11.11.26
|Reading time:
4 min
Christmas is around the corner: are your vouchers ready?
Christmas is just around the corner and offers foodservice businesses an attractive opportunity to capture additional sales with vouchers. But how easily can guests already buy a voucher from you today?
Whether for a shared dinner, a relaxed brunch or a special moment of indulgence: vouchers are personal gifts that can also bring new guests to your business.
What matters is that your offer becomes visible now and that buying it is as simple as possible. We show you how a few targeted measures can help you get more out of the Christmas business.
Turn a voucher into a gift idea
A shared dinner, a breakfast at the hotel or an leisurely coffee break: with a voucher you can give enjoyment and time together. Pastries from the bakery or a meal from the takeaway can also be a personal gift idea.
That is why, alongside the voucher value, you should show what your business stands for. A suitable photo and a concrete line such as «Give a cosy evening for two» make the offer tangible. This helps gift-givers picture who they would be delighting.
A voucher can also reach people who do not yet know your business. Guests who enjoy dining with you also pass on a personal recommendation with the gift.
Selling vouchers in foodservice: make your offer visible
A voucher offer should appear wherever guests are already in contact with your business. Make targeted use of your existing channels and ensure a consistent visual style and clear messages. That way guests recognise your offer, whether they discover it online or in person.
These four channels are particularly well suited to making your Christmas vouchers visible:
On the website
Place «Buy vouchers» prominently on the homepage or in the navigation. The link should lead directly to the offer.
On social media
Show the experience behind the gift, such as a set table or your breakfast offering. Add a clear note on where the voucher can be obtained.
In the newsletter
Give the Christmas offer its own clear section with an image, a short description and direct access to purchase.
In your business
Draw attention to vouchers at the till, counter or reception. A visible voucher display shows guests what they can give as a gift.
Shorten the path from interest to purchase
Some people want to hand over a beautifully wrapped card in person. Others look for a digital gift they can buy without visiting your business. Digital and physical vouchers therefore complement each other well. A design featuring your logo and your colours gives them a suitable look.
Modern voucher systems offer additional ways to make buying for your guests as simple and appealing as possible. Which features are available depends on the specific voucher solution and how it is set up. Check availability before you announce a feature in your Christmas communications.
These four options can further support voucher sales:
Purchase without a customer account
Guest checkout saves customers from having to register. The details required for ordering and payment remain mandatory.
Direct purchase links and QR codes
A QR code on a table tent or a printed menu can lead guests directly to the voucher purchase page. Interested guests reach the offer with their smartphone.
Vouchers in the digital wallet
Where supported, the voucher can be saved to Apple Wallet or Google Wallet. Recipients then have it ready on their smartphone for their visit.
Voucher bonuses
For selected purchase amounts, additional credit can serve as a purchase incentive. Factor the extra voucher value into your calculations and describe the conditions clearly.
Vouchers and POS system: managing them can be this simple
With vend.AI Vouchers you can sell digital and physical vouchers in your own design online and at the till. Through the connection with the Lightspeed POS system, your team can scan and redeem vouchers and top up cards set up for this purpose. Sales and redemptions can be viewed in real time.
Before launch, make a test purchase on a smartphone. Does the voucher arrive as intended? Can it be redeemed at the till? Your team should also know how to handle partial amounts, remaining balances and voucher questions. Note the most important answers briefly and appoint a contact person for follow-up questions.
If you plan to introduce a new voucher system, also consider the time needed for setup and training. This allows you to plan the launch realistically.
Christmas is coming sooner than you think. Are you ready?
Every guest who can't find your voucher or can only buy it with difficulty is a missed sales opportunity. Make it easy for your guests to give the gift of enjoyment, and make sure your business is present under the Christmas tree too.
With vend.AI vouchers and support from Vendomat, you lay the foundation for simple voucher sales, online and directly in your business.
Make the most of the weeks until Christmas! Discover which options suit your business, and get your voucher offer ready in good time.