handing out free 10.00 gift cards....advice?!

[em1521]

I'm going to a open house at my nearby college tomorrow, and id like to print up on a business card, a 10.00 certificate to hand out to the staff and students to use in my salon.

Has anyone done this? any advice? should i include any special instructions or word it a specific way?
i need to print these asap!

i was thinking something similar to my gift certificates, but on a printable business card, with the writing "no cash value" and that it expires the end of next month.

[Jim Fisher]

just be careful. doing that will open up a way for employees to pocket the 10 bucks. they would just wait until a customer came in and let them buy the package at full price but would ring it up with a 10 dollar discount and pocket the money. 10 dollar gc do work. I would mail them to your client base or new customers

[Kathe]

I carry $5 gift cards with me at all times. I leave them as an extra tip for wait staff at restaurants, give them to cashiers in stores, etc. Because they are actual gift cards that are run through my credit card machine I can track them. All of my salon information including address, phone and website are on my gift cards so I don't need anything else with them. It's a great way to get extra people coming into your salon.

If you are doing printed gift certificates then you will need some wording such as: No cash value, etc as you said. I don't put an expiration date on mine but that is my choice. If you want them to use it fast then do as you said, give 30 days. Make sure your signature is on each card/flyer so that no one can duplicate them. They must have your signature. Or assign each one a specific number. That way you can track which ones came back and which ones didn't. That's why I like using my gift cards because I can write down the number in my little pocket notebook and make a note where I gave it out to see what is working the best.

Anytime you can get your name out and trade services used for advertising is the best. I know it's not going to actually cost me anything for my advertising unless they come in and use the card and then they always spend money because my lowest tan is $7.

[northtanman]

i printed up $20 - 20 days of unlimited tanning, upgrades small surchage extra.
easy to spend a $20 bill to try us out...gets this other tanning clients from other salons coming in our door!!
also have my street sign stating the special...

also did a $20 savings card...which was good for $20 off my unlimited month of $49...that worked, but not as good as this 20 days $20 special...

i've seen your idea before...and i kinda think...it just shows someone you might be expensive? when you don't state your intentions...just a $10 gc to get you in... ??