Gift cards
Sell gift cards the right way
Gift cards are the single highest-margin product an independent beauty artist can offer: most never redeem for the full balance, and the gifter pays full price. The mechanism is shipped; this is how to use it well.
Design
Three denominations + custom
Picking dollar amounts is 80% of the gift-card UX. Pattern: one below the service price, one at the service price, one comfortable upcharge: plus a custom-amount field for gifters who want to pick their own.
For a $60 spray tan, ship:
- $40: partial-coverage gift, common entry
- $60: one full service
- $80: service + a tip / upgrade buffer
- Custom: open field for bridal / corporate
Delivery
Email-first, SMS optional
Default: the gifter receives a receipt (their card on file was charged), the recipient receives a branded email with the gift card details + a one-tap link to apply it to a future booking. Optionally a separate SMS to the recipient if the gifter provided their phone.
Operational rules
Expiry, partial, refunds
- No expiry by default. Most US states require 5+ years; CA / MA / NY / NJ all have strict rules. Setting no-expiry sidesteps it.
- Partial redemption. A $100 card on a $60 service leaves $40. Tracked per-card; visible on the recipient’s account portal.
- Refunds at your discretion. Goldenhour doesn’t auto-refund cards. Best practice: refund within 30 days of purchase on request; don’t refund after partial redemption.
Push moments
Four windows that move volume
November 1 - December 24
Holiday gifting peak
Hero CTA on booking page for the entire 8-week window. Bonus card (e.g. spend $100 get $20 bonus card). Last-call SMS to your list on Dec 20 + Dec 23.
Mid-April through Mother's Day
Gift for Mom
3-week run-up. Bundled 'Mom + Daughter spray together' option with the gift-card flow as fallback if recipient lives elsewhere.
Valentine's Day window (Feb 1-14)
Gift for partner
Smaller push than holiday. Couples-spray-tan bundle + a gift card as the fallback when one partner travels.
Bridesmaids gift season (year-round)
Bridal gifts
Higher-denomination gift cards ($100-$200). Pair with /help/bridal-party-booking link in the gift email: gives the recipient an obvious way to use the card.
Setup
- 01Settings → Gift cards → enable. Set the three preset denominations + the no-expiry default.
- 02Customize the recipient email template (Settings → Notifications). The default works, but a short artist- voice line ("Hi from Mia: your gift card is ready") converts the recipient to a real booking faster.
- 03For the holiday push: surface the gift-card flow on your booking-page hero (Settings → Booking page → Sections). Goldenhour ships a gift-card hero block.
- 04Track sold + redeemed in Reports → Gift cards. Healthy ratio: 70-90% eventual redemption, 10-30% unredeemed after a year (those are pure margin).
FAQ
- What denominations should I offer?
- Three preset amounts: one below the service price (covers a partial gift), one matching the service price, and one comfortable upcharge. For a $60 spray tan: $40, $60, $80. Always include a custom-amount field too: bridal-party gifters often pick $200 or $500.
- When do gift cards expire?
- Most US states require gift cards to be valid for at least 5 years (or to not expire at all). Goldenhour defaults to 'never expires' to stay compliant in every jurisdiction; only set an expiry if you've researched your specific state law (CA, MA, NY, NJ all have strict rules).
- Can a customer redeem partial values?
- Yes. A $100 gift card used against a $60 service leaves $40 in remaining balance. Goldenhour tracks per-card balance + applies it automatically on the next checkout. The customer sees their remaining balance on their account portal.
- Are gift cards refundable?
- Goldenhour doesn't process gift-card refunds automatically: they're at your discretion. Best practice: refund unused gift cards within 30 days of purchase if the buyer asks; don't refund cards after partial redemption (or only refund the unused portion).