Gift voucher - how long should i give clients ?

[beauty8984]

Hi everyone,

I have just sent out emails to school, nurseries and care homes offering gift vouchers -- if people want these vouchers for a raffle how long should you give clients to use the voucher ?

hope this makes sense! Thanks xx

 

[bourbonsbabe]

All my gift vouchers have a 6 month lifespan in which clients can use them. This along with the relevant expiry date is printed on each voucher.

 

[Martigirl]

Hi everyone,

I have just sent out emails to school, nurseries and care homes offering gift vouchers -- if people want these vouchers for a raffle how long should you give clients to use the voucher ?

hope this makes sense! Thanks xx

If you are offering them to groups free to drive business through your door then I would advise a short expiry date 6 weeks maximum!

My purchased gift vouchers have a 6 month expiry time.

I would caution though that I have found anything that I have offered free is perceived as very low value to potential clients.

Good luck xxx

 

[beauty8984]

ok. thankyou!

What do you mean by the last part of your message ? xx

 

[Martigirl]

sorry should have been clearer

If I offer things to clients free of charge they perceive the value as nothing as it hasn't cost them anything so they do not value it in the same way as if they had paid for it.

I would urge caution in giving away too much I have done a few events at little or no charge and thought it would be good advertising ..... not so my best advertising is word of mouth or my website.

when I started out my landlord is a dentist and he bought vouchers to help promote me to clients to "spread the word about me"

10 vouchers were sent free to clients only 3 used them only 1 is still a client. I have had no recommendations from the other 2.

When I have a repeat custom of approx 75-80% and I don't advertise at all I work only on recommendation I can only assume those 2 clients did not "value" the gift.

hth's

 

[beauty8984]

Thank you for explaining,

I think i am going to only give out a £5 off voucher which i ahve offered as a price for schools

Thanx again for your help x

 

[Martigirl]

my pleasure xxxx

 

[Blue Rose]

If you are offering them to groups free to drive business through your door then I would advise a short expiry date 6 weeks maximum!

My purchased gift vouchers have a 6 month expiry time.

I would caution though that I have found anything that I have offered free is perceived as very low value to potential clients.

Good luck xxx

I think a lot depends on how you sell the 'free' treatment. If you make out that it's free, then yes, it will have no value. However, if you mention that it's worth £x clients then value the free treatment more, if that makes sense.

For me, I find offering free treatments works extremely well & has made me quite a bit of extra money plus got a helluva lot of new clients through the door, which I wouldn't have had otherwise. I love freebies

As for the original question, my paid for vouchers have 6 month expiry. Raffle prize vouchers get 2 months

 

[beauty8984]

Brilliant!!! Thanks so much for your help xx

 

[Poshfloss]

I give 6 months on paid vouchers.
8 weeks on FREE raffle vouchers.
I too have found that they (meaning the Free Raffle vouchers) do not bring in repeat business in my area.
I gave 2 x spray tans and 1 x file polish vouchers recently at a Gala dinner dance. 1 spray tan has been used......no repeat from it, lady said it was something she wouldn't normally bother with, very happy with treatment, but she never treats herself to any beauty treatments, as she is too busy with young family.
The other spray tan voucher has not been claimed they have until tomorrow night, so don't think it will go.
File & polish claimed......perfect for clients holiday..said she hadn't had her nails painted for years, thought it would be nice as a treat.
Giving a bottle of wine next time !!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Martigirl]

I give 6 months on paid vouchers.
8 weeks on FREE raffle vouchers.
I too have found that they (meaning the Free Raffle vouchers) do not bring in repeat business in my area.
I gave 2 x spray tans and 1 x file polish vouchers recently at a Gala dinner dance. 1 spray tan has been used......no repeat from it, lady said it was something she wouldn't normally bother with, very happy with treatment, but she never treats herself to any beauty treatments, as she is too busy with young family.
The other spray tan voucher has not been claimed they have until tomorrow night, so don't think it will go.
File & polish claimed......perfect for clients holiday..said she hadn't had her nails painted for years, thought it would be nice as a treat.
Giving a bottle of wine next time !!!!!!!!!!!

my experience practically exactly. I have found the people that enjoy and use free prizes never come back because they are only using it because it's free and they see it as a bargain and not something they would spend money on.

I ahev found though when I have extended expired (paid) vouchers it has in 80 % of cases resulted in repeat business!