How Local Retail Stores Can Attract New Customers With Fundraiser Vouchers

Retail gift cards are the most flexible fundraising product there is — they work for every kind of store, every kind of customer, and every kind of cause.

Here's the short version: sell gift cards at their face value through a fundraiser, with the share coming out of your margin (at least 10% on Generous.nz), and treat every redemption as the start of a relationship. Because retail margins are thinner than service businesses, the 10% floor is usually the right place — but the add-on sale at redemption is where the real return lives.

Why retail stores fit fundraising

A gift card has no sizing, no perishability, no "will they like it" risk — it's the easiest thing a supporter can buy for someone else. And unlike a voucher for a specific service, a store card brings the customer in to browse your whole range, which is exactly where the upsell happens.

Retail also has a built-in advantage: your shelves are already stocked, your staff are already paid, and every customer who walks in costs you nothing until they buy. A fundraiser card is marketing that pays for itself.

The maths that works

Let's price a $50 store card with a 10% share:

What happens	Amount
Buyer pays	$50.00
Fundraiser's share (10%)	$5.00
Platform fee (5% + GST on the sale)	~$2.75
You receive	~$42.25

If your margin on the goods they buy is 40%, the $42.25 you received covers roughly $105 of retail value — so the card costs you little even at full redemption, and any spend beyond the card is pure upside. That's why the 10% floor is the sweet spot for most stores. The share guide explains when going higher still makes sense.

What makes it work

• Price the card, not the discount. A $50 card is $50. Don't advertise "10% off" — the card is a gift, and gifting demand is what sells it. (Here's why gift vouchers are what customers actually want.)
• Encourage the add-on. "Got anything else in mind?" at the till is worth more than the card itself. Redemption spend above the card value is your hidden margin.
• Keep terms simple and generous. A sensible validity window, no surprise exclusions, and clear "not redeemable for cash" wording. See how to write terms that protect you without putting people off.
• Welcome the cardholder. Thank them for supporting the cause and ask if they've shopped with you before — that one question tells you whether the campaign delivered a new customer.
• Bring them back. Add cardholders to your loyalty list so the first visit becomes a habit. Here's how to turn voucher customers into regulars.

Which fundraisers to choose

Any local cause works, but the best fits are school fairs and galas (gift cards are the classic prize and stall item), sports clubs, and workplace or community campaigns. Choose fundraisers whose supporters match your customer base — the three-question framework makes this easy.

A few honest notes

Thin margins mean thin shares — stay at 10% unless you're using the card to clear stock or launch something new. Watch your redemption pattern too: if cards all redeem in the same week (like right after the school gala), that's fine — it's concentrated new traffic you'd otherwise have paid advertising to get.

Frequently asked questions

What's the minimum share I give a fundraiser?

At least 10% of each sale on Generous.nz. Retail margins usually make 10% the right number.

Who pays the platform fee?

You do — 5% + GST on sales, fee-free on your first $1,000, and no charge if nothing sells.

Do I receive the full sale amount?

Yes. The buyer pays you directly, the fundraiser's share is paid out automatically, and the platform never holds your money.

What if lots of cards redeem at once?

That's concentrated new traffic — a good problem. If it's a genuine rush, set a card cap on the listing next time.

Can I offer cards only in-store?

Yes — your terms are yours to set, as long as they're clear before purchase.