Overview
Many brick‑and‑mortar retailers issue physical gift cards via POS. This case study shows how to keep Shopify in sync so customers can redeem anywhere.
The challenge retailers face
- POS can instantly assign value to pre‑numbered plastic cards.
- In native Shopify, a Gift Card requires manual value assignment later.
- This creates room for error during busy hours and complicates reconciliation.
What’s happening in Shopify
You sell a physical item labeled “Gift Card.” The printed number the customer receives has no value until someone assigns it in Products → Gift Cards, which is prone to delays and mistakes.
Solution with BluePeacock Gift Card Importer
- Keep issuing cards at POS as usual and let POS store the value immediately.
- Export those cards from POS in CSV (code, balance, created/expiry dates, etc.).
- Import the CSV into Shopify using the Gift Card Importer.
- Importer prevents duplicates, so you can safely re‑use and append the same CSV as you batch updates.
Recommended flow
- Throughout the day: load values on physical cards at POS.
- End of day or week: export a CSV from POS.
- Upload the CSV to the Gift Card Importer.
Benefits
- Unified redemption across online and stores.
- Clear audit trail and easier reconciliation.
- Less manual work; fewer errors.
Tip: start with weekly batches, then move to daily once the flow is stable.
FAQs
Quick answers to common POS sync questions.
Can I import cards sold at POS into Shopify with balances?
Yes. Export a CSV from POS (code, balance, currency, created/expiry dates) and map columns in the importer to preserve balances and expiry.
Will duplicate codes be detected?
Yes. The importer validates and prevents duplicates so repeated batches are safe.
How often should we sync?
Start weekly, then move to daily once verified.