Gift Cards and Packages: Boost Holiday Revenue

Gift cards represent one of the best opportunities salons have during the holiday season. They're essentially interest-free loans from customers: you get cash now, deliver service later. Plus, studies show that 30% of gift cards go unredeemed (pure profit), and when they are redeemed, clients typically spend 38% more than the card value.

For many salons, gift card sales in November and December represent 20-30% of total holiday revenue - often $10,000-50,000 depending on size.

Yet most salons treat gift cards as an afterthought, missing massive revenue potential.

This comprehensive guide reveals how to maximize gift card and package sales during the holiday season (and year-round), turning gift-givers into your salesforce and gift recipients into new loyal clients.

Why Gift Cards Are Salon Gold

Before diving into strategies, understand what makes gift cards so valuable:

Immediate Revenue

Cash in hand now for services delivered later:

Future Bookings Guaranteed

Every gift card sold is a future appointment:

New Client Acquisition

Recipients are often new to your salon:

Upsell Opportunity

Clients redeeming gift cards typically spend more:

Unredeemed Revenue

Industry statistics:

Marketing by Proxy

Gift-givers are promoting you:

Holiday Gift Card Strategy

Maximize seasonal opportunity:

Start Early (November 1st)

Don't wait until December:

Multi-Channel Promotion

Where to promote:

In-salon:

Email marketing:

Social media:

Website:

Google My Business:

Compelling Packaging

Make them gift-ready:

Perceived value matters:

Beautiful packaging makes gift-giver feel good about their purchase and signals quality to recipient.

Bonus Value Promotions

Incentivize larger purchases:

Example structures:

Why it works:

Timing:

Package Options Beyond Standard Cards

Create curated experiences:

"Spa Day Package" ($250):

"Monthly Maintenance" ($180 value, sell for $150):

"Mother-Daughter Day" ($350):

"Complete Transformation" ($400):

Why packages work better than cards:

Easy Purchasing Process

Remove friction:

In-person:

Online:

Phone:

Last-Minute Options

December 20-24 strategies:

Digital delivery:

Extended hours:

Last-minute promotion:

Post-Holiday Conversion Strategy

Sold the cards - now convert recipients to regulars:

Welcome Communication

When gift card first used:

First impression critical:

Recipients form opinion of your salon based on this visit. Exceptional experience converts gift card recipients to regular clients at 40-60% rate.

Upsell Appropriately

Strategic recommendations:

Soft sell approach:

"Your gift card covers the color beautifully. The gloss treatment would add amazing shine - it's an additional $35, but I think you'd love it. Would you like to add it?"

Book Next Appointment

Before they leave:

If they don't prebook:

Follow-Up Sequence

Post-appointment communication:

**Day 1:** Thank you email, ask for feedback, social media follow request

**Week 1:** Check-in message, maintenance tips

**Week 4:** Rebooking reminder, special offer for gift card recipients

**Week 8:** Final outreach before marking as unconverted

Gift Card Recipient Offers

Special new client incentive:

Track and Optimize

Measure:

Optimize based on data:

Year-Round Gift Card Programs

Don't limit gift cards to holidays:

Ongoing Availability

Always offer gift cards:

Make purchasing easy:

Corporate Gifting Programs

Target businesses for:

B2B approach:

**Potential:** Single corporate order could be $5,000-20,000

Referral Gift Cards

Encourage referrals:

Win-win:

Special Occasions

Promote gift cards for:

Timely promotion captures gifting opportunities throughout year.

Technical Considerations

Manage gift cards efficiently:

Digital vs. Physical

Digital gift cards:

Physical gift cards:

**Best practice:** Offer both options

Tracking and Management

Essential features:

BookB's gift card management:

Legal and Compliance

Important considerations:

Consult with accountant on proper recognition of gift card revenue.

Maximizing Holiday Revenue

Real example:

Medium salon (5 stylists), 400 active clients:

Conservative gift card strategy:

Aggressive gift card strategy:

Difference: $18,500 additional revenue

Plus:

**Time investment:** 10-15 hours setup and promotion

**ROI:** 1,500-2,500%

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake #1: Starting Too Late

Waiting until mid-December misses majority of opportunity. Start November 1st.

Mistake #2: Poor Promotion

Having gift cards available but not actively promoting them. Promote weekly across all channels.

Mistake #3: Difficult Purchase Process

Making clients work too hard to buy. Online purchase option is essential.

Mistake #4: Generic Presentation

Cheap-looking cards in plain envelopes. Beautiful packaging increases perceived value.

Mistake #5: No Post-Redemption Strategy

Selling cards but failing to convert recipients. Have systematic follow-up.

Mistake #6: Ignoring Year-Round Opportunity

Only offering during holidays. Keep them available and promoted year-round.

Start Maximizing Gift Card Revenue

Gift cards are among the highest-ROI opportunities salons have. They require minimal effort to set up, cost almost nothing to promote, and generate significant revenue with very high profit margins.

The holiday season is the peak opportunity, but year-round gift card programs provide steady additional revenue stream.

BookB makes gift card management effortless: easy online purchasing, automatic tracking, beautiful digital card delivery, simple redemption, and comprehensive reporting showing exactly how your gift card program performs.

Ready to boost revenue with gift cards? [Start your free 30-day trial](/pricing) of BookB today and see how easy profitable [gift card programs](/features) can be. Explore [revenue growth strategies](/blog/salon-revenue-growth-strategies) for more ideas. [Contact us](/contact) for gift card setup support.