Custom paper gift cards & gift vouchers

Paper gift cards are the right answer for seasonal campaigns (Christmas, Mother's Day, Valentine's Day), promotional vouchers, direct mailings, corporate gifting batches and brands running on a sustainability positioning. They deliver a visibly premium gift moment at a lower per-card cost than plastic, in formats — DL voucher, A6 — that PVC cannot match. PVC gift cards remain more relevant for ongoing in-store rack distribution where the card must survive months of pre-purchase handling on a display.

Paper gift cards do not carry a chip or magnetic stripe — value is linked through a printed code activated by the cashier or the customer at redemption. Four configurations are common: a unique QR code linking to your activation platform; a sequential alphanumeric code keyed manually into the POS; a unique 1D barcode scanned at the till; or a hidden code under a scratch-off ink layer revealed by the recipient at activation. The choice depends on your existing gift card platform and POS setup.

Yes. Variable code printing is the standard configuration for paper gift cards. Provide a structured CSV or Excel file with one row per card and the variable code values, and we merge the codes card by card during the print run. The 100-card minimum applies to the total run, not per design — so a campaign launching with 1000 cards in two seasonal artworks meets the threshold comfortably.

Scratch-off ink prevents the activation code from being visible while the card sits on a retail display rack. Without scratch-off, anyone could photograph the code, activate it elsewhere and steal the gift value. Scratch-off makes the code accessible only after the card has been purchased and the recipient deliberately scratches the layer. It is the standard anti-fraud configuration for gift cards distributed through self-service retail racks.

Two reference formats. Standard card format (85 × 54 mm) — the reference for in-store rack distribution, fits wallet card slots and standard die-cut sleeves. Voucher format DL (105 × 210 mm) or A6 (105 × 148 mm) — larger format for direct mailings, hospitality vouchers, spa experiences and corporate gifting where the voucher carries descriptive text alongside the value (terms of use, validity, redemption instructions). Both formats support the same finishes and activation options.

Yes, and we recommend it. Running the cards and the packaging in a single project lets us align colour references between the card and the sleeve, synchronise production schedules, deliver everything in one consolidated dispatch and pre-pair cards inside their packaging when the retail kit requires it. Die-cut sleeves, folded holders, envelopes and presentation boxes are all available in the same project.

Yes. FSC-certified recycled paper is a standard stock option, alongside uncoated natural stock from responsibly managed forests. Vegetable inks (soy or linseed-based) pair particularly well with these stocks. For brands subject to sustainability reporting or the EU Green Claims Directive, composition details and stock certifications can be provided on request to support tender responses or environmental disclosures.

Our standard minimum is 100 cards per design. For seasonal campaigns running across multiple artwork variants (Christmas, Mother's Day, brand anniversary), the minimum applies per design — but multi-design batches benefit from setup synergy when produced together. Variable code projects use the total run as the minimum threshold.

Standard production runs 4 to 6 working days from proof approval — slightly faster than PVC because no lamination on plastic or chip encoding is involved. Projects with scratch-off application, perforation or other premium finishes extend to 6 to 10 working days due to the additional finishing steps. Express lead times of 2 to 4 working days are available for time-sensitive seasonal campaigns on standard configurations. Delivery covers Europe and the UK with tracked shipping; international dispatch on request.

Yes — every paper gift card order includes a free digital proof showing the artwork on the chosen stock with finish zones (foil, spot UV, scratch-off, perforation) clearly identified. For variable code projects, a sample card is generated with a representative code so you can validate the activation flow before the full run. No cards are produced without your explicit sign-off.

Yes. Two routes alongside print-ready file orders. Template adaptation — share your retail or hospitality brand identity, the campaign theme (Christmas, Mother's Day, brand anniversary), face values and any voucher format constraints, and we adapt an existing paper gift card template. Full custom design — our in-house designers create the card or voucher from scratch with seasonal artwork, activation code positioning and packaging coordination. Both routes are priced alongside the print order, with two revision rounds included on the custom route.