Let’s talk about one of the easiest, most profitable products your bakery can offer this holiday season — that doesn't require any butter, flour, or sprinkles. Yep, we're talking about gift cards.
As you already know, gift cards are like pre-paid mini orders — customers give you money now, and maybe come back later to redeem it. That means immediate cash flow without having to bake a single thing today.
According to industry data:
Gift card programs bring in 1–4% of total revenue for small businesses
About 10% of all gift cards are never redeemed
When customers do redeem them? They spend way more than the card’s value (like, $30+ more on average)
You’re collecting cash upfront, and often getting even more business when that card walks back in the door.
Gift cards don’t just make money — they bring people in who may have never walked through your doors before.
41% of gift card recipients are first-time customers
55% come back more than once to use the full value
And nearly 1 in 5 become long-term loyal customers
And here's the real cherry on top:
Two out of three gift card users spend over 30% more than the value of the card.
So if someone gives a friend a $25 gift card to your bakery, that friend’s walking out with $35 worth of cookies, cakes, or croissants — and hopefully a new love for your shop.
In today’s bakery world, customers expect both options:
Digital gift cards they can send with a click, redeem online, or pull up from their phone when ordering
Physical gift cards they can hand to a teacher, tuck into a stocking, or keep in their wallet like a credit card
BakeSmart supports both — and if you’re running an eCommerce store (if not, why not?!), you can let customers redeem their gift cards directly online with no extra work for your staff. Seamless for your team, and super convenient for your customers.
Here’s an idea we love:
Create reloadable gift cards that act like bakery memberships.
Your customer keeps a physical card in their wallet or a digital card on file. Every month (or quarter), they can reload it manually or set up auto-reload — and in exchange, you reward them with exclusive perks like:
10% off all purchases
A free birthday cake or pastry box once a year
Early access to pre-orders and holiday menus
Members-only seasonal specials
It’s like a coffee shop punch card… but smarter, and with built-in cash flow for you.
Encourage customers to preload their own cards before the holidays hit — for gifting and for managing personal holiday spending.They’ll love the ease, and you’ll benefit from guaranteed return visits.
Sure, the holidays are peak gift card season (and yes, you should be promoting them now), but almost half of all gift card sales happen in other months.
That means:
Great for teacher gifts, birthdays, baby showers, Valentine’s
A smart year-round marketing tool
A consistent revenue stream with minimal effort
If you’re using BakeSmart, you already have the tools to set up both physical and digital gift cards — and we’re rolling out even easier options to become a reseller of physical cards stocked right at your counter.