Christmas is a time for people to celebrate, exchange gifts, and express their appreciation to their family, friends, and colleagues. Christmas gift certificates are similar to gift cards but typically come in the form of a printed or digital certificate that can be redeemed for a specific product or service. They are often offered by businesses or retailers as a way to provide a specific experience or item as a gift.
Christmas gift certificates can be for various things, such as a spa treatment, a restaurant meal, a concert ticket, a weekend getaway, or a specific item from a store. They allow the recipient to enjoy a pre-selected gift while still having some flexibility within the defined options. Gift certificates are a thoughtful and convenient gift choice during the holiday season, offering the recipient a special experience or purchase they can look forward to.
As a business, since you will need to produce multiple gift certificates, it is wise to use a template to maintain consistency. It can also be personalized to market a business’s brand, promote repeat business, and enhance brand loyalty.
This article explains in detail the basic elements and importance of gift certificates. It also provides Christmas-themed templates that are free to download. These templates can help you easily create certificates that your customers can gift to their loved ones and colleagues.
Christmas Gift Certificate Templates
What is a Christmas Gift Certificate?
A gift certificate is a pre-designed voucher that your customers can purchase and give as a gift to their loved ones for a special occasion, such as Christmas.
It entitles the recipient to specific goods or services from your business worth the monetary value specified. You can give them to your customers as a reward or sell them online or in-store. You can use a Christmas-themed template to make gift certificates that reflect the mood of the holiday season.
Some sections that should appear in your certificates are the business logo, document title, recipient’s name, monetary value of the card, expiration date, and personalized message. They are convenient, flexible, and easy to budget for, as your customers can simply purchase certificates worth the amount they wish to spend on the gift. The recipient then decides when and for what item or service they want to redeem it. They can also be bought at the last minute and are easy to distribute. You can also give these as corporate gifts to your loyal and valuable customers and employees.
Pre-made templates are a quick way of creating professional gift certificates in a short period of time and with less effort. They also guarantee consistency in the information you input in your certificates.
Christmas Gift Certificates Vs. Gift Cards
When deciding how to offer gift options to your customers, you can choose between gift certificates or gift cards. They are both prepaid alternatives that customers can use to give as gifts.
However, they differ in several ways, including the following:
Form
Gift cards are a more modern and trendy approach in comparison to gift certificates. Gift cards are made of plastic and operate more or less similar to credit cards. They are loaded with a certain amount and can be swiped or scanned at the point of sale as customers redeem their gift. On the other hand, gift certificates are paper-based and must be redeemed in person or online. In this aspect, gift cards can be convenient for most customers.
Flexibility
Gift cards offer more flexibility to the recipient, as they can be used to purchase any eligible items or services within the specified monetary value. Recipients can choose what they want based on their personal preferences. Gift certificates, on the other hand, are more specific in nature. They are often tied to a particular product, service, or experience, allowing the recipient to enjoy a predetermined offering.
Redemption
Gift cards can be used to make purchases up to the monetary value loaded onto the card. They can be used at the specific retailer or store indicated on the card, or in some cases, they may be accepted at multiple locations. Gift certificates, on the other hand, are usually redeemable for a specific item, service, or experience, as stated on the certificate itself. They are often issued by a specific business or establishment.
Cost
It is more expensive to produce gift cards than gift certificates due to the cost of manufacturing the plastic cards and programming the magnetic stripe or barcode. On the other hand, to make certificates, you need a well-designed template, a printer, and printing paper to produce them for customers.
Did you know? According to a 2020 National Retail Federation survey, gift certificates and cards have been the most popular holiday gift options for 14 years in a row (requested by 59% of consumers). The survey also found that consumers plan on spending an average of $163.16 on gift cards and certificates during the holidays, indicating the popularity and significance of these gifting options.
What Should You Include on a Gift Certificate Template?
A template is a tool that enables you to create vouchers that your customers can gift to their loved ones as a way to express their appreciation. It is predesigned with all the basic elements, such as the recipient’s name, the dollar value of the gift, and the issuer’s details, to show how a certificate should be formatted and structured.
Templates are available in a variety of formats, including PDF, Word documents, and other design file formats, allowing for customization to include various designs and themes. Additionally, they are reusable, thus saving you time and effort in making certificates suited for different occasions such as birthdays, Christmas, graduations, or anniversaries.
If you intend to create a template, below are the different sections you could include in it:
A logo
Your template should have space to add the company logo. A business logo is a unique symbol that serves to identify your business. The logo is meant to establish the certificate’s credibility and serves as a free marketing tool as different people interact with your certificates.
Title of the gift certificate
It must be clear what the voucher is—a gift certificate. The title helps to clearly identify the purpose of the certificate and adds a professional touch to the design. Consider using a title such as “Christmas Gift Certificate,” “Holiday Gift Voucher,” or “Season’s Greetings Gift Card.” The title should be prominent and easily readable so that recipients immediately understand the purpose of the certificate.
A slogan that supports the title
The template should also have a slogan providing further information to create interest.
Examples of such slogans are:
-Happy Holidays
-Merry Christmas
-The Perfect Gift Made with Love
-A gift for you
-A special gift for a special person
-It’s Christmas, happy holidays
Name of the recipient
The recipient should be named on the voucher to make the gift more personal. Your template must therefore have a place to allow the addition of the recipient’s name.
It can indicate:
“To: [Recipient’s Name]”.
Value of the certificate
Include sections to specify the details of the gift, such as the value or description of the gift, the name of the business or establishment, and any restrictions or terms and conditions. Therefore, a column to enter the present dollar value needs to be included in the template.
For example:
It can state “Dinner for two at Sherry’s restaurant” or “$100 store credit.”
Provide a brief description of the gift or the services/products it can be redeemed for. For example, if it is a restaurant gift certificate, mention the type of cuisine or dining experience offered.
It can be written, for example, as:
“Enjoy an exquisite three-course dinner for two at [Business Name], featuring a variety of culinary delights.”
Personal message
A personal message lets the customer send a specific note to their loved ones. Customers will be giving gifts to a variety of recipients, including clients, parents, kids, cousins, friends, and coworkers, and they will want to say something to show their appreciation.
An example of such a message is:
“To the greatest mom in the universe” or “Thank you for being the best sister/brother I could ask for.”
Therefore, you should create a template that provides enough space for such personalized messages.
Expiration date, if any
If you want the gift to have a validity period, you can include an expiration date. This lets customers plan when they can redeem the gift. The date should be clearly indicated and in a professional format – DD/MM/YYYY.
Terms and conditions
The term and conditions of use of the certificate can vary from business to business. Therefore, it is important to include a section in the template where you can clearly specify such details. It helps clarify if the certificates for Christmas gifts will be redeemed in-store, online, or both. For example, if the certificate cannot be combined with other offers or is non-transferable, state that information here.
Design elements
You can customize your template to produce elegant certificates that are appealing. You can use images and graphics that symbolize Christmas or the festive season. Use festive colors, such as red, green, gold, or silver, throughout the template. Consider incorporating Christmas-themed patterns, borders, or graphics to enhance the festive feel, such as Christmas trees, mistletoe, snowflakes, wrapped present symbols, and holly. Personalization increases the appeal of your certificates.
Tip: Ensure to download and use high-quality images and graphics in your gift certificates to add to the professional look.
Contact details
The template must include a space to add your business’s contact information that customers can use to inquire about the gift packages or any other follow-ups. You can include columns to add your telephone number, address, city, state, zip code, and email address.
Tip: You can easily customize and download our free printable templates for gift certificates. They are easy to use and can save you time and effort.
Benefits of Making Christmas-Themed Gift Certificates for Your Business
Offering your customers gift certificates can benefit your business in numerous ways. You can use them as tools to appreciate your customers and grow your business.
Below are four benefits of making Christmas-themed gift certificates:
Attract new customers
Gift certificates can be used to advertise your company to potential customers since they are frequently redeemable at the particular establishment issuing them. Your existing customers buy them as gifts for their loved ones, and the recipient learns about your business. This can encourage them to shop at your business as they redeem their presents.
Increase sales
In most cases, recipients spend more than the value of the gift vouchers when they use them in your shop. This boosts the business’s sales. By offering Christmas-themed certificates, you encourage gift-givers to choose your business as their preferred gifting option. This can also lead to increased sales and customer engagement as recipients visit your establishment or website to redeem their certificates.
Brand awareness
Including your business logo and branding on the gift certificates can help reinforce your brand identity. This may help your company become more well-known and may eventually attract new clients.
Personalization
Offering customizable gift certificates that allow customers to add personal elements, such as a message or a recipient’s name, can create a more personalized and thoughtful gift. This can lead to a positive association with your business and encourage future purchases.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should be the standard size of a gift certificate?
The standard size of a gift certificate is 8.5 inches by 11 inches. But it may differ depending on the type of paper you will use to print the certificates. You can also consider other standard sizes, such as 8.5 inches by 4 inches or 6 inches by 4 inches, depending on the layout and design of your gift certificate. Ultimately, choose a size that allows for easy printing, readability of the information, and a visually appealing presentation.
Can gift certificates be sold year-round or only during the holiday season?
You can offer the certificates throughout the year. This may be beneficial because it provides your customers with a convenient and flexible option for gift-giving. Instead of relying solely on holiday sales, selling gift certificates can be a consistent source of revenue for your business all year.
How can I measure the success and ROI of my Christmas gift certificate program?
To measure the success and ROI (return on investment) of your Christmas gift certificate program, you can track the number of certificates sold, the redemption rate, and the average purchase amount of customers who redeem the certificates. You can also calculate the ROI by comparing the revenue generated by the program to the cost of producing and distributing the certificates. Positive feedback and high customer satisfaction indicate the program’s success. This can be done through surveys, online reviews, or direct communication.