How to Sell Gift Cards on Shopify

Selling gift cards on Shopify is a great way to boost your revenue and provide additional value to your customers. In this comprehensive guide, we will walk you through the steps to set up and sell gift cards on your Shopify store. We'll cover everything from setting up gift cards in Shopify, configuring settings, promoting your gift cards, and tracking their performance. Let’s dive in!

1. Understanding Shopify Gift Cards

Gift cards are a versatile tool for businesses, offering customers a convenient way to purchase and redeem value in your store. They can drive sales, attract new customers, and enhance customer loyalty. Shopify provides a built-in feature to manage gift cards, which is both easy to set up and use.

2. Setting Up Gift Cards in Shopify

2.1 Access Your Shopify Admin

To begin, log in to your Shopify admin panel. You will need administrative access to configure gift card settings.

2.2 Enable Gift Cards

• Navigate to the Settings section in the bottom left corner of your admin panel.
• Click on Payments.
• Scroll down to the Gift cards section.
• Click Manage next to the Gift Cards section.
• Toggle the Enable gift cards switch to On.

2.3 Customize Your Gift Card

You can customize the look of your gift card to match your store’s branding. Shopify allows you to add custom images, logos, and messages.

• Go to Online Store and select Themes.
• Click Customize next to your active theme.
• Find the Gift card template in the theme editor.
• Edit the design elements, including images and text, to align with your brand’s identity.

2.4 Set Up Gift Card Pricing

• Go back to the Gift Cards section under Settings.
• Click Create gift card.
• Set the amount for the gift card. You can specify predefined values or allow customers to enter a custom amount.
• Add any additional information, such as a description or expiration date if needed.

3. Configuring Gift Card Settings

3.1 Gift Card Policies

• Expiration Dates: Decide whether you want gift cards to have expiration dates. Shopify allows you to set this up in the Gift card settings.
• Restrictions: Determine if there will be any restrictions on gift card usage, such as minimum purchase amounts or specific products they can be used for.

3.2 Email Delivery

Shopify’s gift card system sends email notifications when gift cards are purchased or redeemed. Ensure that the email templates are customized to match your store’s branding.

• Go to Settings and select Notifications.
• Find the Gift card email templates.
• Customize the subject lines and body text as needed.

4. Promoting Your Gift Cards

4.1 Website Integration

Integrate gift cards into your website to increase visibility:

• Homepage Banner: Add a banner or call-to-action on your homepage promoting gift cards.
• Product Pages: Include a section or link on product pages encouraging customers to purchase gift cards.
• Checkout Page: Offer gift cards as an option during the checkout process.

4.2 Social Media Marketing

Promote your gift cards through your social media channels:

• Posts: Create engaging posts highlighting the benefits of your gift cards.
• Stories: Use Instagram and Facebook Stories to showcase special promotions related to gift cards.
• Ads: Run targeted ads focusing on gift card sales.

4.3 Email Campaigns

Incorporate gift card promotions into your email marketing strategy:

• Newsletter: Feature gift cards in your regular newsletter to keep them top-of-mind.
• Dedicated Campaigns: Send out dedicated email campaigns promoting gift card sales during peak seasons or special events.

5. Tracking and Analyzing Gift Card Performance

5.1 Monitor Sales

Track the performance of your gift cards through Shopify’s analytics:

• Go to Analytics in your Shopify admin.
• Select Reports.
• Look for the Gift Card Sales report to view the total sales, redemptions, and outstanding balances.

5.2 Customer Feedback

Gather feedback from customers who purchase and use gift cards:

• Surveys: Send out surveys to customers who have redeemed gift cards.
• Reviews: Monitor reviews and comments related to gift card purchases.

5.3 Adjust Strategies

Based on the data collected, adjust your strategies to improve gift card sales:

• Promotional Tactics: Experiment with different promotional tactics to see what drives the most sales.
• Design: Update the design and messaging of your gift cards based on customer feedback.

6. Conclusion

Selling gift cards on Shopify is an excellent way to enhance your store’s offerings and boost revenue. By following these steps, you can easily set up, configure, and promote gift cards, as well as track their performance. Utilize the features provided by Shopify to streamline the process and leverage gift cards as a powerful tool for your business.

7. Additional Resources

• Shopify Help Center: Visit the Shopify Help Center for detailed guides and troubleshooting tips.
• Shopify Community: Join the Shopify Community forums to connect with other store owners and share insights.

8. FAQs

Q: Can I sell physical gift cards through Shopify?
A: Shopify’s built-in gift card system supports digital gift cards. For physical gift cards, you would need to integrate with a third-party service or use custom fulfillment methods.

Q: Are there any fees associated with gift card sales?
A: Shopify does not charge additional fees for selling gift cards beyond the standard transaction fees associated with your Shopify plan.

Q: Can gift cards be used in-store as well as online?
A: Shopify’s gift cards are primarily designed for online use. For in-store use, you may need to integrate with a POS system that supports gift card redemption.