How are Your Gift Certificate Sales?

[DAT DUDE OUTTA BK]

We generally sell about 500 GCs during the month of December. Most of those in the last week before Christmas. Our receptionists go crazy during that time. GCs seem to be the type of gift that people put off buying until the last minute since you don't have to worry about the stores running out of them and unlike clothing, they don't get "picked over."

We also sent out 300 cards to a select group of clients promoting GC sells. They were mailed out last Friday and we've already had about 8 or so redeemed. The card was an offer of $5 off their GC purchase and a gift when they buy 2 or more. I had fun putting together the gift bags.

I've seen several reports on TV about how consumers are not spending as much money this year as they did in previous ones. They're not sure about the economy....many people are having mortgage/insurance/tax problems. I wouldn't be surprised if GC sells are down this year. In uncertain times, people tend to hold on to their money.

Angie

 

[will s]

I have a sale tonight!

 

[cn0410]

I have a sale tonight!

:

 

[Pompal 09.]

Jeez, I'm glad it's not just me! I've sold only three so far this season, and last year I did $3K in GC sales alone. I really hope that things start to pick up the last week...

 

[MarMar]

I wonder why it's so slow this year? Even business has been slow since about mid-November, ie not fully booked. I was going to start online gc sales this year, but the site still isn't finished so it was a no-go. Was feeling left out on the potential mega income from those sales, but now...now i'm not feeling like I'm missing out on anything. However, I did extend my original gc offer to my regular clients, offering them the deal as a pre-pay for sessions instead of gc's, and was successful with that.

I just don't get it. I live in Chicago, land of disposable income (so immense that it makes people like me nauseous), see thousands of people every day lugging around bags upon bags of xmas gifts...just don't get it.