Sell more over Black Friday Cyber Monday with digital gift cards [2026]

Black Friday Cyber Monday gift cards: a 2026 guide for merchants. How to sell your own branded digital gift cards over BFCM, promote them, and bring customers back after the holiday weekend. For retailers, online stores, restaurants, salons, studios and service businesses. Cardivo provides gift card software for merchants.

After Thanksgiving and Halloween comes the biggest shopping weekend for e-commerce (and retail stores) —Black Friday and Cyber Monday (BFCM)—when millions of shoppers flood online looking for deals. This is a valuable opportunity for businesses to drive revenue. In fact, this BFCM season is expected to be larger than ever, with sales predicted to increase by 7.4% from 2025 – when customers in the US alone spent $44.2 billion online over this 5 day period.

Typically, small and medium businesses have stayed away from this – leaving big brands to dominate BFCM sales. But there are now more ways than ever for businesses of any size to get involved, and get their customers to shop with them instead of soulless big brands.

Customers spent over $26 billion online in the US alone on Black Friday Cyber Monday 2025. Some of those dollars came from your existing and potential customers.

Standing out amid fierce competition can be tough, but pulling out all the stops and making it very easy, like offering gift cards can make a big difference to your sales. This article focuses on how and why you can and should offer gift cards this BFCM as well as on all holidays. Here’s what we cover:

When are Black Friday and Cyber Monday in 2026?

Gift cards: a revenue booster for Black Friday Cyber Monday

Five gift card promotion ideas for businesses

How to choose a gift card offer your business can afford

Tips for promoting your gift cards during BFCM

How to set up your gift card page for Black Friday Cyber Monday

Other tactics to maximize revenue during Black Friday and Cyber Monday

Physical or digital gift cards: Which is better for most businesses?

How to offer your own branded digital gift cards in 10 minutes

Step by step setup guide

Your 2026 Black Friday gift card launch checklist

Frequently asked questions

While many businesses focus on just discounting, some even giving up their entire profit margin to compete, a gift card-focused campaign sets you apart and prevents you from devaluing your products. Instead of heavily discounting products, you can offer discounts on gift cards – this gives customers what they want, which is a great deal, while you get them to pay you now for future purchases they may or may not have made. This all but ensures they (or whoever they give that gift card to) will make future purchases from your business.

Gift cards offer a unique advantage as they:

1. Increase revenue
2. Attract new customers
3. Let customers lock in a great deal without having to pick a specific product or service
4. Build brand loyalty

In this post, we’ll dive into how gift cards can help you maximize revenue during BFCM 2026 and we’ll introduce you to Cardivo – an easy-to-use tool that lets you offer your own gift cards in under 10 minutes, with no technical know-how (or credit card) needed.

When are Black Friday and Cyber Monday in 2026?

Black Friday 2026 is on Friday, November 27, the day after Thanksgiving (Thursday, November 26). Small Business Saturday follows on November 28, and Cyber Monday is on Monday, November 30. Adobe expects Cyber Monday to be the biggest online shopping day of the year again, with over $15 billion spent online in the US, while Black Friday ($12.9 billion) grows faster.

Get your gift card offer live before Thanksgiving and keep it running through Cyber Monday. Many people are already shopping for Christmas over this weekend, so let them know they can buy now and schedule the gift card to arrive on Christmas Day.

Gift cards: a revenue booster for Black Friday Cyber Monday

While gift cards are effective year-round, they truly shine during specific holidays when customers are actively hunting for deals (and even getting some Christmas shopping done). A recent survey shows that a record 202.9 million people shopped over the 2025 Thanksgiving weekend, with about 67% of their spending going on gifts, and Block (the company behind Square) reported $33.5 million in gift card spend over BFCM 2025. Their flexibility and ease of use not only allow recipients to select items they truly want but also make gift cards a powerful tool for businesses to boost sales and increase revenue.

Immediate revenue generation

Gift cards allow businesses to generate revenue immediately as they require upfront payment. This can be crucial during the holiday rush. Plus, many recipients redeem cards over time, maintaining steady traffic even after the holiday season.

Attracting new customers

When someone gives a gift card to a friend or family member, the recipient is very likely to actually use it, creating new customers for your business. If this new customer likes your product or service, they’re likely to return and even recommend you to their friends and family. This builds long-term brand loyalty and increases word-of-mouth referrals from happy customers – the best way to grow a sustainable business.

Increasing average spending

According to Blackhawk Network, nearly 60% of shoppers say they would spend more than the card’s original value when redeeming it, and the average extra spend is $73, up $5 since 2024. And if you offer a higher value product or service, customers will tend to spend even more and buy again in the future. This makes gift cards a cost-effective way to attract customers who typically spend way more than the gift card value.

Reward existing customers with exclusive discounts

Offering existing customers discounts on gift cards creates a sense of exclusivity, rewarding loyal customers and enticing them to return for future purchases. When customers feel valued, they’re more likely to choose your brand over competitors. This encourages customers to buy now with the promise of future savings—strengthening loyalty and paving the way for repeat sales. Using your gift card software, you can offer a discount code only to your existing customers, that they can redeem when buying a gift card. To create a sense of urgency, you can even add a maximum number of redemptions and let customers know that it’s first come first serve.

Get paid sooner for future purchases

Discounted gift cards provide immediate cash flow by bringing in revenue now for purchases customers will make later. This influx of funds during the holiday rush helps cover operational expenses and keeps cash flow steady. For customers who already enjoy your products, a gift card offers an attractive way to “lock in” a future purchase at a lower price, driving immediate sales while also likely increasing spending when they redeem the gift card.

Five Black Friday Cyber Monday gift card promotion ideas for businesses

Start with one clear offer, and use amounts that make sense in your currency and for your business.

1. A simple percentage discount

Example: sell a $100 gift card for $90. The recipient has $100 to spend with your business, while the buyer saves $10. This is easy to explain in an email, website banner or checkout message. In Cardivo, create a 10% discount code and switch on auto-apply so buyers see the deal without typing a code.

2. A fixed discount above a purchase threshold

Example: take $20 off a gift card purchase of $200 or more. A threshold can encourage a higher gift card amount, but choose one that matches a useful purchase at your business. A restaurant might use the typical cost of dinner for two; a studio might use the cost of several classes. In Cardivo, create a fixed amount discount code with a minimum purchase.

3. Early access for existing customers

Give your email subscribers or regular customers access before the main weekend. Use a separate discount code for them so you can tell these purchases apart from your public promotion, and cap the number of redemptions to create urgency. Make the offer’s dates and eligibility clear, and remember that a code can be shared beyond your list.

4. Gift amounts built around an experience

Help buyers understand what a gift card could cover. A salon could suggest an amount for a cut and treatment; a workshop business could suggest an amount for a class. Set these as the amount buttons on your gift card page and, if you sell set amounts only, add a label to each one. This works without a discount too.

5. A Cyber Monday reminder

Give customers who missed your Black Friday message another chance to see the offer. Highlight instant email delivery, scheduled delivery for Christmas, and the recipient’s freedom to choose. If the same promotion runs all weekend, keep the terms consistent and use the real closing time in your final reminder.

How to choose a gift card offer your business can afford

Work backwards from the full value you will honor. Include the discount, platform and payment processing fees, fulfillment costs and any advertising spend. For a service business, also consider whether redemptions could take up appointments you would otherwise sell at full price.

For example, a $100 gift card sold for $90 brings in $90 before fees while promising $100 of spending value. If the products you eventually supply cost you $60, that leaves $30 before fees, marketing and overheads.

Before launching, decide:

• Your discount budget: how much promotional cost can the campaign support?
• Your exposure: how much total gift card value are you prepared to honor?
• Your stacking rules: can a discounted gift card be used on products that are already discounted?
• Your redemption capacity: can your inventory and team handle the demand when cards are redeemed?
• Your terms: where can cards be used, how are refunds handled, and what conditions must buyers see before purchase?

A discount code’s expiry date and a gift card’s expiry are separate settings, so a code that ends on Cyber Monday doesn’t make the gift cards expire. Check the gift card laws that apply to you before you set a gift card expiry.

Tips for promoting your gift cards during BFCM

Ensure your offers stand out to maximize your gift card sales. Here are four proven tactics and channels:

• Website banners and pop-ups
  Use eye-catching banners and pop-ups on your homepage to ensure every visitor notices your BFCM gift card offer. Consider using bold colors and a clear call-to-action like “Shop Now” to draw attention.
• Email campaigns
  Send targeted emails that highlight your gift card discount, especially to loyal customers who are likely to act on the offer. Personalize these emails with their names and past purchase history to increase engagement.
• Social
  Share engaging visuals and videos showcasing the convenience and savings of discounted BFCM gift cards. Consider running a social media contest where customers can win gift cards, further boosting visibility, or engage relevant (and authentic) influencers to help drive awareness of your brand and your BFCM deals.
• Create urgency
  Emphasize that the BFCM discount is time-limited to encourage quick purchases. Phrases like “Limited time only!” or “While supplies last!” can create a sense of urgency that motivates shoppers to buy immediately.

How to set up your gift card page for Black Friday Cyber Monday

Every banner, email and social post you send will link to your gift card page, so make it look and feel like part of your BFCM campaign. These Cardivo settings only take a few minutes, and you can switch them back once the holidays are over.

1. Highlight a Black Friday or holiday design

Upload your own Black Friday or holiday artwork as a custom gift card background, add your logo and brand color, and set it as your highlighted design. Your highlighted design is the one buyers see first when your gift card page loads, and they can still choose any of your other designs. See how to add your logo and branding to gift cards.

2. Update your purchase page title and description

Change your gift card purchase page title to match your offer, for example “Black Friday: 20% off gift cards this weekend only”. Then use the page description to explain the deal, when it ends and what the gift card can be used for. Buyers see both as soon as they open your page.

3. Set your amount buttons and labels

Change the amount buttons on your gift card page to the amounts people most often spend with you, like the price of a popular service or a dinner for two. If you sell gift cards in set amounts only, you can also add a short label next to each amount, such as “Most popular” or “Dinner for two”.

4. Auto-apply your Black Friday discount code

Create a percentage or fixed amount discount code, set it to expire at the end of Cyber Monday, and add a minimum purchase or a maximum number of redemptions if you want. Then switch on “Automatically apply discount on payment page”. Buyers who qualify get the discount without typing a code. If you set up more than one auto-apply code, for example 10% off any gift card and 20% off gift cards of $200 or more, Cardivo automatically applies the best discount each buyer qualifies for. Learn more about auto-apply discounts.

5. Remind buyers they can schedule delivery

Buyers choose the date their gift card is emailed to the recipient, so anyone who buys at your Black Friday price can have it arrive on Christmas Day, a birthday or any other date. Mention it in your emails and on your page, for example “Buy now at the Black Friday price and schedule it for Christmas Day.”

Other tactics to maximize revenue during Black Friday and Cyber Monday

Offer small gifts with a minimum spend

Offer free gifts for customers who meet a minimum purchase threshold. It doesn’t need to be expensive—it could be a branded item or a smaller product sample that introduces shoppers to a new product or service. Free gifts can enhance perceived value and encourage hesitant customers to make a purchase, as they’ll feel they’re getting an exclusive deal.

Launch exclusive product bundles

Bundle popular products into limited-time offers that can only be bought at this BFCM. This adds value for customers and promotes higher spending, as bundled items typically come with a slight discount. Tailor bundles around themes, like “Holiday Essentials” or “Winter Wellness,” to help customers see the practical benefit and make faster purchase decisions. For services, you can bundle multiple separate but related ones into one bundle – typically with a discount.

Offer payment plans

Offering payment plans can help customers make larger purchases more manageable and typically leads to customers spending more. Flexible options like our sister tool Paythen let you offer installment plans in minutes, and even let customers redeem gift cards on payment plans. This approach can be especially helpful for BFCM and any holidays, where you may want to maximize sales while keeping customers satisfied with affordable options.

Offer free shipping

Offering free shipping is a proven motivator for online shoppers, especially with a reasonable minimum spending threshold. For example, “Free shipping on orders over $75” encourages customers to increase their cart total to avoid the extra cost. This tactic works well during BFCM when shoppers are comparing deals and looking for the best value.

Promote sales through influencers

Collaborating with authentic influencers is a great way to spotlight your BFCM deals in a way that resonates with their followers. According to Adobe, affiliates and partners, including social media influencers, drove 20.4% of US online holiday revenue in 2025, while social media’s share of revenue grew 40.3%. Influencers add a personal touch, boosting your brand’s credibility and reach. This added visibility can bring new customers to your store who may not have discovered you otherwise, making it an effective strategy during the holiday season.

Double loyalty points for purchases

If your business has a loyalty program, consider offering double or even triple points on BFCM purchases. This can incentivize loyal customers to choose you over competitors and add long-term value to their purchase, as they’ll have more points to redeem later. Doubling loyalty points also creates excitement and builds loyalty beyond the holiday season.

Physical or digital gift cards: Which is better for most businesses?

Physical gift cards have typically been the more common option of the two since digital gift cards are relatively new – but the trend is changing fast. In the second half of 2025, digital gift cards made up 52% of the UK gift card market by value, according to the Gift Card & Voucher Association. Digital gift cards are easier to buy, send, redeem and track, so everyone involved tends to prefer them.

1. Digital gift cards cost you less

Digital gift cards have almost zero production costs since they don’t require physical materials or shipping fees. In contrast, offering physical cards can be expensive, as you have to pay for them and display them in your shop. You’ll also have to order enough in advance, and they can break, get lost, or be stolen, increasing the complexity and costs further.

2. Digital gift cards are instant

Digital cards can be created within minutes and sent immediately via email to customers anywhere. Whether they’re friends or family living on opposite sides of the world, people can buy digital gift cards for the recipient’s favorite local or online business instantly. That’s impossible with physical gift cards, as they typically need to be bought in person or ordered online in advance to be delivered via snail mail.

3. Digital gift cards are more secure

Digital gift cards are more secure than physical cards because they store data in secure systems. For example, If a recipient reports unauthorized access, you can instantly freeze the card and issue a new one if needed. If a physical card is lost or stolen, anyone can use it and it’s harder to verify and track the original recipient.

4. Digital gift cards give you real-time analytics

Digital gift cards allow businesses to monitor sales, usage, and customer data in real time. Physical cards often require costly scanning systems and manual input, which can be inefficient and error-prone. Modern gift card software also makes it easy to track gift card redemptions, balances, and even revenue generated from gift cards.

5. Digital gift cards are better for the environment

Digital gift cards have a much lower environmental impact compared to physical cards, which need to be printed, shipped, and often come with plastic packaging. This digital option aligns with the values of today’s consumers who are more aware of what’s good for the climate.

Historical data supports this shift. From Black Friday to Christmas Eve 2022, the value of physical gift card sales dropped 22% since 2019, while digital gift card sales rose by 77%. Digital is the preferred option, and this trend shows no signs of slowing down.

How to offer your own branded digital gift cards in 10 minutes

Cardivo is an easy-to-use gift card software that allows you to offer beautiful digital gift cards and automate the entire process from the sale to redemption, emails and more. The setup is hassle-free and there are no fixed fees – we only take a small percentage of each sale. We make money only if you do. You also have the option to pass on Cardivo’s fees to gift card buyers, making Cardivo completely cost-free and risk-free for you. See Cardivo pricing and gift card features.

Step by step setup guide

Here’s a quick guide to setting up your gift card program with Cardivo within minutes, with no technical know-how needed. If you have any questions, just reach out via the chat icon.

1. Sign up for a free Cardivo account

Visit cardivo.com or click here to sign up with your name and email—no credit card required.

2. Link your stripe account or create a new one

You’ll be asked to link your Stripe account to Cardivo or create a new account if you don’t have one. Stripe will ask you for some essential information about your business (varies depending on country and business type), but the process is straightforward and shouldn’t take more than two minutes. Stripe is one of the world’s leading payment processors, handling all Cardivo transactions securely. Learn more about Stripe here.

3. Select your gift card page link

Select a custom URL where customers can buy your gift cards. We suggest using your business name with hyphens (e.g., acme-corp). It should look similar to this: https://cardivo.com/giftcards/acme-corp. You can share this link with your customers and they can buy your gift cards from any device, anywhere.

4. Customize your gift card settings

You can customize your gift card, including your logo, currency, add custom images, and more. Cardivo offers various options to tailor your gift cards to reflect your brand and your business.

5. Optionally, create discount codes

To maximize sales over Black Friday Cyber Monday, consider creating one or more discount codes via your Cardivo dashboard. This will entice your existing customers, and new customers to buy a gift card and get a great deal. You can create tailored discount codes for different audiences, set redemption limits, minimum spends, expiry dates and more. You can also automatically apply discounts on your payment page, so buyers don’t need to enter a code.

6. Share your gift card link everywhere

Once your setup is complete, Cardivo generates a link to your gift card page. Here’s an example of how it will look. Share this link on your website, social posts, bio, WhatsApp, or any platform. Customers can purchase gift cards instantly using their credit card, debit card, Apple Pay, or Google Pay on any device.

7. Check your redemption setup before the promotion

Follow the setup guide for Shopify gift card redemption, WooCommerce gift cards, Stripe Checkout and payment links or Paythen payment plans, depending on where customers will spend their gift cards. Then test buying a gift card, the discount, email delivery, the balance and a redemption on your phone before launch.

Need a hand? Ask us anything via the chat icon or email hello@cardivo.com. We’d love to help.

Your 2026 Black Friday gift card launch checklist

• By mid-November: choose your offer, budget and gift card amounts, set up your discount codes and holiday design, and test buying, delivery and redemption.
• November 16–26: prepare your website banner, emails, social posts and staff instructions, and launch early access for existing customers if you’re offering it.
• November 27–30: run the main promotion and keep an eye on purchases, delivery problems and support questions.
• December onward: end the discount as advertised, keep promoting gift cards with scheduled delivery for Christmas, and track redemptions and return visits.

Measure more than the number of gift cards sold

Keep a simple record of the campaign using your gift card, checkout and marketing reports. Start with:

• Gift card orders, cash collected and total gift card value issued.
• Average gift card amount and total discount cost.
• Platform fees, processing fees and campaign spend.
• Purchases by discount code or campaign link.
• Value redeemed, remaining balances and extra spend at redemption.
• New customers and repeat visits, where you can reliably identify them.

Compare the campaign with your normal gift card sales and, if you have it, last year’s BFCM. Review the results again once recipients have had time to redeem their gift cards.

Frequently asked questions

How do you maximize sales on Black Friday?

Utilize promotions like discounted gift cards, create urgency with limited-time offers, and leverage email and social media marketing to engage customers.

What are the trends for Black Friday in 2026?

Expect an increase in online shopping, a focus on sustainable products, and the continued popularity of digital gift cards as consumers seek convenience. Adobe expects a record $47.5 billion in US online spending over Cyber Week 2026, with 63% of Thanksgiving online spending on mobile and traffic from AI tools to retail sites up 130% this holiday season. As Black Friday Cyber Monday continue to explode in popularity, customers expect better deals and more flexibility. Offering custom-branded digital gift cards lets you give customers a good or great deal without forcing them to buy a specific product or service immediately. They buy a gift card at a discount and can gift that to someone else, or use it for a future purchase for themself.

What are the benefits of Black Friday for retailers and service businesses? Is it relevant to me?

Black Friday helps any business boost sales, attract new customers, clear inventory, and enhance brand visibility during this peak shopping season. The big difference is over this period, customers and potential customers are actively looking to spend money and get good deals. This means they are primed to buy – and you can capture a small slice of this spending from existing and new customers, boosting your revenue, regardless of the type and size of business you operate.

Boost sales and customer loyalty with digital gift cards this BFCM

Digital gift cards are becoming the new standard and a powerful tool to increase revenue, attract new customers, and build long-term loyalty this BFCM. They bring immediate advantages—secure transactions, real-time tracking, and eco-friendliness—setting your business apart by meeting customer demand for both convenience and sustainability.

Launch your digital gift card program with Cardivo and maximize these benefits. Cardivo allows you to easily create, customize, and manage digital gift cards for a seamless experience for both you and your customers. Not sure? Try Cardivo today and see the impact firsthand.

Let this BFCM 2026 be your most profitable yet by offering existing and potential customers the convenience of easy digital gift cards!