Drive Smart, Simple Bookings with Gingr’s Promotions Tool

Did you know "BOGO" is an actual word in the English dictionary? Since its first use in the early 1980s, it's become synonymous with a good deal. The acronym is short, it rhymes, it's easy to remember, and it offers buyers something of value.

Deals, promotions, and promo codes have become a staple across industries for decades, and for good reason. They not only give customers an incentive to book or buy but also create a sense of urgency and excitement. For pet-care businesses, promotions can help smooth out seasonal dips, introduce clients to new services, and reward loyalty in a fun and valuable way. A well-placed promo code can be the nudge a hesitant pet parent needs to book that first daycare stay or add grooming to a boarding reservation, ultimately boosting both customer satisfaction and your bottom line.

Pet parents love a good deal, but they also love convenience.

With Gingr’s Promotions Tool, you can give them both. From easy-to-remember codes to seasonal specials that apply automatically at checkout, Gingr helps you deliver the booking experience that keeps tails wagging and clients returning.

Why Promotions Work for Pet-Care Businesses

Promotions and promo codes have long been a proven marketing strategy across industries, and they’re especially effective in pet care. For busy pet parents, a discount is often the nudge they need to book that first grooming session or sign up for daycare. Promo codes also create urgency and excitement, encouraging clients to act quickly before the offer expires.

Promotions can do more than just bring in short-term revenue for your business. They can:

• Fill gaps in your schedule by boosting bookings during slower days or off-peak seasons.
• Introduce clients to new services, like bundling grooming with boarding or offering a discount on training classes.
• Build customer loyalty by rewarding repeat visitors with exclusive codes.
• Drive predictable revenue when tied to packages or recurring bookings.

The right promotion at the right time can turn hesitant first-timers into lifelong clients while giving your staff a smoother, more balanced workload.

Setting Up Promotions in Gingr

You’ll find Promotions under Admin > Manage Promotions in your Gingr app. From there, you can build, edit, and schedule offers that align with your business goals. Gingr makes the process intuitive while giving you the flexibility to customize each promotion for maximum impact.

Here’s how it works:

• Tailor discounts by location
  If you run multiple sites, you know every location has its own rhythms and customer base. Gingr lets you customize promotions for each one, so you can run a holiday boarding special in one region while testing a weekday daycare discount in another. This flexibility makes it easy to adapt to local demand without overhauling your entire system.

• Easily expand to new locations
  Opening a new facility? Instead of rebuilding your promotions list from scratch, Gingr will prompt you to copy existing ones. That way, your new location starts strong with proven offers while still giving you the freedom to adjust later.

• Flexible promo codes
  Every promotion requires a code, and simplicity is key. Keep codes short, snappy, and easy to remember (e.g., WOOF10 or BOARD20). Avoid spaces and dashes to prevent client confusion and ensure smooth redemption.

• Choose your discount type
  Decide whether your offer works best as a percentage discount (like 10% off daycare) or a flat dollar amount (like $15 off grooming). You can even limit certain promotions to a single use to make them feel more exclusive.

• Apply per client, not per pet
  Gingr applies promotions to the pet parent’s booking as a whole. That way, if a family brings in multiple pets, the discount still applies fairly and consistently.

By giving you options at every step, Gingr makes setting up promotions straightforward for staff and easy for pet parents to redeem.

Fine-Tuning with Promotion Rules

Not all discounts need to apply to everything you offer, and that’s where Promotion Rules come in. Gingr gives you granular control so each promotion serves a clear purpose.

Here’s what you can do:

• Target specific reservation types
  Want to fill more boarding spots? Restrict your promotion to boarding services only. Need to encourage more weekday daycare visits? Set your promotion to apply exclusively to daycare.

• Apply discounts across the board
  For broader campaigns, you can enable promotions for all reservation types, including daycare, grooming, training, packages, and even retail items. This is especially effective for loyalty-style promotions where you want clients to feel rewarded no matter how they engage with your business.

• Schedule promotions for the right time
  Timing matters. You can activate promotions manually or schedule them for seasonal spikes. Having promotions ready to go ensures you’re not scrambling during peak times. Think:

  • Back-to-school daycare specials
  • Summer vacation boarding deals
  • Holiday grooming packages

• Automatic validation
  Gingr’s built-in shopping cart system automatically checks if a promotion is valid and applies it at checkout. No need for staff to double-check rules—the system does it for you.

• Manual application when needed
  If you prefer, staff can apply promotions directly by clicking the ticket icon next to a line item. This flexibility ensures no client misses out on an offer they qualify for.

With Promotion Rules, your business can design offers that are precise, intentional, and aligned with your revenue goals.

Creative Promotion Ideas for Pet-Care Businesses

The best promotions aren’t just about discounts. Creativity and connection are key. Here are some tried-and-true ideas you can adapt for your daycare, grooming, training, or boarding facility:

• Holiday boarding specials
  Market festive packages like “Thanksgiving Sleepovers” or “Santa’s Helpers Boarding” to fill your kennels during peak travel times.

• First-time client incentives
  Encourage new clients to give you a try by offering 20% off their first daycare day or $10 off their first grooming appointment. This lowers the barrier to entry and builds trust.

• Daycare package kickstarts
  Launch new package deals with a code like DAYCARE10 for $10 off their first bundle. Once clients see the savings and convenience of packages, they’re more likely to buy again.

• Slow-day boosts
  If you know Wednesdays or Fridays are slower, run a limited-time “Midweek Mutt Special” for daycare to fill those empty slots.

• Cross-service promotions
  Drive more bundled bookings by offering a grooming discount when a client books boarding, or a retail discount when they schedule training.

• Loyalty rewards
  Surprise repeat customers with a promo code delivered via email or text message. For example, “Thanks for 5 daycare visits—enjoy 50% off your next one!”

• Referral incentives
  Encourage word-of-mouth growth by giving both the referrer and the new client a discount code when someone books from a referral.

These creative promotions fill your schedule and strengthen relationships with pet parents.

Marketing Your Promotions Effectively

Creating a great promotion is step one. Getting the word out is step two. A well-marketed promotion can multiply your bookings and make your business stand out from the competition. Here are some proven ways to spread the word:

• Feature promotions in your Customer Portal
  Clients booking online will see active promotions in real time, making it easy for them to take advantage of the offer.

• Send email marketing campaigns
  Use your client database to  send targeted emails announcing seasonal or limited-time promotions. Include clear subject lines, fun pet images, and the promo code in bold so it stands out.

• Leverage social media
  Share promotions on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok with engaging graphics or short videos of happy pets. Make sure to include your promo code in images and text so it's visible and easy to remember.

• Use in-lobby signage
  Posters, flyers, or digital screens in your lobby can catch the attention of walk-in customers. A QR code linking directly to the promotion makes redemption even easier.

• Empower your staff
  Train your team to mention promotions at checkout, over the phone, or while chatting with pet parents. Personal recommendations go a long way in building trust.

• Cross-promote with local partners
  Partner with nearby vets, groomers, or pet boutiques to share promo codes with each other’s audiences. It’s a cost-effective way to expand your reach.

By marketing your promotions strategically, you ensure that every discount has maximum impact and drives real business growth.

Smarter Bookings, Happier Clients

With Gingr’s Promotions Tool, you can run targeted, creative campaigns without creating headaches for your staff. From multi-location management to automatic discount validation, Gingr makes promotions simple, flexible, and effective. By offering the right promotions at the right time—and marketing them effectively—you can boost revenue, balance your schedule, and keep your clients returning.

Wanta step-by-step walkthrough to setup Promotions? Check out our video tutorial.

Team Gingr also hosted a webinar, Using Gingr Promotions to the Fullest, with step-by-step guidance and a customer Q&A. Get the recap here.

New to Gingr? Ready to take the busywork out of marketing your services? Let our pet-care business software ease the load so you can focus on what you do best: caring for pets. Book a demo today!