Welcome to the last official week of summer. As of this Saturday, the fall season will officially be underway. And, at Canadian POS, we recognize the fall as the unofficial beginning of “gift card season”. It is true that gift cards are popular all year long. However, stores all across Canada will soon be in the midst of promoting their holiday season sales and events. And we all know that gift card sales surge during the holiday shopping season!
“People love gift cards,” Casey D. Culver states on Monetary.co, “Actually, they have been the most requested holiday gift for nine years in a row, and the total volume of gift cards is projected to reach $160 billion by 2018.” With gift cards being so popular in the last quarter of each year, there’s no denying that now is an important time to consider new ways of promoting the gift cards in your store.
Take advantage of social media.
This is a tip that you’re likely to see us dole out no matter what you’re promoting. Social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram and Twitter are widely used by businesses of all sizes for the purpose of marketing. When it comes to gift cards, the advice is no different. Get on social media and let all of the members of your target audience know that gift cards are available in your store.
“Use images to help your Facebook posts standout on the newsfeed,” recommends Natasha Miller on GiftFly.com, “Offer special discounts for Facebook fans or followers to increase loyalty and engagement. Make sure the image is sized correctly for the particular network you are posting to. If you have a marketing budget for the holiday season, go ahead and ‘boost’ the post on Facebook – be sure to include a link to your gift card store-front so customers can easily checkout.
Use visual displays and signage in-store.
As important as it is to promote your gift cards online, never let it be lost on you that your brick-and-mortar store could always benefit from vivid signage. Make sure that your gift card displays are highly visible. But also be sure to place eye-catching signs throughout your store. That way, you’ll both alert your customers about your gift cards and direct them to your gift card displays.
“Give your gift cards pride of place next to the register to maximize gift card sales,” advises SquareUp.com, “You can set them up in dressing rooms, waiting rooms, hostess stands, on the pickup counter, or in window displays. You can also showcase them on your signage — places like menu boards or sidewalk signs.”
Order your gift cards today!
If you’re not yet selling gift cards in your store, contact Canadian POS right away! Our Electronic Gift Card Program (EGC) is the perfect solution to lay claim to your stake in a new era of consumer spending. It maximizes stored value card sales with a complete package of marketing features. Ever mindful of your business needs, simple administration and top-notch security are built-in features to make program management simple and cost-effective.
For more information, call Canadian POS at 1-877-748-2884 or email us at info@localhost.