Tell Me What You Think About Gift Certificates?
Business By countrysidecakes Updated 15 Oct 2006 , 6:43am by ozcake
Ok, I was thinking about offering gift certificates for sale on my website, what do you all think about it. Sounds like a good idea, but I have never worked with gift certificates before.
That sounds great! That way, if someone wanted a cake for themselves.. BUT didnt want to pay for it, they can take their certificate and have a cake designed just the way they wanted it without asking for it or paying for it!! I think thats a neat idea!
I think that is a fantabulous idea! Might have to steal that one for some locals - what a nice gift! Melissa
It helps to be very specific about what you will provide. There are people think they can get a wedding cake for $50. It might help to limit the cake to a particular size, and limit the number of flavors and fillings. Many states will not enforce expiration dates on certificates. definitely have a pre-order time frame and 'subject to availability' statement.
Another option is to include a sample price list along with the certificate, with a note 'subject to changes' so the buyer knows what that money can buy.
that's a good point. Either that or say, one 8" two layer cake with X decor, or something more descriptive to keep you working in the black! LOL
Melissa
Also have something on there about "not redeemable for cash" and no change from the voucher otherwise you could have people wanting to order one cupcake with a $50 voucher so they can get change. We have had that problem at our restaurant (but I only want a salad can you just give me change for the difference 
).
I agree with other posters and think that having a dollar amount is better than 1 x size cake or something that way if your prices go up before they redeem the voucher they will have to pay the extra rather than you absorbing the cost if you find customers don't want the receiver to know the amount spent then I would be very specific about the level of decoration/detail that would be included so that don't think they can get 100 hand-moulded roses cascading down the side of their b'day cake.
The other thing I wish I had done when I started doing vouchers is put a serial number on them and have a master list of serial numbers and the amounts and expiry dates so I knew exactly what was floating around out there and what had been redemeed and what hadn't.
Good Luck 
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