A well-planned gift card strategy is one of the smartest ways to boost salon profits during the holiday season—especially around Black Friday, the official kickoff to gift-giving. While many salon owners overlook gift cards as impersonal, the truth is they can be a fabulous source of holiday cash flow. Done right, gift cards become part of your guest’s holiday gifting solution—doubling as an indulgent treat, a thoughtful last-minute gift, and a serious cash cow.
Boost your beauty business this season by planning your gift card promotion now. Read on for tips to launch a profitable gift card strategy that will bring you “into the black” for the holidays!
1. Presentation Matters: Package to Impress
Everyone likes receiving a gift card, but let’s be honest—no one wants to give a gift that feels like an afterthought. It’s a holiday gift, not a discount coupon. At minimum, your gift card presentation should be attractive, high quality, and reflect your salon brand.
For larger purchases, consider branded boxes or elegant wrapping. Discovering a gift card tucked inside a pretty, ribbon-tied box is far more exciting than receiving a flimsy certificate on basic printer paper.
Too many salons offer generic-looking cards that boldly show “$100” with no effort to make the gift feel special. If someone is spending $100+ on a present, it better look and feel like a $100 experience.
2. Build a Strong Holiday Offer
The heart of your gift card campaign is your offer. Focus on messaging, value, and design that drive interest in the four weeks leading up to Christmas. Create promos that are low-cost to your business but high-perceived value for your clients.
Try a “Buy One, Get One” approach to incentivize larger gift card purchases:
Spend $100 → get a $25 bonus gift card
Spend $150 → get a $50 bonus gift card
Spend $200 → get a $75 bonus gift card
Spend $250 → get a $100 bonus gift card
Whether they keep the bonus or give it away, both feel like a win.
3. Create Themed Gift Packages
Don’t just sell gift cards with dollar values—sell experiences. Create name-themed gift packages that combine services for a luxury vibe and elevated value. Would you rather gift a $100 card or a LUXURY EXPERIENCE like a Keratin Treatment + Blowout or a HydraFacial + Paraffin Manicure?
Dollar-value cards are often spent on necessities. But a well-crafted package turns the purchase into indulgence. And indulgence sells.
Offer tiered packages at various price points—get creative! Go big with ideas like “A Year of Hair Color” or “Monthly Massage Club.” Combine services into “Beauty Day” bundles at 25% off, just for the season. Use pretty packaging and clever names to make them irresistible.
These themed experiences not only elevate the value of each sale but help differentiate your gift card strategy from competitors offering bland dollar-amount options.
4. Promote It Loud and Proud
Don’t expect gift cards to sell themselves. Clients need reminders. Use in-salon signage to keep your holiday gift packages top of mind.
Display gift cards prominently at the front desk and in the retail or waiting areas. Many salon owners hide them away—don’t make that mistake. Visibility is everything.
Pair displays with custom signage and branded promo graphics. Then take it to social—share your offer on all platforms to extend your reach beyond your salon walls.
5. Dedicate a Page on Your Website
Want to sell more gift cards? Give them a home on your website.
Create a branded landing page with visuals, package details, buying instructions, and any fine print. Highlight it with a CTA banner right on your homepage. Don’t just link to a clunky third-party app—give buyers an elevated experience that matches the value of their gift.
Tip: Keep the link “above the fold” so it’s easy to find and click.
6. Make It Easy to Buy
The easier you make it, the more you’ll sell. Online gift card purchasing should be fast, branded, and secure.
Use a plug-and-play gift card checkout system that integrates with your existing site. Add a “Buy Now” button or direct link and let clients shop 24/7—even on Christmas Eve.
Gift card sales should work for you while you sleep—and when integrated into a smart gift card strategy, they absolutely do.
7. Run a Holiday Campaign
Include gift cards in your e-newsletter campaigns starting Black Friday and continuing through Christmas. Here’s a simple schedule to follow:
Email 1: Black Friday – Initial Launch
Email 2: December 10 – Midway Reminder
Email 3: December 21 – Final 3 Days
Email 4: December 23 – Last 24 Hours!
Make each email feel personal and urgent—remind clients you’ve got the perfect gift ready.
8. Last-Minute Magic
Gift cards are the ultimate save-the-day gift. Promote them as the perfect “last-minute” solution for those who’ve waited too long—or just forgot.
Highlight the convenience of online gift card purchasing. Let your clients know that even on December 24th, they can still give something personal, indulgent, and totally appreciated.
9. Turn Gift Card Guests Into Loyal Clients
Your gift card strategy doesn’t stop when the sale ends. Each gift card guest is a potential long-term client.
Three ways to make sure they return:
Have them fill out a client card at checkout.
Treat them like VIPs during their experience.
Re-book before they leave.
A single gift card guest could become a $2,000-per-year client. Make it count. Turning one-time guests into loyal clients is where a well-executed gift card strategy proves its long-term value.
10. Partner With a Pro
Want your promotion to shine? Invest in professionally written and designed marketing materials—from the campaign concept to the copy to the creative.
You don’t have to do it alone. BeautyMark makes sure your gift card strategy looks, feels, and performs like the holiday hit it should be.
Ready to Get In the Black?
Let BeautyMark craft a gift card strategy that brings in fast cash, new guests, and long-term loyalty.
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