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Gift certificates have been around since the 1930s. So, they might be an oldie, but they’ve lasted so long for one simple reason: they work.
When your loyal clients buy gift cards for friends and family, they’re bringing in new customers without you having to spend a dime on advertising.
Here’s why increasing gift card sales is a smart strategy for your med spa:
- Instant revenue — you get paid upfront, improving cash flow
- Low cost — no extra labor or product expenses required
- New client opportunities — gift recipients may become repeat clients
- Encourages upsells — clients often spend more than the gift card value
However, to make the most of your gift card program, you’ll need the right strategies in place so you can make selling as simple as possible.
In this blog, we’ll share 10 effective ways to boost gift card sales and grow your med spa business.
1. Offer seasonal and holiday specials
The holiday season is a peak shopping period. However, there are also various other seasonal events through the year that are perfect for selling gift cards.
Themed gift card promotions tied to special occasions like Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Easter, and other key holidays can drive significant seasonal sales. During these times, many people actively seek thoughtful, experience-based gifts, making med spa gift cards an attractive option.
For instance, for Mother’s Day, you might offer a “Pamper Mom” package, while Valentine’s Day could feature couples’ treatments at special rates.
These targeted promotions not only boost sales during peak seasons but also introduce your services to new clients — which boosts your client base.
Why is the holiday season important for med spas?
The holidays are filled with parties and gatherings. People are catching up with friends and family who they may not have seen in months and, naturally, everyone wants look and feel their best. A great opportunity for med spas!
According to one report, the average shopper will purchase three to four gift cards and spend $51.18 per gift card ($170.48 per person) during the holiday season.
This makes it an ideal time to offer promotions and encourage gift card sales.
By leveraging this increased demand, med spas can attract new patients, increase revenue, and build long-term client relationships.
2. Bundle gift cards with special offers
To make gift cards even more enticing, consider adding perks like limited-time service discounts, bonus add-ons, or product discounts. These small rewards encourage clients to purchase gift cards not only as gifts but also for themselves, as they get extra value compared to booking a single treatment.
In fact, according to research, 52% of people purchase gift cards for themselves. These so called self-purchasers spend an average of $51.93 per card, which is 8.4% higher than the value of cards purchased as gifts.
Here are some ways to bundle gift cards with special offers:
✨ Buy a $100 gift card and get a free mini facial ✨
✨ Purchase a $250 gift card and receive a complimentary skincare set ✨
✨ Get a discount on a future treatment when redeeming a gift card ✨
This strategy not only drives gift card sales but also encourages clients to explore multiple services, increasing client retention and boosting overall revenue.
3. Launch exclusive gift card offers
Exclusive promotions create a sense of urgency, motivating clients to act quickly so they don’t miss out on special deals. While discounts are a common tactic, there are other effective approaches to drive gift card sales:
- Bonus value deals: Buy a $100 gift card and get an additional $20 free — this will encourage clients to opt for pricier treatments in your medical spa.
- Early bird specials: Buy a $200 gift card for just $180 — offer discounted rates for clients who purchase gift cards before a set date.
- Referral programs: Give a $50 gift card to clients who refer a friend — this not only encourages repeat visits but also motivates clients to bring in more referrals.
However, these promotion ideas aren’t set in stone. You can experiment with different variations to see what works best for your med spa — tweaking offers to drive sales, boost client engagement, and attract new customers.
4. Promote gift cards across digital channels
Digital channels are a perfect and cost-effective way to market your gift cards to a wide audience. Regularly featuring gift card promotions in newsletters, social media posts, and your website keeps your existing and potential clients in the loop with your gift card offers.
Additionally, engaging visuals and clear calls to action can enhance engagement even more.
Why use social media to promote gift cards?
With social media, the possibilities for promoting gift cards are endless. You can engage your audience in many ways, such as:
- Sponsored ads — You can target specific demographics, locations, and interests to attract high-intent leads.
- Influencer collaborations — Partner with beauty and wellness influencers to expand your audience and build credibility.
- Quizzes and interactive content — Engage followers with fun, valuable content while promoting your offers at the same time.
Additionally, social media allows med spas to connect with potential clients, showcase testimonials, and generate buzz around special promotions — ultimately boosting brand awareness and driving more sales.
5. Feature gift cards in social media giveaways
How many times have you been tagged on social media only to find that it’s one of your friends entering a giveaway – usually to win a dream holiday!
People get a buzz from the thought of winning a giveaway, much like playing the lottery. They’ll eagerly follow the entry steps, such as liking, sharing, tagging friends, and commenting on posts.
This not only boosts engagement but also expands your reach and increases brand visibility. All the engagement is great for the algorithm!
Even if gift card giveaways don’t generate immediate sales, the exposure they create is a big win for your med spa.
It helps you grow your audience and turn participants into future paying clients.
6. Incentivize purchases with discounts
Offering discounts on gift card purchases encourages bulk buying — for both gifting and personal use. While the standard 10 to 20% off is a go-to tactic, there are plenty of creative ways to add value. Here are some ideas:
💳 Buy one, get the second at 50% off
💳 Spend $300 on gift cards and receive a complimentary service
💳 Get 10% off all online gift card purchases
Discounts make it easier for clients to justify larger purchases. And while they may save money upfront, this strategy ultimately increases your overall sales volume — a win-win for both your med spa and your clients.
7. Introduce e-gift cards for convenience
In today’s digital world, offering e-gift cards is a must.
The ability to purchase a gift from home, the office, or even while stuck in traffic is a major advance. Only being able to purchase them in-clinic is pretty limiting.
However, if the process is complicated, clients may abandon their purchase. That’s why digital gift cards should be effortless to buy — with just a click of a button.
For example, you can sell e-gift cards directly through your website’s online booking portal or via a shareable URL on social media.
Practice management software like Pabau makes the entire process even easier.
💡More specifically, Pabau allows you to:
- Create custom e-gift cards and sell them through your med spa’s online booking platform. You’re not limited to selling in person.
- Generate unique URLs for each gift card — perfect for newsletters and social media promotions, even if you don’t have a website.
- Track gift card activity within client records, including spending history and the remaining balance
By simplifying the purchasing process, your med spa’s e-gift cards can become a go-to option for last-minute shoppers, which will boost sales and improve client satisfaction.
8. Highlight gift cards in loyalty programs
Incorporating gift cards into your loyalty program is a smart way to keep clients coming back.
For example, you can reward a client with loyalty points when they purchase a gift card, or maybe they can redeem loyalty points for gift card purchases.
This kind of strategy will encourage clients to spend more at your medical spa, because who doesn’t love getting rewarded for treating themselves?
9. Partner with local businesses
Cross-promoting with local businesses that complement your services is a great way to boost your gift card sales and attract new clients.
Gyms and fitness centers, yoga studios, beauty studios, and hair salons — all of these businesses make perfect partners.
For example, you could offer a discount on spa gift cards to members of a high-end fitness club or provide a complimentary $35 gift card to clients who spend over $200 at a local hair salon to entice new customers your way.
These partnerships will help you introduce your services to potential new clients while creating mutually beneficial relationships for both businesses.
10. Train staff to upsell gift cards
Educating your staff to naturally suggest gift cards during client interactions can boost gift card purchases with minimal effort.
Your front desk team can mention gift cards at checkout and highlight any special promotions that customers may not be aware of.
Having a structured commission program in your med spa also ensures staff have skin the game and actively want to want to sell gift cards.
By making gift cards a regular part of client conversations, your team can increase how much they’re sold, boosting your bottom line.
Simplify your med spa gift card management and boost revenue with Pabau
The right strategies can increase gift card sales, boost revenue, and improve client retention. However, managing gift cards efficiently requires the right tools.
Pabau is an all-in-one practice management software for med spas that handles booking and scheduling, patient record management, marketing, and lots more.
Using the built-in gift card functionality, you can:
- Create and customize gift cards that match your brand
- Sell them anywhere — in person or online through your booking platform
- Promote gift cards effortlessly via marketing campaigns
- Easily track balances within client records
- Redeem with ease — a quick, hassle-free checkout process
- Monitor performance — generate reports to see how gift cards impact revenue
With Pabau, managing and selling gift cards is simple, seamless, and stress-free. If you’re ready to boost your med spa’s revenue, book a free demo today!
