Gift Certificates - per session or per $ amount?

[KandyGirl16]

I would like to have nice gift cards ordered by Mother's Day promotions, heck - maybe Vday. As of now I sell G.C.s by the session but thought maybe with the cards I'd go to a monetary amount, so people can purchase a gift card for any amount they choose, then the recipient can use it towards their session - whether it pays for a full session or not. I thought :

* I might make a little less per Holiday seasons if more people decide to buy gift cards for less than the amount of a session, BUT when I get to the redemption season I'll have a little extra cash because more people are upgrading.

-OR-

*I might make a little more per Holiday season by advertising gift cards for ANY amount - that might encourage those people who just assume the cost of a full massage is too pricey a gift, they can choose a more modest amount gift card.

I am interested to hear your thoughts on the pros/cons. How do you sell your G.C.s (amount vs. session)- what have your experiences been?

Also -
does anybody have a place to order good quality gift cards? I have been to http://www.giftcentral.com/ I Like their product and will probibly go with them- but I like to make educated decisions.

Thanks!

 

[Pompal 09.]

Why not offer both? Market your GC's available in standard monetary increments: $15, $25, $50, etc... or for a service: 30 minute massage, 60 minute massage, 90 minute hot stone, etc... You'd have the best of both worlds and your customers will be happy they have more options for gift giving.

 

[seductress]

We offer GC in monitary amounts. When people buy the cards they can include a note saying "for a massage" but the recipient doesn't have to buy a massage. They can use it for anything in our proshop as well. It's nice because sometimes people will get themselves something more expensive that they normally wouldn't buy. If they get a $50 card they don't mind spending another $50 to get a mud wrap. We also get the opposite. People will ration out the card to get less expensive services to make the GC last longer.

Steph!

 

[Corinne G]

I let the purchaser decide. I offer both.
Jill/Sagetherapist

 

[~abby~]

hey dorikaters,

i purchased my gift cards through http://www.giftcentral.com/ too! i love them so much and everyone comments on how nice they are. i had them printed up in 30 minute, 60 minute & $100 increments. if i had to do it over again, i'd go with just the first 2. i rarely sell the $100. usually, they'll purchase 2 - 60 minute cards instead. i haven't had anyone ask to purchase a specific dollar amount. usually they just ask how much a 1/2 hour or an hour costs. (and this is before they know how i offer them) the one thing you'll want to keep in mind is that they (gift central) will charge you extra for every layout you change (typesetting charge). so they charged me extra for changing from 30 to 60 minute and also to $100. personally i think it was a rip-off but every company does it. so keep in mind you may not want to offer too many different totals or amounts. maybe you could have gift cards printed for time and then have a few certificates for a specific dollar amount if anyone wanted to go with that option. not sure if that might work. you could leave out the gift cards and the sign and then if someone really only wanted a certain dollar amount, you could let them know that you do have those available in a gift certificate format.

ps. they have a really nice display for the gift cards that you'll enjoy leaving out for your clients to see.

 

[thumbs down for truth]

True, very true - offering both would work. I wonder if there would be an influx of more or less cards sold either way, guess I will find out!

I figured around G.C holidays I would package full hour and half hour cards fabulously with ribbon and bags and all that good stuff to encourage people to purchase the higher amount. Thanks for the input guys.

 

[/<@te]

hey dorikaters, your comment leads me to a question that i will post. i too wrap my gift cards up and make them look really pretty. i love to do this. although i find it costs me more than i'd care to mention but i just love being able to offer this to my clients. isn't fun finding stuff to wrap them in. i love shopping for ribbon and i love it even more when i find it on clearance!

(i'll post my question in this section)

 

[anne s]

I sell by the session. I am half way through my beauty school education and I'm doing some of those treatments (mani/pedi/eye), but charge the same rate as massage. I'd say about 70% of my gift certificate sales are over $150 - either for a series of treatments or massage plus pedi (1hr 45min) (massage and pedi is the most popular for a female).

My largest gift certificate to one person was $1200 - 12 hot stone massages for a Mother's Day gift May 05. I extended my usual 6month expiry to 18months. The buyer had never been to me, not referred, he found me on the internet, I emailed the gift certificate. The recipient has come in for 6 treatments since May, so roughly going through them at one a month. We've changed it to a massage and mini-pedi twice. I made up a little coffee card type thing, so she can keep track of how many are left, I gave it to her at the first appointment.