Have you ever looked at the family’s wishlist to get an idea of what to buy for a certain person only to find it empty? I experienced that last year with our Secret Santa tradition, and it stressed me so much.
Fortunately, though, I was able to find a gift voucher for the café my recipient loves. You see, when you don’t know what to get, a gift voucher is the safest option.
Unlock the potential of gift vouchers as a thoughtful and personalized gift option with this guide! We’ll help you choose the best type of voucher, give you ideas on how to wrap them, and how to deliver them.
What is a gift voucher and how does it work?
A gift voucher, also known as a gift card or gift certificate, is a prepaid card or certificate that can be used as a form of payment for goods or services at a specific store.
You typically buy the voucher from the store. It either has a predetermined value or it allows you to put in as much money as you want, then deliver it to the giftee.
Gift vouchers usually have specific terms and conditions that must be followed for the holder to redeem their value. Some terms include expiry dates, purchase limitations, and redemption process.
How to Gift a Gift Voucher
STEP 1: Choose the right gift voucher
These are a few of the factors that you should consider when choosing a gift voucher to make sure that you’ll make the recipient happy with their gift.
1. Type
Start by listing the giftee’s favorite stores, clothes, things, restaurants, and hobbies. Choosing the right voucher will be a lot easier with this list.
Here are some of the most common types of gift vouchers available in the market right now:
- Retail Gift Vouchers – These vouchers are specific to a particular retail store or brand.
- Restaurant or Café Gift Vouchers – These are great for foodies.
- Clothing Gift Vouchers – If the recipient is a big fashionista, these gift vouchers are your best bet. These vouchers allow the giftee to choose the clothes that match their personal style and size, so you don’t have to go through the stress of finding one yourself.
- Beauty Gift Vouchers – These are for beauty and cosmetic products. They’re perfect for individuals who enjoy skincare, makeup, haircare, or spa experiences.
- Travel Gift Vouchers – These can be used to book flights, hotels, vacation packages, or pay for other travel-related expenses. They’re perfect for friends or family members who are planning a trip.
- Entertainment Gift Vouchers – These types of vouchers allow the holder to indulge in their hobbies and interests, may it be books, movies, music, or workouts. These include subscription to streaming platforms, like Netflix or Spotify, or gyms.
2. Balance – Consider if the giftee can buy a good amount of stuff from the store without going over your budget. Gifting someone a voucher with a $100 balance for a store whose products are sold for $150 and up may not be the best idea.
3. Expiry date – Ideally, choose a voucher with an expiry date far from the date of receipt, preferably those longer than three years, to give the giftee ample time to use it.
4. Number of transactions – Choose a voucher that allows multiple transactions, especially if it has a high value, as a single transaction policy may force the giftee to not fully maximize the voucher’s benefits.
STEP 2: Write a card
Writing a card is not really required, but it would be a nice gesture to do so. Just like any other gifts, you would want the giftee to know that you appreciate them, so a note attached to your gift would help send the message better.
Gift vouchers can also appear insincere to some people because they may see it as not putting enough effort into choosing a gift and just handing them money. A note can help avoid this from happening.
Aside from personal feelings, you should also provide instructions regarding the voucher on your note. Information about its value, the number of transactions it can do, its expiry date, and any other important terms that they need to know.
STEP 3: Wrap the gift voucher
Wrapping a gift voucher can add an element of surprise, excitement, and personal touch to the presentation, so we highly suggest taking time to wrap one.
Unwrapping a gift voucher can also make the gift-giving experience feel more special and celebratory for the receiver. The recipient won’t immediately know the content of the gift, creating a sense of intrigue before the big reveal.
Here are some of the creative ways you can wrap a gift voucher:
Option 1: Place it inside a jar, canister, or mug filled with candies
Putting the gift voucher inside a jar filled with candies allows you to surprise the recipient twice. Upon opening the gift, they might think that their favorite candies are the highlight of the gift, only to find out there’s an even bigger gift hidden inside.
You can design the jar or canister with whatever design material you have to make it unique, or head over to the nearest local store and grab a cute mug.
Option 2: Make a small purse
Creating a bag or holder for the gift voucher allows you to add a personal touch to it and makes it convenient for the giftee to carry the voucher around. This also helps prevent possible damage to the voucher.
You can use some of your old clothes and turn them into a cute little bag. If you have some leather, you can also try using them to make the bag more durable.
Another idea is crocheting a small bag if you know how to. You can design the bag to match the occasion or the overall style of the giftee.
Option 3: DIY a cute envelope
Instead of simply handing over a plain envelope, add an element of surprise by creating a DIY envelope. Use colorful or patterned paper to craft a custom envelope, and decorate it with stickers, washi tape, or hand-drawn designs.
You can also use cardstock to create a custom holder with pockets for the voucher, then design it with some charms or paint it how you want.
If the recipient has a favorite character or celebrity, you can decorate the envelope in a way that would remind them of their favorites.
Option 4: Use gift boxes
Putting a gift inside a box is one of the classic ways to present a gift. You can never go wrong with a box and ribbon, so this can be a great choice if you don’t have much time to wrap the present.
However, if you’re not that busy and want to make the gift more fun, there are a number of ways you can elevate the classic box and ribbon combo.
One of the most trendy gift-wrapping methods now is using nested boxes. To do this, you’ll place the voucher in a small box, then place the box inside a bigger box, and so on.
You can use as many boxes as you want. The more boxes you use, the more fun and exciting it can be for the giftee.
Another way is by wrapping the box with a scarf. This makes the gift look more elegant, and it’s probably the best idea if the recipient is a big fashionista.
Some stores also sell puzzle or maze boxes where the giftee needs to complete the puzzle first before they can open the box.
STEP 4: Deliver the gift voucher
The way a voucher will be delivered depends on its type and the retailer’s policies. Physical gift vouchers can be sent personally or through a courier, while digital vouchers can be sent through email or other messaging apps.
Some stores may also have specific policies when it comes to sending gift vouchers, especially digital gift vouchers.
If there aren’t any restricting policies from the retailer and the delivery option is solely based on your discretion, the preferences and convenience of the recipient should be your top priority.
