Selling gift certificates when you are a one wo/man show

[hello.]

In office gift certificate sales will be increasing soon. After Turkey Day, I was thinking about sitting in my office on my day off (mondays) from 1 to 6pm to sell gift certificates. I could run an ad in the paper saying this as well as put a sign on my door. People have been calling for gift certs and mom has been telling them when the best time to come in is. It has been working, but it will get more difficult as Christmas gets closer. I could put a big sign on my door stating the best time to buy gift certificates as well.

Yes, I do sell them on my website thru spaboom, but some people do not want to purchase gift certificates that way.

Has anyone ever done this and has it worked?

 

[matt89 veteran of yahoo]

I have a little white dropbox next to my outside door. When people have wanted to buy a gift certificate during a time I wasn't available, we arrange a "drop/swap". I print up the gift certificate and leave it for them in the dropbox. I also leave a second envelope with my name on it. The giver stops by, takes the gift certificate and leaves a check for me in my envelope. If more than one person is buying a gift certificate that day. I paperclip packets together (gift certificate, envelope with my name on it, and a note with the buyer's name). This has worked very well for me. Obviously, this means purchases need to be arranged, so drop-in purchases are not an option. But it's a nice option for those times you can't be available for walk-ins.

 

[NOt Me]

Those are good ideas, I may implement them in the future, but cant right now.

For now, I will plan on being in my office on most of the Mondays in December from about 1 to 6pm. I can make a notice on my website, put a big sign on my door, leave a message on my answering machine, and tell callers who are looking for gift certificates that I will be in on Mondays.

I could also offer a free sample chair massage on Mondays only when you purchase a gift certificate. The more you buy, the longer your sample.

 

[Diana!!!]

I could also offer a free sample chair massage on Mondays only when you purchase a gift certificate. The more you buy, the longer your sample.

You are the marketing queen!

 

[Pompal 09.]

what i typically do is tell them to come by (when i know i will be there) and they come by to pick it up. usually i'm in session so i tell them i'll leave it on the desk for them and then they can leave a check/cash. it has worked out pretty well. if i know i'm not going to be there but they need it, i'll leave it outside my door. they pick it up and leave the $$. i've never had any trouble with this either.

this year i'm in a new location and have the potential for walk-by's to need a gift card so i've got to come up with something for these people if they drop by and i'm in a session. i've thought maybe a a message board with instructions. i'd have them prewrapped and labeled with number on the bottom of the bag/box. they would write down the number of the gift they took and write their info (name addy phone #) and then leave cash or a check.

i deliver a lot of gift cards too. this is pretty simple too. i take their cc # over the phone and deliver the gift card package to them or to the recepient. this way, i can drop it by when it's convenient for me and works for them. they really appreciate this one. especially in the cold, crappy weather...

 

[Jennifer Rush]

Im available in office 3-4 days a week, but if Im doing massage, the front door is locked. Christmas fast approaching, I am going to enlist the help of hubby (will work for free lol), sister (wants massages in trade for working), or I will hire a teen to sit & sell GC while Im doing massage, or on days Im not there. Even though my hours are posted on the door, people still call and YELL on my answering machine when they were not able to get IN the door! People get wired during the Holidays! Best of luck!