Overview
A special offer on digital gift cards discounts specific gift card amounts during a scheduled window in the patient app. These promotions drive prepaid revenue around holidays, anniversaries, and peak gifting seasons.
Gift card special offers apply during in-app checkout only. You configure the offer in MedCommerce Engine → Special Offers, select gift card amounts, set dates, and promote through text and shop categories.
This article is for practice owners, managers, and admins running gift card promotions.
Before You Start
Digital gift cards must be configured with amounts and templates. See Digital gift cards overview (Admin Panel).
Open MedCommerce Engine → Special Offers in the Admin Panel.
Gift card offers require the In-App availability toggle on. Gift cards cannot be discounted through in-office-only offers.
Compliance: Align promotions with local regulatory guidelines. Buy X, Get Y structures where the reward (Y) is another gift card are generally restricted. Use in-office credits or discounted pricing as compliant alternatives.
Plan creative assets, amounts, and dates 1 to 2 weeks before launch.
Why It Matters
Gift card promos:
Lock in revenue upfront before services are delivered.
Attract new buyers, including non-patients purchasing through your web page.
Increase redemption spend since recipients often spend above the card value.
Run on a schedule with minimal ongoing staff effort when configured correctly.
How It Works
In-app only: Special offers for gift cards apply when patients purchase gift cards in the app (or via your branded gift card web flow tied to in-app offers). Turn In-App on when creating the offer.
Discount types: Choose Amount Off, Percentage Off, or Free Service (for example, buy a $500 gift card, get a free HydraFacial). Savings apply at the cart level for selected gift card denominations.
Denomination targeting: Select Gift Cards as the service type and choose specific card amounts (for example, $100 and $250 only).
Usage limits: Set Multi-Use (same patient, multiple checkouts during the window) or Single-Use (one redemption per patient during the window).
Exclusions: To keep gift cards out of broader shop promotions, exclude gift cards in Special Offers settings for those campaigns.
Promotion: Announce via text, feature in a Custom Shop Category, and align imagery across social, email, and in-office signage.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Open Special Offers and start a new offer
Log in to your Admin Panel.
Go to MedCommerce Engine → Special Offers.
Click the orange lightning bolt (Quick Actions) and select Create new offer, or click Create a new special offer.
Choose redemption method and locations
Select In-app so the deal applies during app checkout.
Under Locations, choose all locations or specific locations where the offer is valid.
Confirm the In-App availability toggle is on at the top of the create-offer page. Gift card offers require in-app availability.
Add offer messaging and imagery
Enter an attention-grabbing title and preview text (for example, “Black Friday Sale: 20% off a $100 gift card”).
Upload an image shown with the offer in the app.
Optional: match imagery to a Custom Shop Category or seasonal gift card artwork.
Configure offer details
Choose the discount type:
Amount Off (for example, buy a $120 gift card for $100)
Percentage Off (for example, 10% off gift card purchase)
Free Service (for example, buy a $500 gift card, get a free HydraFacial)
Under What’s included, select Gift Cards and choose specific card amounts.
Set Multi-Use or Single-Use under offer usage.
Set promo code and offer window
Enter a promo code patients can apply at checkout (for example, GLOW20).
Set start and end dates for the promotional window.
Optional: add Offer Details and a Disclaimer (for example, “Cannot be combined with other discounts”).
Promote your offer
Click Create a text message to announce the campaign to your patient list.
Schedule the text for the offer start date.
Add the promo to a Custom Shop Category so patients find it while browsing.
Align messaging and imagery across social posts, email, and in-office signage.
Best Practices and Pro Tips
Schedule early. Load designs, amounts, and dates 1 to 2 weeks before the holiday or event.
Plan a text cadence. Launch, mid-promo reminder, and final-hours push keep engagement high.
Keep messaging consistent across every channel.
Test privately first. Set the offer to Private and adjust the start date to verify settings before going live.
Monitor performance. Track sales, average gift card amount, and units sold; add mid-campaign texts if needed.
Use Done-For-You Promos for seasonal campaigns with pre-built creative. See the RepeatMD global e-commerce promotions calendar.
Common Mistakes and FAQs
Q: Can I discount gift cards with an in-office-only special offer?
A: No. Gift card special offers require the In-App toggle on.
Q: Can I run a Buy X, Get Y gift card promotion?
A: Structures where the reward is another gift card are generally restricted. Use compliant alternatives such as in-office credits or discounted gift card pricing. Confirm with your legal or compliance advisor.
Q: Can I exclude gift cards from other shop promotions?
A: Yes. Configure exclusions in Special Offers settings so broader discounts do not apply to gift cards.
Q: Which gift card amounts receive the discount?
A: Only the denominations you select under Gift Cards in the offer builder.
Q: Can patients use a promo code and automatic offer pricing together?
A: Follow the rules configured in your offer. Test in a private offer before launch.
Next Steps and Support
Need help? Email support@repeatmd.com