The Shopper Is the Message
On this card the sales pitch is a person. A woman with red hair, in a white shirt and jeans, smiles as she reaches for something on a shelf, with a green shopping cart in front of her. She is the customer you want to give the certificate to: happy, relaxed and busy shopping. The rest of the design stays out of her way.
Design Facts
The certificate is 3.375 x 2.125 inches in landscape, the size of a credit card. The left side is a solid royal navy, with a gently curved edge where it meets the photograph. At the top left, a white shopping bag with an S on it sits above the words STORE LOGO. The headline RETAIL STORE is set in bright blue condensed capitals, with Gift Certificate in a white script underneath. The condensed face is Oswald.
Below the title, four white lines read TO, FROM, AMOUNT and VALID UNTIL. The photograph fills the entire right side.
Who It Fits
- Supermarkets, grocers and convenience stores.
- Clothing, shoe and accessory shops.
- Department stores with many counters.
- Any retailer whose photo shows people shopping.
Adjusting the Words
Retype RETAIL STORE to your trade, such as Grocery, Bookshop, Garden Centre or Toy Shop. The lines are text, so you can rename AMOUNT to Value or add a line for a certificate number. If your business is not a store, replace the shopping bag logo and keep the layout.
Swapping the Photograph
Click the photograph and use Replace Image. Choose a picture of your own aisles or a happy customer, with the main subject in the middle and bright light. The edge of the picture follows a curve, so keep important parts away from the left edge.
Handling the Money Side
Gift certificates are liabilities until they are used. Keep a list of numbers, amounts and dates. Decide your rules on change given for partial use and on lost certificates, and print them on the back by duplicating the page in the editor. A clear, short rule prevents most disputes.
Keeping the Navy Rich on Paper
Deep navy needs generous ink, so choose matte card stock between 250 and 300 gsm and run a test. Eight cards fit on a letter sheet with the usual margins. A guillotine gives straight edges, and a corner rounder gives a polished look.
A Certificate for Every Kind of Shelf
Because the photograph shows a supermarket aisle with a shopper and a cart, the card suits businesses where the gift is a general shopping trip. If you sell something very specific, such as shoes or furniture, choose a different photograph that matches your goods. The layout holds any bright picture with a clear subject on the right.
A Short Terms Sentence
Keep a simple sentence ready for the back: “Valid for in-store purchases only. Not redeemable for cash.” Short, clear terms help staff and protect the business.
Other designs for shops: the online shopping gift certificate, the Christmas retail store certificate and the electronics Black Friday certificate. See all in gift certificates and vouchers.
