Gift cards in beauty: easy way to boost your sales

Gift card sales for your business

Creating a lasting impression on customers and ensuring their return is paramount in the highly competitive beauty industry. A beauty salon is not just a place where clients come to enhance their appearance; it's a sanctuary where they seek relaxation and rejuvenation. With the ever-growing demand for wellness and self-care, offering gift cards has become a powerful strategy to attract new clients and retain existing ones.

Gift certificates provide clients a unique opportunity to share the luxurious experience of a salon visit with their friends and family while also serving as a significant revenue stream for the business. According to recent market studies, the global gift card market is projected to reach over $1.9 trillion by 2027, with a significant portion attributed to the beauty and wellness sector. This surge is driven by the growing consumer preference for experiential gifts, which are more thoughtful and personalized than traditional presents.

Moreover, gift cards' flexibility allows salons to tailor their offerings to meet the diverse needs of their clientele, whether through treatment-specific vouchers, value-based cards, or even annual subscriptions. This versatility enhances customer satisfaction and opens up new avenues for marketing and promotions, making gift certificates an indispensable tool for beauty salons looking to increase their market share.

This article will explore the numerous benefits of integrating gift cards into your salon's marketing strategy and provide practical tips on effectively managing and promoting them to maximize their impact on your business.

Types of gift cards

Certificates are a trendy way for customers to give a special treat to their loved ones. Gift cards are in high demand, especially in beauty salons, because they offer clients the opportunity to take a break from everyday life and pamper themselves. What gift card types are suitable for beauty salons?

• Treatment vouchers: These allow the recipient to enjoy a specific treatment at the beauty salon, such as massages, facials, or manicures and pedicures. The beauty salon management can offer gift cards to redeem for a particular treatment or a selection of treatments.

• Value vouchers: The recipient can decide how to use the card. The gift card can have a specific value, for example, $300, which can be used for various services in the beauty salon.

• Annual subscriptions: These are ideal for those who visit the beauty salon regularly. The recipient will receive regular treatments for a year at a discounted price.

• Personalized gift cards: Some beauty salons also offer personalized gift cards, with the gift recipient choosing which treatments they would like. The certificate can be customized with the customer's name.

The variety of gift card types allows beauty salon management to choose the best option for their business needs.

Gift certificates as a marketing tool

Gift certificates have become an essential tool for beauty salons aiming to increase sales and attract new clients. The global market for gift cards is growing rapidly, with over 60% of consumers preferring to receive gift cards as presents. Interestingly, about 74% of customers spend more than the gift card's face value, directly increasing business revenue.

Men spend almost three times more on gift cards than women, making them a key demographic for targeted marketing campaigns. Additionally, the rise of wish lists has further boosted the sale of gift cards, as consumers can now explicitly request experiences such as a salon visit, making everyone involved – the salon, the recipient, and the gift giver – happy.

Advantages of gift card sales for your beauty salon

Gift cards are a profitable tool for businesses. Since over 60% of gift card recipients spend more than what is on the card, they can also increase overall sales.

1. Customer acquisition: Gift cards can attract new customers to a beauty salon. Those given a gift card for services at a beauty salon are encouraged to redeem the gift card and try the services offered, even if they were not previously your salon customers.

2. Increase the average check: New customers may purchase additional services or products on top of their original purchase, increasing the salon's average bill.

3. Incentives for repeat visits: If customers have a positive experience using gift certificates, they may become repeat salon customers and return as loyal ones.

4. Promotion of new services: A salon can use gift certificates to draw attention to new services or products. This can encourage customers to discover something new and further their experience at the salon.

5. Referrals: When customers receive gift certificates and are satisfied with the salon's services, they often recommend the salon to friends and family. So, launching gift card sales becomes an effortless source of new customers through word of mouth.

Gift certificates are an excellent marketing tool for your business. However, they need to be managed efficiently, and EasyWeek salon booking software can easily help your beauty salon with gift card accounting.

Strategy for using gift cards

Launching gift card sales requires a well-thought-out strategy to maximize their benefits. Here are the basic steps:

1. Understand your audience: Who are your primary clients? What services do they prefer? Knowing your audience helps create gift cards that will appeal most to them. Decide whether the card can be used for salon services, products, or both, and whether the card will be physical or digital. Analyzing current sales and customer preferences is essential before launching any strategy.

2. Design the gift card: How will your gift card look? Remember, it’s a gift, so it should appear festive, bright, and attractive while reflecting your salon's brand. Invest in quality materials and design to ensure the gift cards look premium.

3. Set clear terms: Clearly define the terms of use for the gift cards. For example, include the validity period, any exclusions, and booking rules. This helps avoid misunderstandings and ensures a positive customer experience. Transparent and clear terms also help manage customer expectations.

4. Integrate with CRM systems: A CRM software is crucial for managing gift cards. It should track sales, usage, and customer interactions, providing valuable data that can be used to refine marketing strategies. Systems like EasyWeek also allow for online sales and real-time tracking of gift card usage, ensuring accuracy and preventing fraud.

Managing gift card sales and payments

Gift cards can be a powerful tool for attracting new clients and increasing sales, but their effectiveness depends on clear management and control. This is where the EasyWeek CRM system comes into play, offering all the necessary functions for managing a beauty salon, including gift card and payment tracking.

EasyWeek software for accounting gift certificates:

• Creation and customization: The system allows you to set various parameters for gift cards, such as value, expiration date, and terms of use.

• Seamless sales process: Clients can purchase gift cards online or in the salon, with all information automatically saved in the system, reducing errors and ensuring accurate tracking.

• Payment tracking: EasyWeek booking software automatically monitors gift card usage and updates information in real time, helping control all transactions and prevent fraud.

• Reports and analytics: EasyWeek provides detailed analytics on gift card usage, such as the number of redemptions, average purchase value, and peak purchase months. This data allows you to analyze customer behavior and optimize marketing campaigns based on real insights.

• Integration with online booking: Clients can use gift cards when booking services online, making the process more convenient and enhancing customer loyalty.

Conclusion

Gift cards allow customers to fulfill their personal needs and desires. They provide an attractive opportunity to try, discover, and enjoy various services in beauty studios, barbershops, or brow bars. In addition, they play an essential role in the business profit. Thanks to their flexibility, gift certificates can sustainably increase sales and build long-term customer relationships. Look at the benefits of gift cards with EasyWeek booking software and take advantage of other opportunities the system offers.