Christmas Gift Certificate Campaigns
Christmas is the biggest gift certificate sales window of the year for most SMBs. This guide gives you campaign structure, subject lines, social copy, and denomination guidance you
Christmas is the biggest gift certificate sales window of the year for most SMBs. This guide gives you campaign structure, subject lines, social copy, and denomination guidance you can adapt.
Campaign ideas
- Pre-Thanksgiving email teaser
- Black Friday digital-only gift launch
- Small Business Saturday in-store push
- First-week-of-December email gift guide
- Mid-December last-call shipping-deadline email
- Final 72-hour digital-only push
- Christmas Day 'received a gift?' redemption email
Subject lines
- "A gift they'll actually use"
- "Three gift ideas under $100"
- "Last-call: order by [date] for printed delivery"
- "Digital gifts that arrive instantly"
- "Bonus gift for you when you buy theirs"
- "Local gifts that feel personal"
- "Need a gift in the next hour?"
Social post starters
- "Gift ideas don't need to be complicated. A gift certificate from us, a printed card, a wrap. Done."
- "Holiday tip: gift certificates ship faster than you think. We deliver via email instantly or print-and-mail by [date]."
- "Small Business Saturday is this weekend. Pick up a gift certificate from us and support a neighbor."
- "Last-call: digital gift certificates available right up to Christmas Eve."
Recommended denominations
$50$100$150$250Custom
Industry-specific angles
| Industry | Angle |
|---|---|
| Restaurants | Pair gift certificate purchases with a holiday menu preview |
| Salons & Spas | Offer a couple's experience package as a premium gift tier |
| Boutiques | Use a Small Business Saturday email to feature a curated gift edit |
| Fitness | Pre-position January-resolution intro packs as gifts |
Related templates
Related guides
- How to Promote Gift Certificates During the Holidays — Channel-by-channel playbook for the Nov–Jan gifting window — including email, social, in-store, and partnerships.
- Gift Certificate Email Marketing Ideas — Twelve email subject lines, body templates, and timing windows that convert during the gifting season.
Frequently asked questions
When should we start our Christmas campaign?
Most SMBs see the highest conversion when the first email lands 7–10 days before Thanksgiving, with a Small Business Saturday push and three more sends through mid-December.
Should we discount during Christmas?
No. Use a bonus structure instead — 'buy $100, get $20 bonus card for yourself.' This protects margin and gives the buyer a return reason.