The 2020 winter holiday season is here, and for many parts of the US, it may be accompanied by another round of COVID-related shutdowns. On the other hand, other small businesses are feeling the effects of reduced shopping traffic. Fortunately, gift certificate sales can provide you and your staff with an immediate boost in income. This also gives customers a way to shop safely and still give their loved ones something special for the holidays. Read on to learn how gift certificates can benefit your business this holiday season.
Shoppers Would Rather Go Online Than Visit In-Store
Because of social distancing protocols, customers are more concerned with shopping safely. Some customers are comfortable shopping in-store, but they expect contactless checkout and other safety measures. Other customers aren’t venturing out to shop for anything other than the essentials. Most customers, however, fall into a third category of hybrid shoppers. When you have an online shop, you can meet the needs of all three of these customer profiles and they can buy your digital gift certificates, which are contact-free from purchase to redemption. Whichever way your customers are most comfortable shopping, you’ve got a solution that can turn into a sale.
Customers Want To Buy Gift Certificates To Support Your Shop
Industry research shows that nearly half of all holiday shoppers plan to buy gift certificates this year. What’s more – 93% of those shoppers say that when they’re shopping online, they prefer to support small, local businesses. That’s great news for small business owners!
Pro Tip: In order for eager customers to buy gift certificates, your business needs an online store with a merchant services account to process online transactions! It’s easier than you think to get one up and running – you can create one with Vagaro when you sign up for VMS.
Your Vagaro Online Store Never Needs to Close
Because the future is uncertain, service-based small businesses need to prioritize their online stores as a source of income that can weather a shutdown. Gift certificate and retail sales provide immediate income, even if your business is required to shut down again. With Vagaro Merchant Services (VMS), you’ll typically see the funds from your sales within 48 hours of batching out for the day*.
Marketing Gift Certificates Has Never Been Simpler
For customers to purchase your gift certificates, they’ve got to know that you’re selling them. Vagaro has made it easy to let your customers know that your online store is stocked with gift cards and ready for a contactless sale from end to end. Use email and text marketing to share your specials. Update your Vagaro business listing to include gift certificates, and Vagaro’s Marketplace search engine will automatically showcase your business when customers are searching for gift certificates.
To reach a wider audience on social media, Vagaro’s designers have created a gallery of free, ready-to-use social media marketing templates. Just download the bundle, pick your favorites, and get posting!
Download These Social Media Templates to Entice Your Customers to Shop with You!
Whether you’re getting ready for the holidays or an uncertain future, Vagaro is here to help make sure your business has a way to keep making money. It’s time to get ready for whatever the 2021 brings – make sure that you’ve got VMS to help you stay open for online sales 24/7, no matter what.
* Deposit schedules vary, based on time zones and weekday/weekend deposits. Please visit the Vagaro Support page for more specific information. For further help regarding merchant processing information, please call 800-919-0157 and select Opt. 2 for Support.
Disclaimer: The information contained on this site/blog is provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice on any subject matter. You should not act or refrain from acting based on any content included herein without seeking professional advice. The contents of this blog contain general information and may not reflect current developments or address your situation. Vagaro disclaims any and all liability for actions you take or fail to take based on content on this blog.
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Header Image: Photo by Pixabay from Pexels
Body Images: Photo by freestocks.org from Pexels
Social Media Templates via Vagaro