In Altegio, gift cards are more than just a gift product. A business gets paid before the visit takes place, loyal clients give gift cards to friends and bring in new people, and sales continue around the clock without any involvement from the administrator. In this article, you’ll find an overview of all the gift card features in Altegio, along with examples of how businesses use them in practice.
Prepaid revenue: Money today, visit later #
A client buys a gift card, and the business receives payment immediately, even if the visit takes place a month later. This is especially valuable during periods of low demand: before holidays, in the off-season, or at the end of the month when the schedule is not fully booked.
For example, in January, a cosmetology studio sells gift cards for treatments ahead of March 8. The revenue comes in early, and bookings for the holiday period are already secured.
New clients through gift cards #
A loyal client buys a gift card as a present for a friend or relative. When the gift card is used, a new person comes to the business — someone who had never interacted with the company before — and may become a regular client. This is an organic way to grow the client base without advertising costs.
This works especially well for beauty salons, barbershops, massage studios, cosmetology clinics, wellness and spa centers, fitness studios, and medical clinics.
Online sales: Gift cards sold 24/7 #
If a gift card is available for online purchase, a client can buy it independently at any time, without administrator involvement and outside the salon’s business hours. The gift card is sent to the client’s email immediately after payment.
This is especially important for spontaneous purchases: late in the evening, on weekends, or at the last moment before a holiday. The business continues making sales even when the team is not working.
Gift cards can be promoted through Instagram, email campaigns, and messengers, with a link leading directly to the payment form.
Types of gift cards for different business models #
A single-use gift card is suitable for a gift visit or a fixed-value amount that is redeemed all at once. For example, a barbershop may sell a gift card for one haircut, while a clinic may offer one consultation.
A multi-use gift card works like a deposit: the client uses the amount in parts across several visits. This is convenient for spa salons and cosmetology businesses, where clients often take treatments as a course.
Flexible restrictions: Gift cards help promote priority services #
A gift card can be configured so that it applies to all services or only certain categories, only in specific locations, or excludes products. This turns the gift card into a tool for promoting a specific business direction.
For example, you can launch a gift card valid only for cosmetology or premium services, directing demand to areas where there are free slots or where the business wants to grow.
Personal and gift gift cards #
A gift card with a code is suitable for presents. It can be used by anyone who knows the code. If one client buys the gift card and another uses it, the system transfers the history to the person who actually used it to pay for the visit.
A gift card without a code is linked to the client’s phone number and cannot be used by another person. It is suitable for personal prepaid products.
Validity period: An incentive to return sooner #
A validity period can be set for gift cards: unlimited, with a fixed expiration date, or with a fixed period from the date of sale. A limited validity period encourages the client not to postpone the visit.
For example, a gift card may be valid for 3 months, which motivates the client to return within that time. The business gets another point of contact sooner instead of waiting for the client to remember to book on their own.
Gift cards increase the average ticket #
A client comes in with a €100 gift card and adds another service or pays extra for a more expensive option. If the gift card value does not cover the full bill, the remaining amount can be paid in cash or by card without losing the sale.
Gift cards for multi-location chain #
Gift cards can be configured centrally: unified types for the whole chain, location selection where the gift card can be used, and sales and redemption control from a single interface.
For chain businesses, this solves several tasks at once. A client can buy a gift card in the most convenient location and use it in any other one. They do not need to think about which location the gift card is tied to. This lowers the barrier to purchase and makes the product more convenient. At the same time, the owner sees the full picture across the chain: where gift cards are sold more actively, where they are used more often, and how many have not yet been activated. This data helps show which locations need stronger promotion and where demand is already secured.
Gift card report: Control of liabilities and growth points #
Every gift card sold but not yet used is a business obligation to the client. The gift card report provides the full picture: how many gift cards have been sold, how many have been used, how many obligations remain on the balance, and in which locations gift cards are sold and redeemed more actively.
This helps businesses make concrete decisions. If gift cards are selling well but are redeemed slowly, it may be worth strengthening communication with clients and encouraging bookings. If sales grow ahead of holidays, marketing campaigns for the next season can be prepared in advance.
How to set up gift cards #
To create gift card types, configure usage rules, online sales, and analytics, use the instructions in the articles in this section:
