The Gift Certificate Quick Guide

The holiday season is right around the corner and with one of the biggest shopping days of the year within arm’s reach, yes we're talking about black Friday already, it is important to highlight one of the biggest sellers all business owners should have: gift certificates!

Follow these simple guidelines to boost your gift certificate sales this season:

One for you, one for me – figure out a promotion that will work best for your business. A good incentive is allowing the gift giver to not only buy something for a friend/family member, but will get something for themselves in return (i.e. a $20 gift card for free!).  

To promote sales after the holidays, make the gift certificate for the purchaser valid starting January 1st.

Online Gift Certificates – Purchasing gift certificates online and printing them right from your computer is a great way to boost sales – especially during last-minute rushing!

Email Blasts – include a link to the gift certificate page on your website with every email blast you send out between now and the New Year. The key to sales is repetition, repetition, repetition…

Market All OVER the place – especially at reception desks, product shelves, bathroom doors, all exits to your business, on your staff, on your website, in your emails…everywhere!

Partner with local businesses – print postcard stuffers for other businesses to include with purchases, go to your local chamber of commerce or welcome wagon, cross-promote with other businesses to increase your potential clientele base.

Keep your gift certificate open-ended or an All-You-Need kind of package – too many options confuse the buyer and will decrease sales.

Make sure staff is well versed on what to say and how to say it – make sure your voice hold recording on your phone is filled with gift certificate information as well! Make sure everyone and everything in your business is on the same page so there is no confusion.

Reward Staff – offer gift certificates or cash incentives for employees to BOOST SALES (this is another way to cross-promote with other businesses).

Reception – most important sellers (offer % of sales or lump sum cash amount to the earners to keep the cash register ringing!)

Make sure you put together a 12-month promotional marketing calendar before the New Year starts. This will help you with future sales goals and will take care of the excess inventory (hopefully you will have minimal/none left after successful holiday sales…but just in case).

Remember, you know what your customers want and how they shop. Customize your gift certificate sales to what you know will be a sure seller. You can’t go wrong when there’s something in it for everyone.

Happy shopping!

Much Love,
Debbie Schade

The Best at Home Facial Masks

Sometimes your skin needs more than good food and R&R to get that “glowing” look; while most people pay tons of money for a decent facial (including mask), some of the best facial masks can be done right at home. Whether your skin is oily, dry, red, splotchy or just plain irritated, we have some quick solutions for your facial needs.

The best remedy for redness is a cucumber aloe facial mask which gives you a twofold response: soothe and moisturize. Place a saturated paper mask over your face, let sit for 15 to 20 minutes, then rinse with warm water. A little word of advice, do not overdue how often you use masks; once a week is plenty. (Psst – Target sells these nifty cucumber aloe paper facial masks for only $2…you’re welcome!)

Feeling dry and lifeless? A hit of hydration is all your face needs and a simple avocado and a shot of honey will do the trick. Take half an avocado and ¼ cup of honey, mash the avocado into a pulp, pour the honey in, apply to face and let sit for 10 minutes. Rinse face with a cool washcloth.

Is your face saying “I need to look young again!,” then a fine line facial mask is what you’re looking for. Guess what? You can use the other ½ of the avocado for this recipe! Mash up the avocado, mix in one egg yolk and 1 tablespoon honey and apply to face, neck and shoulders. Wait 20 minutes then rinse with warm water.

No ‘zit’ Sherlock – we all hate breakouts and one way to stop disaster is with seaweed and tea tree oil. While Bliss makes this breakout-busting rubberizing mask that lifts out dirt, prevents future breakouts and reduces inflammation for $38, we favor some of the at home recipes listed here. Either way, you’re getting more bang for your buck.

For those of you who have sensitive skin, gentle creams with additional frothing action and the power of green tea can leave your skin moisturized, clear, and clean. Or, you can go the floral route and toss 1 tablespoon honey, 1 teaspoon rose water, 2 drops lavender essential oil, 2-3 inches of a medium cucumber into a blender, apply to face for 15 minutes and rinse with tepid water.

Don’t let this season get the best of your skin, or the best of you! Take notice of what your skin responds to best and stick with it.

Much Love,

Debbie Schade