Increase gift card sales with five proven marketing strategies to grow revenue year round and turn first time visitors into returning guests.
Gift cards have become much more than a last minute holiday purchase. Today, they're one of the easiest ways for Family Entertainment Centers (FECs) to generate revenue, attract new guests, and encourage repeat visits throughout the year.
Whether someone is shopping for a birthday, graduation, teacher appreciation gift, holiday present, or simply wants to share a memorable experience, gift cards make it easy to give the gift of fun.
According to the National Retail Federation, gift cards continue to rank among the most requested gifts year after year, while digital gift cards remain one of the fastest growing categories in retail. Consumers value convenience, flexibility, and experiences. That's exactly what your facility offers.
If your gift card strategy only gets attention during the holidays, you're leaving revenue on the table.
Here are five proven strategies to help you sell gift cards online, increase conversions, and create year round revenue for your business.
Why Gift Cards Matter More Than Ever
Gift cards aren't just another product, they're a marketing tool.
Every gift card sold brings cash into your business today while introducing future guests to your attractions tomorrow. Even better, gift card recipients often spend more than the value of the card during their visit, creating additional revenue opportunities through food, beverages, arcade games, attractions, memberships, or birthday party bookings.
Research from Blackhawk Network consistently shows consumers increasingly prefer gifting experiences over physical products, particularly among younger generations who value creating memories with family and friends.
For Family Entertainment Centers, that's a major opportunity.
The biggest mistake many operators make is trying to market gift cards to everyone. Instead, focus on the customers who are already looking for gift ideas.
Examples include:
Each audience has different motivations. Instead of advertising "Buy a $50 Gift Card," focus on the experience they'll be giving.
For example: "Give a day of laser tag, bowling, arcade games, and unforgettable family memories."
That message is far more compelling than simply promoting the dollar amount. Use audience specific campaigns on email marketing and digital advertising like Facebook, Instagram, and Google Ads to speak directly to each customer segment.
People aren't buying plastic cards.
They're buying birthdays.
They're buying family time.
They're buying excitement.
They're buying memories.
Consumers place greater long term value on experiences than material possessions. Experiences create stronger emotional connections, making them more meaningful gifts for nearly every occasion.
When promoting your gift cards, showcase what guests can enjoy:
Use high quality photography and videos featuring real guests having fun. The more potential buyers can picture themselves or someone they love enjoying your facility, the easier it becomes to justify the purchase.
Instead of saying:
Buy a Gift Card Today
Try:
Give the Gift of Family Fun.
or
Create Memories They'll Never Forget.
Every extra click during checkout increases the chance someone abandons their purchase. If customers have to hunt through your website just to find gift cards, you'll lose sales.
Your online purchasing experience should be:
Display gift card buttons prominently on your:
Digital gift cards are especially important because customers increasingly expect instant delivery. Someone shopping at 10 PM should be able to purchase a gift card immediately without waiting for your business to open.
With Party Center Software's PC Pay Gift Cards, operators can offer both physical and digital gift cards directly through their website, giving customers the convenience they expect while generating revenue 24/7.
Many businesses only advertise gift cards during November and December. That's a missed opportunity.
Gift cards perform well throughout the year because people celebrate countless occasions beyond the holidays. Consider promoting gift cards for:
Birthdays: Perfect for parents, relatives, and friends.
Mother's Day & Father's Day: Family experiences often make more memorable gifts than traditional presents.
Teacher Appreciation Week: Reward educators with a fun family outing.
Graduations: Celebrate milestones with an experience everyone can enjoy.
Summer Break: Give kids something exciting to look forward to.
Corporate Incentives: Businesses frequently purchase gift cards as employee rewards or customer appreciation gifts.
Use multiple marketing channels together:
The more consistent guests see gift cards promoted, the more likely they'll remember them when a special occasion comes around.
Sometimes customers simply need a reason to buy now instead of later. Limited time promotions create urgency while increasing perceived value.
Ideas include:
Just remember: Keep promotions simple.
Customers should immediately understand the offer without reading fine print.
A successful gift card program is built on more than great promotions, it requires understanding what's driving your sales.
With Party Center Software, you can use the Orders by Product report and filter by your gift card products or categories to see how your gift cards are performing over any date range. This makes it easy to identify trends, evaluate promotions, and make informed marketing decisions.
As you review your reports, pay attention to:
Reviewing this data regularly can help you refine your marketing strategy, plan future promotions with confidence, and maximize revenue throughout the year.
Gift cards are one of the simplest ways to generate immediate revenue while bringing new guests through your doors.
By targeting the right audiences, promoting experiences instead of products, simplifying online purchasing, marketing year round, and using strategic promotions, your Family Entertainment Center can build a gift card program that drives long term growth, not just seasonal sales.
Small improvements to your marketing strategy today can lead to more bookings, higher guest spending, and repeat visits throughout the year.
Leave a comment below if you liked this article & video. We'd love to hear your thoughts!
The PC Pay Gift Card Program helps Family Entertainment Centers and Event Venues encourage repeat business and grow sales.
Want to learn more about our Essential Gift + Digital Gift packages? Click here to schedule a demo today!
Learn how to transform gift cards into powerful branding tools for your Family Entertainment Center and enhance customer loyalty and revenue.
Turn gift card sales into January revenue! Discover simple PCS strategies to boost party bookings and drive repeat visits this winter.
In our latest Instagram Reel, we introduce PC Pay Gift Cards and why you should sign up!