Gift Cards: The Ecommerce Strategy Almost Nobody Uses in Chile

When you ask an online store owner in Chile if they sell gift cards, the answer is almost always "no, that's for big brands." And that's the mistake.

Gift cards are one of the most underrated tools in Latin American ecommerce. You don't need to be a department store chain to use them.

Why do gift cards work so well?

The numbers speak for themselves:

• The average customer spends 20-30% more than the gift card value when they redeem it
• There are never returns -- the recipient picks what they want
• You attract new customers who might never have found your store
• The buyer solves the eternal "I don't know what to give" problem

In Chile, this is especially relevant for dates like Christmas, Mother's Day, and birthdays. People want to give something thoughtful but don't always know the right size, color, or taste.

How to set up gift cards in your store

If you use Shopify, the feature is already built in. You just need to:

1. Enable gift cards from the admin panel (Products > Gift cards)
2. Create logical denominations -- $10,000, $20,000, $50,000 CLP work well for Chile
3. Design a simple graphic for the card
4. Add them to your store's main menu

If you use another platform, look for plugins or apps that support it. Most modern platforms have some kind of solution.

The key is making the gift card easy to find in your store. I've seen stores that hide it in the footer. That doesn't work.

Strategies that actually work

Having gift cards available isn't enough. You need to promote them smartly:

• Include a smaller gift card as an incentive. "Spend over $30,000 and get a $5,000 gift card for your next purchase" -- this drives repeat business
• Run a specific last-minute gift campaign. Two days before Christmas, the digital gift card is the star. Instant delivery, zero stress
• Gift bundles. Pair a popular product with a smaller gift card
• Social media. Give away a gift card every week in December. It's easy content that drives real engagement

The fact nobody tells you

Between 10% and 20% of gift cards are never redeemed. That means pure revenue for your business. It's not the main reason to sell them, but it's a real benefit.

Gift cards are probably the simplest way to boost your Q4 sales without resorting to aggressive discounts. If you're not offering them yet, now is the time to start.