Gift cards have become an essential part of the retail and corporate gifting experience. To maximize their impact, businesses need more than just a simple rack or countertop placement. An effective gift card display not only drives sales but also enhances brand visibility and improves the customer experience. The key lies in designing displays that align with your brand identity and engage customers effectively.

Industry projections show that the expenditure on gift cards will continue growing at a relatively steady pace, expected to exceed 78 billion dollars by 2026. This highlights the critical importance of investing in well-designed, strategic displays that not only showcase your offerings but also draw customer’s attention in a highly competitive market. 

1. Understand Your Brand’s Core Message

Before diving into the details of how to design and set up your gift card displays, it’s important to first understand what your brand stands for. Is your company known for luxury, affordability, sustainability, or innovation? This will guide your design choices, ensuring that the displays are aligned with your brand’s overall message.

Example: 

• If your brand promotes sustainability, consider using eco-friendly materials for your gift card holders and displays.
• A high-end brand might choose sleek, minimalist designs and premium materials to create a sense of luxury.

Tailoring your gift card displays to reflect these qualities will resonate with your customers and make them more likely to engage with your offering.

2. Types of Gift Card Displays: Counter vs. Floor Displays

When it comes to showcasing your gift cards, the type of display you choose plays a critical role in your overall strategy. Two common options are counter displays and floor displays.

Counter Displays: These are compact and sit on top of counters, allowing for easy access for customers to pick up gift cards while waiting in line. They're a great option for impulse buys.  62% of shoppers purchase items on impulse when attracted to an appealing display - highlighting how crucial strategic display design is for boosting gift card sales.

Position counter displays near cash registers, checkout areas, or customer service desks where people are more likely to make last-minute purchases.

Floor Displays: These are larger, freestanding displays that can be placed throughout the store. They have the advantage of being more visible and can attract customers from a distance. They can be designed to hold larger quantities of gift cards, giving customers plenty of options to browse.

Place floor displays at high-traffic areas like entrances, aisles, or near popular sections to catch customers’ attention as they move through the store.

3. Permanent vs. Temporary Displays

Another important consideration when designing gift card displays is whether to opt for permanent or temporary displays. Both have distinct advantages, and your decision should depend on how you plan to use the displays.

Permanent Displays: These are sturdy, long-term fixtures that are meant to stay in place indefinitely. They offer a consistent branding experience and are typically used for stores that carry gift cards year-round. Permanent displays are often made of durable materials like wood or metal.

Invest in a high-quality permanent display for your store's gift card section, as it reinforces your brand and can be a permanent fixture in your retail design.

Temporary Displays: These displays are designed for short-term use, often for seasonal promotions or special events. They're typically lighter and more flexible, allowing for easy relocation or replacement.

Use temporary displays during peak seasons such as holidays or sales events. For example, a festive, seasonal display might work well during Christmas or New Year's to capitalize on gift-giving opportunities.

4. Placement Matters: Strategic Positioning of Displays

The placement of your gift card display is key to its success. Consider customer flow and high-traffic areas when deciding where to place your displays. It’s important to ensure that your gift cards are visible and easily accessible without overwhelming the customer.

• High-Traffic Areas: Position displays at eye level to maximize visibility. Place them in areas where customers tend to spend time, such as checkout lines, entrances, or near popular products.
• Complementing Products: Position your gift card display near relevant items. For instance, if you sell products related to travel, place gift cards near travel accessories or luggage. If you're a bookstore, display your gift cards near bestselling books.
• Themed Sections: For promotions or seasonal offerings, strategically place displays in theme-based sections. For example, during Valentine’s Day, gift cards can be placed near romantic gifts or chocolates to create a complete gift-giving experience.

The creative and visually appealing displays increase customer’s perception of product quality, making strategic and aesthetic placement even more critical.

5. Seasonal and Promotional Displays

Gift card sales can be boosted significantly during seasonal promotions and events. Seasonal displays cater to specific holidays or celebrations, and using these as a tool to promote gift card sales can be highly effective.

Promo Events: Use gift card displays to promote sales events, such as back-to-school, Black Friday, or store anniversary events. Temporary, eye-catching displays with discount offers or special deals will grab customer attention.

Limited-Time Offers: If you’re running a special promotion, highlight it with a well-placed temporary display. Limited-time offers encourage customers to act quickly, boosting impulse buys.

Holiday Themes :Tailor displays to holidays like Christmas, New Year, Mother’s Day, or birthdays. These occasions are prime times for gifting, and a themed display will attract customers looking for the perfect gift.

6. Maximize Brand Consistency in Display Design

Your gift card display should mirror your store's branding across all touchpoints. This consistency reinforces your brand’s identity and creates a seamless experience for the customer. Integrating your brand colors, fonts, and logo into the display design ensures that customers immediately recognize the display as part of your store.

Color Scheme: Use colors that are consistent with your brand identity. For example, if your brand uses a minimalist palette, keep the display simple with muted tones and clean lines. If your brand is playful, use bright and vibrant colors.

Branding Elements:  Include your logo, website, or store name on the display to make it easy for customers to associate the gift card with your brand.

Invest in Gift Card Displays That Reflect Your Brand 

A well-designed gift card display not only drives sales but also enhances the customer experience and strengthens brand identity. By choosing the right materials, display type, placement, and seasonal promotions, you can create a compelling gift card experience that reflects your brand values and appeals to your target audience. Whether opting for permanent fixtures or temporary setups, ensure that your display is strategically placed, well-organized, and designed to capture attention.

About Plasticard – Locktech International

PLI is the largest Closed Loop Gift, Loyalty and Hospitality card manufacturer in North America. PLI has been in business for over 30 years, specializing in end-to-end card marketing solutions including card production, design, packaging, displays, consulting and fulfillment services and capabilities. PLI has three manufacturing facility locations including two in Las Vegas, NV and one in Asheville, NC.