1. Choose your gift card system
Choose how you plan to process your gift card orders. For many small businesses, the easiest option might be to use whatever gift card option is in their POS system. You can also purchase them from vendors and create a new “item for sale” in your POS system. Another option is to buy them through a bank that offers the service. Once you choose how you’ll process cards, you’ll need to order them. You have a few options.
Online or e-gift cards
By partnering with your POS system provider, you may be able to offer gift card purchases online. Just like any e-commerce transaction, items are processed online. When customers are ready to purchase in-store or online, they can print e-gift cards or show them to you on their smartphones. Your business may only have to pay a small processing fee but won’t have to worry about purchasing physical gift cards. Most commonly, these cards will appear as a barcode, an identification number, or both.
Gift certificates
While a bit of an old-school option, you can use gift certificates if you don’t have a POS system that can track gift cards. Instead, you can print your certificates and track purchases in a digital ledger or create a new line item in your POS system. Some businesses also use a mix of gift cards and gift certificates. For example, a spa might offer a gift card for any purchase and a certificate for a “free massage.” However, gift certificates can be easy to counterfeit and aren’t the safest or most reliable option.
Electronic strip or barcode gift cards
The last option is a physical gift card, ordered from your POS provider , a merchant bank, or a third-party vendor. These cards often look like credit cards, with magnetic strips or barcodes and identification numbers. Many vendors will provide you with customisable options so that you can include your brand information on the card. Although they can be a pricer option, customers may prefer the physical card over a paper certificate or e-card.
