How to make gift cards for your business

3 min read

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

gift card expiration date federal 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

  1. 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.

  1. 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.

  1. 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.

  1. 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.

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