Unlike the distribution of cultural products, electronics, fashion or home decoration, gift cards in the restaurant sector are still not very common.
Beneficial for the purchaser, a source of pleasure for the recipient and advantageous for restaurateurs, gift vouchers are guaranteed to be a hit. Why not take the plunge?
Given the many advantages it has to offer, this solution is sure to win you over!
What are restaurant gift cards?
A gift card, gift voucher or gift certificate is simply a means of payment purchased by one individual for another. It can be used within the establishment itself.
Most of the time, the amount of the card is fixed, but some restaurants let customers decide how much they want to offer.
Gift vouchers are available in paper or dematerialized format. They are part of the digitization trend that has swept through the catering sector in recent years.
One gift card, three winners
A restaurant gift card is a winning bet for all three parties involved in the transaction: the buyer, the recipient and the restaurateur.
For the buyer
There are times when you have to give a present to someone you know little or nothing about. A first birthday spent with in-laws, a Secret Santa among colleagues, a formal thank-you, etc. Have you ever found yourself in one of these situations? By offering a gift card, you'll be coming to the aid of anyonein need of inspiration.
Giving the gift of a meal in a restaurant means hitting the bull's-eye and taking 0 risks. A culinary experience and a convivial moment - that's the promise of a gift voucher. Regardless of age, hobbies or socio-professional category, it's bound to please. It also avoids the need for exchanges and returns.
And for the more skeptical, those for whom such a gift lacks personality? On the contrary! It's a wonderful opportunity to introduce your friends and family to a place you love , and to strengthen bonds by creating common ground. It's an opportunity to talk about the experience they've just had. It's entirely possible to share this moment with the person receiving the voucher, or to let them go alone or with the person of their choice.
The final advantage of a gift voucher for the buyer is that it's extremely easy to obtain. There's no need to store around or surf the web for hours in search of the perfect gift. All you have to do is go directly to the restaurant or order it online, and hand it over in paper or electronic form to the person of your choice.
The recipient
The gift of a meal in the form of a gift voucher is the assurance of discovering a new restaurant and enjoying a culinary experience with the purchaser, alone or with any other person with whom you decide to share the moment.
Of course, you don't control the choice of restaurant (gastronomic, Michelin-starred, traditional), but you do select the starters, main courses and desserts to suit your tastes.
The gift card also has an important practical aspect, as its holder can use it whenever he or she likes, within the validity period. Menu composition, date, company - only the price is fixed, the rest is totally flexible.
People who advocate sobriety or who are taking steps to reduce their consumption will be all the more touched by such a gift. An intangible gift will have just as much impact as a tangible one, the more in tune it will be with their commitments.
If a gift card is easy to buy, it's also easy to use for the recipient. All they have to do is go to the restaurant in question and present their paper or dematerialized gift voucher. What a pleasant experience to go through the checkout without any impact on your wallet or bank account!
The restaurateur
Restaurant owners, like you, also have everything to gain from setting up a gift card in their establishment. Increased sales, a regular source of income, new customers, and more. It's such a win-win situation that it's worth going into more detail here. Let's get down to business!
5 advantages of gift cards in the restaurant business
Discover the 5 benefits of gift cards for restaurateurs.
1. Gift vouchers to attract new customers
Setting up a gift card system will enable you to welcome new customers to your establishment. So many customers that you'll be able to attract on their first visit, and then convert into frequent customers. Who knows, maybe they'll in turn introduce their friends and family to your restaurant in the form of a gift voucher or through word-of-mouth.
👉 To find out more: How can you cope with a drop in restaurant traffic?
2. Gift vouchers to boost your sales
Attracting new customers is bound to have an impact on your sales. These additional sales, which you weren't counting on before, will boost your revenues.
Gift vouchers also mean savings in terms of marketing and communication. You'll spend far less than you would normally to promote yourself to these new customers and get them in the door. It's they who do the work for you, acting as spokespeople for your brand.
Bear in mind, too, that these customers will tend to spend a little more. The glass of wine that wasn't included in the formula, the coffee at the end of the meal, etc. As most of the meal has already been paid for, this new clientele is often based on the logic that "I won't have to pay for anything at the end of the meal, so I can indulge in something I wouldn't normally. At the end of the day, the average bill is therefore higher!
3. Gift cards to diversify your income
Takeaway sales, click&collect, delivery, loyalty cards or subscriptions, cooking classes, reception and event organization - it's important to diversify your income. Selling gift cards is part of the same logic. It ensures stable, regular income and boosts your cash flow, all with a minimum of effort.
👉 To go further: customer loyalty: 6 ideas for your restaurant
4. A solution that takes care of your reputation
As mentioned at the beginning of this article, the sale of gift cards is not yet a widespread practice in the catering industry. Highly appreciated in the retail sector, there's no doubt that it will also prove its worth in your establishment.
By offering this solution now, you'll stand out from the competition as a visionary and innovative company, in tune with the dematerialization of our time.
5. A system that's easy to set up
Increasing sales, securing regular income, boosting cash flow - yes, but at what price? Whether in terms of time, money or effort, the right gift is very easy to set up.
Here's an overview of the various stages involved in setting up such a system:
- offer definition (amount, validity period, redeemable, refundable or not, etc.),
- staff training in gift card sales and management,
- creation of a separate online sales site or one integrated with your website (often complementary to direct sales),
- integration of the online platform with your POS systems,
- choice of card design, production, shipping and follow-up until delivery.
If you're a restaurant owner, gift cards are an excellent marketing strategy. They help attract new customers and retain existing ones. What's more, they promote the restaurant's visibility as a gift, which can encourage recipients to discover it and become regular customers in the future.
Don't wait any longer and set up gift cards to help people discover your restaurant!
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Would you like to increase or diversify your income? Contact an Innovorder expert for personalized advice.
