How should a café, bakery or boutique sell gift cards?
Sell gift cards at the counter in a few fixed amounts, allow partial redemption so the balance stays on the card, and push them hard before Eid, Mother's Day and the end of the year. Keep the card simple to buy and simple to use, track every balance digitally, and treat unused balances as money you still owe until they are spent.
Why gift cards are worth it for a small shop
A gift card is paid today and spent later, often by someone who has never visited you. The buyer brings you a new customer, and that customer frequently spends more than the card value when they come in. For a café, bakery or boutique it is one of the few products that sells itself during gifting seasons, with no stock to prepare in advance.
Selling at the counter: keep it simple
- Offer three or four fixed amounts that match your prices, for example a coffee-and-cake amount, a family box amount and a bigger gift amount
- Put a small sign next to the till: "Gift cards available, ask us"
- Train staff to mention it when a customer buys a gift box or asks for wrapping
- Give the buyer something nice to hand over: a printed card, an envelope or a message
- Record every card digitally at the moment of sale so nothing depends on paper
Partial redemption: why it matters
If a card worth 100 must be spent in one go, people wait for "the right moment" and many never come. With partial redemption, the customer spends 35 today and keeps 65 for later, so the card brings them back several times. In Dawwerni's gift cards pack, you sell the card at the counter and each redemption deducts only what was spent, with the remaining balance kept on the card.
Plan around the gifting seasons
- Eid: families look for gifts for relatives and teachers; start promoting one to two weeks before
- Mother's Day: a boutique or café card is an easy last-minute gift, so display it at the till the week before
- End of year: companies look for small gifts for staff and clients; offer an order in bulk
- Birthdays all year round: remind customers that a card is a gift that always fits
- Share the offer on Instagram and WhatsApp with a clear price and where to buy
Pricing tips that protect your margin
Sell cards at face value by default. If you want a bonus, keep it small and limited in time, for example a small extra amount on larger cards during one week before Eid, never a permanent discount. Round amounts to what people actually buy, and avoid free cards as prizes unless you already budget for them. The goal is new visits, not cheaper sales to your regulars.
Connect gift cards to loyalty, and be careful with accounting
When the recipient comes in, invite them to scan the QR code, play a short game and win a reward for their next visit; they join your CRM like any customer and can leave an honest Google review if they wish. On the accounting side, a sold but unspent card is usually money you owe, not income yet, and expiry rules differ by country: ask your accountant before setting an expiry date.
FAQ
What is partial redemption on a gift card?
It means the customer can spend part of the card value now and keep the remaining balance for later visits. It removes the pressure to spend everything at once and brings the recipient back more than once.
When do small shops sell the most gift cards?
Around gifting moments: Eid, Mother's Day, the end of the year and birthdays. Start showing the offer at the counter and on social media one to two weeks before each season.
Should gift cards have an expiry date?
It depends on local rules, which differ by country. Many shops choose a long validity to keep customers happy. Check with your accountant how unspent balances must be recorded before deciding.
Turn visits into reviews, repeat visits and sales
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