Gift cards make an ideal addition to a birthday surprise as they continue to delight and surprise even after their special day has come and gone. Subscription box gift cards also make thoughtful additions that require no extra wrapping!
Support an outdoor enthusiast on your list with upgraded gear by giving them a Backcountry gift card good toward a crossover tent, sleeping bag, or hiking boots.
1. Retail Store Gift Cards
Gift cards provide flexibility and convenience for both givers and recipients. From Walmart or Best Buy cards to local stores like Pottery Barn or Better Homes & Gardens, your recipient can use the card however they see fit – from shopping online or visiting brick-and-mortar locations like Pottery Barn.
Sugarwish cards give foodies an easy way to select their ideal cookie, candy bar, cocktail mixer or even hot cocoa from a carefully curated selection. Barnes & Noble cards allow booklovers to expand their home library with both recent releases and classic titles alike.
Promote your retail gift card program via your website and social media channels to raise awareness, and organize special redemption days during slow periods like January and February.
2. Dining and Restaurant Gift Cards
Gift cards for restaurants are an effective way to increase sales and draw in new customers, not to mention providing an excellent return on investment for them. Gift card recipients tend to spend more than the value of their card, leading to larger checks and increased restaurant revenue.
Physical restaurant gift cards are an easy and practical holiday present that are quick to wrap. Digital restaurant gift cards, also known as e-gift cards, make buying them and managing them with an advanced point-of-sale system easier for guests.
Promoting your unique gift card offerings through eye-catching marketing campaigns will draw potential gift card recipients in and encourage repeat business. Doing this can create emotional connections with your brand that keep people coming back for more!
3. Entertainment Gift Cards
Your loved one might be into music, gaming, foodie or movie entertainment – these gift cards will let them enhance their entertainment to take it to a whole new level! Great for birthdays, holidays or just because days!
Gift them the gift of music with a Spotify gift card! This unlimited streaming subscription provides them with access to new songs, classic hits and up-and-coming artists alike – not to mention accessing tons of podcasts, true crime programs and audio content! For gamers interested in building their library further, Xbox gift cards allow for new titles and downloadable content!
4. Beauty and Self-Care Gift Cards
Gift cards can be an invaluable asset to beauty salons looking to expand their clientele and build customer loyalty. By giving customers instantaneous tokens they can use towards services, gift cards can bring immediate funds in which salons can use to ensure steady revenue flows as well as upgrade equipment.
Give the perfect present – give a gift card from Lovely Essentials so that they can stock up on handmade bath and body products ranging from three-wick candles to super soft silk sleep masks from Crane & Canopy or pillowcase sets from Crane & Canopy! Or let them visit Ulta Beauty as one-stop skincare and makeup shopping solution offering innovative colors outside comfort zones, or the chance to restock on holy grail items they may be missing out on.
5. Travel and Adventure Gift Cards
Give a gift that will spark their wanderlust and encourage them to embark on incredible journeys – from airline gift cards and hotel and resort vouchers, there are various options sure to fulfill their dreams of travel!
Gifting someone who appreciates nature a national park pass gift card is the ideal present, providing access to some of the country’s most stunning national parks and helping them experience them from a whole new angle.
Give your favorite adventurer an experience they won’t soon forget with a scuba diving or ski resort gift card that provides access to world-class slopes and breathtaking mountain vistas – something they won’t soon forget! Experience gifts will provide memories they’ll treasure throughout their lives.
6. Hobbies and Interests Gift Cards
As part of an “experience gift”, hobby-specific presents make an excellent way to give a special birthday present. Attending their favorite band’s show or sporting event would surely delight a passionate fan, while membership or season passes to local museums are also suitable gifts in this category.
Make it truly personal by handcrafting something completely handmade: sew or knit a fabric pouch to store the card, an ideal afternoon project for beginning knitters. Or fold it into an origami animal or other unique sculpture – adding that personal touch that will last long after spending.
7. Tech and Gaming Gift Cards
Gaming gift cards can be the ultimate companion for gamers, enabling them to purchase games and in-game content without using credit. Gaming gift cards also serve as an effective way of surprising fellow gamers and encouraging them to spend more time gaming!
Gaming gift cards continue to gain in popularity among younger generations thanks to eSports competitions and influencer marketing, with young gamers particularly fond of redeeming them across various platforms and ecosystems.
Steam’s gift card platform is one of the easiest and most user-friendly solutions for gamers, enabling them to purchase games at any denomination – ideal for an increasingly digital culture that prefers digital transactions over physical.
8. Subscription Box Gift Cards
Subscription gifts make an excellent present that strikes a balance between thoughtful and fun, offering something they will enjoy but may not treat themselves to. Many subscription gifts can even be tailored specifically to their passions!
Bookworms will appreciate an e-card for subscriptions like iSubscribe and Goldbelly magazines; while meat lovers might appreciate Porter Road’s subscription service that brings humanely raised and ethically sourced beef, pork, chicken or seafood straight to their door.
Techies may appreciate a gift card to Breo Box which offers four to eight of the latest gadgets and gizmos with each shipment, while history buffs might prefer MightyNest which delivers historical documents monthly.
Why Gift Cards Make Great Add-ons
Gift cards might seem like simple presents at first glance, but they offer so much more than convenience. Here are a few reasons why they make excellent birthday add-ons:
- Flexibility: The recipient gets to choose exactly what they want, ensuring they’ll love their gift.
- Personalization: When chosen thoughtfully, gift cards can reflect the recipient’s tastes and interests.
- Ease of Pairing: They’re easy to combine with small physical gifts for a complete package.
- No Expiration Pressure: Most gift cards have long validity periods, allowing the recipient to use them whenever they like.
Tips for Presenting Gift Cards
To make your gift card feel extra special, consider these creative presentation ideas:
- Get Crafty: Place the card in a handmade envelope or attach it to a DIY birthday card.
- Add Layers: Wrap the gift card in multiple layers of wrapping paper for an element of surprise.
- Bundle It Up: Combine it with themed items (like snacks for a movie night) in a small gift basket.
- Include a Personal Note: Write a heartfelt message explaining why you chose that particular card.