Gift cards are one of the most effective tools for driving revenue and building customer loyalty. They bring in new customers, encourage repeat visits, and provide guaranteed income even before a purchase is made.
Creating custom gift cards for your business doesn’t require a massive budget or technical expertise. With the right approach, you can design, produce, and launch a professional gift card program that strengthens your brand and boosts sales.
Decide What Kind of Gift Card You Want
Before designing anything, determine which gift card format best suits your business model and customer preferences.
Physical, Digital, or Both?
You have three main options to consider:
- Physical plastic cards offer a premium, tangible experience. Customers can hold them, gift wrap them, and present them in person. They work well for retail stores, restaurants, salons, and any business with a physical location.
- Printable certificates provide a budget-friendly alternative. You can print them in-house on cardstock, making them ideal for small businesses testing the gift card concept before investing in plastic cards.
- eGift cards deliver instant convenience. Customers purchase and send them digitally via email or text. They’re perfect for online businesses and appeal to last-minute shoppers who need immediate delivery.
Many businesses find success offering both physical and digital options. This approach caters to customers who prefer traditional gifting while also serving those who value digital convenience.
Integrate with Your POS or Online Store
Gift cards must work seamlessly with your systems. Verify your point of sale supports gift card functionality. For e-commerce, ensure your platform can process gift cards directly. Shopify, WooCommerce, and Square all include these capabilities.
Design A Branded & Professional Gift Card
Your gift card represents your brand. A well-designed card reinforces your identity and makes a strong impression on both the buyer and recipient.
Branding Essentials for Your Card Design
Every gift card should include these core elements:
- Your logo: Position it prominently so the card is instantly recognizable
- Brand colors: Use your established color palette for visual consistency
- Fonts: Match your brand typography for a cohesive look
- Card value area: Clearly indicate where the denomination appears or will be printed
- Redemption information: Include your website, phone number, or store address
- Terms and conditions: Add essential details in small print on the back
The goal is to create a card that appears professional and clearly represents your brand.
Use Online Design Tools or Templates
You don’t need a graphic designer to create attractive gift cards. Online design tools make the process accessible to anyone.
- Canva offers gift card templates you can customize with your branding in minutes. Upload your logo, adjust colors, add text, and export a file suitable for professional printing.
- Visme provides similar functionality with additional design options for businesses wanting more creative control.
These tools enable you to create custom gift cards for your business without design experience or expensive software.
How to Set Up Your Custom Gift Card Program
With your design ready, it’s time to establish the operational framework for your gift card program.
Choose a Gift Card Provider or Platform
You have several paths forward depending on your needs and budget:
- In-house via your POS: Many point-of-sale systems let you order cards directly through their platform. This option simplifies tracking and redemption since everything stays within one system.
- Specialist gift card printers: Companies that focus exclusively on gift card production often deliver higher-quality cards with more customization options. They handle encoding, magnetic stripes, and barcodes if needed.
- Digital gift card platforms: For eGift cards, dedicated platforms manage the entire process from purchase to delivery to redemption tracking.
Evaluate each option based on your volume requirements, budget, and technical needs.
Define Values, Terms, and Expiry Rules
Establish clear parameters:
- Denominations: Common options include £10, £25, £50, and £100
- Usage rules: Decide on partial purchases and promotion combinations
- Expiry policies: Check local regulations, as many regions restrict expiration dates
- Balance tracking: Determine how customers check remaining balances
Document these policies clearly and ensure staff understand them thoroughly.
Print, Test, and Launch Your Custom Gift Cards
Preparation is complete. Now it’s time to bring your gift cards to life.
Approve Proofs and Order Your First Batch
Before committing to a full print run, review digital proofs carefully. Check that colors appear correctly, text is readable, and all information is accurate. If your cards require encoding for magnetic stripe readers or barcodes, verify that technical specifications match your POS requirements.
Start with a smaller initial order rather than thousands of cards. This approach lets you test the program, gather feedback, and make adjustments before scaling up.
Test Redemption and Train Your Staff
Run test transactions before launching publicly. Buy a gift card and redeem it to confirm the process works correctly, including partial redemptions and balance inquiries. Test partial redemptions, balance inquiries, and any edge cases you can anticipate.
Train your team thoroughly. Staff should know how to sell gift cards, process redemptions, check balances, and answer common customer questions. Confident employees create better customer experiences and drive more gift card sales.
Promote Your New Custom Gift Cards
Custom gift cards for your business only generate results if customers know they exist. A strategic promotion plan maximizes your investment.
In Store, Email, and Social Promotions
- At checkout: Display gift cards prominently near your register. Eye-level placement and attractive signage remind customers that gift cards are available.
- On your website: Feature gift cards on your homepage, navigation menu, and as a dedicated product page. Make them easy to find and purchase.
- Email marketing: Announce your new gift card program to your subscriber list. Send reminders before major holidays and gifting occasions.
- Social media: Share posts highlighting your gift cards, especially during peak gifting seasons like Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and Mother’s Day.
Use Gift Cards in Offers and Loyalty Programs
Gift cards serve purposes beyond traditional gifting:
- Promotional bundles: Offer a bonus gift card with purchases over a certain amount
- Referral rewards: Give customers gift cards for referring friends who make purchases
- Loyalty program incentives: Reward your best customers with gift cards at program milestones
- Employee recognition: Use gift cards to reward staff performance and celebrate achievements
These applications extend the value of your gift card program and create additional touchpoints with customers.
Conclusion
Creating custom gift cards involves thoughtful planning across format selection, design, program setup, production, and promotion. Each step builds toward a program that drives revenue, attracts new customers, and strengthens your brand presence. Start with a focused approach, test thoroughly, and expand based on results.
If you’re in search of a service that can do all of the above for you, DuraCard specializes in premium custom gift card printing for businesses of all sizes. Their team guides clients through design, production, and fulfillment, delivering professional-quality cards that make lasting impressions. With flexible order quantities, fast turnaround times, and dedicated support, DuraCard helps businesses launch gift card programs that drive real results.
Visit their website to request a free quote and see sample designs that could work for your brand.
