Want to boost your meal prep business? Gift cards are your secret weapon. Here's why:
- Instant cash flow: Get paid now for future meals
- Customer magnet: 44% of people try new restaurants with gift cards
- Spending boost: Customers often spend 20% more than the card value
Ready to make gift cards work for you? Here are 10 proven strategies:
- Create holiday offers
- Sell gift cards online
- Pair with meal plans
- Promote on social media
- Add to loyalty programs
- Sell to businesses
- Design custom cards
- Reward referrals
- Suggest during checkout
- Introduce new meals
Why Gift Cards Matter for Meal Prep Businesses
Gift cards are a game-changer for meal prep businesses. Here's the scoop:
They're customer magnets. 44% of folks say a gift card would make them try a new restaurant. That's a lot of potential new faces for your meal prep service.
Sales skyrocket during holidays. We're talking a 114% jump in gift card sales. It's a massive boost when you need it most.
People spend more with gift cards. They're 2.5 times more likely to pay full price. Ka-ching!
Instant cash flow. When someone buys a gift card, you get paid now. It's a lifeline for new or struggling businesses.
The market's booming. In 2023, U.S. gift cards were worth $304.58 billion. By 2031? $787.07 billion. That's 12.6% growth each year.
Create Holiday Gift Card Offers
Gift cards are a holiday goldmine for meal prep businesses. Here's how to cash in:
Boost sales with smart promotions:
- Give a $10 bonus card for every $50 gift card purchase
- Run a Black Friday special: 10% off all gift cards
- Use festive designs to make your cards gift-worthy
Don't wait! 57% of holiday shoppers start by Thanksgiving. Launch your campaign early to grab those eager buyers.
2. Make Gift Cards Easy to Buy Online
In today's digital world, your meal prep business needs online gift cards. Here's how to do it right:
Put "Gift Cards" front and center
Make it impossible to miss. Bueno Malo, a Mexican restaurant in Andover, MA, puts their e-gift card link right in their main menu.
Give customers choices
Offer digital and physical cards, custom amounts, and preset values. Meal Prep Kingz does this well with options from $10 to $500.
3. Offer Gift Cards with Meal Plans
Boost your meal prep gift card sales by pairing them with existing meal plans. Here's how:
1. Create combo deals
Give a discount when customers buy a gift card with a meal plan. Example: $10 off an $85 Chef's Choice plan when bought with a $50 gift card.
2. Highlight flexibility
Show that gift cards work for any meal option. Clean Eatz Kitchen's $55 e-gift cards cover meals, snacks, and desserts.
4. Use Social Media to Promote Gift Cards
Social media is a goldmine for promoting meal prep gift cards. Here's how to do it:
Run Gift Card Giveaways
Host contests to boost engagement. Meals 2 Fit nailed it with this giveaway:
"Win a $25 GIFT CARD to meals2fit.com! To Enter:
- Like Meals 2 Fit and Macaroni Kid Covina
- Comment why you want to win
- Tag a friend and share for an extra entry"
5. Add Gift Cards to Your Loyalty Program
Want to supercharge your meal prep business? Add gift cards to your loyalty program. It's a simple way to boost sales and keep customers coming back.
Here's the game plan:
- Give 1 point per $1 spent. Hit 100 points? Boom! $5 gift card.
- Birthday? $10 gift card. Use it within 30 days.
- New loyalty members get a $5 welcome gift card.
- Big spenders get bigger rewards. Create tiers.
- Run point-boosting events for gift cards.
- Reward referrals with gift cards.
6. Sell Gift Cards to Businesses
Want to boost your meal prep gift card sales? Think big. Sell to businesses.
Companies love gift cards. They're perfect for employee rewards, client appreciation, and wellness programs. Here's how to tap into this market:
Target health-conscious businesses like tech startups and fitness centers. Stress how your gift cards can boost employee productivity and satisfaction.
7. Create Custom Gift Card Designs
Want your gift cards to pop? Here's how to make them irresistible:
- Match the season: Think Christmas red, Valentine's pink, or Mother's Day pastels.
- Stay on brand: Slap your logo and colors on there. It's free advertising!
- Get personal: Let customers add their own message or photo. It's the thought that counts, right?
- Go fancy: Matte laminate or clear PVC? Ooh, fancy.
- Shape it up: Who says gift cards have to be boring rectangles? Try circles or funky shapes that match your brand.
- Bundle it: Pair your gift card with a little something extra.
8. Give Gift Cards for Customer Referrals
Turn your customers into salespeople with gift cards for referrals. It's simple: they bring in new customers, you give them free meals.
Here's the plan:
1. Set up a referral system
Give each customer a unique code to share.
2. Offer tiered rewards
More referrals = bigger gift cards.
3. Make sharing easy
Add a "Refer a Friend" button to your app or website.
9. Suggest Gift Cards During Checkout
The checkout process is your golden opportunity to boost gift card sales. Why? Customers are already in buying mode.
Here's how to do it right:
- Make it visible next to the payment button
- Keep it one-click simple
- Offer a deal (e.g., "Add a $50 gift card, get $5 off")
- Train staff for phone orders
- Use pop-ups for online orders
"We added a gift card suggestion to our checkout process last holiday season. Our gift card sales jumped 35% in just one month." - Mike Chen, CEO of FitMeal Prep
10. Use Gift Cards to Introduce New Meals
Gift cards can boost new menu item sales. Here's how:
1. Themed gift cards
Create cards that showcase new meals. Think "Keto Starter Pack" for a new keto-friendly line.
2. Tasting menu gift cards
Package new dishes into a tasting menu card. Let customers sample multiple new items at once.
3. Bundle new and popular items
Combine new dishes with favorites in a gift card package. It's a win-win.
4. Gift cards as incentives
Offer a small gift card when customers order new items. It drives repeat business and more sampling.
How Eat Fresh Tech Helps with Gift Cards
KitchenFuel, Eat Fresh Tech's platform, makes gift card management a breeze for meal prep businesses. Here's the scoop:
Buy It Quick Customers can grab gift cards in a snap. They pick the amount, pay, and boom - done.
Instant Delivery No waiting around. E-gift cards zip straight to inboxes. Perfect for those "Oh crap, I forgot!" moments.
Use It Easy Redeeming? It's a piece of cake. At checkout or for subscriptions, gift cards work smoothly.
Know Your Numbers KitchenFuel's reports show you what's hot and what's not. Use that info to make your gift card game even stronger.
Plays Nice with Others It fits right in with your current setup. Less headache, fewer mistakes.
Tracking Gift Card Performance
Want to boost your meal prep business's gift card sales? You need to keep tabs on how they're doing. Let's dive into the numbers that matter.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Here are the main KPIs to watch:
- Gift Card Redemption Rate: Cards actually used (Industry Average: 80%)
- Total Revenue from Gift Cards: Money you're making
- Average Purchase Amount: Typical customer spend
- Breakage Rate: Unused card value (Industry Average: 2-4%)
Wrap-up
Gift cards are a game-changer for meal prep businesses. Here's why:
1. Cash now, meals later
You get paid upfront for future meals. It's like a mini-loan from your customers.
2. Customers come back
Gift card holders often become regulars. They're already invested in your business.
3. They spend more
People tend to spend 20% above the card value. It's free money for your business.
4. Steady sales
Gift cards can boost sales during slow periods. They're not just for holidays.
To maximize gift card impact:
- Go digital with e-gift cards
- Make them easy to find on your site and in-store
- Sell to businesses for corporate gifts
- Use sales data to refine your strategy
Ready to start? Here's what to do:
- Pick a gift card system that fits your setup
- Set card amounts
- Make buying easy
- Plan your marketing
- Train your team
With these steps, you're set to grow your meal prep business using gift cards.
FAQs
How do I push gift card sales?
Want to boost your gift card sales? Here's how:
1. Surprise bonuses
Offer a free drink or dessert with gift card purchases. Who doesn't love a surprise?
2. Create combos
Pair gift cards with meals or popular items. It's a win-win: more value for customers, bigger sales for you.
3. Holiday hustle
Nearly half of all gift card sales happen in the last two months of the year. Make the most of it!
4. Checkout charm
Ask customers if they'd like to add a gift card to their order. Simple, but effective.
5. Email magic
Send personalized gift card offers to your email list. Fun fact: 50% of people buy from marketing emails at least once a month.
