Increase sales and new customers: sell bowling gift vouchers online

Sound like a dream? For many entrepreneurs, this is the reality of online gift cards.

As a bowling alley owner, you're probably primarily focused on renting lanes and selling packages. Understandably, that's where the action happens. But have you ever considered the power of gift cards as a marketing tool? It's the perfect way to boost your cash flow, attract new customers, and offer service to last-minute gift hunters.

And the best part is: with i-Reserve 's Gift Certificate module, you can handle this completely automatically. No handwritten receipts, no hassle with cash books, and no fraud-prone paperwork. In this article, we explain how to turn a simple piece of paper into a powerful source of income.

Today's customer wants convenience (and speed)

We've all been there. You're on your way to a birthday party and suddenly realize: "I don't have a present!" The shops are closed, or you don't have time to go into town.

In the past, the only option was for customers to physically come to your bowling alley and buy a ticket at the counter. That's a barrier for a customer in a hurry. These days, everyone expects everything to be online.

With i-Reserve you can transform your website into a gift shop.

• Direct sales: You place an order on your site. The customer chooses an amount (for example, €25, €50, or an "Evening of Bowling & Grilling"), fills in their information, and pays immediately via iDEAL.
• Last-minute rescue: As soon as payment is received, the system instantly generates a professional PDF voucher.
• Shipping: This is automatically emailed to the buyer (or directly to the lucky recipient). Within two minutes, your customer will have a fantastic gift in their inbox, and you'll already have the proceeds in your account.

How it works: The technology behind the scenes

Now you might be thinking: "Those PDFs are great, but how do I prevent people from Photoshopping or handing in a receipt twice?"

That's precisely where the power of a good reservation system comes in. It's not about the piece of paper, it's about the unique code.

1. The Unique Code

Every gift card sold receives a unique ID and verification code from i-Reserve . This code is the key. It's not a random string of numbers you have to type into an Excel sheet; it's an active code in your database with a specific value and validity.

2. Automatic redemption

The recipient of the voucher goes to your website to book a court. At checkout, they'll see a field labeled "Do you have a discount code or gift certificate?" They'll enter their unique code there.

The system then quickly performs a check (validation):

• Is the code valid?
• Is there still a balance on my account?
• Does the booking meet the conditions (for example: only valid for new bookings)?

If the answer is "yes," the value will be deducted immediately from the total. The customer pays the remaining balance, and the reservation is final. You don't have to settle anything at the counter.

3. Partial invoicing? No problem

What if the voucher is worth €50, and the court rental costs only €30? i-Reserve keeps track of this. The residual value simply remains on the code for next time. It also works the other way around: if the court rental is more expensive, the customer simply pays the difference.

Marketing: New faces on the track

Besides convenience and cash flow, gift cards are arguably your cheapest marketing tool. Why? Because gift cards almost always introduce new customers.

Someone who already knows your bowling alley (the giver) invites someone who may never have been there (the receiver). It's word-of-mouth advertising, and you get paid for it.

Moreover, we see an interesting psychological effect in the figures: Upselling .

People who pay with a gift card spend more on average than those who pay with their own money. "That first 30 euros is free," they think, "so let's order those extra snacks and those specialty beers." That's how a 30-euro gift card quickly turns into an 80-euro receipt.

Overview and Insight

As an entrepreneur, you want to stay in control. You don't want to be surprised at the end of the year by a mountain of outstanding receivables.

In the i-Reserve management panel, you always have up-to-date insight via the "Context Gift Voucher".

• Which vouchers have been sold but not yet redeemed? (This is the so-called "dormant turnover").
• Which vouchers have expired?
• What is the total value that is 'outside'?

You can easily filter and print lists. This way, your accounting is always accurate and you know exactly where you stand.

Ready for the holidays (and beyond)?

Whether it's Sinterklaas, Christmas, Father's Day, or just a birthday: there's always a reason for a gift. By offering gift cards, you lower the barrier for customers to spend money with you.

You're turning your website into a 24/7 sales channel. While you're focused on the people currently on the road (or while you're sound asleep), your system is selling the promise of a fun night out.

In summary:

1. Customer buys online: Direct turnover via iDEAL.
2. System sends PDF: No manual work, sent immediately.
3. Recipient books online: Automatic settlement and validation.
4. You receive new guests: And often additional catering turnover.

It's a small effort to set up, but a great pleasure for your turnover.

Do you also want to get rich while you sleep?

Well, that might be a bit of an exaggeration. But do you also want to generate extra revenue and attract new customers with professional, digital gift cards? We'd be happy to show you how easy it is to set this up in i-Reserve.

Try the system now for 30 days free and discover how to turn a website visitor into a paying customer before they even set foot in the door.