position to do so).

With upcoming birthdays for relatives, consider purchasing an experience voucher from your favourite business. Whether that be a restaurant, hotel, spa, gift shop or activities.

You can even purchase something for yourself to look forward to. Having something positive to focus on can lift feelings of depression and discomfort at a time when the future looks uncertain and bleak.

Do your part for the local community and receive a nice experience in return. Purchasing a gift voucher to support a local business will go a long way, and you’ll get something out of it too.

Why are gift vouchers a good solution for everybody?

Purchasing vouchers are a great way to support local businesses who are struggling to survive with social distancing. Additionally, helping to save the jobs of local people.
Vouchers can be purchased online, reducing footfall in public spaces and decreasing the risk of infection.
Vouchers can be sent via e-ticket straight to your email. This is reducing deliveries and minimising unnecessary contact with others.
Vouchers have a long shelf life- especially if businesses are flexible with the expiry dates. (Which we recommend as a sign of appreciation to customers who supported your businesses when you most needed it).
Vouchers make a fantastic gift. With gift experiences being top of peoples Christmas lists in recent years.
Gift experiences are giving people something to look forward to in these bleak times.

Looking for a gift voucher management system to set up fast?

We provide a gift voucher management system designed to increase revenues and help businesses to easily manage their gift voucher stores, promotions, redemptions and more.

Why should you choose us?

We don’t hold onto cash, unlike many voucher system providers. Our customers get their money at the point of purchase.
You can set up a voucher store in minutes, so you can start selling vouchers right away.
You win with commission-free sales

We’ve talked a lot about win/win in this article, and as our customers we want you to get through these times of struggles. That’s why we are eager to support struggling businesses and will be offering our system for free to any business that needs a store right now.

We’re here to help advise on marketing for your vouchers with ongoing blog posts and advice.

Find out more about our gift voucher management system features here.

If you’d like to set up a store today, please get in touch, we are happy to help!

Contact Enjovia here.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you are struggling with social distancing and self-isolation then please seek further support, here's a great article that can help you to look after your mental health while staying at home. Looking after your mental health while self-isolating.

Best regards, the Enjovia team.

How to optimize your website for mobile

Find out here how to optimize your website for mobile.

The new figures for 2020 are out and it shows internet users worldwide have hit a whopping figure of over 4.5 billion people, with over 58.8% of the population having access to the internet according to InternetAdvisor.com.

Probably most mind-boggling of all,

the average person in the UK spends more than a day a week online.

And almost 60% of all online searches are carried out on mobile devices, according to a recent in-depth study carried out by Custom Logo Cases. And alarmingly, 57% of users say they wouldn’t recommend a business with a poorly designed mobile website.

Enjovia Figures:

The above figures coincide with our own data.

Over 60% of Gift Voucher transactions online using the Enjovia platform are sold via mobile devices.

So it’s time to ensure you are optimized and ready for mobile!

See our 5 reasons why you must ensure your website is optimized for mobile:

1. The number of people with mobiles

It doesn’t need to be said, but you really must optimize your website for mobile use. Otherwise, you may as well say bon voyage to 60% of your website traffic!

It is estimated that 70% of the population now have smartphones, with a projection of 3.5 billion smartphone users this year.

Even monkeys are now using smartphones and tablets!

2. The popularity of internet browsing on mobile

More users access the internet via a mobile device rather than a desktop according to StatCounter. For many, it has become part of daily routine to browse the internet on waking, lunch breaks, evenings and before bed.

It's not hard to believe that almost 80% of people have their smartphone on them for 22 hours a day!

We've all been made aware that looking at a mobile or tablet blue-light emitting screen is bad for our health before bed. So with new light filter apps out there, that changes the colour of screens to counter the blue-light phenomenon, night-time mobile use is increasing- not decreasing. Now 80% of users check use their mobile within 1 hour of going to bed.

3. The popularity of mobile shopping online

Shopping on mobile devices has exploded and is the most favoured way to shop online. With almost everyone (even my grandma!) now owning a smartphone or tablet, it’s no wonder the convenient mobile device trumps the desktop.

With apps such as PayPal and even Amazon 1-Click, paying on mobile has never been easier. People are still a little more conscious when it comes to purchasing over mobile for security reasons, but that doesn’t stop the majority of people. This year 60% of Black Friday Sales were through mobiles or tablets!

4. Users have expectations for mobile optimization!

Impatience with websites has now inflicted users. Your website needs to be mobile optimized so users have a quick and simple experience. Long gone are the days of scrolling back and fore to read a webpage, or zooming in to select buttons. If your website isn’t mobile-optimised, they will very quickly be leaving your page and looking at your competition!

“Google says 61% of users are unlikely to return to a mobile site they had trouble accessing and 40% visit a competitor’s site instead.”

It’s the small things you need to look out for, such as ensuring your chat box isn’t taking over your mobile page. How annoying is it when you’ve loaded onto a website, then all of a sudden your view is completely blocked by a pop-up chat box that fills your entire screen?!

Choose a decent content management system to build your website. WordPress is a very simple and easy to use platform that automatically has mobile optimization built into the programme. It automatically changes the size of the webpage based on smartphone, tablet or desktop.

Broadband Search also found that if your website doesn't load instantly, you'll certainly lose A LOT of website visitors. Shockingly the load times between 1 and 3 seconds increases the likelihood of your visitors abandon your link by a huge 32%. This increases drastically to 123% if your website takes 10 seconds to load.

Tip: act as a customer and view your website from mobile and desktop devices. You’ll see first-hand what your website visitors are experiencing.

5. Most emails are being opened on mobile

Mobile email opens have grown by 180% in the last three years. I don’t know anyone who doesn’t have their emails linked to their phone. And yes, even my grandma uses mobile for emails!

Ensure your emails are mobile-optimised so it can be tracked on mobile devices and opened straight to your website. It has been found that 70% of consumers say they will delete emails immediately if they don’t render well on their mobile device.

Make sure images are optimised for the right size, subject lines appear on the screen and content fits perfectly, so users aren't having to scroll back and fore just to read each sentence. - Can you imagine what kind of patience that would require!

A simple way to get your emails noticed is to ensure the subject line is intriguing. Let the reader know there’s a benefit to clicking through.

For example, a simple but great subject line for Valentines Day is:

“There's still time to woo your sweetheart...”

Get started

So there you have it. Make sure you stay up to date with your customers and optimize your website for mobile. For more information on how you can make your gift voucher platform ready for mobile, contact us at Enjovia.com.

We hope you enjoyed our post on how to optimize your website for mobile.

For the most recent and up to date key statistics on internet use including mobile, check out the full article from Internet Advisor here.

Gift Certificate Wording Template

We have outlined below an easy guide on a gift certificate wording template.

In this post, we’ve stated the best practice on what to include on your gift voucher template and explain in each instance why it matters. Our gift certificate management system helps our customers sell millions in gift vouchers every year, so we’ve seen from painful experience the consequences of not including the right information.

We often get asked, “what should be included on a gift certificate?”

One of the difficulties is balancing all the relevant information with how the certificate looks. We recommend 2 sides of a smaller paper size like A5, to ensure you have enough room for visuals and information.

Brand and Title

Leave room for your company's branding and a suitable title.

Don’t rename gift cards to offers, i.e ‘Christmas Special 3 Course Meal’ or make them too vague like ‘Spa Special’.

As a gift, the receiver won’t see as many of the details as the buyer has through the purchasing process.

Personal Message

Leave space or use a system that facilitates a personal message, one of the reasons gift experiences are given over cash is they are considered a step above in thoughtfulness. Allowing the buyer to leave a message gives them the opportunity to add context to the gift and to claim ownership. Without this, the receiver won’t know who it’s even from! Adding a personal message allows the buyer to send it directly to the receiver for that special occasion.

Voucher Description

It’s important to consider that most gift certificates are purchased for someone else. In fact, 60% of people have been introduced to a new brand by receiving a gift certificate. Each new customer will have no idea how to redeem, how to contact you and what the gift is unless you tell them.

The description for monetary gift cards is easy, but on experiences make sure you leave space for the full description of what the experience entails. A ‘Romantic weekend getaway’ is a wonderful sounding gift but without a description, it's not particularly useful.

Does it include dinner or is it just a B&B rate? Make it clear and if the description is long, use bullet points or other formats. It’s also important to use this space to communicate particulars, is there a dress code? What are the check-in times?

Validity Date

In most countries, monetary gift cards can not legally expire whereas experience gift cards can. When a gift card can expire most buyers will expect a 12-month validity from purchase but will be happy with lower validity time periods if they purchase it at a deal.

Many experiences like skydives are typically from April - October. The validity of the gift may only be in those months, but most businesses will accept a booking in the off-season. But, make sure this is clearly communicated.

We often get asked, when should a gift voucher/ card get redeemed?

We typically recommend at the point of booking for a few reasons:

It acts like a pre-payment and avoids complaints if customers show up without their voucher/ card.
Avoids repeat cancellations.

How to redeem

Leave room on the gift card with clear information on how to book and redeem. When booking an experience, it typically involves making a reservation, unless there is an integration between your booking systems and voucher systems. Include your contact details.

Unique Code

Get rid of messy spreadsheets from using premade voucher books, and switch to using a unique code that’s specific to that voucher.

Improve security

Ensure the codes aren’t obvious and use non-sequential and random numbers against fraud. There is a lot of attempted fraud in the gift card business, would-be criminals will try to use photocopies and attempt to use sequential numbers to older vouchers they’ve seen.

How many people is the voucher valid for?

State on the voucher how many people the experience is valid for. This one seems obvious, but we’ve seen it cause a good few problems over the years.

Terms and Conditions

What terms and conditions should be on a voucher is the question we get asked the most. Every business is different, but the job of the terms and conditions are to protect yourself from potential issues. As many businesses know, if you leave any wiggle room in your T&Cs there will be customers that will take the opportunity to take advantage.

Here is a list of things you may want to cover:

For Monetary

Should they be non-transferable, non-refundable and not exchangeable for cash? (We would recommend that they should always be non-transferable, non-refundable and unexchangeable for cash)
Do you want to give change or allow part redemption?
Are purchases made subject to the same terms and conditions as a normal booking?
Can a gift certificate be used to purchase further gift certificates?
When they do they expire?
What is your loss, theft or stolen policy?
Does a supplement exist on certain items?

Free gift certificate template

Here’s an example that we feel covers the bases quite well:

Experiences

For monetary gift cards, the information is simpler, but if you want to sell experiences things can get a little more complicated.

You should definitely be selling experiences as that’s where the revenue growth is!

With experiences there are even more variables, you may even want to use the terms and conditions to reiterate things you have already stated on other parts of the voucher.

Are bookings subject to availability and change? (We always advise that this should be in everyone’s terms and conditions)
Exclude unavailable dates, it’s usually a safe bet to exclude public holidays.
If there are specifics like dates and times, should you restate them?
When is the voucher redeemed at point of booking or point of arrival?
Should they be non-transferable, non-refundable and not exchangeable for cash? (We would recommend that they should always be non-transferable, non-refundable and unexchangeable for cash)
Are purchases made subject to the same terms and conditions as a normal booking?
When they do they expire?
What is your loss, theft or stolen policy?
Does a supplement exist on certain items?

Free gift certificate template

Although this is a longer example, we think this is a great example of Terms and Conditions that cover all the bases:

Finally, if you have space, use as many photos of the experience or put a welcome message from the team. This really helps you set expectations and communicate your brand.

Here are some A5 examples of some of our customers, they have gone with one side having information and one side being visual with welcome messages or space to highlight their facilities or experiences.

If you need any help creating your gift template or would like any help with design, please get in touch with us, we are always happy to help!

Strategies to Increase Hotel Revenue

Running a hotel is challenging at the best of times, that’s why you need to stay up to date with smart strategies to increase hotel revenue.

Throughout this post, we will highlight easy to implement strategies on how to increase room revenue in a hotel.

Coming up in this post:

Pricing
Website design and mobile presence
SEO and Digital Marketing Strategies
Offer Gift Vouchers and Experiences

Pricing

The most obvious category, to begin with, is your pricing strategies. Your pricing strategy needs to be considered around various factors, your room types, occupancy, demand, seasons, services, day of the week and competition. So while we look at the following strategies consider your personal factors to maximise your revenue.

1. Forecasting

One of the most important things you can do for pricing your hotels is to master forecasting. This is reliant on being able to anticipate demand to decide on your pricing.

For forecast pricing to work efficiently you need to have records of occupation rates, revenue, room rates, and the average spend per room for at least a year. This way you can see what events throughout the year bring you high demand, low demand and any wider market trends.

It’s as straightforward as it sounds, if you experience particularly high demand around the Christmas period or weekends, then raise your room rates to maximise revenue. Likewise, your hotel has a history of low demand in certain periods you can predict this pattern and set high discounts and offers for these periods to increase interest.

2. Competition

Pricing around your competition is a mammoth task. You’ll need to review a complete competitor analysis on all of your local competition. Factors to consider is do they sell the same services as you? What are their room types? What are their room rates for similar room types?

When you have identified your direct competition, take a look at the deals they offer. Do their deals affect your occupancy? Are they increasing or decreasing their rates around certain time periods or events? Do they offer discounts?

Studying and mimicking successful competition pricing strategies is a fast-track way to figuring out what will work for you long-term. But don’t piggyback off their pricing strategy as your strategy. It may not work out well for you. But it is important to consider competitor pricing as this may very well affect your demand.

3. Segment Pricing

To attract certain all-round business, you should consider segmenting your pricing. That means having a separate pricing strategy for certain groups of customers. Hotels commonly have agreements with local businesses offering ‘business rates’. This is a win-win strategy as your hotel gets the first choice of stay with local business events, and they get exclusive pricing for their clients. The same can be applied if you host many business conferences at your hotel. You can offer business rates at a discount of 10-20% lower (Depending on the size of the booking), than the forecasted room rate for your business guests. This is particularly attractive for companies when choosing your hotel to run their event.

Many hotels use segment pricing to offer larger discounts to third-party bookings to remain competitive on their websites.

4. Discount codes

It is always preferable to get direct bookings for your hotel than to use a third party- simply because you keep the profits. Any strategies you can implement to encourage direct bookings are a winner. You can offer discount codes to past guests of your hotel to encourage them to book directly with you for any future stays. This eliminates them using third-party bookings again in future as they are familiar with your hotel, and would be making savings.

5. Packages

Offering incentives through creating packages gives guests a much higher perceived value for money and costs you little to nothing to do.

Guests are more willing to pay for high-value experiences, especially if they perceive they are getting a great deal. That’s why it’s important to market your packages with a ‘worth amount’ and and ‘saved amount’. For example, you can package a spa and overnight stay over your lower demand mid-week days and market it as the following: Romance mid-week overnight stay and indulgent spa package, worth £400 now only £300. Realistically this will not be costing your business £100 in revenue, but to the guest, they will get a perceived value of saving £100!

You can combine any of your services to create packages. Try rooms with dinner, spa, golf, or room amenity upgrades such as champagne on ice.

6. Length of Stay (LOS)

Also referred to as Best Available Rate by Length of Stay. This is a great way to get guests to extend their stays over otherwise low demand periods. Say for example a Monday and Tuesday night are usually particularly low demand nights, you can introduce a LOS strategy to encourage guests to pay that little bit extra to stay those few nights for a great deal.

Likewise, you can even implement a minimum night stay rule over, particularly high demand periods. This ensures that you are maximising your room occupation rates.

7. Upselling and Cross-selling

It is so important to ensure you have up-selling and cross-selling strategies in place.

Up-selling: This is where guests are encouraged to spend more on their existing purchase or booking. It is vitally important that your staff are trained well to execute this properly. A great way to entice guests to spend more on their experience is by offering them a better experience. This is best achieved during the booking process. Guests can be offered a room-upgrade for a better room, or better view etc.

Cross-selling: Thi sis where guests are encouraged to spend on additional services to the one they have already purchased. Many hotels refer to this as ‘enhancing the guest experience’. Skilled staff members can achieve this easily by introducing additional experiences that the guest could try during their stays, such as a revitalising full body massage, or a 3-course dinner in the hotels highly-rated fine dining restaurant. The best way to cross-sell is after the initial booking process and before the guest arrival. So the most effective means is through promotional emails before arrival.

8. Cancellation Policy

While you may worry this will put off guests from staying at your hotel, it is actually a common procedure to put in place a cancellation policy. Surprisingly a cancellation policy can even be used to increase revenue.

Through implementing during peak times, a cancellation policy is primarily your fail-safe net for any no-show guests if they fail to notify you of cancellation within 24-hours, for high demand hotels this can be extended for up to 48 hours. You just need to make the cancellation policy very clear to guests when booking.

Additionally, for any unsold rooms, you can entice last-minute bookings at a discounted price, on the condition that if they cancel they don’t receive a refund.

Website design and mobile presence

9. Website design

Did you know you have only 15 seconds to interest 55% of visitors on your website?

Having a well-designed website is key to converting those online bookings and generating interest in your hotel.

We have dedicated a full blog post on the importance of great website design strategies. You can read the full post here.

But the main things to nail down to increase hotel revenue are:

Quick load time (around 3 seconds)
Simple Navigation
Easy online bookings
Clean and attractive design (first impression and often an impression of how your hotel will be)
Use only high res images and gallery of the hotel
Videos are a nice way to showcase your hotel. According to Fitsmallbusiness.com video is 70% more effective for producing conversions, especially when added to your website.

10. Mobile

We write about being mobile optimised into almost all our strategy posts, but with good reason! With almost 60% of all online searches are carried out on mobile devices. This is especially true for the travel industry. Over 90% of travellers on mobiles will switch sites if the site fails to meet needs.

This even stretches to Search Engine Optimisation. Google prioritises websites with high-quality mobile optimisation. Mobile compatibility for websites is so important. Especially when ensuring the design fits for mobile and tablet screen size. But not only is the design a must, but it also needs to function properly too. Your website needs to be able to seamlessly take online bookings on mobile as a priority.

Therefore, to maximise hotel revenue you need to make sure first and foremost that you can take bookings on mobile. Then as a secondary measure, ensuring a friendly mobile experience will solidify your guest experiences, making them repeat customers. Here’s how you can achieve this:

Create a personalised experience. Mobile helps personalisation in a big way too! These features include:

Mobile check-in and check-out
Keyless sentry (through a mobile app)
Push notifications (great for upselling and cross-selling and confirming reservations)
Instant messaging communication (Room feedback or room service communication)

While these features and hotel experiences won’t necessarily bring in immediate hotel revenue, staying current and even ahead of trends will make guests return to you in search for the same experiences.

For more information on how to optimise your website for mobile, you can read our post here how to optimise your website for mobile.

SEO and Digital Marketing Strategies

It is essential that you are easy to find! As crazy as it may seem, having an online presence is a must to show you are existing. But just having an online presence isn’t everything. You need to be easy to find, and through using the right digital marketing strategies you can achieve just that.

There are many ways to ensure you're found easily, through social media presence, appearing on search engines, and even on review websites. Let’s look at each of these individually.

11. Social Media

Using social media in the right way is a great method to increase hotel revenue. But don’t just sign up to any and every social media platform. You need to have clear and well-thought-out social media campaigns on the right networks to be successful. Here are some things to consider:

Think about your demographic. E.g 70% of Instagram’s audience is under 35 years old. While Facebook is the most-used social media platform in the world.
Run competitions to generate interest. You can see an example of the types of social media promotions
Stay current with social media features. Like the new Instagram IGTV video feature.
Make sure all your social media has direct links to your website.

12. SERP (Search Engine Results Page)

75% of travellers start with search engines to find a place to stay!

It is crucial to appear on search engines. When a potential customer is looking you up online, you need to be visible on the front page of search engines. The best way to ensure this is to sign up to Google My Business. The benefits:

Free sign-up
Works with Google maps so will show your hotel for people searching for hotels in your area
Will allow people to find your contact information easily
Will allow people to find your website super easily! (Many hotels signed up to third-party websites who also have poor SERPs won’t show on search engine results until quite far down on the results page. The third-party booking sites usually show before the direct hotel website)
You have more control over what shows in the search results
More likely to be shown over your competition

13. Paid Ads

The travel and hospitality industry is heavily monetised when it comes to SEO. So if you want to appear top on those search engine results pages you need to be paying for ads. Whether this is on search engine platforms or social media ads you need to be involved.

For a great introduction on how to begin with paid ads (Also called PPC Ads), you can follow a guide from WCIC Tech Which PPC Platform Should You Choose.

14. Retargeting Ads (or Remarketing)

The abandonment rate for hotel bookings online is 75%! So having a way to recapture all that lost business is vital to growing your hotel revenue. That’s where the genius behind retargeting ads come in!

Retargeting ads focus on targeting ads only to past visitors to your website, reminding them to pick up where they left off. They work by showing display ads to these past visitors with deals and incentives to entice them back.

15. Review websites

Businesses with online reviews have 12.5% more conversions. So don’t ignore the importance of websites such as Trip Advisor.

As much as you want to close your eyes and look away, it is important to have a strategy in place to offset any bad reviews left on review websites. You can convert unsure potential guests into customers simply by the responses you give to negative online reviews.

More importantly, it’s a direct communication to your guests into their experience with you. So listen to their feedback and complaints as these are a huge insight into your hotel experience and performance.

It’s also important to note, guests spend more with hotels who have good reviews because they have greater confidence in their choice.

Set alerts to get notified of new reviews
Sign up to Google My Business to get generating direct customer reviews
Respond positively and quickly to influence negative online feedback

16. Offer Gift Vouchers and Experiences

One of the most lucrative and easy-to-implement strategies to directly increase the revenue you make is to offer gift experiences and gift cards. One of our customers The Celtic Manor Resort went from making £700,000 in voucher sales to £2.3m in just a couple of years.

How?

With gift experiences and gift cards, you make instant sales on future services (that you may or may not even need to service).

What do we mean by this?

A massive 10-15% of purchased gift vouchers never get cashed in, even though you have already sold the voucher. This means that you never pay out for the service cost of that voucher. It is always better for business to sell your hotel services through gift cards as a priority rather than direct room bookings.

It is easier than it sounds.

With the experience economy on the rise, more and more people are looking to spend their hard-earned cash on experiences rather than goods.

Other revenue maximising benefits:

60% of consumers say they’ve been introduced to a new brand through a gift voucher and 17.7% have become regular customers as a result.

72.1% of consumers spend more than the value of the voucher, adding 55% on top of the average value of the card itself.

Here’s how you can maximise your gift voucher strategies for increased revenue:

Advertise your hotel services as experiences to generate more interest
Prioritise gift vouchers and gift experiences over direct bookings to maximise the potential revenue earned.
Offer product add-ons when selling your gift vouchers to personalise guest experiences. Find out more about add-ons here

We hope you have found the strategies throughout helpful. This post has been designed to help you implement smart strategies to increase hotel revenue. For more ways on how to increase revenue in a hotel, see another post of ours here.

Gift card promotions for Christmas

It’s not too late to begin your gift card promotions for Christmas!

With just around a month until the big day, here are some easy gift card promotions for Christmas you can introduce to sell more gift cards this holiday season.

For the simplicity of the post, we use the words gift cards as a generic term sharing the same meaning with gift vouchers, gift experiences and gift certificates.

A gift card is used interchangeably as either:

A gift card with a monetary value that the recipient can use in exchange for goods or services.
A gift experience that is used in exchange for a service.

Coming up in this post:

What do consumers want from gift cards?
Gift card promotions for Christmas
Create bespoke Christmas offerings
Communicate effectively!
Christmas Pricing Promotions
Marketing wording for your gift cards
Want to introduce gift vouchers to your business?

What do consumers want from gift cards?

Firstly, it is important to understand your potential customers and think about what it is they want from the gift cards you offer. Consider when looking at these reasons, that they are not for the customer directly, but for an intended recipient.

Generally, people’s desires for gift cards look something like this:

Unique experiences that they’ve never seen before
Experiences they’d never get around to trying or buying themselves
Experiences that match their interests and desires
Monetary value gift cards so they can choose what to spend themselves
Great deals and promotions
Convenience for consumers to shop quickly and easily online without overthinking it, with the added bonus of avoiding gift wrapping
Need to buy a deluxe gift last-minute- especially if they have forgotten on Christmas morning! An e-card can be delivered directly to the recipient

So how do you encourage more purchasing of your gift cards this Christmas?

It’s simple, introduce new gift card promotions.

Gift card promotions for Christmas

Gift cards are an easy sell for the holiday season. With gift cards topping consumer wish lists by a whopping 61%! With 59% of consumers planning to give gift cards.

So if you aren’t selling gift cards already, it’s certainly time to seriously consider this extra revenue source.

Without delay, let’s look at the different gift cards promotions you can introduce this Christmas.

Create bespoke Christmas offerings

Going back to the reasons why people buy gift cards, you need to consider the uniqueness, desires, personalisation and promotions of the offering. Tapping into these elements through a range of your different products and services will certainly increase customer gift card spending.

If you’re a regular follower of our blog content, then you will have seen us using the term FOMO before. But if not, we will happily explain what it is for you.

FOMO is Fear of Missing Out. This is a legitimate fear or anxiety for missing out that is growing, especially among millennials. The term is so popular that it has even been added to the Oxford Dictionary. If you don’t believe us check it out!

While we mention it a lot, it is a very critical component to consider when implementing your promotions for gift cards. Almost all your gift card offerings must aim to induce a FOMO to maximise sales.

To do this you need to create packages that have a limited offer period, that’s why it works perfectly for Christmas! By limiting your gift card offering by either creating a unique gift or a promotional deal for a limited time.

An easier way to say this is to make exclusive gifts just for Christmas.

Limit the time period you offer your gift cards discounts

So for the run-up to Christmas and even until Christmas Day itself, you need to create the feeling that certain gift card deals or packages are exclusive for Christmas only.

Example:

If you’re in the hospitality industry, you could consider running gift card deals that offer a 10% discount on all gift cards in the month of December.

Or even offering a 20% discount to additional gift cards purchased when spending over a certain amount on gift cards in December.

Create exclusive gift card packages just for Christmas

By selling unique gift card packages that are unavailable at any other time in the year will also induce someone’s FOMO. For example:

“For an exclusive time only we are offering a speciality 7-course à la carte menu at the chefs' table. Gift cards on this package are only available until December 30^th limited vouchers available.”

Offer more than your competitors

An easy way to beat your competition is to create a way that your customers can personalise their vouchers.

So how can you enable your gift cards to be personalised?

… By creating Add-ons.

Add-ons

Add-ons are a simple and easy way of enabling your customers to easily “add on” items or services to a standard gift card offering that you sell.

For example, say you have an overnight stay gift card for 2 people. You could create an option to add Champagne on ice, chocolates, flowers, rose petals on the bed, anything that can enhance the stay! Providing lots of options gives your customers a chance to really tailor their gift to the recipient. Allowing them to tap into their desires to make them the perfect, personable gift.

Check out our gift card management system, where we have an easy-to-use add on feature here.

Communicate effectively!

Your number one priority is to make sure people know about your gift cards. That’s why you need to make sure you’re shouting loud and proud about your gift cards on all of your communication channels.

Email Campaigns

Your email campaigns will obviously only notify your existing or previous customers who are signed up to your email subscriptions. But with that being said, email campaigns are a very effective marketing tool. Your subscription base will have chosen to sign up to receive your emails to catch deals and promotions. So, they will welcome a gift card email campaign for Christmas.

How to run your email campaign

For maximum reach, you need to send various email blasts out as part of a wider email campaign for Christmas gift cards.

1^st email blast

From the 1^st of December

Begin from the start of December. Right after your Black Friday Campaign is finished is a good time to begin your Christmas campaign, especially to catch the early Christmas shoppers.

(FYI, if you need more information on how to run Black Friday marketing strategy see our post here.)

Your first post can be related to Black Friday. You can say, “If you’ve missed out on our Black Friday and Cyber Monday gift card deals, then you can catch more here with our Christmas offerings”.

2^nd email blast

Send in the middle of December

Your second post is to remind your customers of the types of Christmas gift cards you offer. Use smart marketing wording to persuade them to click through to your website. We will talk about this further along in the post.

3^rd email blast

Send the week before Christmas

Make sure your subject heading is highlighting the proximity to Christmas, and that time is running out to get that perfect gift! This will create a sense of urgency in your customers, making them more likely to purchase a gift card.

4^th email blast

Last Chance!! Send on Christmas Eve

Here you will catch the last-minute panic buyers. Highlighting their fear of missing out on a good deal will enough them to click-through to your website.

“Still stuck for what to get? You can’t go wrong with a luxury gift card!”

5^th email blast

Send on Christmas Day! – Yes really!!

This is to capture all the people who have forgotten people off their lists.

You will be amazed by how many gift cards we see get purchased on Christmas day itself. Maybe people have been forgotten, or maybe they get that last-minute guilty feeling that they didn’t spend enough. Who really knows? But one thing is for sure, people are still looking for easy and convenient gifts to buy on Christmas Day.

The best thing about gift cards is they are still a luxury item, which can be delivered via email instantly. So it doesn’t look like a last-minute gift.

You can Say, “It’s not too late! Send an e-gift card now, and they would be none the wiser!”

6^th email blast

Send a reminder email to get online shopping for further deals for Boxing Day Sales.

An important reminder, make sure your email campaigns are optimised for mobile.

Also, you must include a direct link through to your gift card store for easy purchasing. Your customers aren’t likely to buy a gift card if they need to search your website independently to find your store.

Social Media

As well as contacting your existing customers, you also want to be communicating to a new audience.

That’s where social media plays an important role!

Ways to increase gift card sales through Social Media

Social Media Campaign

Make sure you advertise your gift cards on social media alongside your email campaigns.

Use lots of pictures or videos. Video is 70% more effective for producing online conversions.

Social Media Competitions

There are many ways you can run competitions on social media, and you can use your gift cards as a prize. Effectively increasing your gift card awareness. For tips on the types of competitions you can run see our post here.

Don’t forget to include a direct link to your gift card store on your social media.

Website

Most importantly your gift cards must be easily found on your website.

For more information on how to present your gift voucher website check out a past post of ours here, where we go over all features of a high-quality website design for gift cards specifically.

Other ways to increase online sales:

Customer Testimonials

You can also include customer testimonials to receiving and experiencing your gift cards on your website. This is a nice way to get people to trust your product if they’ve never purchased or experienced it before.

Banner ads or pop-up boxes

For the month of December, you can introduce a banner ad across the top of your website with a direct link to your gift card store.

Or another way to increase your gift card click-through-rate is to have a pop-up box directing traffic to your gift card store.

Dedicated Landing page

Don’t just hide your gift card store under a header tab on your home page, create a dedicated landing page filled with gift card, gift voucher and gift certificate keywords to capture people searching the web.

Use Paid Ads

Don’t forget to introduce paid ads to increase your likelihood of being found on search engines.

Organic traffic through blog posts

A nice way to introduce people to your gift cards is to create blog posts. These blog posts can show the behind the scenes of the experiences available, meet the team, or even help on what to buy loved ones this Christmas.

But this marketing method is a slow burner, so don’t expect fantastic results short term.

Your online gift card system also needs to be able to run smoothly and keep up with online shopping demand.

In-house- Existing or first-time customers

Let’s not forget about capturing your in-house customers. There are some people- believe it or not, who don’t always check the websites of the places they are interested in visiting. In these cases, they would never see your gift card offerings if you only stuck to online marketing tools.

One of the easiest ways to increase awareness is to have in-house marketing informing guests throughout your grounds.

You can place them in the following areas:

Check-out desks
Retail desks
Receipts
Waiting areas
Bill folders

Also, train your staff to up-sell in high-traffic areas. There are many ways you can increase sales with on-site promotion.

Christmas Pricing Promotions

We’ve touched a little on pricing, but let’s look at how you can use pricing promotions for gift cards in more detail.

Be careful with price promotions, don’t slash your prices too hard as Christmas is the most lucrative time of the year for gift card sales. People may be buying your gift cards anyway!

To predict whether using promotional deals on your gift cards will be worth it, decide by using your figures for last year’s sales.

But, if you're in a highly competitive industry for gift cards, there are a few strategies you can introduce to get the edge over your competitors.

Use gift cards as promotional items

Draw customers in with promotional offers on the price of your gift cards.

One method is to give customers a lower value monetary gift card for every £$00 they spend on gift cards.

e.g. “Receive a $10 gift card for every $100 spent on gift cards during December”

This method also encourages more spending. So if someone has purchased a gift card for $75 they may feel persuaded to purchase another to take them over the $100 target to get the free gift card.

Offer deals on gift cards

You can discount your gift cards by a certain percentage. This works especially well with gift cards for experiences. Just make sure you show the saving made or the percentage discount clearly on your gift card store.

Offer Buy-One-Get-One-Free

For your lowest selling gift cards, introducing a BOGOF deal can persuade people to buy. This will incentivise the shopper to get two gifts for the price of one. Also, you will have two potential guests to win over and introduce to your brand.

Marketing wording for your gift cards

We have gone into a lot of detail previously on how to market carefully for gift vouchers. You can see the full post here. But for now, we will cut and paste a direct passage from our post to demonstrate to you how you can use clever wording in your marketing to grab attention and evoke emotion.

Read on to see what we mean!

“All you need to do is cleverly tap into basic human emotions. This could be anything from romantic love, family, friendship, happiness, joy, thrill, reward and even good morals.

Now we don’t all have the resources to display a production level on par with the giant department stores! But we can use storytelling in our marketing and email campaigns to grab attention and evoke emotion.

Emotional Trigger Words

Word choice is important in marketing to influence a purchase. You can do this easily by tapping into different categories of emotion to convey the message you’re trying to sell.
Positive wording is more powerful than negative; it’s best to convey messages of happiness and reward for the most enticing results.

An example of emotionally triggering categories of words:
• Health: Buzzwords that trigger health invoking emotions: Boost, energise, cure, flush, vibrant, nourish
• Hope: Bright, Destiny, Empower, Overcome, Undo, dreams,
• Passion: Blissful, Delightful, Jubilant, Rave, Thrilled, indulge
• Urgency: Before you forget…, Quick, Limited, Seize, While it’s fresh on your mind… Don’t wait…, It’s not too late!”

Another way to grab attention for shoppers is to answer their own questions. One of the biggest they’ll come across at Christmas is, “what do I get her/him/them?!”

A successful way to market to this is to create personas and the perfect gifts for that type of person.

Examples include:

“The perfect gift for…the guy who already has it all”

“The perfect gift for… making her feel special”

“The perfect gift for… a much needed romantic break away!”

You get the gist! It can be anything you put your mind to. Just make sure the personas match your target audience. Whether that’s mums, girlfriends, wives, husbands, friends etc…

Want to introduce gift vouchers to your business?

If you are not yet selling gift cards, you be might be considering it after reading this post. But if you need more convincing, then check out our post: Why You Must Sell Gift Vouchers This Christmas.

Some more reasons to convince you why gift cards are the way to go:

Studies have shown that small to medium-size businesses are selling the lion’s share of gift vouchers, with consumers preferring to buy them from independent and intimate stores and services.

75% of gift card recipients spent nearly $28 more than the value of the card.

60% of guests have been introduced to a new brand by receiving a gift card. Which has resulted in 17.7% of these new guests becoming loyal guests.

10-15% of purchased gift cards are forgotten about and expire. Which means free money for your business. While the experience or gift card has been bought, you’ve never payout for the service cost or item value of the gift card. Keeping 100% profit made on the gift card.

Good luck!

If you’re considering how to introduce gift card promotions for Christmas, don’t hesitate any longer. Many consumers have already started their Christmas shopping, so make sure you have your promotional nets at the ready to catch their dollars!

Spa Marketing Strategies Promotions

Today we are looking at spa marketing strategies promotions, and how to successfully implement them in your business.

The spa industry is enjoying record growth, and is now worth a huge $17.5 billion a year! But as with any industry, enormous growth creates enormous competition. To maintain competitive spas must differentiate and innovate their offerings.

In this post, we will provide you with refreshing spa marketing strategies promotions that will keep you current with guests and get your spa thriving, not surviving.

Coming up:

Define your niche
Influencers
Social Media
Create a Spa Marketing Calendar
Promotions including the word free!
Keywords and SEO
Look after your past guests
Host Events and Focus on your Local Market
Email Marketing
Spa gift vouchers and gift cards
A closing note

Let’s dive in.

Define your niche

Before you think of promotional strategies you need to hone in on your market.

You can’t be something for everyone, so pick a specific niche and perfect it.

To help you decide, look at the market and complete competitor analysis. What are your competitors doing well, and what are they not doing so well at? Work on something that is specific to you. Whether that’s alternative Asian holistic treatments or a health and wellness centre at competitive prices. If you’re not sure, analyse your potential customer base and find out what they want!

Headline worthy treatments

Once you’ve figured out your niche then you get clever with your wording.

Make sure you shout loud and proud about your alternative offerings. Madeline Johnson CEO of Marketing & Public Relations boasts that their most successful campaigns come from making headline-worthy treatments. They specialise in marketing for spas with a difference to make headline news. Examples of her work are the Seven-Hour Massage at Townhouse Spa in New-York and the 24K Gold Facial at Fairmount Spa.

Being different is what drives consumers to try new and unique experiences.

Influencers

If you are able to make the contacts, offer free treatments to influencers for their endorsements.

Although this marketing strategy can be a little transparent when endorsing products, it can still work well in the service economy, as it’s all about exposure.

Bring in an influential potential customer and give them the experience to remember for free. They can showcase your spa, your treatments and experiences. Put out all the stops and really show what level of service you can provide. They will be your salespeople, influencing many more potential customers.

Social Media

Without a social media presence, you can kiss goodbye to 37% of your overall potential guests.

There is a growing fear of missing out (FOMO) among millennials. Going somewhere popular is so important to 18-24-year-olds, that a staggering 57% of them saying social media has influenced their choice of a spa.

So how can you effectively run your social media spa strategies and promotions?

Selfie Stations

Like bees to flowers, selfie stations are magnets that attract the selfie masses for that perfect pic. People love to capture their experiences and sharing them to tell all. So setting up a selfie station with a dedicated hashtag will boost exposure exponentially for your spa- all for free!

This free marketing not only influencers others, but it also taps into the FOMO among the social crowd.

Create an online buzz with social competitions and prize giveaways

You can also incentivise your followers with social media competitions to win a free prize.

The key is to make sure the competition rules involve tagging up to 3 friends, liking the post, and following your social profile. With every new person tagged in the post, they will have to follow your profile, like and tag more friends to enter the competition. This will drive your exposure exponentially!

The winner of the prize can receive a free product that gets used in your spa, or even a gift voucher for a spa experience day.

You can expand on this tactic by giving the social media winner an exclusive experience, where they can share their spa day on social media. This exposure will allow you to repost their experience and inform all your new followers of your unique spa offering. You can create a whole social media campaign around their experience.

This type of social marketing works very well on Instagram. You can also run these campaigns on Facebook and Twitter too.

Give beauty tips and advice on social media

Another way to generate lots of online interest is not to talk about your business, but to share your insider best tips and secrets.

You can create interest and a loyal following by posting high-quality videos that your followers can use as follow-along tutorials.

So get out your therapists to run consistent content, whether it’s on facials, nails, hair tutorials or skincare! Make your videos with a unique edge, categorise them into different customer demographics or by treatments. Just think about how you can make your videos and tutorials unique and interesting.

Staying current on social media

Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube and more, there are so many social platforms out there.

You need to decide which will work best for your customer demographics, and which platforms will have the biggest reach for your marketing styles. Don’t try to sign up to them all spreading yourself thin. This will dampen all your efforts and be less effective. Stick to around 2-3 social media platforms at most and perfect them.

Staying current on your dedicated platforms will have a far bigger effect than carrying out basic posts for many. So make sure you stay up to date with new and trending features. Take Instagram’s new IGTV video feature. This can be great for spa tutorials or sharing your beauty tips.

You can even use the Instagram stories, polls and Q&As to do behind-the-scenes looks at your spa, your therapists and upcoming new products and treatments. This is a great way to generate feedback, interest and a personal connection with your followers. All aspects that strengthen loyalty with your branding.

Use Video

Creating videos is a feature added to almost all social media platforms. According to Fitsmallbusiness.com video is 70% more effective for producing conversions, especially when added to your website.

So start your storytelling through video by uploading spa journey videos, your guests enjoying their experiences and even those popular beauty tips we mentioned earlier. We've written a great post on how to use storytelling to sell your experiences.

Create a Spa Marketing Calendar to clearly define your spa marketing strategies promotions

Be organised, considerate and smart when it comes to your marketing for your spa. Think of seasons, what treatments are most popular when, and deliver exactly what your guests are in search of.

During Christmas time think of the boost in parties and how you can promote complementary treatments. Or in the summertime, treatments for detoxing and preparing those all-important beach bodies.

Format for your calendar

Larry Oskin, President of Marketing Solutions suggests this simple layout:

List the months across the top
Divide different sections for skin, body treatments, wet treatments, nails, hair, retail and gift vouchers down the left side of your calendar
Then subdivide these sections into marketing, advertising, PR and promotions

You can carefully run campaigns in an organised and thoughtful manner. This way you maximise the effectiveness of your marketing campaigns, instead of posting random content as you go along.

Promotions including the word free!

People are attracted to the word ‘Free’. It turns heads and engages attention.

Providing free aspects to offerings incentivises cautious people to try something new. When it comes to spas, people are highly nervous about trying something new, usually because of the large cost associated with the experience.

But don’t go throwing the word free around easily. Be mindful of your branding. If you are a 5* spa with luxurious treatments, you want to stay well away from the word ‘free’. Use the word complimentary instead.

If you are competitively priced, with lots of offers and deals, go ahead and use the word free. It’s all about using language that suits your demographic.

So let’s now look at how you can promote ‘freebies’ and create attention through clever marketing strategies.

Social Media Giveaways

You can use the free prize giveaway tactics already mentioned above in the social media section.

Refer- a- friend

As we’ve already mentioned word-of-mouth is one of the highest drivers of new customers to a spa. People trust people. So providing an incentive for people to share and expose your experiences will be highly successful.

The best way you can do this? Offer current customers a complimentary gift voucher when they recommend a friend who spends more than a certain amount in your spa.

Complimentary services

Delight your guests with going that extra mile through your treatments.

What makes your facials a better experience than your competitors? Maybe it’s the complimentary hand or scalp massage. Or maybe you can give them a parting gift of a little sample product used in their treatment. Surprising your guests this way will make them feel they get more value for their money. Creating more value for your guest will stick in their memories, and they will leave feeling more satisfied with their experience.

With the enhanced experience and perceived higher value for money, guests are more likely to come back to you again and again.

Keywords and SEO

An increasingly important aspect of marketing is your digital presence.

So appearing on search engines easily will go a long way to having people find your spa, and be able to get more information to visit you.

Keywords

A great inbound marketing tactic is to have a blog with targeted keywords, to ensure you get website visitors. You can make your blog interesting with educational content for the health and beauty industry. The importance of your blog needs to be focused on creating valuable content, and not about plugging in sales for your products and services.

Ensure you use popular keywords. These are terms that readers are searching for online. You can find great blog writing guides online.

Don’t forget to have social share buttons on individual articles, enable readers to share your content. You can also provide helpful downloadable guides and PDF’s, which you can capture email addresses to add to your email database.

Retargeting Ads

Retargeting ads are different from Google AdWords or Facebook Ads, as they cleverly only target those who have visited your website. This way you have more control who your ads target.

This is important as only 2% of website visitors convert on the first visit. By using retargeting ads, you are redirecting past visitors back to your website, and reminding them of your services.

From here you can use clever marketing tactics to customise ads based on which pages visitors looked at. So if someone was looking at massages, you can send out specific retargeting ads offering limited-time discounts for massages.

Online Reviews

Revisiting online reviews and responding to them in a timely and positive manner will make a huge difference to your reputation.

It tells people you care about your guest’s comments and feedback
You can make up for poor experiences, transforming any negative reviews into positive experiences.
How you respond to reviews can change any new visitor’s opinions and views on your business that they otherwise might have had.

Make sure you set alerts, so you get notified of online reviews. This way you can respond within good time and reverse any online damage.

To get yourself generating customer reviews sign up for Google My Business, and claim your Google Knowledge Panel. This will enable you to appear for local SEO and hyperlocal marketing. Which means that when people search for spas near them you will show up in their Google search.

Studies show that business with online reviews has 12.5% more conversions.

Google My Business

Google advertising is becoming expected of businesses. The first thing people do when hearing of a new experience is to Google it, to help them decide if it’s worth going.

Having a page on Google My Business allows businesses to have more control over what shows in the search results.

It allows guests to easily find your website, contact number, address and more. If your search appears more easily than your competitors, then you’re more likely to be chosen instead.

Look after your past guests

Look to creating win/win relationships with all your guests by encouraging customer loyalty.

You can achieve this by aiming for personable experiences. There are many ways to achieve this such as birthday clubs, loyalty programmes, product freebies, referral bonuses and more!

A more personal treatment

Encourage a personal and caring relationship to develop between therapist and guest.

There is a limited amount of time for your therapists to make a lasting impression and connect with their clients. They only have time within the treatment to understand the guest’s needs and wants. That’s why you should ask personal questions on each guest’s consultation form.

Giving your therapists a chance to determine what their guest’s needs are prior to the treatment can go a long way. On the consultation, forms ask guests, “what do you want to achieve out of your treatment?” “How do you want to feel after your treatment?” “What do you want to change and improve in your life?” Asking these personal and deep questions gives your guests a chance to communicate with their therapist what they want out of their spa experience. Whether they want to relax, look better, release muscle tension and so on, your therapist has prior knowledge of this and can alter the treatment accordingly.

Once knowing the goal of the treatment, the therapist has an idea of the aftercare that the guest will have an interest in. So if their goal was to reduce stress in their life, the therapist can suggest a home care routine that will aid in this. This is a win/win scenario, as the guest feels cared about and listened to while taking home tips and advice to improve their life. While the spa has an opportunity to upsell products and develop customer loyalty.

This extra care and guidance will showcase the overall health benefits of a quality spa experience, whilst deepening the care and bond between therapist and client.

Memberships

Offer a spa membership. You’ll find that people like the exclusivity of benefits they get as a member whilst feeling part of a group.

It is important to provide members with exclusive pricing, events, and deals that aren’t available to non-members.

Your benefit is the continuous extra revenue from membership every month. Whilst your members get to enjoy the sense of belonging to an elite group with its exclusive offerings.

Host Events and Focus on your Local Market

Hosting events is a great way to spread excitement and create a buzz in your local area. Including your local area is important as this is where you will generate a high percentage of your customer base. – Especially with regular guests!

Hosting events allows new people to try out your experiences and get them interested in your offerings that they otherwise may not have heard about.

You could offer ladies nights, happy hours, or brunch events. These help put you on your local map while keeping you within the mind of the local community.

There are other ways to engage with the local community too. Sign up to bridal shows, have a booth at local festivals or for an exclusive VIP event. You will effectively build awareness, and strengthen relationships with the local area.

Email Marketing

A huge 60% of customers actually want to receive promo emails from companies they love. Contrary to the feeling that email campaigns are becoming outdated.

To keep those loyal guests returning, it is important to keep your email lists up to date and comply within GDPR. Remember it is illegal to hold onto someone’s details for longer than is necessary, or if they have not permitted you to use their contact details.

So on your blog sign-up, or on spa consultation forms make sure you check your guests are happy to receive promotions and deals and to be connected through email.

You can send out monthly newsletters, promotions and discounts on treatments, your newest blog post and events. Just ensure you use a call to action in each email. To make your job easier, invest in an automated email marketing software. There are many email marketing tools out there that can help you create effective campaigns with little effort.

Spa gift vouchers and gift cards

One of the most effective and powerful ways to encourage repeat business, introduce new guests, and maximise revenue is to offer spa gift vouchers and cards. There are so many spa marketing strategies and promotions you can introduce through selling gift vouchers and gift cards that will skyrocket your revenue. One of our clients - The Celtic Manor Resort makes over £2.4 million in gift voucher sales alone.

Generate more revenue

The unique and profitable aspect of a gift voucher is the extra revenue they can generate your business.

With the experience economy on the rise, consumers are now preferring to gift experiences over physical goods. That’s where businesses in the service economy are thriving! Not only can you provide your guests with an experience that can be presented in a gift voucher, but you also make more revenue from selling gift vouchers than booking direct services.

This is because 10-15% of purchased gift vouchers are never even redeemed. Which means free money for your spa. While the experience has been bought, you’ve never payout for the service cost of that voucher. So you get to keep 100% of the profit made on the unredeemed gift voucher sales.

Guests with gift vouchers also spend up to 72.1% more than regular guests.

Introduce new guests

A massive 60% of guests have been introduced to a new brand by receiving a gift voucher. Which has resulted in 17.7% of these new guests becoming loyal guests. Gift cards one of the most effective methods of referrals for your business. So it is important to treat guests with gift vouchers just as special as full paying guests.

Offer Add-ons through personalisation

Gift voucher add-ons are an amazing way for your guests to personalise experiences. It is possible to amend gift vouchers through our system to add on extra items to make the gift more unique and special. We have noticed that just over 5% of our gift voucher sales include an add-on product. Over time this 5% advantage can generate a high amount of revenue.

Read our blog post on more benefits to including add-ons to your gift vouchers.

A closing note

We hope this post has inspired you to think of unique spa marketing strategies promotions and ideas to suit your business.

Gift Card Expiration Date Federal Law

What is the Gift Card Expiration Date Federal Law?

If you're a small or independent business in the US you'll find this post helpful. We will look at how you can sell gift cards, while still complying with the gift card expiration date federal law and at the state level. We will also discuss how the federal Credit Card Act affects your business and what types of gift cards are affected.

Please note! This post is just a general overview to help understand the federal act. It should no way be considered legal advice or considered legal counsel. We recommend after reading this article to get your own advisors on the law before proceeding.

Why did the Congress introduce gift card expiration date Federal law?

Federal Congress introduced the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009

(Otherwise known as the Credit CARD Act of 2009).

As of 2009, federal congress updated consumer protection law for the regulation of credit cards which includes gift cards and gift certificates.

It came about to prevent large companies from abusing the credit card system. In previous years these companies would jack up interest rates without warning to their customers. This was even extended to gift cards, where companies would apply inactivity fees on gift cards that weren’t used within a time frame. This resulted in many gift cards draining of their balance before consumers got around to spending them. It was also seen as unfair to put a short expiry date on gift cards, which resulted in many consumers having cards expiring before they finally got around to using them.

What are the biggest changes to gift cards and certificates?

The biggest changes around selling gift cards are the lengthened expiry dates. All monetary gift cards have to be valid for a minimum of 5 years. The legislation has decided that a fair length of time to allow consumers to spend their gift cards is a minimum of 60 months.

Consequences of violating the Credit Card Act of 2009

There are some serious consequences to violating the terms of the Credit Card Act which can result in extortionate fines of between $500 and $5000 for each violation.

But don’t fret! Read on to see what you can do to sell gift cards ethically and lawfully to avoid those big fines.

To understand what you can do, first, we need to define gifts cards and establish the different types of gift cards that you will be selling for your business.

What is a gift card?

Gift cards are generally defined as the same thing across the whole of North America. But when it comes to laws and legislation it is important to review and pin down exactly what is meant by a gift card, because different rules can apply in different states. Let’s take a look.

The federal law groups gift cards, gift certificates, gift vouchers and gift experiences as the following in the Credit CARD Act of 2009

Gift certificate means a card, code, or another device that is:

- Issued on a prepaid basis primarily for personal, family, or household purposes to a consumer in a specified amount that may not be increased or reloaded in exchange for payment; and
- Redeemable upon presentation at a single merchant or an affiliated group of merchants for goods or services.

Store gift card means a card, code, or another device that is:

- Issued on a prepaid basis primarily for personal, family, or household purposes to a consumer in a specified amount, whether or not that amount may be increased or reloaded, in exchange for payment; and
- Redeemable upon presentation at a single merchant or an affiliated group of merchants for goods or services.

There are also state definitions too. Here are a few examples of definitions by states

Florida

- "Gift certificate" means a certificate, gift card, stored value card, or similar instrument issued in exchange for monetary consideration when the certificate, card, or similar instrument is redeemable for merchandise, food, or services regardless of whether any cash may be paid to the owner of the certificate, card, or instrument as part of the redemption transaction.

Hawaii

- “Gift certificate" or "certificate" includes any electronic card with a banked dollar value where the issuer has received payment for the full banked dollar value for the future purchase or delivery of goods or services, any certificate where the issuer has received payment for the full face value of the certificate for future purchases or delivery of goods or services, and any other medium that evidences the giving of consideration in exchange for the right to redeem the certificate, electronic card, or other medium for goods, food, or services of at least an equal value.

Arizona

- "Gift card" means any gift certificate, gift card or electronic gift card or any other medium issued or sold after October 31, 2005, for which the issuer has received payment for the full face value or full banked dollar value of the card for the future purchase or delivery of goods or services.”

Find out what your state refers to as a gift card.

To make it easier to digest the law and legislation around gift cards we like to split our gift card types into two categories and simplify our definition:

Monetary gift cards (denominated)
Experience gift cards

A monetary gift card is a general-use prepaid card that has a monetary value (denomination amount) specified on the card. E.G a $50 gift card.

An experience gift card is a general-use prepaid card that doesn’t have a monetary value specified on the card, instead, it has the description of a service. E.G a 50-minute full-body massage.

What kind of gift cards are subject to the card act?

This brings us to our next question. Which type of gift cards apply to the Credit CARD Act of 2009?

Gift cards with a specified denomination of dollar to spend MUST adhere to the Credit CARD Act of 2009!

To clarify: If you sell a gift card with a monetary amount (e.g $50 Dollars), you must now comply with federal law. But there are a few exceptions.

Exceptions to the Gift Card Act

If you're in the service and experience industry you're in luck.

Experience gift cards are EXEMPT from the Credit CARD Act of 2009!

To clarify: Experience gift cards, (which are defined as gift cards or certificates issued for a specific good, service or experience that DO NOT have a specific monetary amount to spend) are EXEMPT from federal law.

However, exemption from federal law does still require you to abide by your own state law for further expiration restrictions. Check out your state law here by just typing your state into the search bar.

Statutory exclusions

If your monetary gift cards are subject to the federal law, it may still qualify for an exclusion under these "statutory exclusions". Which are:

Useable solely for telephone services;
Reloadable and not marketed or labelled as a gift card or gift certificate;
A loyalty, award, or promotional gift card;
Not marketed to the general public;
Issued in paper form only; or
Redeemable solely for admission to events or venues.

Exemption from federal law, what to do next

If your gift cards are exempt from the federal Credit Card Act, then you MUST refer to your individual state law.

Gift Card Expiration Date Federal Law

State Law vs Federal Law

You need to do some homework and find out if your state law is more or less restrictive on expiration dates than the federal law of 5 years (60 months).

State law expiration dates are MORE than 5 years:

If your state law has a longer expiration date than 5 years, then the federal law won’t be affecting you much, and you’ll need to adhere to your state law.

Generally, federal law does pre-empt state law. But in the case of consumer protection, the Credit Card Act only pre-empts state law when they are inconsistent with its protections. For example, states like California and Florida have prohibited expiration dates. In these cases, expiration dates are not allowed on gift cards as this gives the best situation for consumers, not businesses.

State law expiration dates are LESS than 5 years:

If your state law has a shorter expiration date on monetary gift cards (denominated amount) than the federal law, then there are a few things for you to consider:

Switch the monetary gift card to the expiry date of 5 years to comply with the overriding state law.
Amend your monetary value gift cards to ‘experience gift cards’, this way the experience gift card can follow your own states expiration date.

E.g If your state expiration date is two years, an experience gift card such as a “50-minute massage” (with no monetary value specified on the gift card), can expire in a year. But you’ll need to allow the amount paid for the gift card to be available for the two years’ expiration date, required by states minimum term.

However, you MUST clearly clarify the expiration date on the gift experience card.

Setting your gift card expiration dates

Setting the expiration dates on your gift cards is a very important aspect and one not to get wrong. If you don’t display an expiry date, then according to some states there is no expiry date.

Here are some ideas on how you can set your expiration dates to comply with gift card legislation and law.

Monetary value gift cards

Set only one expiry date clearly on your gift card, at either the federal five-year amount or your states minimum term (if it is longer than five years).

Exceptions are the states who prohibit expiration dates, unfortunately you won’t be able to set an expiry date if this is the case.

Experience gift cards

For service or experience gift cards you could consider two dates.

The first date must be the time frame of which you’ll honour the service. You could call this “Use by [date]".

E.g 12 months is an appropriate length of time to let service or experiences expire as it gives a fair amount of time for the consumer to use the gift card.

The second expiration date needs to be the states minimum expiration to refund the amount paid for the gift card. You could call this "Funds valid until [date]".

E.g New Jersey has a minimum expiration of 24 months following the date of the sale.

For states with no expiry required, you only need to apply the initial expiration date of the service.

E.g The state of Utah only requires you to make the expiration date clear on the gift card. In this case, only the first expiration date needs to apply.

Look out!

we will soon be writing a post on the expiry date on gift vouchers law for the UK and Canada.

Getting started with gift cards

If you have been put off by the laws and legislation around gift cards, then don’t let it frighten you. The benefits of selling gift cards and gift experiences far outweigh the initial research and legal advice you need to seek to begin your journey.

One of our clients The Celtic Manor Resort has grown experience gift card sales from $850k to $2.9 million per year! As you’ll see the results are worth it.

At Enjovia, we provide solutions to your gift card problems and help you get on the right track. Just get in touch and you can begin selling your services as gift experiences today!

Make more restaurant profit with vouchers

Are you looking to make more restaurant profit with vouchers?

“Vouchers are the most profitable item you can sell in your restaurant”

For restaurants, there is a simple way you can earn more revenue without needing to fill dining tables.

That solution? Start selling gift experience vouchers.

Facing Hard Times

The restaurant industry has endured a challenging year. After experiencing growth for nine years, we were all disappointed to see that the number of casual dining restaurants began to fall. This has resulted in several chain operators being forced to close branches. Jamie’s Italian, Carluccio’s, Prezzo, Zizzi and Café Rouge are some of the chains to suffer closures.

With a number of external factors like Brexit the service industry has been hit harder than expected but there are deeper reasons at play.

Consumer Spending Habits

Increasing financial uncertainty is causing shoppers to have a tighter grip on their purses, people are wanting more than just food from their dining experiences. There are many forms of entertainment to choose from that are all competing with each other, the bigger the choice the smaller the loyalty.

For people today, going out to eat is something to be remembered and enjoyed with loved ones. It is all about the unique experience.

Experiences are Rising

Consumers are choosing experiences above all, and with changing trends the choice of experience is here to stay.

Experience experts have figured out that this is due to 4 main consumer trends:

Social Media is growing more popular and the ‘like’ hunters are more prevalent than ever, whether they like to admit to it or not. Nothing gets more likes than taking part in a cool and trendy experience.
There is a growing Fear of Missing Out. This real term has even been coined FOMO by the Oxford dictionary.
There is a growing proclivity for minimalism, which is making consumers less interested in purchasing goods and material items, and more likely to spend their money and gifts on experiences.
Experiences allow people to share quality time together with friends and families and this is becoming more and more important to the values of people.

Among the popular CBD items at Green Goddess Cafe is this Goddess Grilled Cheese, which includes pesto aioli infused with CBD, fresh baby spinach, homemade mozzarella cheese, avocado and tomato. Green Goddess Cafe

What can restaurants do?

Restaurants who are thriving right now are leading the way in providing trendy and enjoyable dining experiences.

Forbes recently published an article highlighting the food trends of 2019, and you're unlikely to forget these funky dining experiences.

Among the list was robot automation restaurants, where food is ordered, created and served through Robots. Another growing dining trend in the US is marijuana-infused meals. Even popular among vegans is the “Motherless Meat”, - the rise of lab-grown food.

These dining experiences are extreme examples, but they illustrate the growing importance of focusing on unique experiences.

Taking YOUR restaurant experience to the next level

Remember how we said EXPERIENCES are what people are searching for?

Well, what better way is there than to package your dining experience and sell it through a gift experience voucher?

Gift experience vouchers are the easiest way to take your restaurant to that next level revenue.

Why?

Well firstly, the gift voucher market is booming. For the last five years, the UK gift voucher market has achieved double-digit growth year on year. With that figure now hitting an unbelievably high £5.6bn a year. Eclipsing the UK market, the US Gift Card Market is worth an eye-watering £300 Billion per year!

With the rising trend of voucher spending, combined with the desire for more experiences, gift voucher experiences are the way forward.

Make more money!

Remember we said vouchers can be the most profitable revenue source for your restaurant?

This is where we show you how.

The Facts:

Expiring Vouchers

10- 15% of gift vouchers bought expire and therefore never get redeemed. This means you get to pocket all the revenue from all expired vouchers, without paying out for the cost of goods sold.

Extra Spending

72.1% of consumers spend more than the value of the voucher. This extra spending adds a whopping 55% on top of the average value of the voucher itself.

Extra Customers

60% of consumers say they’ve been introduced to a new brand through a gift voucher and 17.7% have become regular customers as a result.

Where to get started?

Here at Enjovia we can help take your experiences to the next level.

We provide a smart and sleek voucher management system, that helps restaurants like yours sell your experiences in the form of gift vouchers and cards.

Why use Enjovia?

Distribute sleek and professional-looking vouchers
Keep track of your vouchers with an easy to use system
Be able to sell your vouchers online and in-house. 24/7 on any device, any time, any place, anywhere
Redeem vouchers easily, and prevent forged vouchers
Automated voucher delivery by email or post
Create your own voucher store in minutes
Take our expert advice on what to sell on your voucher store to maximise revenue

If that’s not all there are a few more unique qualities that we have over most gift voucher management systems out there.

Add –ons

People like personalisation. Our system is one of the only gift voucher systems that have an ‘add-on’ feature. When a person is buying a voucher they can add on extra items to the voucher. This allows them to personalise their gift. –An important aspect of gift-giving. But also creating more revenue on the voucher. It’s like up-selling without any effort!

Customisation

Our new system allows you to not only set up your own store yourself, but they even provide the tools for you to customise your store to match your own branding.

Check out the new system features here.

Make more restaurant profit with vouchers

Want to start selling restaurant vouchers?

There is an easy solution to maximise your revenue and start making more money today.

For more information on setting up your gift voucher store, contact us here.

British Summer Countryside Experiences

The UK has some of the most stunning and unique countrysides in the world.

With lots of rolling hills, farmland, and gorgeous scenic landscapes, travellers will find an adventure into our rural areas truly breathtaking.

That’s why we have dedicated this post to some of the most unique and wonderful countryside experiences to take part in this summer.

We’ve covered experiences for the family, couples, the guys and the girls. Below is our list of the UK’s best countryside summer experiences, which are unique, fun and unforgettable.

Read on to see what we’ve got in store; you certainly won’t want to miss out!

Experiences for the family

Deciding to do something fun with the kids that are not only exciting but is also be wholesome and memorable can be hard. Creating those unforgettable memories that they can look back on their childhood with fondness, nostalgia and bringing a big smile to their face is every parent wish.

The moments you choose with your children can even become a family tradition if done right.

We’ve found some pretty perfect experiences for creating these powerful family moments.

Strawberry picking

Where to go?

For one of the best berry picking farms head over to Hendrewennol in the Vale of Glamorgan. With over 40 years of perfecting their ‘pick your own berries’, you’ll find raspberries, strawberries, gooseberries, red, white and blackcurrants, tayberries and blackberries, and Blueberries. The berry season begins in the middle of May and continues through until August.

The fun’s not over, then you can all head home and bake some berry desserts, jams and treats- if there’s some left that is!

Mazes

Where to go?

Our favourite is the Longleat hedge maze. Whether it takes you 5 or 40 minutes you’ll have fun wandering the biggest hedge maze in Britain.

Animal petting

Where to go?

Want to try some animal petting with a difference? The Alpaca Experience at Faerie Tale Alpacas is one to remember. Not only can you get a chance to meet some alpacas, but you’ll also cuddle some babies, take photos and take them for a walk. Now that’s something to talk about!

Want to buy it as a gift?

Know someone who would absolutely love to meet some baby alpacas? You can even purchase the Alpaca experience and gift it to someone as a voucher. Check out a whole range of alpaca experience gifts.

Activity Centres

Where to go?

The award-winning Heatherton World of Activities is one of the most action-packed family days out you could do. With a huge range of experiences from the walk on water and bumper boats, to archery and high ropes. If that’s not enough there’s also the thrilling escape rooms to really get working as a team!

Want to buy it as a gift?

If you want to treat the family or some friends to a fun family day out, then buying this adventure gift experience may be just the perfect thing. You can take a look at the whole range of gift experience vouchers.

Experiences for couples

Glamping in Dorset

It’s glamorous camping, and even the unadventurous would still have all their creature comforts. It’s the perfect couples retreat this summer with nature at your feet while having the luxury of a double bed, electric and a stove heater.

Where to go?

Dorset Country Holidays & Events have perfected the high-end camping to a T.

From posh glamping tents and yurts to futuristic Geo Domes, overnight stays come equipped with amazing extras including a fire pit for roasting marshmallows that make the perfect camping experience.

Have you ever heard of camping with a ‘chandelier' electric light plus TV/DVD, electric faux-stove heater and even a Nespresso coffee machine with pods on arrival?

Want to buy it as a gift?

Dorset Country Holidays & Events know how to make an experience worthwhile. With a range of glamping experiences available as gifts, you can even personalise the experience by adding on extras. Personal touches such as ‘Bring your dog’ which includes a range of dog toys, treats and feeding bowls. For the adventurous, you can add on clay pigeon shooting. Or if you like to take the glamping seriously then you can add on a daily- maid service, a massage treatment and even a bath linen set which includes a facecloth, hand towel and a bath towel. You can check out the range of their gift experiences.

Glamping in Somerset

Where to go?

Another glamping favourite of ours is the Woodland Escape exclusive luxury glamping in Somerset.

What we love the most? Not only do you get the choice of glamping lodge, tents or yurts but Woodland Escape has a very special ‘hot tub glamping’. The perfect couple’s summer getaway. Imagine soaking away in a bubbling hot tub while gazing up at the stars under your loved one’s arm. Ahhh summer dream.

Want to buy it as a gift?

Whether it’s a classic glamping woodland yurt stay, or in a luxury lodge tent, you can find the perfect treat to have away with your loved one and present it in a beautiful experience gift voucher.

Check out the full range of gift experiences vouchers at Woodland Escape.

Glamping in Yorkshire Dales

Where to go?

If you want something further North, then Howgills Hideaway is the glamping destination for you.

You can have luxury glamping stay at their beautiful wooden pods with all the trimmings. If you’re looking for the most convenient camping trip then this is the one for you. Kit out your stay with a delicious full English breakfast hamper, a BBQ food pack or if you’re going for a special occasion you can request a personalised celebration package.

Want to buy it as a gift?

We love the Fully insulated and heated timber pods, they are the glam in glamping. There is also much more to choose from at Howgills Hideaway, see the full list of gift experiences.

Romantic countryside retreat

Where to go?

For the ultimate weekend break why not a romantic stay at the luxurious Glenarm Castle, one of Northern Ireland’s most beautiful estates.

Want to buy it as a gift?

If you’ve got a special anniversary coming up this summer, then whisk your loved one away on an Irish countryside retreat.

Build brand new this year, you can stay in the luxury accommodation pods at Glenarm Castle. For options on their pods visit their gift experiences.

Experiences for the Adventurous

Do you have a stag do, or hen do to plan this year? Or maybe it’s a milestone birthday and you’re looking for some fun?

We’ve got activities that you won’t want to miss out on!

Tractor driving

Where to go?

Kirkwood Real Farm Driving has the ultimate real farming experience. A wholesome and worthwhile experience, out in the fresh air and feeling the rumble of a tractor under your feet.

The tractor driving at Kirkwood allows you to get as close to an authentic farming experience you’ll get. Hit the fields in the big, bulky and bumpy machine and move bales, feed and lots of farming jobs.

Want to buy it as a gift?

If you know someone who would love this tractor experience, then you can gift it to them in an experience voucher. A list of the tractor experiences can be found. Along with quad bike tours through the countryside.

Axe throwing, battle zone archery and more 4x4 driving

Where to go?

Head over to Keypitts Off-Road Adventures to get a fully immersive rugged experience.

Not only can you take part in more 4x4 off-road driving in challenging terrain, but you can also take part in battle zone archery and even axe throwing.

Axe Throwing

Perfect for a stag or hen do activity, compete with your mates and see who has the best throwing skills

4x4 Driving

An amazing experience and one you won’t forget about! Take the Land Rover Discovery out into the muddy and challenging terrain. A whole driving course has been designed to test your driving ability and it gets harder as it goes on. The best part? Up to 3 of your mates can be in the vehicle with you so there’s no forgetting the mistakes you make!

Quad Skill Driving

Ever fancy yourself as a bit of a pro at driving. Now you can out it to the test with the quad skill driving. You’ll be tested over hills and S bends, water splashes, and even what Keypitts call ‘the Woodland Dipper’ There are 3 levels of skills to achieve; novice, skill and super skill!

Battlezone Archery

An amazing experience for large groups.

Two teams set off to face each other in a challenging game of Battlezone archery. The rules are simple, two teams of equal players face off across a purpose-built field layout. Each team has 6 specially designed bunkers made by Boost Air®, 6 target cones that are placed in front of each bunker, each holding a ball. There are several objectives to the game. The scoring is very simple! You will get 30 points for an eliminated player and 50 points for a targeted cone. Each game will last for up to 10minutes, where the scores are added and teams swap ends.

There are two umpires each responsible for a half zone of the field. The two teams are separated by a neutral zone. If a player catches an arrow, they can bring one of their eliminated players back into the game. The game ends when either, all team members are eliminated, all 6 cones have been hit or time runs out.

Want to buy it as a gift?

You can purchase all of these amazing experiences from Keypitts Off-Road Adventures.

Drinking Experiences

If having an alcohol experience is more your thing, then these are the activities for you.

Where to go?

Wadworth Brewery Tour

If a beer tour is your thing then this is the perfect experience for you!

At the Wadworth brewery tour, you'll learn all about the history of brewing and traditional techniques are combined with modern brewery skills to make the famous Wadworth beer that is here today.

You can even make your own ale! Yes, really. At Wadworth they provide a unique experience like no other, where you can work with a world-renowned brewmaster to create your very own flavour profile for your perfect ale.

Where to go?

Edinburgh Gin Tours

This is for real Gin lovers! Visit multiple venues on a gin tasting tour through Edinburgh. The tour will take you to the highest quality gin-based drinks and cocktails. You’ll even learn how gin matches to different flavours. You'll discover some amazing gin-based drinks and meet like-minded people on our tours.

Scottish Whisky Tours

Of course, it wouldn’t be an authentic whisky tour if it wasn’t in Scotland. Like the gin tour, the whisky tour will be with fellow whisky lovers and you’ll visit all the best venues. Not only will you get to be drinking the best whisky around, but you’ll also have a knowledgeable local guide giving you all the ins and outs on whisky. Check out Indievoucher.com

Experiences for relaxation

Sometimes all you need is a break!

Are you looking to get away for a birthday, hen or stag? Do we even need an occasion? Sometimes a mini break holiday is just what ticks the box this summer. We’ve got you covered.

Where to go?

Glanusk is the perfect destination for a UK getaway. With a range of beautiful accommodation to choose from, you can stay at the Gardens Cottage, the Guards Apartment or even the grand Glanusk Lodge.

With peaceful landscape gardens, in the heart of Glanusk Park, known as the “Jewel in the Usk Valley”.

Want to buy it as a gift?

You can present your hen with a beautiful gift experience voucher as a fabulous way to reveal to her the celebration.

Group Hen/ Stag do or birthday activities:

Know someone getting married? If you’re looking for amazing alternative activates to take part in for your bride or hubby-to-be’s special hen or stag do. Or if you know someone who loves to do something different and they need a special treat on their birthday then we’ve got classy and fun options for you

Where to go?

Apley Farm Shop has a great range of experiences that are just a dream!

What’s better than getting together with all your friends and having an amazing afternoon tea with a pot of Lord Hamilton’s tea, delicate sandwiches, handmade cakes & scones with local homemade jam & English clotted cream. Mmm, delish!

Or if wine is more your girl groups favourite get together activity, then a wine course and a tour on the vineyards is the perfect chill-out group activity.

The wine tour includes how wine is made, how to taste like a pro, how to identify and assess wine faults, tasting notes of various grapes and more.

Want to buy it as a gift?

A hilarious but great gift can be to send him or her on a ‘good husband or wife’ hen or stag do. This new craze is a hilarious and fun alternative to the traditional parties.

A bakery course, cheese, or butchery is not only a super fun experience but they will learn those all-important cooking skills to be a great husband or wife! Very tongue in cheek, but I’m sure the betrothed will appreciate it! Choose from a range of gift experience courses.

We hope you like our list of the best summer countryside experiences.

If you’re a business offering special countryside experiences and want to know how you can start providing gift experience vouchers, contact us.

Valentines Gift Experiences at Park Plaza Cardiff

Take a look at the luxurious Valentines Gift Experiences at Park Plaza Cardiff

Are you stuck for gift ideas this Valentine’s Day?

Should I get a necklace, a box of chocolates or a bottle of wine? What do you get the person that already has it all? If you really want to impress your valentine this year, get them a gift experience that will show them how much you know them.

That’s why we’ve created this Valentine’s Day guide to find the perfect gift for your valentine.

A Valentine’s Day to remember!

Want to impress that special someone?

It’s easy, you just need to focus on deep and meaningful Valentines gift experiences.

Why?

Experiences leave a lasting memory which is linked to emotions in a way physical gifts aren’t. It may come as a surprise, but experiences are scientifically proven to be preferred over material gifts. Satisfaction with the experience gifts increases over time. Whereas the overall satisfaction with material gifts decreases.

Our personal favourite part about experiences? You get to join in on the fun too. Call it a bit of ‘sharing time together’ it is Valentine’s Day after all.

Where to look?

So we’ve established experiences are the way forward for the ultimate gift. So where can you find these incredible and memorable experiences?

For the timeless romantic gesture, turn to the elegant and luxurious, award-winning hotel Park Plaza Cardiff.

Whether you’re looking woo a new romance, reignite an old flame, or even a share a treat between two friends that say, “Hey we’re in this together, you’ve got me!” You’ll find the perfect gift at the stunning hotel in the heart of Cardiff.

With a huge range of unique experiences available, The Park Plaza has covered all of the bases for a personal and tailored experience to suit anyone.

Below we’ve created the best help guide for selecting which experience is going to be the perfect experience gift for your Valentine. Select your gift based on what you think they need, or what you want your message to them to say.

What does your Valentine need the most?

To uplift their health and well-being

The effects of a healthy mind and wellbeing are invaluable.

A focus on a healthy mind and wellbeing will improve self- confidence, self-esteem, productivity, engagement in the world around you, the ability to cope with stresses of life and improve on relationships with others.

The Laguna Health and Spa pride itself on creating an environment that is a sensory place to relax, recharge and feel your best.

“At this lifestyle club, the Laguna, we will help you to re-discover your mind, body and soul. We focus on you and believe that is essential to achieving inner peace and happiness, so that one can fulfill the basic human needs for satisfaction and invigoration.” – The Laguna Spa.

Luckily for you, you can simply gift this experience of wellbeing to your loved one. All your messages of love, care and thoughtfulness will be demonstrated in this transcendent gift experience.

What the message conveys: I care about you deeply

Our favourite Well-being gift experience vouchers:

ESPA Mindful Massage

Get the ultimate well-being experience. Focusing on deep relaxation, and mindfulness with the aim to reduce stress, this holistic treatment rebalances the body and mind through massage on the metamorphic zones on the feet, finishing with a Rose Quartz Crystal scalp massage.

Weekend ESPA Luxury Retreat

Guided with breathing techniques bring the awareness to the present, this luxurious massage will take your body on into a state of total relaxation, with natural Marine Mud or Algae wraps with essential oil to perfectly indulge the body. Includes a chilled glass of bubbly, use of facilities and light lunch for the full well-being experience.

Massage and Pampering session

Massage is so beneficial to the body. It can relieve tense muscles, wash away stresses, and detoxify, leaving you feeling as light as a feather and relieved from pressure.

What the message conveys: You need a break, this day is about you.

Our Favourite Treatments:

Couples Ritual

Enjoy this relaxation treat together, whilst immersing in a side by side full body massage. Then unwind with some chilled Prosecco in the relaxation room.

For mum to be

Give her what will feel like the most amazing massage she will ever receive. The stress and pressure on the body whilst carrying a precious baby will be instantly lifted. Mum and baby will feel the benefits of this soothing and well- needed massage instantly!

Delicious Tasty Treats!

If your loved one is more of a ‘foodie’ then you’ve got an amazing selection of tasty treats to choose from. From vegan dishes to gin lovers, The Park Plaza has a wide range of food experiences to suit all preferences.

What the message conveys: I know you so well!

Our favourite Park Plaza Cardiff food experiences:

The Classic

Chateaubriand Meal for Two

If a nice big juicy steak is more to their taste buds this is the ultimate dining for two.

For Him

Gentlemen’s Afternoon Tea for Two

Forget sweetness, this is all about the savoury. An afternoon tea that is made for men.

For Her

Champagne Traditional Afternoon

She’s sweet inside and out thanks to this divine champagne afternoon tea.

For Vegans

Vegan Afternoon Tea

No need to miss out, afternoon teas are for everyone!

For Gin Lovers!

Hendricks Gin afternoon tea for two

For the Gin Lovers, deliciously refreshing Hendrick’s cucumber gin cocktail served in a vintage Hendrick’s teapot for the afternoon tea with a twist!

The ultimate special treat

Want to give it all? Mix and match gift experiences with these carefully selected packages for the most deserving of treats.

What the message conveys: You deserve it all!

Dinner Bed and Breakfast Sunday Spa Break for two

Start the week off right with the Sunday Spa Break. Includes A delicious 3-course dinner in the award-winning Laguna Restaurant, an overnight stay, a full English breakfast and a treatment with full use of spa facilities. We also love the upgrade option to an executive room!

Sunset Supper and Spa

Escape from the stresses and pressures of everyday life and relax in the tranquil surroundings of the spa by evening and enjoy a 2-course dinner in the Laguna Restaurant.

Not sure what they need?

Not sure what to choose? No problem, let them decide. The Park Plaza has all bases covered with the option of their Park Plaza monetary gift vouchers. And with a 12-month validity, they can book whenever it suits them. Ranging from £25, £50 and £100

What the message conveys: Have what you like, pick your favourite!

I don’t need love I’ve got my best Friends

Let’s not forget that Valentine’s Day can be inclusive to all! Why not use this opportunity to celebrate your best friendships?

What the message conveys: Who needs valentines when you’ve got a best friend?!

Our Favourite:

The Afternoon Tea Pamper with Friends

Have a fun friend’s day out and celebrate your love for each other. Along with an unwinding 50-minute treatment, you can stretch out the experience with full use of spa facilities and a delicious afternoon tea

For more experiences at the Park Plaza Cardiff Hotel check out their gift voucher homepage.

B2C blogging ideas to promote your business

We have listed the top 10 B2C blogging ideas to increase your web traffic and introduce a lucrative long-term inbound marketing strategy.

The ROI on your Content Marketing is a slow burner, and it can take years to see the results from it. So do not delay your blog any longer. In this article we will go through the following:

1. The benefits of a blog to your business.

2. The type of blog content you should produce

3. Top 10 Blog ideas to promote your business

Benefits of a blog to your business:

Increased Website Traffic

Your blog content will drive people to your website, increasing your web traffic by 55% according to Hub Spot.

Even though some visitors will have no desire to use your product or service, it doesn’t matter, because with great organic content people will return to your website for more. In turn, becoming loyal to your brand through the content you produce.

Blog authority and leadership

Over time with a consistent stream of reliable and credible content, you’ll become a thought leader in your industry. A thought leader is THE source to turn to for unique and new insights. Although this is the pinnacle of content marketing, it is not easy to achieve and will require years of high-quality organic content that is shared and viewed consistently. Take a look at Brian Dean, he has become THE thought leader for backlinks in SEO Marketing.

This is when the magic happens. People will recognise you as a THE credible source of information and will trust you and your brand completely. In turn, generating a lot of loyal customers and followers. Which ultimately means that the visibility of your product and services is massively enhanced. Hello next level sales!

Type of blog content you should produce

As a Business to Consumer (B2C) company, it is important that you produce content that is enjoyable and desirable to your customers.

That is why it is important for your blog to have varied content. What I mean by this is to not make it all 'salesy' about your products and services. Your readers will see right through this and be put off very early on. So think of content that ticks these 3 categories:

1.Informative or Instructional, 2. Enjoyable and Entertaining or 3. Opinionated or Personal.

Note: It’s smart to have a subtle Call to Action (CTA) in some of your posts. When presented in a gentle approach, your readers will welcome the link to your products or services. For example, a tie to link your experience vouchers when talking about your own services.

Top 10 b2c blogging ideas

Our customers are in the following industries: restaurant experiences, hospitality and spa, country houses and camping, farm shops and activity centres. Whether you are in one of these industries or not our top 10 blog topics should spring to mind some ideas for you.

To make this more digestible we’ve broken the blog tops into a couple of ideas per industry, but you’ll find some can be interchangeable across industries:

Restaurant

1. Going Green

Posts on how you are contributing to saving the environment are always a winner. This is particularly important in restaurants where there is a known high percentage of food waste. You could also blog about how you source your produce locally or use seasonal and organic dishes.

Ay news on Reduce, Reuse, Recycle or showing your part for the environment is always great content to boast about.

2. How your experience is turning heads

A new runner in the restaurant industry is dining experiences. Check out how restaurant experiences are taking over traditional high street spending as gifts.

Write a post about how your restaurant experience is something not to miss. You could even invite a food blogger to write a review. There are so many out there and their blogs are incredibly popular!

Hotel and spa

3. Big Events

A great post for the hospitality industry is an article dedicated to your hotel events or special themes throughout the year. Many of your customers will not know about any special events, so blogging about them is a great opportunity to inform and even get more traffic to your website.

4. Health and wellbeing Benefits

An important article for a spa is the wellbeing and health benefits of a treatment or a relaxing spa day. A spa that can give factual evidence behind the benefits of a spa treatment will sway any paying customer. Especially if you offer alternative treatments or have a fantastic spa suite for relaxing.

Campsites or Country House

5. Local Attractions

A fantastic article to write for a camping, glamping or country house blog is the top local attractions.

A family or couples looking to get away into nature may prefer to pick a spot with lots of nearby activities to get involved in. With a list of things to do near you, you’ll surely attract visitors to your website. They may even decide to stay with you as they’ll trust your local knowledge and advice on the unfamiliar area.

6. Favourite Hiking Spots

Alternatively, if there are no activities near you, a great piece would be top hiking spots. You could make this generic and large, for example, the ‘Top Hiking Spots in Wales’ (and choose a spot near you), or focus on many spots close to you, with you being the central hub of the hikes.

7. Alternative Wedding Venues

Growing in popularity is weddings and not just any old wedding, alternative wedding venues! A favourite with newlyweds is barns, marquees and campsites. So, if you offer wedding venue space you would be shooting yourself in the foot if you don’t blog about it!

Farm Shop

8. Local Community

To be seen working with the local community is increasingly becoming important to people. So, if you are a local farm gift shop, blog about your service to the locals or even your impact on the environment or wildlife around you.

As we mentioned earlier any information to improve health and wellbeing is always a bonus, so if you produce organically grown jams be sure to make a big deal of it!

Activity Centre

9. Our top recommendation for...

A great blog post for an activity center, gym or health club could be your top recommendation on sporting gear. You’d be surprised how many people are seeking information and advice on the best running shoes to have. The best part about posting a recommendation blog post is the ability to feature more and more posts like this. You could end up doing a whole blog series throughout the year.

10. Things to do for the kids/ family

Throughout weekends or school holidays, parents can go crazy trying to think of activities to entertain the kids. Writing a post on the different fun activities in your area is a great way to get visits through to your website. And you’ll almost certainly get parents flocking to you for more information.

So there is our top 10 list to get you going. As you can see many of these blog post ideas can be used across any industry.

Check out more ideas:

This blog post was inspired by Elna Cain at Blogging Wizard, where she lists her 60 Blog Post Ideas For Entrepreneurs, Marketers, And Businesses. Take a look at the infographic below where you can see these 60 blog post ideas easily. Here you will find an incredible in-depth list of blog post ideas to get your content marketing skyrocketing!

Make sure you check out Blogging Wizard, for more great tips on blogging for your business.

We hope you enjoyed this post on the Top 10 B2C blogging ideas.

Best vouchers for Christmas presents

What are the best vouchers for Christmas presents?

The best gift vouchers have certain features that make them unique and desired. In this post, we will go over how to create these experiences in a few easy steps.

1. People spend more at Christmas

Spending at Christmas is increasing year on year.

The average British family spends a whopping £821.25 on gifts, food and drink at Christmas.

As it shows, Christmas has a unique effect on people when it comes to buying gifts for someone special. People are happy to spend more than originally budgeted, especially if it's the right gift. So how can you find the best vouchers for Christmas presents?

Choosing the right gift is becoming more and more important to buyers. Gift giving is not simply the exchange of a physical object anymore, it's a form of communication. "When you give a gift to someone, what you are actually doing is speaking to them". And when it comes to the right message, the price is almost irrelevant.

To make the most of the spontaneous spending this Christmas, offer your most prized gifts. Provide those gifts that shout, "you are special!" And what better way to do that than to offer an experience voucher?

Our figures show that 60% of annual gift voucher sales are sold in November and December. Half of the November Gift Voucher sales are due to Black Friday and Cyber Monday. And Christmas spending in December sees double the sales of November for gift vouchers.

There's even more money to be made!

Experience gift vouchers are proven to generate more revenue. Our data shows that 12-25% of all gift vouchers go unredeemed. This can be due to the voucher expiring, so buyers purchase an extension on vouchers. Or simply they never get around to spending it. So as you never pay out a service cost, you keep all the profits from the voucher.

Even more so, we have found that 72% of people spend more than the face value of the voucher. For example, a '3 Course Dinner for Two' voucher will have a bottle of wine added on the night.

Gift vouchers are typically brought for other people, over 60% of people say they have been introduced to a new brand through receiving a voucher with 18% becoming regular customers as a result of their experience.

So, pull out all the stops to get your fancy 2 Rosette restaurant and overnight stay package in the form of a gift experience voucher. There's no time like Christmas to begin.

2. People are looking for unique and memorable Experience gifts

Experiential gifts are scientifically proven to be preferred over material gifts.

Researcher Dr. Thomas Gilovich, a psychology professor at Cornell University, has found that initially overall happiness with material and experiential purchases is approximately equal at the time of receipt. Then amazingly satisfaction with the experience gifts increases over time. Whereas the overall satisfaction decreases with material things.

And it shows.

36% of consumers will spend more on a gift experience voucher over a traditional gift. The rest spend the same amount.

The UK's high streets have had a devastating year. Taking a hit of more than 4,400 shops, pubs and restaurants closures in just the first 6 months of this year. Whereas incredibly, consumer spending on experiences has shot through the roof. Demonstrating a drastic change in consumer buying habits, especially when looking to find the best vouchers for Christmas presents.

The dining industry is proof of this. The restaurants who are offering unique dining experiences are thriving, whereas high profile restaurant groups including Gourmet Burger Kitchen and Jamie’s Italian, are facing many closures.

3. People want an easy shopping experience

Selling experiences on a dedicated online system will double sales. Our customers The Brookstreet Hotel, voucher sales grow 30% year on year with us. While another customer of ours, The Celtic Manor Resort, has moved from £700k to £2.3 million in annual voucher sales.

There has been a revolutionary switch to online shopping. It may be the speed, the convenience, the 24-hour availability or the wealth of choice, and even all from your mobile. With E-commerce sales jumping up by 15.5% in the last year, it's clear an online sales presence is a must.

Many people love hitting the shops at the festive time. but many try to stay away from the mad rush- especially on weekends and evenings. It’s too crowded and the parking is bad. So an increasing amount of consumers are looking for the easiest way to buy gifts, especially ones they don’t need to be at home to receive.

That’s why gift vouchers are perfect. They can be bought easily online, with the easiest delivery of all. Either posted through the letterbox or even sent discretely to an email address. No more heading over to the post office depot on weekends or popping over the neighbours and embarrassingly asking for another parcel.

And even if you didn't catch the right gift in the run-up to Christmas, you can quickly pop online and save yourself with a last-minute gift!

Gift Experience vouchers and cards are the best last-minute gifts. We even see thousands of gift voucher sales on Christmas Day with Enjovia!

We really do! So join the gift voucher club this Christmas and dramatically increase your revenue.

Found the best vouchers for Christmas Presents?

We hope you enjoyed this post on the best vouchers for Christmas presents. Want to know how you can promote your gift vouchers this Christmas? Check out a past post of ours that gives you 3 invaluable tips on how to promote your gift voucher sales for Christmas.

How to market gift vouchers for Black Friday

In this post, you'll find out how to market gift vouchers for Black Friday.

Black Friday and Cyber Monday are two of the largest consumer spending days of the year. Is your hotel prepared?

The popularity of the trend

Black Friday and Cyber Monday are taking the retail world by storm. Sales skyrocket at this time- across the board. Hence, everyone wants a discount!

As a result, Black Friday has placed every industry under pressure to get the discounts rolling. You would be foolish not to take advantage.

Good News, the hotel gift voucher market is in a fortunate position for both Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Selling discounted gift vouchers at location and online, hoteliers are sure to see a huge boost in sales if marketed correctly.

Getting Started on how to market gift vouchers for Black Friday

For easy Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, hotels need to market their discounted gift vouchers correctly.

3 ways to market your discounted gift vouchers:

1. Offer premium discounts to hotel members only

Encourage loyalty and repeat business to your most cherished customers. People like to feel exclusive and special, especially if they are part of a club. This is a good time of the year to exclusively reward members for their loyalty and commitment. It may even convince more customers to become loyal members.

2. Limit the number of vouchers on offer

Putting a limit on the available discounted gift vouchers will add value to the experience. Creating a sense of urgency. Often consumers try to avoid consumer dissonance, by spending longer in the decision-making process. (This is the feeling of dissatisfaction with a purchase after consumption).

When creating a sense of urgency, consumers don't have time to be careful with their purchase decision. Therefore, more likely to purchase on a whim. Especially when there's a discount involved!

3. Set a minimum value to spend to claim the deals

Set a minimum checkout value with the deal promotion, to drive higher volume purchases.

With highly discounted products, consumers are more likely to purchase a higher volume of them. Due to the perceived value being saved on each item, consumers will stretch their budgets not to miss out on the sale. Therefore, having a minimum value in the basket that must be met is an easy way to ensure margins are protected.

E.g To claim your 20% discount on gift vouchers, the shopping basket must have a minimum order of £100.00 to be able to check out and complete the order.

Hotels must capitalise on their gift vouchers for Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

Under the Buy Now over Book Now theory, sales through gift vouchers over direct bookings prove much more lucrative. Considering that many gift vouchers go unredeemed, rewards of the high voucher sales will far outweigh any worries about lost profit margins.

For more information on how you can market gift vouchers for Black Friday and Cyber Monday, contact us here.

Instagram for your Hotel

Instagram for Your Hotel: How to Turn Scrolls Into Stays

Instagram for your hotel is no longer just about pretty pictures. It’s often the first place guests find you, get a feel for your brand, and start planning a stay. Used with intention, Instagram hotel marketing can spark direct bookings and drive gift voucher sales.

TL;DR (Key Summary)

Instagram still matters in hospitality. Hotels use it to get in front of guests, share real experiences, and spark bookings. When it’s used with intention, it becomes more than a branding platform.

The smartest hotels pair strong visuals with easy ways to book or buy. That includes sharing:

Gift packages that combine a night’s stay with extras, like a spa visit or afternoon tea
Timed promotions tied to holidays, local events, or slower seasons
Guest-led content that builds trust and drives action

With tools like Enjovia, you can link that content directly to a checkout page. This guide shows how to build a strategy that fits how your guests already browse, plan, and book.

Why Instagram Still Matters for Hotels

Instagram for hotels still delivers, especially for independent and boutique properties looking to boost direct bookings through visual storytelling. Guests often find you here first. They see a post, picture themselves in the space, and start to plan their stay. This is why Instagram hotel marketing should be part of every hotel's revenue strategy, not just your branding playbook.

According to Blastness, 61% of travellers have booked a hotel after discovering it on Instagram.

Video content takes things even further. MGT Design found that Reels and Stories get 49% more engagement than static posts. People are also more likely to take action after watching a video.

There’s also trust in realness. Keevee reports that 84% of younger travellers trust brands more when they see real customers in the content. Posts with guest photos or videos often perform better than polished brand ads.

All of this opens a clear opportunity. Instagram is where guests get inspired. With the right tools in place, it can also be where they buy. Gift vouchers become a natural next step. They’re sharable, quick to purchase, and easy to promote in your content.

Want to go deeper? Check out our guide on how to sell hotel gift vouchers online.

Let’s get your profile ready for it.

Want more ways to turn followers into guests? Explore our strategies to increase hotel revenue.

How to Set Up Your Instagram Profile to Drive Bookings

Many hotels start their Instagram marketing with the right look, but the profile itself often doesn’t encourage action. Here’s how to fix that.

Nice photos, a few stories, maybe a pinned post or two. But if your profile doesn’t make it easy to book a room or buy a gift voucher, it’s not doing its job. Here’s how to fix that, and keep it simple.

Is your Instagram profile set up to drive bookings and gift voucher sales?

1. Switch to a Business Profile

This gives you access to tools that matter: contact buttons so guests can call, email, or get directions; Instagram Insights to track what posts are working; and the ability to link out to your booking page or gift voucher site. It also makes your hotel look more trustworthy from the start.

2. Use Your Bio to Guide Action

Keep it short and focused. Mention what you offer and what people should do next.
Example: “Luxury coastal retreat in Cornwall. Book your stay or send a gift voucher.”
Avoid hashtags, emojis, or trying to say too much. One good line is better than three vague ones.

3. Add a Smart Link

Use a tool like Linktree, Later, or your own landing page. It should include:

A direct booking link
A link to your Enjovia-powered gift voucher page
Any seasonal offers or packages you’re running

Order them by what’s most useful to your guests, not just what you want to push.

4. Create Helpful Highlights

Highlights are often the first thing people tap. Use them to answer questions and show your value.
Recommended categories include: Rooms, Gift Vouchers, Reviews, Local Tips, and Offers.
Keep the cover visuals clean and use short titles like “Spa” or “Stay”- no long labels or clunky icons.

5. Turn On Action Buttons

If you offer online booking or sell vouchers, connect them to your profile. Guests shouldn’t need to DM or click around to take action.

Graphic Note: Visual Asset to Revisit

Create a branded visual titled: “Is Your Instagram Profile Booking-Ready?”
Include a simple checklist with:

Clear, benefit-focused bio
Smart link setup with voucher access
Action buttons visible
Highlights showing rooms, offers, and guest stories
Mobile preview mockup of an ideal hotel profile

Content That Converts (Not Just Gets Likes)

It’s easy to fall into the trap of chasing a beautiful feed. But good visuals alone won’t fill your rooms.

The most successful hotel accounts on Instagram go beyond polished images. They tell stories that lead directly to bookings. They post with purpose, show what a stay really feels like, and give people a reason to take action.

For more on storytelling strategies that build trust and bookings, read our post on hotel experience marketing tips for 2025.

That might be booking a night away, messaging the hotel, or sharing the post with a friend.

Show what it’s actually like to stay with you

People don’t trust stock photos. What they want to see are real moments: breakfast trays on balconies, muddy boots in the hallway, someone laughing in the hot tub. Honest beats perfect, every time.

Side-by-side image comparing a stock hotel room photo with a real guest enjoying breakfast. — Real vs stock: Which would you trust more?

Keep the focus on experience

You’re not just showing a room. You’re offering an escape.
Try a caption like:
“Fresh sheets, brewed coffee, and a view you didn’t wake up to yesterday. That’s the beauty of a hotel stay.”
It sets a scene, not just a sales pitch.

Use short-form video to your advantage

Video gets more reach, more shares, and more emotion across.
Reels are great for quick tours or showcasing what makes your hotel special. Stories work well for flash sales, polls, and reposting guest content. Don’t overthink production. A few seconds of real life goes further than a polished ad.

Make your captions pull their weight

A good caption isn’t just filler. It should either make someone feel something, offer useful info, or open the door for conversation.
Ask a question. Drop a booking tip. Share a moment from your team. If it feels human, it works.

Repeat what works

Don’t treat every post as a one-off. If something gets shared, saved, or clicked, post a variation of it again. Or turn it into a Story, a pinned post, or a Highlight on your profile.

Content Format Cheat Sheet

Here’s a simple way to think about where to put what:

Format	Best For
Reels	Storytelling and reach
Stories	Quick updates, offers, behind-the-scenes
Grid posts	Room photos, mood shots, seasonal vibes
Highlights	FAQs, packages, gift voucher info

Vertical infographic outlining hotel Instagram marketing tactics with simplified action steps. — Your Hotel’s Instagram Playbook - Simplified

Instagram Hotel Marketing: A 7-Day Content Plan to Boost Stays and Voucher Sales

This is a weekly Instagram hotel marketing schedule packed with content ideas to help boutique hotels drive bookings and gift voucher sales.

Monday: Grid photo of the spa with a calming caption (brand tone)

Tuesday: Reel showing a guest check-in or surprise arrival (voucher moment)

Wednesday: Story poll - “Would you book a midweek spa break?” + link

Thursday: Behind-the-scenes kitchen clip in Stories

Friday: Story with countdown for weekend room package availability

Saturday: User-generated content repost

Sunday: Pin your top offer as a Highlight update

How Hotels Convert Instagram Reels into Bookings

Here’s an example:

A hotel could repost a guest’s video capturing their surprise arrival. It was a stay gifted by a friend through the hotel’s voucher link. That kind of Story has the power to spark more sales because it feels personal and easy to act on. When content tells a real moment and points clearly to what someone can do next, people are more likely to follow through.

Measure What Matters

Once you’ve started posting with more intention, it’s worth checking how your content is performing. You don’t need to be glued to the numbers, but keeping an eye on what works will help you shape better posts moving forward.

Measuring Instagram ROI for Hotel Marketing

Focus on actions, not applause

It’s easy to obsess over likes, but they don’t mean much. What matters more is what people do next. Are they clicking your link? Watching a full Reel? Sharing it with someone? Saving it for later?

These kinds of signals are what tell you a post made an impact.

Not every post leads to an immediate sale. And that’s completely normal. Some content works best at the “inspiration” stage. A Reel today might lead to a website visit next week and a booking two weeks later. Instead of chasing instant results, look at patterns over time.

Try simple models like:

First-touch influence: Did a follower discover your hotel through a Reel that week?
Assisted conversions: Are voucher sales rising after a week of high Story engagement?
Campaign-specific spikes: Did countdown posts with a voucher link lead to a surge in redemptions?

Check your stats regularly

Every week or so, head into your Instagram Insights. Look at what posts people engaged with most. Did your Story get replies? Was that caption saved more than others? Did a post lead to more bio link clicks than usual?

Patterns will start to emerge. That’s your roadmap.

If you sell vouchers or experiences, track them too

For hotels using platforms like Enjovia, this is where things get interesting. You can link certain posts to specific offers and track the results through voucher sales, promo codes, or landing page traffic. You don’t have to do this for every post. But when you’re running a campaign, it’s worth it.

Still, not every post needs to lead to a sale. Sometimes people just need to see your hotel a few times before taking the next step. That’s part of the process too.

How to Track Instagram’s Impact on Voucher Sales

Most hotels treat Instagram like a flyer. They post it, hope for the best, and move on.

But the ones turning social media into real revenue are looking at the numbers. They’re not just counting likes. They’re tracking what leads to bookings, what drives interest, and what actually encourages guests to take action.

This is where gift vouchers become more than just a seasonal extra. They give you a simple, measurable way to connect content to sales.

What’s worth tracking?

Not everything. But these are a good place to start:

Clicks on your bio link, especially if it leads to your voucher page
Reels or Stories that drive traffic to your website
Promo codes redeemed from specific posts
Replies to polls or countdowns tied to limited-time offers

These signs tell you your content isn’t just being seen. It’s doing something.

Take this as an example:

A coastal boutique hotel promoted their “Weekend Spa Escape” voucher through Instagram Stories, adding a countdown sticker and limiting the offer to 25 redemptions. In just a few days, the vouchers sold out. Most buyers were local followers who saw the post, shared it, and bought it as a last-minute gift. It’s a simple strategy that turned social content into real revenue, even during a slower midweek period.

Why tracking matters

When you understand what drives action, you can make better creative decisions. You focus on the content that fills rooms and sells packages, not just what gets the most likes.

It also helps you prove value. If you’re running campaigns or handling marketing in a small team, it’s useful to point to real results, not just vanity metrics.

A simple way to start

Choose one campaign. It could be a weekend escape or a seasonal spa bundle. Add a trackable link or a unique promo code in the caption or bio. Use Enjovia to watch the results over a week. Then compare it to a regular post without tracking.

It doesn’t need to be perfect. The goal is to learn, not to over-engineer. Once you see what works, you’ll know where to focus next.

Make Your Instagram Work Harder for Your Hotel

Most hotels are already getting views on Instagram. Guests are watching Reels, tapping Stories, saving posts they love.

The difference between looking good and driving revenue? It’s how easy you make it to take the next step.

Share real moments. Highlight bookable offers. Track what works. And if you’re selling gift vouchers or experiences, make them visible right where guests are already engaging in your content.

This isn’t about posting more. It’s about making each post do more.

What to Do This Week

Review your Instagram bio. Does it clearly mention gift vouchers or bookable stays?
Update your Smart Link to prioritise booking and voucher actions.
Launch one Story campaign with a countdown and voucher link.
Create Highlights for rooms, reviews, and special offers.
Open your Enjovia dashboard and choose one offer to push over the next 7 days.

Turn Instagram Followers into Guests and Buyers

Your content is already inspiring people. Now give them something to act on.
With Enjovia, you can connect your Instagram directly to gift voucher sales, flash offers, and bookable packages. Everything is trackable and designed to drive revenue.

Inspired to make your Instagram drive more than likes? See how Enjovia connects your content to real revenue.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How often should hotels post on Instagram?

A: Three to five quality posts per week is a strong starting point. Pair that with daily Instagram Stories to stay visible and top of mind. According to Innsight, consistent, thoughtful posting outperforms high-volume posting that lacks strategy.

Q: Can guests buy gift vouchers directly through Instagram?

A: Yes. By adding a link in your bio or using link stickers in Stories, you can drive followers directly to your voucher checkout. Platforms like Enjovia let you track and manage these transactions with ease, turning Instagram into a direct sales channel.

Q: What type of Instagram content leads to bookings?

A: Short-form video like Reels and Stories typically generates the most engagement and reach. Combine this with behind-the-scenes content, guest testimonials, and time-sensitive offers to build urgency and trust. According to Hospitality Net, storytelling-based content is far more likely to convert than static promotional posts.

Q: How do I measure the ROI of Instagram marketing?

A: Focus on actions that reflect intent, not just visibility. This includes link clicks, promo code redemptions, Story replies, Reel completions, and traffic to your voucher or booking page. Tools like Enjovia allow you to connect Instagram engagement directly to gift voucher sales, making it easier to quantify impact.

Q: Which Instagram features should hotels use most?

A: Use Instagram’s built-in tools to streamline discovery and encourage bookings. Business profiles unlock contact buttons, analytics, and booking integrations. Highlights can showcase rooms, reviews, and seasonal offers. Interactive Story stickers like polls, questions, and countdowns keep your audience engaged and involved.

Q: What hashtags should hotels use?

A: Stick with a blend of branded, local, and themed tags. For example, #StayWithHotelName, #VisitLakeDistrict, or #SpaEscapeWeekend. Use hashtags that match your content and are easy for your audience to search or follow.

Experience quintessential Britain with Sarova Hotels

Sarova Hotels is a group of independent hotels located throughout London and the south of the UK.

From Edwardian architecture to a reinvented coaching Inn, each sophisticated and individual hotel embodies traditional England in its own unique way.

With their slogan “Individual Hotels For Individual People”, Sarova Hotels capture different aspects of a quintessentially British experience. See which British experience takes your fancy!

The Rembrandt- Knightsbridge, London

Sarova Hotels- The choice for the independent business and leisure traveller.

With its eye-catching grandeur and its desirably central location, this four-star hotel is ideal for the likes of savvy businessmen, or trendy travellers visiting London.

History

The historic Rembrandt hotel was first built in 1911. It was one of the first steel and concrete structures in the UK, with the timeless beauty of classic Edwardian architecture.

Not surprisingly, this lavishly designed structure was originally built as leisure apartments for Harrods.

Technology

Initiating the lead on contemporary customer service, The Rembrandt is enhancing the guest experience to a whole new level with their technology.

Each sophisticated room has available Handy, a sleek smartphone to empower you for a memorable stay.

Perfect for travelling out and about around London, you’ll get unlimited 4G data. With access to Google Maps, Facebook, WhatsApp, Uber, London Tube, travel updates and amazingly a London travel guide. For new visitors to London, the City Guide will give you information and recommendations about the sights you see and where to go. There’re even free calls to selected countries!

And the best part? It’s completely free! You just need to make sure you return the phone to the dock in your room before you leave.

Location

The Rembrandt is situated in Knightsbridge, right in the centre of London. Ideal for businessmen or tourists.

With many interesting and fun things to do, the Rembrandt is in the ideal location for visitors looking to explore the local attractions.

Take in the British sights with a choice of Victoria and Albert Museum located just opposite. 5 minutes away is the Natural History Museum and the Science Museum. And for those who want to go shopping, Harrods and London’s best designer shops are close by.

Aquilla Health and Fitness

After a long day in the city, you can unwind and relax in the Aquilla Health and Fitness. Located right next door, guests of the Rembrandt can use the facilities at a discounted price. Enjoy the beautiful indoor swimming pool, sauna, steam bath, gym exercise classes, and a spa. A rare treat for a hotel in central London!

The Abbey- Great Malvern, Worcestershire

Sarova Hotels- The choice for hikers and English countryside explorers.

Abbey Hotel set amongst the traditional English countryside is the epitome of character and charm.

History

The Abbey Hotel has a rich and exciting history. In place before the Abbey Hotel was a three-story stone building called Abbey House which became a lodging house by 1700. In 1842 William Archer demolished the old house and built in its place the present Abbey Hotel. Over the years Abbey Hotel was extended, offering additional rooms. Now you see it as the grand and alluring Abbey Hotel.

Location

This 4-star hotel sits at the foot of the spectacular Malvern Hills in Worcestershire. Making The Abbey a favourite destination for exploring and hiking across some of the most scenic walks in Britain. And with dog-friendly rooms available on the bottom floor, this hotel is a walker’s paradise that the entire family can enjoy!

For the full Malvern exploring experience, a 90-minute guided tour is available between April and September. Led by the experienced and knowledgeable Malvern Civic Society guides, where the full history and culture of Malvern can be learned.

Entertainment

After a day of fresh air and beauty, how about an evening of murder and mystery?

You couldn’t get a more perfect setting. With a grand and imposing entrance, crawling with gorgeous Virginia Creeper on the façade of the building, The Abbey is the perfect setting for a unique and wonderful night. – The Murder Mystery Nights!

Make your stay memorable and exciting with this fun activity. With many mystery murder stories to choose from, you’ll find the perfect theme to excite you. From themes such as “Dreams”, where the dress code is vampires and ghosts, or throw on your Christmas party wear in “Mr. Carrolls Christmas”.

Included in the experience are the overnight stay, a 3-course dinner with tea and coffee and a full English breakfast.

The Bull Hotel - Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire

Sarova Hotels- The choice for a British family getaway

History

For over 300 years The Bull has been giving a warm welcome to all their guests. Beginning life in 1688 as a coaching inn, the Bull has a long history of tales highwaymen and famous stagecoaches. The bull is situated along the A40 between Oxford and London and was considered one of the old great coaching roads.

Local attractions

There’s so much to see and do around Buckinghamshire. And with The Bulls central location, it’s the perfect spot for the whole family to use as a base. Within a 30-minute drive from The Bull, you can take the kids to Legoland or see Harry Potter at Warner Bros Studio Tour London. Swing on the high ropes and zip lines with Go Ape Black Park, horse riding or cycling at Colne Valley Regional Park or visit the rare and exotic birds at Waddesdon Manor. Close by there’s Wembley Stadium, Winsor Castle, Henley- Upon- Thames and Kew Gardens with historic houses and gardens

Look out for occasional special offer entries to these attractions through The Bull Hotel.

Dining

Beeches Restaurant

You know you’ll eat well at the award-winning Beeches Restaurant. The chef is passionate about fresh, seasonal produce, sourcing ingredients from Buckinghamshire farms and picking herbs from the garden.

Have the family enjoy a traditional Sunday carvery roast, with entertainment. Join the Nigel Fox Trio and listen to their live jazz music as you eat. Putting a fresh new spin on the traditional British Sunday roast. The best part, children under four eat for free and discount prices on children under 12.

Jack Shrimpton Bar

Or if a traditional British pub style meal is more to your fancy, you won’t want to miss the Jack

Shrimpton Bar. Named after a legendary 17th-century highwayman. Dine next to the roaring fire and original carved wooden bar and ceiling beams. And order a British classic posh fish and chips.

Sir Christopher Wren- Royal Windsor, Berkshire

Sarova Hotels- The choice hotel for a whimsical English romance

Situated in the ancient town of Royal Windsor, Sir Christopher Wren captures the essence of a timeless English romance. With its unique spot as the only hotel located on the river, it’s the perfect choice for a whimsical break for two.

History

Sir Christopher Wren has a long and rich history. Named after an incredible architect from the 17^th century who was renowned for work on St Paul’s Cathedral, the Royal Observatory and over 50 beautiful churches. Sir Christopher Wren came from Windsor, where his father was Dean of Windsor from 1635 to 1658.

In the 18th century, the Cheshire family owned the Main House of the Sir Christopher Wren Hotel.

It later belonged to Mr. More, a local barge master and coal merchant to the King. More opened a gateway to a wharf by the river and erected stables for his many horses needed to tow the barges.

In 1918 the house fell empty, this could have been due to rumours of a ghost in the late as ‘Sir Christopher Wren’s bedroom’, which the house became known as the haunted house.

In 1920 it first became a hotel called the Riverholme Restaurant and Guest House. There were various owners after this, including a historic moment in 1950, where the Wren house was registered as a Grade II listed building of historic and architectural interest.

Finally, the hotel landed in the hands of Sarova Hotels in 2011.

Sarova Hotels has brought The Christopher Wren into the 21^st century while persevering the historic features of architect Sir Christopher Wren, where his legacy lives on today.

Location

As such an important part of Windsor’s landmarks and destinations, Sir Christopher Wren has rightfully secured a place on the Royal Windsor Monopoly board. Located on the river Thames next to the famous Eaton bridge in the picturesque cobbled street, this destination is the perfect picture of quintessential England.

Marked as a royal hub for thousands of years, Windsor is home to the world’s oldest and largest occupied castle in the world. Making this a wonderful destination full of a rich history and worthwhile sightseeing. A visit to see Windsor Castle is a must!

Windsor’s famous attractions are perfect for couples for a splendid day. Catch a production in the famous Theatre Royal Windsor, or hop on a boat for a cruise down the River Thames. You can even have a romantic horseback ride through Windsor Great Park- once the private hunting ground of Windsor Castle in the mid-13th century.

Finish the day and head to The Brasserie at Sir Christopher Wren. Feast upon a traditional English afternoon tea by a roaring fire in the Drawing Room or in the sunny Brasserie. And if you’re lucky enough to catch a warm day, seat out on the terrace watching boats and elegant swans sail down the river.

Bedrooms

Whether you fancy a classic fireplace, a private balcony, or a spectacular view of Windsor Castle, the bedrooms at Sir Christopher Wren will set the scene for a romantic escape.

For an old England experience pick the 17^th century Heritage House, still with its original wooden beams and floorboards. Or if some royalty takes your fancy, select a room with views of Windsor castle or over the Thames.

Wren’s Club

A relaxing romantic retreat wouldn’t be so without the spa.

Whether you have a luxurious treatment or to soak in the outdoor jacuzzi, The Wren’s club has it all. Relax by experiencing the sauna, outdoor whirlpool, relaxation area with comfortable lounge chairs and candles in the spa suite. Or head to the state-of-the-art gym and fitness studio, which extends over three floors.

English Experiences

Know someone who would want a quintessentially English experience?

Check out Sarova Hotels luxury gift experience vouchers.

From relaxing spa days in London to a delicious Afternoon Tea by the Thames in Royal Windsor, there’s something to suit everyone.

With Christmas around the corner, we couldn’t think of a better gift!

More like this? Check out our post on How Celtic Manor make £2.3m in voucher sales.

What makes a good dining experience

What makes a good dining experience?

We are witnessing the new age of the dining experience, where the experience can even be more important than the food! Let's look at why.

With the hype around celebrity chefs, cookery programmes and food bloggers, being a ‘foodie’ is hitting revolutionary heights. – Especially for the restaurant industry.

But it’s not just about delicious tasting food or having impressive customer service. People want the full dining experience.

So what does that mean?

Consider the fact that 75% of people will pay more for a unique dining experience.

This tells us that restaurants are in demand to create a full-bodied experience, and not just focus on that glorious food.

What is the driving force behind these unique dining experiences?

With the availability of website reviews and social media at our fingertips, restaurants are under the mercy of being rated online by potentially every customer.

And while we live in the age of instant information and strong peer influence, most millennials make their restaurant choices around trip advisor reviews and Instagram posts.

To compete with these new forces in the market, restaurants are now under pressure to create memorable and unique experiences.

Types of unique dining experiences

Dans Le Noir? - London

With their slogan being, “More than a restaurant, a true human & sensory experience!”, Dans Le Noir? wholeheartedly take the dining experience to a whole new level.

If you haven’t heard of it, you’ll be amazed to learn that this is a full dining experience completely in the dark.

Admirably, the experience aims to broaden knowledge and insight into the world of blindness and disability. While at the same time enjoying a surprising meal and engaging in conversation with new people, served by visually impaired waiters.

The Clink Charity – Cardiff

Imagine heading out to enjoy fine dining and tasting incredible food, prepared and served by inmates in a prison. This popular dining experience offers a uniqueness that is certainly one to remember.

The Clink is a sophisticated dining experience, with a charitable goal in mind. With the prisoners going under a full NVQ training programme in food preparation, food service and customer service, working towards gaining employment in the UK hospitality industry upon release.

And with over 50 recognised awards by the hospitality industry, the food and dining experience at The Clink makes diners feel they are in a first-class restaurant.

Georgian House – London

Georgian House offers a revolutionary dining experience for the conscientious diner. Check out their eco-friendly Up-cycled Afternoon Tea.

Through clever waste management, Georgian House reduces the amount of wasted food, by ‘up-cycling’ unused pieces from their kitchens, into the delightful and tasty afternoon tea treats.

Hirobun- Japan

Japan is infamous for its wonderful food, and amazing dining experiences. And this unique experience is certainly living up to expectations.

With cascading waterfalls flowing through the centre of the restaurant, the scenery at Hirobun is enough to take your breath away.

But it gets better.

Using the flowing elements of nature, Hirobun sends your nagashi somen (noodles) through the bamboo shoots for you to catch with chopsticks and enjoy in a broth of soy sauce.

The Hirobun restaurant in Kyoto has ques of visitors at their door each day, desperate to take part.

What makes a good dining experience?

How can your restaurant capitalise on the dining experience? When it comes to dining out, it’s obvious that people are searching for experiences that are unique and exciting to talk about.

With 80% of people preferring to buy tickets in advance for food events, there is a clear opportunity for restaurants to cash in on this trend.

And what’s the best way to capture a wonderful experience?

Offering it in the form of a gift experience voucher!

One of the biggest benefits of using gift experience vouchers is the extra revenue they’ll bring you. Fascinatingly, many purchased gift vouchers never get used. So, you get to pocket the full cost of the voucher and not payout on the service cost.

Your vouchers will be bought as thoughtful gifts to someone special. Sometimes the receiver will book right away and become loyal visitors of yours, and sometimes they may forget to use the voucher altogether. This is where you still win- as the sale is done, and you save on the service cost of that voucher.

Offering gift experience vouchers couldn’t come at a more opportune moment for restaurants than now. Don’t miss out on your opportunity to attract new customers and generate more sales. For more information on gift vouchers check out a past article of ours here. And contact us at enjovia.com.

Metropole Hotel & Spa, the Highway to Heaven!

The Metropole, in all its Victorian glory, is a unique and classic hotel and spa.

For 120 years and 5 generations, the hotel has been owned by the same family. With those family principles at its core, The Metropole hotel represents an inviting home from home. Now run by siblings Justin Baird-Murray and Finance Director Sarah Hill, a huge effort has been made to transform the stately Victorian building into the 21st century without losing its distinctive character and charm.

Keeping their flair for the old meets new, the Metropole hotel has a unique passion that is driving a whole new type of visitor.

Motoring at Metropole

The Metropole Hotel- admired in the motoring world, has been host to its fair share of classic car clubs and rallies.

With hotel owner Justin Baird-Murray, being the proud owner of the iconic Morgan Plus 4 Super Sports in classic Gulf livery, it’s no wonder his passion in motoring has become one with his hotel.

Motoring services

With a huge welcome to its motoring family, the humble hotel has a whole host of services dedicated to motors and enthusiasts alike.

Driving Routes

With rolling mountains and scenic s-bends, the roads around Llandrindod Wells are some of the best to drive in Britain. And with minimal congestion, it makes the perfect drive for taking in the stunning Welsh scenery. With its location central to many driving routes, the Metropole Hotel is the finest destination to retreat and complete a motor enthusiasts paradise.

What’s more, motorists are encouraged to use their ample parking space for socialising and as a central hub, while discovering the local driving routes of the area.

Yamaha Offroad Experience

The Metropole offers an adventurous Yamaha Offroad Experience.

Out into the countryside, you can experience the infamous enduro terrain. Which impressively over the past 10 years has staged British, European and World Enduro Championship events. Thrill-seekers get more than their fill with 5 hours of riding over rocky tracks, bogs, descents, river crossings and much more, all led by highly experienced instructors.

Phil Price Rally School

The Metropole also offers an authentic forest rally driving experience in the Welsh hills.

With lessons from Phil and Sheila Price’s expert rally school, you’ll get your adrenaline pumped with slides, drifts and Scandinavian flicks while driving a speedy Subaru Impreza.

Tutored with professional instructors all holding BARS Instructor Licences, you’ll get to experience what it’s like to be a rally driver. You’ll learn tricks and rallying maneuvers for all levels of driving skills.

Sports Car Hire

Why not hire a beautiful sports car while you discover the lush Welsh countryside? The Metropole Hotel work in conjunction with Sportscarhire and have a wonderful range of sports cars for you to upgrade your driving experience.

Vehicle Restoration

In the same quaint town of Llandrindod Wells, there is even a professional classic car restoration company, The King of Cool. They hold a high reputation for transforming all kinds of specialist vehicles. From Lancia’s to Fiats, Fords to all American Muscle, they will treat every car as if their own. For any visitors wanting repairs, restoration or services The King of Cool is a trusted team. With the shared passion for classic motors, visitors quoting “Metropole Classic” will get a 5% discount on any restoration services.

Discounted Accommodation

And if that’s not all, the Metropole demonstrate their dedication to the motoring family by offering discounted accommodation rates to teams entering in specific motoring events!

For partakers of Severn Valley Rally, 2 Day Enduro, Nicky Grist Stage Rally, Harry Flatters Rally or Tuff Terrains 4x4 Off-Road School you’ll get your chance to stay at this courteous hotel at a favourable rate!

Completing the experience

After an exhilarating day, the Metropole provides the finest opportunity to help you relax and unwind.

The Rock Spa

The sleepy town of Llandrindod Wells was once infamous as ‘The Spa town’. This came about due to the discovery of its sulphur spring in 1732 by Reverend Theophilus Evans, which cured his “radicated scurvy”. The spring, nicknamed Rock Water, was highly regarded at the time, and later many bathhouses came to be built around the healing waters.

The spa at The Metropole Hotel has a history of popularity. Many visitors would come to bathe, have pressurised water jet massage treatments and even drink the water!

The revamped Rock Spa and health club has a breath of new life. There’re luxury treatment rooms, a thermal whirlpool spa, sauna, steam room and stunning 18- meter pool under the classic Victorian style conservatory. The Metropole has demonstrated a stunning capability of retaining the old mixed with the new, for the ultimate unique experience.

The AA Rosette Radnor and Miles Restaurant

Renowned for its ability to produce jaw-dropping food from local fresh produce, the Radnor and Miles Restaurant has been justly awarded the AA Rosette.

With the head chef passionate about using the finest fresh local ingredients, the menu at Radnor and Miles is of the utmost fine dining authentic Welsh cuisine. With an abundance of venison and wild game, or seafood from the Welsh coastline the menu is a delightful and enriching welsh experience.

Its no wonder the hotel has been awarded a Visit Wales gold award for outstanding quality, comfort and hospitality.

Gift Experience Vouchers

The Metropole Hotel offers luxurious gift experience vouchers which can be used as part or full payment against anything from luxurious overnight accommodation, a relaxing day in the spa or in the award-winning Radnor & Miles restaurant.

Whether you’re buying for a special occasion or just a sweet treat to yourself, the gift experiences at Metropole will leave you with memories to cherish forever.

Celtic Manor triple gift voucher sales

Find out how we triple gift voucher sales for an international hotel through our new gift voucher system features, increasing sales from £700,000 to £2.3m.

We have recently been featured in The Business Leader for the success our gift voucher platform has brought to The Celtic Manor Resort.

Over the past year, we have been working on new features on our gift voucher platform, to increase sales and improve ease of use for the customer. With our new changes, The Celtic Manor has enjoyed record-high gift experience sales, more than tripling since joining us in 2015. We have taken the resort's sales from £700,000 to £2.3m.

The flexibility of our new platform allows the Celtic Manor to evolve and react to the current market. Ensuring the gift experience offering keeps pace with the rates and new services marketed by the resort through its other channels.

"Thanks to Enjovia’s innovation and development of our voucher systems, gift experiences have become a really important part of our business.

A growth of 300 per cent in just three years speaks volumes for the impact Enjovia has had on our voucher sales. As an iconic destination with so many different attractions, Celtic Manor can offer the perfect gift choice for any special occasion but we are only now beginning to fully realise that potential.”

- Chief Executive Ian Edwards, Celtic Manor Resort

How we can help boost your gift voucher sales

We have a year-round calendar of promotional offers for gift vouchers. Where hotels sell extremely well during Black Friday and Christmas, they can now expect a steady stream of sales throughout the year.

With our no set-up fees, no management fees and no fixed-term contracts, we are the lowest commission-based gift voucher providers in the market. And with our own in-house development team, we are able to react quickly to change requests from our clients.

If you are looking for a new gift voucher platform, give us a call on +44 (0) 1633 509 878, or contact us here.

Farm Diversification Ideas UK

In this blog post, we are going to explore farm diversification ideas uk. In which you can transform your farm or country house into a profitable empire.

This blog post is segmented into 3 separate sections:

1. Find your diversifying niche

2. How to market yourself

3. Maximising your revenue from experiences

Step 1: Find your diversifying niche

Many successful and profitable farms are now having to diversify and find alternative methods of making money.

Check out these examples of farms who have found their niche.

Humble By Nature in Monmouthshire

Celebrity Kate Humble has diversified her working farm in Monmouthshire by turning it into “A thriving rural Skills Centre”.

In a nutshell, they offer all sort of activities to reconnect people to the land, while keeping traditional rural skills and crafts alive.
They run courses in the following:

Smallholding & Animal Husbandry
Rural Skills
Food & Cookery
Crafts & Skills
Aquaponics

In addition to the courses, Kate has turned the farm into a rural place to stay, with a choice of 3 alternative style accommodation for travellers with a unique taste.

Penlon Cottage Brewery

This brewery farm has diversified by not just branding and selling their own bottled ale, but have transformed into a lively, welcoming taproom.

People travel from all over to experience their scenic settings, while enjoying a local brew and a bite to eat. Their venue space called “The Granery Tasting room” is also available for event hire.

In addition to the popular destination to hang out, Penlon Cottage Brewery sells their bottled Penlon Ale on their website too.

What can you do?

There is a huge range of services you can offer on your farmland to diversify. To help decide your niche consider the following:

What resources do I have to diversify?

Can you continue with your current farm activities while implementing a new idea? Or do you want to pivot and take a whole new path?

Here’s a couple of ideas to get you going…

Do you have the resources for a berry or vegetable picking farm?

Hootons Homegrown in Anglesey grows a variety of fruits and vegetables that can be handpicked by the public. To complement this, they also have an award-winning farm shop with their home-grown meats and vegetables on sale, with an all-year-round open café and summer BBQ.

Do you have any livestock on your farm?

Look at Cefn Mably Farm Park.

Cefn Mably Farm Park is a farm animal attraction for children, whilst offering a huge soft play area, making their farm a lovely full experience for the family. They’ve extended their services further by making exclusive packages for children’s birthday parties, schools and groups.

Maybe you have a big barn on the property?

Barn wedding venues are becoming so popular. Look at The Sugar Loaf Barn in Abergavenny.

Sugar Loaf Barn is a luxury family-run holiday home. They have incredible Shepherds Huts perched on the Sugar Loaf mountain. Due to its beautiful venue space and surroundings, it has become an extremely popular destination for weddings. I personally wanted to book this venue for my wedding, but they have a 2-year waiting list! They are already fully booked for 2020. When it comes to weddings demand is high.

Sugar Loaf have perfected their wedding venue services and have become pro’s in the wedding world.

What local attractions are close to me?

Are you located in an area that has lots of local attractions?

Check out Windmill Hill Caravan Park in Pembrokeshire. As well as being a destination for campers they still run a dairy farm. Listed on their website is a whole list of local attractions for the whole family, as well as being an ideal location to travel to many local beaches.

Can I make a bigger impact on the local community?

Many farmers feel very passionate about rural, country living and want to share their knowledge with the younger generation to keep it alive and sustainable. Education around their farming activities has become their goal.

The education route has so much support in the farming community too.

Farmers can join a membership with organisations such as Farms For Schools who provide farmers with a structured set of policies and procedures to follow, ensuring the safety and education for schools visiting farms. It’s a good way for farmers to keep relevant with legislation, while being part of a recognised body that are passionate for educating about farmland.

Many of these bodies work with local farming charities. One example is Countryside Learning whose mission is,

“To educate, inform and inspire children, parents and teachers, so they can enjoy and appreciate the countryside while having a greater understanding of the wide range of issues surrounding it.”

Odds Farm in Buckinghamshire (a member of Farms For Schools) is a shining example of an educational farming experience.

They dedicate a large part of their experience to education for children and schools. Teaching children about many aspects of farming.

Figuring out how to diversify can be a difficult process, so you should also ask yourself the following questions too:

How much manpower do I have available?

What are neighboring farms offering?

Which type of audience do I want to target?

How much will it cost to implement?

How much income can I expect?

The government offer a huge help to farmers wanting to diversify, you can check it out here.

Step 2: How to market yourself

You’ve figured out your diversifying niche, now what?

Make sure people know about you!

Getting your message out there is a very crucial step, that can’t be overlooked or glossed over. Only distributing leaflets in local pubs or restaurants won’t cut the mustard anymore.

How to spread the word

Branding
Visibility
Reachability

1. Branding

First things first, you need to create an identity- a brand!

Choosing a company name

If your struggling to think of something there are easy to use websites, who can help you generate a great name.

Sites like Shopify name generator are free and super easy to use.

If that doesn’t work…

Ask friends and family for their input.

Ask on social media!

People love to be involved in decision making. By including the local community in naming your business, you’ll gather lots of interest. It can be a great way to generate publicity.

Get a nice-looking logo

If you don’t want to pay out a pricey fee for getting a professional to design your logo there are cheaper alternatives.

Design it yourself

The first option is if you want to give it a go yourself.

Canva is a great site you can use to design your own logo. Although, this may require a little bit of creative flair and skill to pull off.

Hands- off cheap alternative

If you’re holding your hands up and thinking “that’s not me!” You can use online sites to pay someone to design your branding for you.

Check out Fiverr. It's a great place to find a huge option of people to design your logo. You may get lucky and for a very minimal fee, you can get a great looking logo designed. But it’s like rolling a dice, you may not be happy with the results too.

Just bite the bullet and pay a professional

Or you can pay out and get a professional marketing designer to design your logo, but this will be the more expensive option!

2. Visibility

Make sure you are visible and easily contactable.

The first I do if I see something I’m interested in is to Google it. So, make sure you have an online presence!

The first thing you need is a website.

Creating a website is much easier now than it seems. With sites such as WordPress.org, you can get started on hosting your own website quite simply. They will provide you with a template to follow and a whole range of themes that you can choose your own layout and look.

Basic requirements for a website:

Include lots of pictures, a way to contact you, an address and lots of information about your offerings to get started. You can fine-tune your website as you progress. Then maybe pay a professional designer to perfect it in time.

Make sure your website is mobile-friendly too! And bear in mind that many people will judge harshly on the look of the website alone, whether this is on a desktop and mobile.

For more detail on how to maximise your website for mobile check out this blog post here.

3. Reachability

Find out where your audiences hang out

Social Media

Most people are on some form of social media now. Whether it’s Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest... the list goes on! So, it is equally important to make sure that you hang out where your audiences are.

So, get a couple of social media pages for your company.

Communication

Post regularly and interact with your audience on these sites too.

It is so important for people to see that you are live and interactive. So you need to respond to comments, post pictures and give live updates and news or activities at your farm.

It may be the deciding factor in visiting you or a competitor!

Step 3: Maximising your revenue from experiences

This is the step that can make a difference.

If you’ve already got your diversifying niche, and you're already digitally active then here’s how you can take it to the next level.

Expand your income stream by offering these additional services:

1. Merchandise

Can you merchandise any products for your farm or country house? Many tourism farms will have a gift shop offering mementos of your day.

Look at Folly Farm’s gift shop. In 2016 Folly Farm invested 1 million into their gift shop to meet the increasing demands from visitors. They offer a huge choice of gifts to take home with you. From toys, t-shirts, stationery and sweets. Shopping in the gift shop has become part of the Folly Farm experience.

2. Experience Days

Expand on the activities you offer at your farm by offering experience packages.

Farm Adventure in North Yorkshire has become experts in offering experience days.

Whether it’s for Hen Do’s, Stag Do’s, Birthdays or Corporate packages, Farm adventures offer rural farming packages focus around creating fun and memorable experiences. Visitors can partake in a Tractor Driving experience, Sheep Gathering, Pig Herding, even a Farmers Olympics!

All the experiences are tailored to farming and can be extended from activity days to full-on overnight packages. Even the overnight accommodation is an experience, with hot tubs overlooking the scenic countryside.

Transferring your products and services into the form of a gift voucher is a lucrative way to make extra revenue.

Humble Bee Farm is a leading camping farmland, with a huge variety of countryside accommodation options. Including Yurts, cottages, Wigwams, Bell Tents or Camping grounds for caravanning.

With so much choice available, Humble Bee Farm has expanded on their income stream by offering these services through monetary gift vouchers.

We hope you found this post on farm diversification ideas uk helpful. Gift vouchers have a huge amount of flexibility. You can tailor any of your services or products in the form of a gift and have it available to be purchased as a memorable experience.

Gift vouchers are an amazing way to compliment experiences too, as many people buy gifts as experiences for others.

Imagine buying someone a tractor driving gift voucher, it would certainly be a gift experience to remember!

Create unique experiences with gift voucher add-ons

Gift Voucher add-ons will help boost your sales and add a unique element that makes sure you stand out from the crowd, let's see why...

This week we are going to do a small introduction to the experience add-on. Expect us to go into some more detail on this in a later blog post.

Often you may hear it referred to as "cross-selling", "up-selling". Or if you’re a customer-centric organisation you could say "enhancing the guest experience".

Simply- it's getting the customer to spend a little extra on an existing purchase.

In the case of gift voucher add-ons, it's providing the option to purchase an item that complements their existing purchase.

It would be similar to the recommended products or product bundles that accompany a selected item, that e-commerce giants like Amazon provide.

Our Figures

Notably, we see in our own sales figures that just over 5% of our gift voucher sales include an add-on product if they are available.

Over time these add-ons form a sizeable chunk of additional revenue, the revenue you won’t benefit from if you’re not offering them.

In addition to increased revenue, having add-ons provide customers with a more complete service.

Gift voucher add-ons allow each voucher to be a unique and personalised experience

We know that buying a loved one a gift voucher is an emotionally involved purchase. During purchasing, buyers are often thinking of the recipient's emotional response to receiving and experiencing the gift.

Buyers will often add little extras to enhance the experience to make it that little bit more memorable and special.

For example, think about buying an afternoon tea voucher for your mum for her birthday. When offered a chance to add two glasses of Prosecco, it instantly changes the lovely afternoon tea to an afternoon tea celebration!

It is often the little touches that make a huge difference to the overall experience. And often people are willing to pay more for that.

Another example, let's say you were buying a night stay away in a hotel for your wife. What if you came across the option to add rose petals or champagne on ice?

Suddenly, the overnight stay away becomes a romantic overnight stay -at a small extra cost.

Often, giving your customer the chance to create personalised experiences is the difference between a customer choosing your voucher over a competitor.

With the bonus of capturing a little extra revenue in the process!

Find out more about how to create promotions for your gift voucher add-ons in our post, How to sell gift vouchers on my website?

The big holidays for maximising gift voucher sales

Try our marketing strategies for maximising gift voucher sales by taking advantage of the top 10 biggest holidays this year.

To maximise your gift voucher sales, you need a creative and reliable marketing strategy. Read on to see the strategies you can implement.

It’s a good idea to routinely have gift voucher campaigns throughout the year. Your customers will grow accustomed to your offerings, and will likely think about purchasing a voucher the following year if they had missed out this past year. If that sounds daunting, don’t worry. We’ve got you covered!

See below for our top 10 big events throughout the year to focus your gift voucher marketing strategy on!

Maximising gift voucher sales

1. January New Years offers

January is often a time of year where everyone has no cash to spend leftover from a busy and expensive Christmas. But don’t forget the money-savvy crowd out there who can’t resist a tempting deal when on offer.

How to provide gift voucher offers? There are two options:

Offer a discount on vouchers

Discounts are a very lucrative way to sell more vouchers as there are many ways to offer discounted vouchers. You can choose to give a discount off a group of vouchers, or you can give a monetary amount off a certain type of voucher. The best way to do this is to sell discounted vouchers for non-peak times. The best voucher sales should benefit your business in the toughest time periods.

E.g.

“50% off weekday stay vouchers”

“Overnight Sunday stay with Dinner, bed & breakfast for two, was £450 Now £300”

Offer added value

Using words like ‘free’ or ‘complimentary’ creates a feeling of value to the customer (they get more than what they’re paying for). Offering tangible additions to the voucher creates a similar feeling of added value.

E.g. “Overnight night stay in our luxury suite with a complimentary 3-course dinner for two”.

2. Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day is a huge day in the hospitality industry. Most couples celebrate by being whisked away for a romantic treat. As a hotel, you can capitalise on this by offering everything: spa vouchers, golf, a romantic dinner, an overnight stay – maybe even a package that includes a combination of the above!

It’s important to ensure that you make the offerings different from the standard for this one-off event. Creating a feeling of exclusivity to your guests, which they wouldn’t get otherwise.

You need to market appropriately, most men will leave valentine day preparation to the last minute, you can capitalise on this with intelligent well-timed campaigns.

e.g Romantic Spa getaway with champagne and strawberries exclusively for valentines

3. Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day is an easy event to capitalise on, as it’s so much easier to create a marketing campaign with a direct persona in mind. A nice event that seems to be popular to offer at Mother’s Day is luxury afternoon tea, spa day, -anything girly that is a luxurious treat works well!

E.G “Say thank you in style this Mother’s Day by splashing out and indulging in an afternoon tea treat for two”.

4. Easter

Easter isn’t as popular of time as other events throughout the year, but still an event you can work with! Easter campaigns tend to be more successful if your hotel markets to families with children. However, a simple marketing campaign for Easter to please most is to push out restaurant vouchers. Specifically vouchers with an Easter Sunday Lunch or an Easter theme Afternoon Tea.

Don’t forget to use enticing and descriptive wording to catch the buyer’s attention.

e.g. Treat the family to our special Easter Sunday afternoon tea including a delicious selection of sandwiches, nostalgic homemade cakes and pastries.

5. May bank holiday

The Bank holiday can be a useful filler event throughout the year to market your vouchers on offer again. Sales usually decrease this time of year as events die down.

Depending on your chosen strategy as in January, you can either offer vouchers with a discount or an added value if you don’t like to discount your vouchers.

Another great way to inspire a quick sale is to offer your vouchers with a limited offering only.

Limiting offerings of vouchers create a sense of urgency, especially on an area of sales that need a quick boost.

Using a subject line “Hurry, Ends Midnight”, works for both men and Millennials.

6. Father’s Day

Just like Mother’s Day. It is always easier to direct marketing for your vouchers for a specific persona. Choose voucher offerings that Dad’s will gravitate towards. E.g. Golf, food, overnight stay are always winners!

7. Summer holidays

Like May, the summer holidays can be used in the same way. Offer “Summer Sales” or bespoke packages that are only available throughout the summertime. Considering the same techniques, whether it is discounts, added values or limited offerings.

8. Black Friday & Cyber Monday

Black Friday weekend is the biggest gift voucher sales weekend of the year.

In a short space of 3 days, gift voucher sales will skyrocket! Therefore, it is extremely important that your customers know about your discounted vouchers for Black Friday.

Great ways to get the messaging out is through email campaigns, and in- house communications. Customers will expect discounts here and the heavier the better.

9. Christmas- The Big one!

Prepare for Christmas early! In the UK alone shoppers spend over £78.580 billion on gifts! Send out email campaigns promoting your vouchers at full price from as early as October. Keep a steady flow of campaigns and reminders of your Christmas voucher offerings each month, increasing the frequency in December.

Make a variety of vouchers available to all kinds of buyers to ensure as many sales as possible. - But be sparing on discount vouchers! People need to buy gifts for Christmas so are prepared to pay a little more than usual.

Be prepared, many digital vouchers get bought as late as Christmas Eve! Running a Christmas Eve email campaign will remind those last-minute panic buyers.

A little extra- When running Christmas email campaigns, it is always a good idea to wish your customers a Merry Christmas on Christmas Day, and you could even offer a small offer of something as a Christmas gift – rewarding their loyalty.

10. Boxing Day – forgotten gifts

You won’t believe how many people panic buy Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Usually, it’s to try and recover a gift for a forgotten relative, or maybe they feel what they bought wasn’t enough compared to what they received. Whatever the reason- people still buy gift vouchers on Boxing Day!

Again, these vouchers don’t necessarily need to be discounted but it will always provide a small boost in sales.

Try maximising gift voucher sales by improving your marketing strategy. For more help and advice, contact us here.

How to promote vouchers in-house

In this post, we will look at how to promote vouchers in-house

Have you ever had a wonderful experience, and at that moment thought, "I've got to do this again!" Or maybe even thought, "My mum would love this!"?

If you have, think back to how you felt at those moments. Surely, if you could visualise capturing that moment again for yourself or a loved one, you'd consider taking the opportunity to do it?

This is the prime moment to promote your gift vouchers.

We don’t need to tell you that emotions are a huge factor in consumer purchases. Positive emotions create spontaneous purchases and often lead to customers spending more than usual. As we've seen time and time again, marketers will target an emotional response, rather than their product features. (Think Christmas ads)

To maximise gift voucher sales, it is critical to have visual reminders in place in these special moments.

Why should you promote vouchers in-house?

A healthy chunk of your customers prefer to buy gift vouchers in-house rather than online. Typically, with our clients we see 10-20% of sales come from in-house purchases.

A recent survey showed that: 74 percent of Baby Boomers prefer to shop in-store!

This statistic matters because baby boomers make the most birthday and thank you gift purchases. To maximise those sales all year long don't miss out on the opportunities to sell more gift vouchers 'out of season'!

How to promote vouchers in-house

1. Staff upselling

Grab that opportunity! When guests are thanking or complimenting you for a great experience, seize the moment with a casual mention on your availability of gift vouchers. People often respond well to information provided - especially if they truly loved your service! They will appreciate the reminder that a gift voucher is available, rather than see it as pushy sales. Many of our clients incentivise front of house staff for gift voucher sales in peak periods.

This is key to presenting the information at the best emotional time. When consumers are happy and satisfied with a purchase, the price feels justified and worthwhile.

2. Strategic Placement

Strategic placement of your marketing material for gift vouchers will go a long way. Think about locations that will grab guests’ attention at the right time. Areas that always work are:

Check-out desks

Spa, golf, retail desks

Receipts

Bedrooms

Waiting areas

Bill folders

Sliding a leaflet into a bill folder is a great way to give visibility to your gift vouchers. Especially when guests have had a positive experience.

3. Marketing tools used

Marketing material can take many forms which can vary in price too!

TV Screens and promotional videos

Putting the promotional material on TV screens is a slick and polished way to advertise. The best part is you can have the promotions in the form of a smooth, rolling video- with complimentary music for full effect!

External Advertising Board

The best thing about a large outdoor graphics board is it catches people's attention when driving past! - A great way to reach a broad audience! The downside is that it can be expensive based on size and location. Especially for the initial set up cost.

Leaflets

Leaflets are ideal as they are cheap, and guests can take them home.

Tabletop standing material

These looks neater than leaflets, and they are a better visual as they stand upright they are more likely to catch your eye!

Tall marketing stands, frames, posters

Looks great in hallways or lobby area. These stands give a more polished and sleek look for posters and leaflets.

Roller banners

A portable and temporary item to promote specific events such as Christmas or Black Friday. Roller banners are great for catching attention.

There you have it! A simple guide to the benefits of an in-house promotion of gift vouchers. For more information on how you can improve marketing for your gift vouchers contact us here.

How to sell customer experience

How to sell customer experience with powerful storytelling.

Even now, we walk around with constant mass storytelling, captivating and entertaining us. We see it in advertisements all around us, 24/7. Without even consciously realising, it’s right there in our pockets!

Storytelling has been a huge part of human nature since the beginning of time. In history, we hear tales of village elders reciting stories to wide-eyed inquisitive children, or congregating around infamous narrators as they did in the eighteenth century.

Amazingly, storytelling is ingrained in our nature as humans.

The Brain and Stories

Oh. My. Science!

It seems there is more to storytelling than reliving childhood tales of fantasy and fiction! Deep-rooted in our brains is a natural storytelling phenomenon.

Michael Gazzaniga a cognitive Neuroscientist is an avid believer that storytelling is deeply engraved into the human mind. He says not only do we want to use it but we need to story tell to make sense of our reality.
He and his team of specialists have studied the brain for many years and have found mind-blowing results- (cheesy pun intended).

They found the left and right-hand side of the brain have different functions. But not only do they function differently, they also work independently of each other. Most bizarrely, they noticed that one side of the brain doesn’t know what the other one is doing.

To test this they put a sequence of actions/ questions to patients. So, the right speaking hemisphere would instruct the left side to carry out the action. Then when the patient was asked, “why did you do that?” The patient would fabricate a story that explained why.
He illustrates how in the left brain we have a special system that wants to explain and justify all actions and moods after they occurred.

Dr Gazzaniga also believes that this prevalent need for storytelling is our intrinsic way of dealing with survival. In particular, we like to listen to fictional stories. This is our basic way to prepare us for unexpected things. Seeing a character play out their actions to survive a given situation, helps us process and learn our own future actions for that scenario. Demonstrating that there is more to storytelling than just pure entertainment, it’s a deep psychological need.

To see the video of Dr. Gazzaniga’s research click here.

How to sell customer experience with Stories and Marketing

Narratives are so important to people.

Every year there is a huge build up around the Christmas Adverts. A comparison of ‘Who’s got the best advert this year?” Usually, stiff competition is between the major department stores!
So what is so captivating about the Christmas adverts year after year?

It’s the story that gets us! This year John Lewis has opened up childhood nostalgia for the goofy monster under the bed, who inadvertently becomes the young boys’ best friend. The story brings out feelings of thrill, fun and friendship. Getting viewers swept up in the emotion of the story.

M&S cleverly taps into people’s desire for stories to have good morals. Friendly Mr. Paddington bear accidentally manages to confuse a Christmas thief with Santa and goes on his mission to ‘help’ Santa return the gifts. In the end converting the immoral thief into a good person, whose faith is restored in kindness and love -just in time for Christmas!

Great marketers will tap into our intrinsic need for storytelling and intelligently evoke emotion, grab our attention and keep us interested.

Creating stories for your customers

How can you use stories to enhance your marketing? We have some useful tips to help you on your way.
Keep your story simple but impactful. – Easier said than done.
There is, however, a useful trick to being effectively simple. All you need to do is cleverly tap into basic human emotions. This could be anything from romantic love, family, friendship, happiness, joy, thrill, reward and even good morals.

Emotional Trigger Words

An example of emotionally triggering categories of words:
• Health: Buzzwords that trigger health invoking emotions: Boost, energise, cure, flush, vibrant, nourish
• Hope: Bright, Destiny, Empower, Overcome, Undo, dreams,
• Passion: Blissful, Delightful, Jubilant, Rave, Thrilled, indulge
• Urgency: Before you forget…, Quick, Limited, Seize, While it’s fresh on your mind… Don’t wait…, It’s not too late!

Using pictures to support your story!

Don’t forget words have more impact when there is a visual stimulant!
Your choice of pictures is just as important as the words you use.
Captivate your customers' attention by showing accurate pictures that demonstrate the emotion you’re conveying.

Type of image:

It may be obvious but lifestyle shots always sell better to customers.

Empathy and attachment are conveyed easier when the image re-enacts the experience. Especially when there are people involved.

Secondly, whenever possible always use your product in the images. This gives an exact representation of your customer experience and story being sold.

Conclusion

Creating beautiful stories within your marketing will make a bigger impact on your customers. Hopefully, you’ll leave footprints on their memories!
Even after a year has passed people still talk remember the bouncing dog on the trampoline at Christmas…

For more help on how you can improve your customer experience and market your gift vouchers, get in touch with us at Enjovia.com.

Tips to promote your Christmas gift vouchers

HO, HO, HO Hoteliers, learn here how you can promote your Christmas gift vouchers!

We are fast approaching the festive run-up to Christmas where we see sales of gift vouchers skyrocket.

We’re here to help you make the most out your Christmas gift voucher sales with these 3 simple tips….

Tip 1: Market to the largest buyers

Ensure you are marketing your Christmas gift vouchers to the right kind of buyer.

Think about what kind of gifts would appeal to them and how you would use wording and aesthetics to speak directly to your targeted customer. Gift vouchers make the best gifts when you’re not quite sure what to get someone. This can be reflected in your marketing message i.e. “Don’t know what to get her this Christmas? How about a day of escape and relaxation at our luxurious spa”.

Did you know?

Recent research shows that consumers from Generation X purchase the most online gift voucher at Christmas time. Generation X is generally people between the ages of 35-54.

Tip 2: Make exclusive gifts just for Christmas

Make your gift voucher experiences time exclusive so your guests perceive they are getting some special seasonal value.

We all like to feel treated and special at Christmas. Unfortunately for most of us this means a lot of washing up, family and last-minute shopping sprees. A quick break, meal or spa day away can help your guests feel special at this festive time of year.

Think big, luxurious and unique! A gift that offers exclusive experiences will attract a lot of attention during the holiday season. Guests are prepared to spend that little bit extra on treating themselves and their loved ones.

For example use language like:

“Luxury Christmas Overnight Stay with an inviting glass of bubbly on arrival in our exclusive VIP lounge”

Tip 3: Timing is key

Ensure your Christmas gift vouchers are brought to the attention of your guests frequently in the run-up to the holidays. Reminders help persuade your guests purchasing decisions when they start thinking about that perfect Christmas gift to buy.

Do this by actively promoting Christmas gift vouchers at least twice a month from October to December ready for that home stretch.

Many Christmas gift vouchers are purchased at the very last moment.

“Oh no I forgot about Aunty Sally!” – (As your opening the present she left you at mum’s house).

Take advantage of this by sending an exclusive Christmas gift voucher email campaign on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

To find out how to better market your Christmas gift vouchers, contact us at Enjovia.com for more information.

How Celtic Manor make £2.3m in voucher sales

Can you increase your voucher sales?

Most famously known as host to the NATO Summit 2014, and Ryder Cup 2010, the Celtic Manor has made more than £2.3million in gift voucher sales in 2016.

The prestigious Celtic Manor Resort located in Wales manages its gift vouchers to perfection.

The Celtic Manor has a huge range of luxury products and services. Without a doubt achieved through their great gifting platform, and quite possibly a team of superheroes in their marketing department!

However, it's clear the impact of gift vouchers in this day and age.

Every hotel today is trying to cater to all the needs of their customers. With the aim to be the best and in turn, attract more customers. One of the facilities that customers want today is to be able to share an experience that they enjoyed. - Especially with their loved ones.

For example, imagine you indulged in an unforgettable spa day? It may persuade you to want a loved one to experience that same wonderful day. Now, imagine being able to gift it to them right there and then.

What is a gift experience?

A gift experience typically takes the form of a luxury voucher, based on the experiences and services that are provided. Usually, gift experiences are gifted to another but on some occasions, many people purchase for themselves. Many hotels choose to gift overnight stays, restaurant experiences, spa days, golf or a combination package.

No matter how big or small a hotel is, there will always be a demand for a gift voucher service by their customers.

Gift experiences dramatically increase voucher sales.

How can you increase voucher sales?

With an emerging desire for gift vouchers, several companies have started providing specialised online systems that enable hotels to retail and manage their gift voucher module.

These gift voucher websites are branded to the hotels' design and link right to the hotel’s main website. It is very important to make the customers feel they are buying directly from the hotel, giving them confidence about the services they are buying.

Customers choose from a customised range of products, which the content is managed by the hotel.

Customers pay securely online or at the hotel location, with money going directly to the hotel’s bank and/or PayPal account.

Receiving vouchers is easy. The gift vouchers can be collected from the hotel, sent to the recipient via email, or through a variety of postage and packaging options.

These systems also take care of the redemption side. (When the voucher is actually being used).

What are the advantages for hotels?

What better than an online system sitting in the background, collecting purchases of gift vouchers, with the money falling straight into a hotel’s bank account upfront?

Gift voucher services provide the hotel with more customers and more voucher sales. It also enables customers needs to be met. To further this - hotel brand awareness spreads like wildfire.

When experiencing vouchers, customers also spend more on other amenities such as food and drinks. Furthermore, if they liked their experience, they will most likely buy the same experience for someone else.

Consequently, 5-10% of purchased gift vouchers are never even redeemed. Which - you guessed it, means free money for the hotel!

For just a small amount, fully managed gift voucher systems can open a new revenue stream without actually adding any new services.

But there's more than just providing attractive gift vouchers!

It doesn't stop there! Only having a system that allows transactions to go through the website isn’t enough.

If you are familiar with the terms ‘user experience’ and ‘predictive data analytics’, then you'll see where we're going with this.

If you want to be ahead of the game you need to provide your customers with flawless user experience. The use of machine learning and rich analytics allow you to see purchasing patterns. You'll be able to find the answers to enable smarter marketing decisions, such as most popular vouchers, who's buying them, what times of the year, which campaigns are popular, and so on.

Also considering that more people today like to shop on their mobile phones and tablets, the voucher system should look good on all devices. Avoiding many lost sales!

To Conclude how Celtic Manor make £2.3m in voucher sales

It is imperative that a successful gift voucher platform not only can provide beautiful vouchers, but they also need to be able to sell online, reach the desired fulfilment requirements, and more importantly provide rich analytics for marketers. The Celtic Manor's success with gift vouchers speaks for itself.

Have a look at Celtic manor’s gift experience website powered by Enjovia.

For your opportunity to grow and reach untapped revenues contact us at Enjovia here.

We hope you enjoyed this post on how you can increase your voucher sales, if so please share on your social media!

Hotelier to think more like online retailers

The internet offers hotels a great source of additional revenue, that's why you need to think more like online retailers.

Hotels vs online retailers

To maximise the opportunities available, individual hotels and groups need to take tips from the retail world and e-commerce.

By combining the techniques and technology of retail to the “traditional” hotel commerce activity, hotels can engage the ever-growing number of internet surfers to maximise potential.

Book Now vs Buy Now

This “traditional” approach is the Book Now philosophy.

Rightfully so, hotels focus their efforts on driving direct bookings based on date-specific availability. General Managers, owners, and yield teams immerse themselves in occupancy levels, average daily rates, revenue per available room, pick up, forecasts and budgets. Online direct booking engines and online travel agents are designed to present availability and prices and for the most part. Therefore, place lesser emphasis on the aesthetic or the visual engagement, as they exist mainly to facilitate the transaction of making a reservation.

The Book Now approach has existed since there was “no room at the inn” and long may it continue and evolve. However, in this modern age there are many reasons why customers -old and new- engage with your brand. Be it via search, email, direct mail, loyalty programme or word of mouth. These customers are increasingly used to shopping online and now expect a level of experience.

Adopting just the Book Now approach will mean you will only achieve results based on availability. Adding in a Buy Now strategy gives you another excuse to show off the product more in line with the e-commerce experience customers expect. Also increasing your conversion rate.

Buy Now is about implementing the principles of e-commerce and involves a different approach to presenting and selling. With a little thought, hotels can offer products and packages as gift experiences or sell tickets to events such as wine tasting evenings, cookery demonstrations, themed nights or Christmas party nights. Hotels can also sell physical products, anything from golf balls to bathrobes. The scope of opportunity is limited to the imagination!
Buy Now requires a more immersive and visual representation of products and services backed up with an optimised and easy to use check out. Consequently, hotels need to do everything they can to make the process informative and enjoyable. Offering the best possible browsing and buying experience is critical to differentiate your hotel from your competitors still using the more transactional Book Now process.

For more tips and advice on online retail activity, check out our post: How To Optimise Your Website For Mobile.

Table of Contents

Quick Answer: What Are Experience Gift Vouchers?

The Midweek Lull Problem

Why Experience Gift Vouchers Matter in the Experience Economy

Real-World Results from Leading Operators

How Hotels, Spas, and Golf Clubs Use Experience Vouchers

Hotels

Spas

Golf Clubs and Restaurants

Designing the Voucher Experience Guests Actually Want

The Name

The Presentation

The Pricing

The Booking and Redemption

Selling Experience Gift Vouchers Beyond the Booking Page

Looking Ahead: From Experience to Revenue

FAQ: Experience Gift Vouchers in Hospitality

Why do experience gift vouchers work so well?

Is the experience gift market still growing?

What kind of vouchers sell best?

Are digital vouchers more popular now?

When’s the best time to promote experience vouchers?

Further Reading

Table of Contents

Quick answer: What Is the Experience Economy?

The Experience Economy Has Become the Hospitality Economy

How the Experience Economy Is Shaping Hospitality

How Hotel Guest Expectations Have Changed

How Hotels Create the Moments Guests Remember

The Four Realms of Experience in Hospitality

Entertainment

Education

Escapism

Aesthetic

From Service to Storytelling

The Business Case for Experience-Led Growth

Looking Ahead- From Experience to Revenue

FAQ

What is the Experience Economy in simple terms?

How is the Experience Economy affecting hotels in 2025 going into 2026?

What are examples of experiences in hospitality?

What is experience-led growth?

Table of Contents

Smarter Strategies for Inflation-Era Hospitality

Why Margins Are Under Pressure

What This Blog Covers

The Hidden Cost of Inefficiency

4 Operational Levers That Grow Hotel Profitability

1. Workflow Automation

2. Smart Staffing & Forecasting

3. Revenue Protection via Experience Commerce

4. Guest Journey Optimisation

The Strategic Ops Mindset

How Enjovia Powers Profit‑First Operations

Integrated Experience Commerce

Real-Time Revenue Reporting

Operational Fulfilment Automation

Flexible, Plug-and-Play Architecture

FAQs- How Can Operations Improve Hotel Performance

How can operations management improve hotel performance?

How does inflation affect the hospitality industry?

How can hotels reduce operational costs without losing service quality?

Is it profitable to own a hotel in today’s climate?

Conclusion: Own Your Ops, Protect Your Profit

Table of Contents

Quick Answer: What Is a PMS System?

What Is a PMS System? The 2026 Guide to Connected Guest Journeys

Evolving Hospitality Technology

Why a PMS System Is the Central Nervous System of Your Hotel

How to Choose the Right PMS for Your Hotel in 2026

1. Cloud readiness

2. Integration

3. Guest experience

4. Efficiency

5. Scalability

Checklist for Switching to a New PMS

Leading PMS Platforms in 2026

Illustrative Example: The Switch to a Modern PMS

Top PMS Integrations That Improve Guest Experience

Guest messaging platforms