Gift Card Promos That Merchants (and Smart Shoppers!) Love

Drive Sales, Loyalty, and Bigger Savings

With inflation still squeezing household budgets, shoppers are constantly looking for ways to stretch their dollars. Retailers, on the other hand, want to drive sales without slashing prices in ways that hurt profitability. Enter structured gift card promotions—a win-win strategy that benefits both consumers and businesses.

Unlike traditional discounts, gift card deals don’t just offer savings; they create opportunities. Whether it’s a “Buy $50, Get a $10 Bonus” offer or a gift card sale, these promotions do more than lower prices—they give shoppers more purchasing power and encourage loyalty in ways that simple coupons or markdowns can’t match.

Why Gift Card Promotions Work So Well for Businesses

1. Gift Card Promos Attract Shoppers Who Plan to Buy

Gift card promotions naturally appeal to people who are already planning to spend. A “Buy $50, Get a $10 Bonus” deal rewards real customers who intend to shop, ensuring that the incentive leads to actual purchases rather than just attracting one-time deal hunters.

This structure also protects retailers from resale exploitation (known as arbitrage) by limiting expiration windows on bonus cards, ensuring that discounts are used by engaged shoppers rather than resellers.

A perfect example of this strategy in action is the latest Adidas gift card promotion: buy a $35 Adidas eGift Card and get a $15 Bonus Reward Card. This deal boosts spending power by 30%, and with an expiration date on the bonus card, it ensures a follow-up purchase within a set timeframe.

For your business, this type of promotion does the following:

• Attracts high-intent shoppers already planning to buy
• Deters resale abuse with a controlled redemption window
• Encourages visits by driving timely bonus use

For consumers? Well, here’s what a few savvy shoppers on the SlickDeals site are saying:

“Always max these out every time they pop up.” – IndigoMorning6118

     “You’re paying $35 for $50 of gift cards—30% off!” – BlueFlag3115

“Use when adidas also has a sale” – ballershanelle

In my experience, savvy shoppers are always willing to jump through a few hoops to get the best deals—even if that means buying a gift card first to save more on the purchase they were already planning to make.​​ It’s an extra step, sure, but when you’re saving real money on everyday expenses, it just makes sense.

2. Gift Card Promos Turn Deal-Seekers Into Bigger Spenders

Shoppers today are more strategic than ever, and structured gift card promotions help them plan purchases wisely. Unlike coupons that can go unused, a gift card—especially one with a bonus—gives customers a reason to return and make a purchase.

But let’s talk about purely discounted gift cards—where shoppers get instant savings before they even start shopping. These deals make purchases feel like a better value, leading customers to spend more than they originally planned.

For your business, these promotions attract people planning a purchase and looking for clever ways to maximize their budget, whether for personal use or gifting.

As of this writing, eGifter.com/promos is offering gift card savings like:

• $100 Uber Gift Card for just $90 – 10% off your next ride or Uber Eats order
• $50 Carter’s Gift Card for $40 – 20% off instantly on kids’ clothes
• $50 Ace Hardware Gift Card for just $40 – 20% off home improvement supplies

Consumers who buy these discounted gift cards will likely use the full value, stack them with other discounts, and even spend beyond the card’s balance. This approach translates to higher average order values, increased customer engagement, and the potential for long-term brand loyalty.

3. Gift Card Promos Build Loyalty Through Redemption

The real magic of gift card promotions happens after the purchase. It’s not just about selling the card—it’s about ensuring it gets used. When retailers actively encourage redemption—whether through reminders, personalized offers, or loyalty perks—they have the potential to turn one-time buyers into repeat customers.

When shoppers visit your store, restaurant, or website, they’re more likely to:

• Browse and discover new products they didn’t originally intend to buy
• Spend beyond the value of the gift card (which most shoppers do)
• Join loyalty programs, subscribe to updates, or download an app
• Tell others by word of mouth, online reviews, or shopping with a friend

But none of that happens if shoppers don’t step foot in your store, restaurant, or website. That’s where promo gift cards really pay off—they create that first-visit opportunity.

That initial experience is your chance to impress, engage, and build a connection. If a new visitor isn’t the right customer for your brand, that’s okay. But if they are, it’s up to you to nurture the relationship and keep them coming back.

Make Gift Card Promotions Work for Your Business

Gift card promotions aren’t just about discounts—they’re about engagement, retention, and long-term value. But to get the most out of them, you need a flexible, scalable solution that lets you easily launch, manage, and track promotions.

If your current system doesn’t allow you to offer a variety of promotions—whether bonus offers, discounted gift cards, or loyalty tie-ins—it’s time to rethink your strategy.

At eGifter, we help retailers create fast, flexible, and effective gift card promotions that drive real results. Whether you’re looking to increase foot traffic, boost online sales, or build stronger customer relationships, we’ve got the technology and expertise to make it happen.

Let’s Build a Smarter Gift Card Strategy Together

Looking to launch seamless, high-impact gift card promotions? Let’s talk!

• Contact Us to connect with our team or list a deal!
• Prefer a direct conversation? Chat with Cindy Rea on how eGifter can help

As a deal seeker myself, I don’t always have time to comb through a bunch of deal sites that may or may not be reputable. To keep my sanity, I stick to just a few: eGifter.com/promos, Slickdeals, and Amazon. They’re not all eGifter promos, but hey—deal seekers gotta seek.

If you find a great deal out there, let me know! 😉

Happy gifting.