8 Mistakes That Are Killing Your Gift Card Profits | EP 176 | Profitable Salon Owner

Gift Cards as a Tool for Growth: Gift cards can be highly profitable when used to attract new guests and grow revenue during holidays.

Biggest Mistake #1 - Discounting: Avoid offering discounts on gift cards, as this can hurt your profit margins and set unrealistic pricing expectations.

Biggest Mistake #2 - No Boundaries: Clearly define gift card usage rules to prevent misuse, like limiting their use to specific services or retail products.

Biggest Mistake #3 - Fluffing December Sales: High gift card sales in December can artificially inflate revenue, leaving other months weaker.

Biggest Mistake #4 - Spending December’s Cash: Treat gift card revenue as deferred income and avoid spending it immediately.

Biggest Mistake #5 - Misclassifying on P&L: Log gift card sales properly as liabilities until redeemed, to avoid tax and accounting issues.

Biggest Mistake #6 - Selling to Existing Clients: Focus on gift cards as a tool to bring in new customers rather than discounting services for loyal clients.

Theft Risks: Implement systems to track and catalog gift cards, as they can be a target for employee theft.

Timing and Marketing Strategies: Peak sales often happen close to Christmas, but promotions should encourage early-year bookings to maintain revenue consistency.

Creative Packages: Bundle gift cards with services or retail items to add value, attract new guests, and provide thoughtful gifting options for businesses or groups.