[OMS_MANAGERS] Advice sought on Gift Certificate Programs

[Downtown Bend, OR]

Greetings,

I'd like any feedback or advice on how you manage your Downtown gift
certificate/gift card program.

We currently have actual checks in $10 or $25 dollar increments that folks
can purchase and use at any Downtown location.  They are designed to look
like 'downtown dollars <http://www.downtownbend.org/downtown-dollars.html>
'.

The challenges that we face are

   1. Technically these 'gift certificates' are real checks and can be
   cashed anywhere and/or deposited into any bank account
   2. A customer can spend just a portion of the amount in our Downtown
   businesses and then get cash back to spend elsewhere.
   3. We have to pay for the printing of checks, envelopes and all the
   associated credit card fees when a customer purchases certificates.  These
   means that the more we grow the program, the more the program costs us.
   4. Because we have to record and reconcile each check number, we spend
   significant labor on accounting for this program.

How does your gift certificate/gift card program work?  Have you found a
system that is easy to use and cost effective?

Thank you for your help,
Mindy Aisling
Executive Director
--------------------

*Downtown Bend Business Association*
Talk or Text - 541-788-3628    www.downtownbend.org
916 NW Wall Street in Downtown Bend Oregon

*We are a nonprofit committed to increasing the vitality of Downtown Bend.*
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