Boost Your Revenue with Online Gift Voucher Sales in December

The value of gift vouchers

We have previously written an article about the power of gift vouchers and discount codes. But with December upon us, we want to shine an extra spotlight on the power of gift vouchers. At i-Reserve, we see every day how businesses in the leisure sector benefit from using gift vouchers strategically. Let's take a look at some of the key advantages.

First, and perhaps most obviously, gift vouchers can directly contribute to increasing your sales. How? When a customer purchases a gift voucher, it guarantees a future purchase at your business. In addition, research has shown that customers often spend more than the value of their gift voucher, resulting in additional revenue for you.

But it's not just about direct sales. Gift vouchers can also be an excellent way to attract new customers. When someone receives a gift voucher, they are encouraged to visit your business — perhaps for the very first time. This gives you the opportunity to make a great first impression and win over a new customer.

Finally, gift vouchers can help promote customer loyalty. By offering a gift voucher after a previous visit or on a special occasion, you give your customers a reason to return to your business, even when they might not need anything at that particular moment.

Gift vouchers are therefore much more than just a nice little extra; they are a strategic tool that, when used well, can lead to higher sales, new customers, and improved customer loyalty.

Why sell gift vouchers online?

Nowadays, selling gift vouchers online is no longer simply an option — it has become a necessity for businesses in the leisure sector to remain competitive. But why exactly? Why should you sell your gift vouchers online as well as offline?

First and foremost, there is the convenience factor for the customer. In our busy lives, we value anything that saves us time and effort — and online shopping does precisely that. Imagine this: it's the evening before a birthday and you've forgotten to buy a gift. No problem — you simply visit the website, purchase a gift voucher, and have it sent directly by email. It's quick, straightforward, and you don't even need to leave the house.

In addition, online sales give you the opportunity to reach a far wider audience. With a physical shop, you are limited to people in your immediate vicinity. But with an online shop? The whole world becomes your market. Whether your customers are on the other side of town or the other side of the country, anyone can easily purchase your gift vouchers. So whether someone is looking for a gift for an acquaintance nearby or perhaps for a family weekend away, they can effortlessly buy your gift voucher.

And let's not forget that online sales give you the ability to increase revenue outside of your opening hours. With a traditional shop, you are restricted to the hours you are open. But an online shop is always open. This means customers can make a purchase at any time of the day (or night), which can lead to a significant boost in turnover.

Gift vouchers and the month of December

The festive season is a wonderful yet hectic time, filled with joy, light, and... gifts! It's no secret that online sales reach a peak during this period, and this is certainly true for gift vouchers too. Whether it's a last-minute gift for that tricky friend or a carefully considered choice for a parent or partner, gift vouchers are a popular choice during the festive season.

But why are gift vouchers so popular during the holidays? One reason is, again, convenience. Gift vouchers take the pressure off finding the 'perfect' gift. They offer the recipient the freedom to choose something they truly want or need, while giving the giver the reassurance that their gift will be appreciated. The versatility of gift vouchers also plays a major role. They can be used for a wide range of products or services, which means there is a perfect gift voucher for everyone, regardless of their interests or tastes.

But how do you ensure that, as a business owner, you make the most of this festive month? By optimising your gift voucher strategy during this period, you can not only boost your sales, but also attract new customers and keep existing ones happy. And isn't that the finest gift you could give your business?

• Promote your gift vouchers actively, both online and offline.
• Make sure your customers know they are available and what the benefits are.
• Offer a range of values to cater to different budgets.
• Make purchasing gift vouchers as simple and straightforward as possible. Online sales via the reservation system can be a tremendous help here.

The i-Reserve gift voucher module

At i-Reserve, we understand how important the online sale of gift vouchers is. That's why, within our online reservation system, you can enable the online sale of gift vouchers using the additional Gift Voucher module. This allows you to easily increase your revenue through the reservation system. So how does it work?
Let's start from the beginning: what is a gift voucher within our system? Throughout this article, we have focused on gift vouchers as presents. However, within the i-Reserve gift voucher module, a gift voucher is seen as a versatile instrument. Customers can purchase a gift voucher to give as a present, or they can take advantage of discounts by redeeming gift vouchers. Businesses can also create and distribute gift vouchers to both existing and potential customers as a way of promoting their services. Another application is the use of gift vouchers as credit notes — for example, when a customer pays in advance and subsequently cancels a reservation.

Is it easy to create a gift voucher within i-Reserve?

Creating a gift voucher in the i-Reserve reservation system is fairly straightforward — you simply need to follow the steps below.
Setting up a gift voucher type: Before you can create a gift voucher, a gift voucher type must be set up. A gift voucher type is, for example, a Christmas promotion or a series of gift vouchers. You assign certain properties to this voucher type, such as the validity period and the price. You can then create individual gift vouchers under this type.

Creating gift vouchers: Once a gift voucher type has been created, you can proceed to create gift vouchers. In the 'New gift voucher' creation screen, various settings are available. You can create multiple gift vouchers simultaneously, meaning that several unique codes are generated at once. You can also set a fixed amount or a discount percentage as the value of the gift voucher.

Linking gift vouchers: After a gift voucher has been created, it can be linked to a customer. Linking the gift voucher makes it easier to send it to the customer via the gift voucher dashboard. Another benefit of linking the gift voucher is that an overview can be added to the customer's dashboard, displaying a summary of their (used) gift vouchers.

With these steps, you can create and send or sell gift vouchers within the i-Reserve reservation system.

Start selling gift vouchers today

Gift vouchers can be a powerful tool for your business. They offer convenience to your customers, help you broaden your market, and can drive sales — especially during peak periods such as the festive season. Implementing an online reservation system such as i-Reserve can make this process even simpler. So do seriously consider selling gift vouchers online as a way to support the growth and success of your business. Do you need help setting up gift vouchers within i-Reserve, or would you like to find out more about the possibilities? Please don't hesitate to contact us — we'd be delighted to help.