I cannot tell you how many times I’ve been asked about adding gift cards to the service and product lines of a business. A lot of small business owners feel intimidated even thinking of adding the option for their customers. the good news is, it is truly not as difficult as it may sound.
Adding gift cards to your business can be a great way to attract more customers and increase sales. With the right vendor, you can easily implement this type of payment option in your store. Please note that what I’ll be covering today does not refer to online (e-commerce) stores that use platforms such as Shopify, as they have their own digital gift card option built-in.
The first step is to find a gift card service provider that meets the needs of your business. Look for one that offers competitive rates and offers a variety of payment methods, such as PayPal, credit cards, debit cards, and others. Some services also allow you to customize your own gift card design, allowing you to brand it with your company logo or other unique images.
Once you have found the right vendor for your business, the next step is to create an account with them and set up a merchant account so you can accept payments. Most vendors offer both physical and e-gift cards that customers can use either in-store or online.
You’ll need to set up your point-of-sale system and/or store checkout page on your website so that customers can purchase and redeem your gift cards during transactions with you. You may need help from an IT professional if your system isn’t already compatible with the vendor’s software.
Below, I will list some gift card vendors that you can look into to see if they are a good fit for your gift card needs and business. I currently use Square and have used Yiftee in the past with two of my clients – my preference of the two is Square, but you may find Yiftee or on of the others listed is exactly what you’re looking for.
Please keep in mind that there will be transaction fees associated with the cards and possibly other costs incurred, so be sure to read each vendor’s information about pricing and other important information before making your decision about which service is best for your business.
GiftFly: Add GiftFly to any website and allow your customers to buy and send eGift cards from any device via email and text. Good for fundraisers too.
Square: Sell physical and digital gift cards online or in person with Square. Square gift cards have scannable QR codes and barcodes, Square cards work with the Square point of sale (POS) system.
Duracard: Duracard gift cards offer customers the chance to renew their balance. Create your custom plastic gift card or you can upload your own artwork. These gift cards can be designed for compatibility with most POS software or service providers.
Yiftee: Yiftee offers egift cards for rewards, merchants, and more. Works with any POS system, and can be sent by text, email, or as a print-out.
Of course, there are more options that can be considered, but these should give you an idea of what’s available and give you perspective about what you’re looking for in your gift card offerings for your customers.