Sending digital gift cards is easy. You pick a card, set a budget, but then a box that says ‘write a message’ pops up, and suddenly you can’t think of anything to say to your employee who’s celebrating their birthday or to your client who just signed a contract with your company.
The good news is, sending a gift card in and ot itself is already a good way to show appreciation, whether that’s to your employee, client, or someone else. In the latest NRF holiday survey, gift cards topped the list of what people most want to receive, with 50% of recipients naming them first. Now, the only thing you need is the message to make it feel personal.
That’s what we’ll tackle in this blog, where we list the 30 gift card message ideas you can copy, adjust, and send, grouped by occasion.
What are the 30 gift card messages you can use?
When it comes to gift card messages, short beats long. And, if you’re wondering what to write in a gift card, the formula is fairly simple: use your recipient’s name so they know it actually belongs to them, say why they’re getting it, and if you know a specific detail (like the sales they just closed or the trip they keep talking about), work it in. Remember that a good gift card note just sounds like something you’d actually say.
Thank you gift card messages
A thank-you gift card message works best when it names the thing you're grateful for. Here are some examples you can use:
“You made a huge difference this quarter, and we wanted to say thanks. Enjoy a meal, coffee, or something you've had your eye on."
“You helped make everyone's week a whole lot easier. Hope this gives you an excuse to grab your favorite coffee or lunch."
“Hey, [name]. This is just a small way of saying thank you. We really appreciate everything you've done lately.”
“You put in the extra effort, and we wanted to make sure you knew it didn't go unnoticed. Enjoy this little thank you from us.”
Sample gift card options for a simple thank you: Starbucks, Amazon, Instacart, Etsy
Birthday gift card messages
When writing a birthday gift card message, it should be warm but not an essay. Keep it about your recipient, not about work. Some ideas:
“Hope you're having an amazing birthday, [name]! Spend this on whatever makes you happiest today.”
“[Name], happy birthday! Thanks for everything you do. We hope you celebrate yourself today because you deserve it.”
“Cheers to another trip around the sun! Enjoy your day, and don't forget to treat yourself.”
“Hope you have a fantastic birthday, [name]! You deserve a day that's every bit as great as you are.”
Sample gift card options for birthdays: Amazon, Target, Bath & Body Works, Apple
Work anniversary and milestone messages
A gift card for employee milestones works when it points straight at the milestone. Here are some notes you can use:
“Thanks for another great year, [name]. We wouldn't be the same without you. Enjoy a little something on us!”
"Cheers to [number of years] with the team! Hope you use this to celebrate however you'd like.”
“It's been another great year with you on the team. Thanks for everything you do, and happy [number of years] work anniversary!”
“Thanks for sticking with us through another year. We appreciate everything you do and hope you enjoy celebrating today.”
Sample gift card options for work anniversaries and milestones: Airbnb, Marriott Bonvoy, SpaFinder
New hire and welcome messages
First-day nerves are real, so keep the welcome easy and warm for your new teammate. If you need some ideas, here are a couple:
“So glad you're joining us, [name]! Here's a little welcome gift to kick things off. We can't wait to work with you.”
“[name], welcome to the team! We know there's a lot to take in during your first week, so here's something to help you settle in.”
“Happy first day! We hope this helps make your first week a little more enjoyable. Welcome aboard!”
“Welcome, welcome! We're excited to have you here and hope this helps you kick off your first week.”
“Here's to new beginnings! We're so glad you're here and can't wait to see what you'll accomplish.”
Sample gift card options for new hire onboarding: Amazon, Instacart, IKEA
Holiday messages
Since holiday sends may go out in bulk, a personalized note can make it stand out better. Here are some messages that you can use:
"[name], thanks for everything this year. We hope you take some time to relax, celebrate, and enjoy yourself. Happy holidays!"
“Wishing you a holiday season filled with good memories and a little time to unwind. Enjoy!”
“Happy holidays, [name]! Consider this a small thank-you for everything you've contributed this year.”
“Thanks for everything this year. We hope you take some time to relax, celebrate, and enjoy yourself. Happy holidays, [name]!”
Sample gift card options for holidays: Sephora, Amazon, Nintendo, Macy’s, HomeGoods
Congratulations messages for promotions
For promotions, your notes should actually sound excited. So, we curated a couple of messages you can use for such occasions:
“[name], big congratulations on the promotion! We couldn't be happier for you. Here's to the next chapter.”
“This is a big milestone, and we're so excited for you, [name]. Congratulations, and enjoy every minute of it!”
“Congratulations on the promotion! Thanks for everything you've done to get here, [name]. We can't wait to see what you accomplish next.”
“Couldn't be happier for you, [name]. Congratulations on the promotion, and have an amazing time celebrating!”
“This is a big milestone, and we're so excited for you. Congratulations, and enjoy every minute of it!”
Sample git card options for promotions: Airbnb, Nike, Topgolf, Royal Caribbean, Dave & Buster’s
Messages for a Gift Card Paired With Swag
Sometimes, gift cards are better paired with something physical that your recipients can touch. In such instances, the gift card can be sent either to your recipient’s email (digital) or inside the swag kit (physical). Here are some messages you can use if you’re opting for this approach:
“Happy first week! Your welcome kit should be arriving soon. In the meantime, enjoy a coffee (or your favorite treat) on us, [name].”
“[name], welcome to the team! We've got a new hire swag kit headed your way, plus a little something for you in the meantime."
“We couldn't let your first week start empty-handed. Your onboarding swag kit is on the way, and this one's for coffee. Welcome to the team!”
“Your new hire swag kit is making its way to you. While you wait, here's a little something to kick off your first week. Enjoy, [name]!”
Sample options for gift cards with swag: Starbucks, Amazon, Barnes & Noble
Note: The gift card options listed under each occasion are US examples. PerkUp’s catalog is localized by country, so with 5,000+ options, you can send local gift cards to recipients wherever they are, like Grab in Southeast Asia or Flipkart in India.
Send Gift Cards to Your Global Team with PerkUp
You want to send a gift card, and now you know what you want to say. The only thing left to do is to send it. Except when you’re sending gift cards to 200 or 500 employees, clients, or event attendees who are all over the world, the task is suddenly more difficult and complicated.
In such cases, the easiest way to overcome it is to choose platforms like PerkUp. It’s a swag management and corporate gifting platform that’s built for global teams, which makes it the exact solution to your problems.
PerkUp has over 5,000 gift cards from brands your recipients already know, like Amazon, Uber Eats, Netflix, Grab, and Flipkart. There are two things that make PerkUp’s gift card catalog stand out: 1) the gift card options are localized by country, meaning your recipients will see the brands that they can actually buy from wherever they are, and 2) the amount you put into the gift card also converts to each recipient’s local currency automatically, so there’s no need for manual conversions.
And since PerkUp can automate sending gift cards, you can set the budget, curate a selection of brands (if you want to), and write your note only once. PerkUp will send the gift card all on its own, pulling the dates of milestones (like birthdays and work anniversaries) from your HRIS.
In addition to gift cards, PerkUp also offers swag (On Demand, bulk, event swag, swag kits, and swag stores) that you can combine with gift cards. Thanks to PerkUp’s warehousing network in the US, Canada, Mexico, the UK, Europe, India, China, and Australia, you can also send these physical swag items to over 65 countries.
Conclusion
Gift cards and messages go hand in hand. With little to no effort, you can make your recipient’s celebration or milestone a bit more memorable and exciting.
Use any of the 30 lines above, swap in a name and/or one detail, and you’re done. And if you need to send it out to more than 50 people, rely on platforms like PerkUp, so you can set a budget, write your note once, and send localized gift cards for your team. See how it works!
Frequently Asked Questions about Gift Cards
How many gift cards does PerkUp offer?
Over 5,000 gift cards are offered by PerkUp. Some of the most popular ones include Amazon, Uber Eats, Netflix, Grab, and Flipkart. Gift cards are also localized per country, so they’re perfect for global teams.
Can PerkUp handle regional currency display?
Definitely! The PerkUp platform automatically displays the local currency conversion for your recipient. What this means is that a gift card sent to a teammate in Canada shows up in CAD, not USD, so the amount reads right wherever they are.
Can we do spot bonuses or rewards?
Yes. You can drop a gift card on someone for a quick win, redeemable in the store or on a card of their choice, with no formal program required.
Can we automate work anniversaries and birthdays?
Absolutely! Set it once, and PerkUp sends the gift card on the right date every year, pulling the dates from your HRIS so nothing gets missed.
