If you are a shop keeper or one that offers services such like a spa, salon or any kind of products or services, you can do well by offering gift cards.
Why do people buy gift cards
People buy gift cards especially during the holidays as they do not want to get in with the holiday rush. It is too maddening shopping with the rest of the holiday shoppers and that too when most of the good things have already gone.
People buy discount gift cards as they see value for their money. When there are slabs which have increased amounts of discounts offered for the more number of cards that are bought, people weigh this against actually buying gifts for their loved ones and that too gifts which may not be appreciated, are the wrong size or color or type.
People buy gift cards as they see it as incentives which are offered to their employees or to show their appreciation for jobs well done or for favors received.
How do businesses benefit
Gift cards are a good way to drive business during the lean periods. Cards which are given as Christmas or Hanukkah gifts will most likely be used either in January or in February when usually sales are down.
You can offer loyal customers the choice where they can get to buy discount gift cards. That builds customer loyalty and they see real value in this as well as their esteem for the store rises as a result of these gift cards.
The gift cards should be placed near the register in attractive gift card bags or in gift card envelopes. This attracts impulse buyers. There should be gift cards which are offered as promotional items.
Gift cards should be advertised and marketed on social media platforms as well as throughout the store.
There should be both plastic as well as virtual gift card options to choose from and the redemption for both should be either online or by going to the actual brick and mortar store.
There should be a lot of hype created including the possibility of customization of these gift cards as well as the possibility of having gift cards of varied denominations and even offering of specialty gift cards which can be redeemed only against certain special type of products or range of products.
Thus, these cards can be put to very effective uses.