Tips for Selling Gift Cards or Gift Certificates
by Larry Slusser on February 28th, 2008
Buying for friends and family members has become increasingly hard, particularly for those that have everything. Thus, more and more people are turning to gift cards or gift certificates. You own your business and want to tap into this seemingly profitable venture of offering gift cards and gift certificates.
While it may seem that gift cards or even gift certificates are a last resort for shoppers, they can be a good alternative for both the purchaser and receiver because there is nothing to return.
Below are tips on how to get started with offering gift cards and gift certificates, both online and in your retail store.
First you need to decide what style of card or certificate you would like to offer. Make sure that the gift cards and certificates include your logo, so that people will know exactly where the card is from.
Whether the cards will be activated online or in your store, ensure that an activation code is given to the customer. This will ensure that there was actually a sale for the gift card, saving both you and the recipient of the card potential headaches and embarrassment.
If you are offering gift certificates, offering specific denominations or allowing customers to select the desired amount are options to consider, and which might be easier, particularly if you are selling them online. Moreover, having an established numbering system will reduce the chances of fraud. When offering gift cards for purchase over the internet, always ask the buyer for more information. This will help reduce the chances of theft occurring, as scammers will usually only have a credit card number and no other information, such as the card member’s name or the security code on the back of the card.
Prior to setting up a gift card or gift certificate system, ensure that all employees have been trained on the system of how the gift card or certificates are to be issued and redeemed. Additionally, it is a good idea to offer a credit system for the remaining amount. Most people do not want to have to search for something extra when they have chosen an item to purchase but are required to spend all the gift card or certificate in one shopping experience.
Also it is always a good idea to suggest to the buyer to keep their receipt in case of a defective card or other problems that could arise with the card. It is also important to ensure that the cards can be redeemed for products in your store. Nothing is more frustrating than having a gift card for something where the recipient has to put in money in order to buy something.
Offering gift cards and gift certificates is not the end-all-be-all for moving inventory quickly, but it does provide an avenue for customers when they cannot find the right gift-and you still receive a sale out of the deal.