Gift cards are one of the easiest things a gym or fitness studio can sell. A client pays you now, and a friend or family member walks through your door later, already trusting you.
They are also popular. The National Retail Federation found that gift cards ranked as the second most popular holiday gift for 2025, with 43% of shoppers planning to buy at least one.
Yet most gyms and studios treat gift cards (or gift certificates) as an afterthought: one card, one amount, mentioned once in December. Below are 25 gift card ideas for gyms, Pilates, yoga, barre, dance, spin, boxing and other fitness studios: what to offer, holiday promotion ideas, wording examples, and how to turn recipients into regular clients.
Why Sell Gift Cards at Your Gym or Studio?
- Cash before the class. The buyer pays today. The class happens weeks or months later.
- New clients you didn't pay to find. Most recipients have never booked with you, and they arrive on the word of someone they trust.
- Extra spend. Recipients often spend more than the card value. A 2024 UK study by the Gift Card & Voucher Association found that 68% of people who redeemed a gift card spent more than its value.
- A December boost. Class bookings often dip over the holidays, just when gift card sales peak.
The catch: gift cards only pay off if recipients come in and have a good first visit.
Gift Card Ideas: What to Offer
1. Name gift cards by what they buy
"€100 gift card" makes the buyer work out what it covers. "Three reformer classes" or "One month of yoga" does not. Name each card by the experience, then show the amount.
For example:
- Try a class – €30
- Three classes – €90
- Private session – €120
2. Keep it to two or three amounts
Too many options slow buyers down. A small, mid and large amount covers almost everyone:
- A small one for colleagues, teachers and secret Santa
- A mid one for friends and family
- A large one for partners and big birthdays
3. Match the small amount to a single class
Your smallest gift card should cover at least one full class or drop-in. A gift card that buys nothing on its own feels like a discount coupon, not a gift.
4. Offer a "first month" gift card
Size a gift card to your first-month price. It's the right gift for someone who keeps saying they want to start Pilates, yoga or boxing, and it gives them enough classes to build a habit.
5. Create a private session gift card
Private sessions are an easy premium gift. They suit beginners who feel nervous about group classes, clients recovering from injury, and anyone who wants one-to-one attention. They cost more, so you don't need to sell many.
6. Make a couples or "bring a friend" gift card
Some buyers want to share the experience, not just give it. A gift card sized for two people in one class, or two private sessions, works well for anniversaries, Valentine's Day and friends who want to train together.
7. Add a workshop or event gift card
If you run workshops, a gift card sized to a workshop ticket suits regular clients. Think "Intro to reformer", a handstand workshop, a sound bath or a dance choreography session.
8. Use a seasonal design
A gift card with a winter image in December and a spring image for Mother's Day feels more like a gift. Swapping the image takes two minutes and gives you something fresh to post.
9. Write the description for the buyer, not the recipient
The buyer decides, so the description should answer their questions:
- What can it be used for?
- How long is it valid?
- How does the recipient book?
- Is it good for beginners?
For example: "A gift for someone who wants to try reformer Pilates. Use it for any class or private session. Valid for 12 months. Beginners welcome."
Holiday Gift Card Promotion Ideas
10. Start in November, not December
Many shoppers start buying before December. Put your gift cards on your booking page and website in early November so they are ready when people start looking.
11. Run a Black Friday gift card promotion
Black Friday shoppers expect a deal. Push gift cards instead of discounting memberships. If you add a bonus, give it to the buyer and keep it easy to fulfil at the front desk, for example a free class for themselves when they buy a large gift card.
12. Promote last-minute digital gifts
Digital gift cards land in the inbox seconds after payment, so they work as a last-minute gift on 22–24 December, when it's too late to ship anything. Say it plainly in your posts: "Still need a gift? It arrives by email in seconds."
13. Put a gift card banner at the front desk
Regular clients are your best buyers, and they're already in the studio. A simple sign at the front desk reaches them at no cost.
14. Email your clients three times
One email is easy to miss. A simple holiday sequence works well:
- Early November: "Gift cards are here"
- Early December: "Gift ideas for people who love to move"
- 20–23 December: "Last-minute gift, delivered in seconds"
15. Ask instructors to mention it
A 15-second mention at the end of class ("If you're stuck for gift ideas, our gift cards are on the booking page") works because it comes from someone clients already like.
16. Plan for every gifting moment, not just Christmas
Gift cards sell all year if you remind people. Good moments for fitness studios include:
- Valentine's Day
- Mother's Day and Father's Day
- Birthdays
- Graduations
- Weddings and bridal parties
- New Year's resolutions
- Back-to-school for parents (dance studios especially)
- Thank-you gifts for teachers, nurses and coaches
17. Post a gift guide on social media
A short "gift ideas for your Pilates friend" or "what to get a yogi" post feels helpful, not salesy. Put your gift card at the top, and fill the rest with things like grip socks, water bottles or a local coffee shop. For more ways to promote your gym all year, see our gym marketing ideas.
Partner and Corporate Gift Card Ideas
18. Partner with local businesses
Team up with nearby cafés, physios, salons or boutiques to promote each other's gift cards, or create a joint gift bundle. It reaches people who live nearby and already spend locally.
19. Sell gift cards to local employers
Companies buy gift cards for staff, clients and team rewards, especially at year end. Reach out to local offices, clinics and shops with a simple offer, such as a set number of gift cards for their team.
20. Use gift cards as raffle and charity prizes
Schools, clubs and charity events are always looking for prizes. Donating a gift card costs you a class spot and puts your studio in front of a room full of local people.
21. Offer gift cards for wedding and bridal parties
Bridal parties, bachelorette groups and wedding guests buying for the couple all make good gift card buyers.
Turning Gift Card Recipients Into Members
This is where gift cards pay off. Most recipients have never booked with you, so treat their first visit like an intro offer.
22. Make the first booking easy
The gift card email should take the recipient straight to your booking page. Make sure your beginner classes are easy to find and clearly labelled so they don't feel lost on the schedule.
23. Welcome them by name
Ask your front desk or instructor to look out for gift card redemptions. A simple "Welcome, I heard someone gifted you this class" makes the recipient feel expected.
24. Recommend the next step before they leave
Tell them what to book next, usually your intro offer or a monthly membership. Don't leave them to work it out.
25. Follow up by email
Send a short email a day or two after their first class: thank them for coming, ask how it went, and link to the plan you recommend. Many new clients don't come back because they forget, not because they disliked the class.
Gift Card Ideas by Studio Type
The best gift card depends on what you sell. A few ideas for each type of fitness business:
- Gyms and CrossFit boxes: A first-month gift card, a personal training starter session, or an intro to strength class. Good for New Year's resolutions. See gym software and CrossFit gym software.
- Pilates studios: A three-class reformer gift card, a private session for beginners, or a mat and reformer combo. Pilates gift cards sell well for Mother's Day. See Pilates studio software.
- Yoga studios: A class pack gift card, a workshop or retreat deposit, or a sound bath for two. See yoga studio software.
- Personal trainers: A personal training gift card for one to three sessions, sized to your starter package. See personal trainer software.
- Dance studios: A drop-in class for adults, a workshop, or a wedding dance lesson for couples. See dance studio software.
- Boxing and martial arts: A beginner course, a private lesson, or a self-defence workshop. See martial arts software.
- Spin studios: A ride pack, a "ride with a friend" gift card, or a themed ride. See spin studio software.
Gift Card Wording Examples
Clear, warm wording helps both the buyer and the recipient. Copy and adapt these.
Gift card description:
A gift for anyone who wants to feel stronger. Use it for any group class or personal training session. Valid for 12 months. Beginners welcome.
Personal message ideas for buyers:
- "Happy birthday! Your first class is on me."
- "For all the times you said you wanted to try Pilates."
- "Let's train together. See you in class."
Social media post:
Still looking for a gift? Give a class at [studio name]. Gift cards arrive by email in seconds and are valid for 12 months. Link in bio.
Holiday email subject lines:
- "The gift they'll actually use"
- "Gift cards are here for the holidays"
- "Last-minute gift? Delivered in seconds"
Gift Card Rules to Check Before You Sell
Gift cards are a promise to provide a service later. A few rules keep them simple.
Expiry dates
Gift card laws differ by country and state, and they usually apply to gift certificates and gift vouchers too. For example:
- US: The federal CARD Act generally requires gift cards to be valid for at least five years from purchase or the last time money was added. Some states, such as California, are stricter.
- Ireland: Gift vouchers must be valid for at least five years from purchase, and the buyer must be told the expiry date.
- Elsewhere: Rules vary, so check your local consumer law.
This is not legal advice. If you're unsure, ask an accountant or lawyer before setting an expiry date.
Show the terms clearly
Whatever validity you choose, make sure buyers and recipients can see it. State the expiry date, what the gift card can be used for, and whether it can be split across several bookings.
Track balances
If a recipient uses part of a gift card, you need to know what's left. Spreadsheets get messy fast, especially in December, so use software that tracks the code, balance and expiry for you.
Account for gift cards properly
A gift card sale is money you owe in services until it's redeemed. Ask your accountant how to record gift card sales and unused balances where you are.
Common Gift Card Mistakes
- Only selling in-person. Most holiday buyers want to buy online, often late at night.
- Too many amounts. Buyers freeze. Two or three is enough.
- Hiding the gift cards. If buyers can't find them on your booking page or website, they won't buy.
- Unclear terms. Recipients get frustrated if they find out at checkout that the card doesn't cover what they wanted.
- No follow-up. A recipient who comes once and disappears is a missed client.
- Only promoting in December. Birthdays and Mother's Day happen every year too.
How to Sell Gift Cards Online With Time2book
Time2book gift cards are built into your booking page, so there's no separate gift card tool to set up.
- Create your gift cards. In Catalog → Gift cards, set a name, description, image, amount and how long each card stays valid. Create as many as you like, for example €30, €90 and €120.
- Share your booking page. Gift cards appear in their own tab. Buyers pick a card, add the recipient's name and email and an optional personal message, and pay online.
- The recipient gets an email. It includes the amount, message, code, expiry date and a button to book with your studio. Buyers can also print the gift card from the confirmation page.
- The recipient books with the code. They book a class or appointment as usual and enter the code at checkout.
You can see who bought each gift card in the Purchases tab, and each client profile shows their gift card codes, remaining balance, expiry date and status. Step-by-step setup is in the gift cards help guide.
Gift cards sit alongside your class scheduling, memberships and payments, so recipients can book their first class and buy their next plan in the same place.
Final Thoughts
For gyms and fitness studios, gift cards are one of the few things that bring in money and new clients at the same time. Keep the options simple, name them by what they buy, put them where people can see them, and start promoting in November.
Then make the first visit count. A recipient who has a great first class and a clear next step becomes a member.
Frequently Asked Questions About Gym and Studio Gift Cards
Yes, for most gyms and studios. Gift cards bring in cash before the class happens, reach people who have never heard of your studio, and sell best in December, when class bookings are often slower.
Every gift card also comes with a warm introduction: someone who already trusts your studio is sending a friend to you.
Offer two or three amounts, not ten. A good set is one small amount for a single class or drop-in, one mid amount that covers a few classes, and one larger amount that covers a private session or a month of classes.
For example, a reformer Pilates studio might offer €30, €90 and €120. Name each one by what it buys, such as "Try a class" or "Three classes", so buyers do not have to do the maths.
Sell them online from your booking page or website, so people can buy at any time and the gift card is emailed straight to the recipient. Then promote them at the front desk, in class, by email and on social media, starting in early November.
Use booking software that creates the gift card codes and tracks balances and expiry dates for you, so you are not managing them in a spreadsheet.
Say what the gift card buys, how long it is valid and how to book. For example: "A gift for someone who wants to try reformer Pilates. Use it for any class or private session. Valid for 12 months. Beginners welcome."
For a gym or studio, yes. "Gift certificate" and "gift voucher" usually mean the same thing as a gift card: prepaid credit someone buys for another person to spend at your business. Today most are digital codes sent by email rather than printed certificates.
The biggest window is from Black Friday to Christmas, with last-minute sales right up to 24 December because a digital gift card arrives instantly. Smaller peaks come around Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, Father's Day, graduation and the start of the new year.
It depends on where you are. In the US, the federal CARD Act generally requires gift cards to stay valid for at least five years, and some states go further. In Ireland, gift vouchers must be valid for at least five years. Other countries have their own rules.
Check the rules where you operate before setting an expiry date. This article is not legal advice.
Digital first. A digital gift card can be bought at midnight on 23 December and land in the recipient's inbox seconds later. You do not need to print stock or run a till.
Buyers who want something to hand over can print the gift card from the confirmation page, or you can keep a few printed envelopes at the front desk for walk-in buyers.
Make the first visit easy and plan the next step. Welcome the recipient by name, introduce them to the instructor, and before they leave, suggest the plan that fits them, such as an intro pack or a monthly membership.
Follow up by email a day or two after their first class while the experience is still fresh.
Yes. In Time2book you create gift cards with a name, image, amount and validity period. They appear in their own tab on your booking page. Clients pay online, the recipient gets the code by email with the buyer's optional message, and you can see who bought each gift card and its remaining balance.
