Gift Certificates

Dynamic Expiration Date

This is an expiration date that will be set in Nliven based on a number of days, months, or years configured from the purchase date.

Note: All expiration dates default to 11:59PM of the local time zone of the venue. Expiration dates are calculated from the purchase date vs. the delivery date (in the case of a custom delivery date).

Email Configuration

Custom text may be added within the Gift Certificate Recipient email.

To configure custom text, access the Event Template's Settings → Email → Gift Certificate Recipient email.  Like other email templates, you may add text to either the top or bottom message fields. These fields support HTML.

Configure Pricing

To configure the values of the Gift Certificate, you will need to create corresponding Price Levels (e.g. $500, $250 and so on) under the Event Template → Pricing → Price Levels. For further details, access the Create Price Levels in an Event Template page.

If you want to allow your web consumers to type in their own custom amount for the Gift Certificate, you should also add a Price Level called VARIABLE (Note: must be created in all caps). You can give this Price Level a nominal value of $1.

The VARIABLE Price Level is not required to sell Gift Certificates.

An example configuration of Price Levels / Gift Certificate Options

Configure Fee Sets

Within the Event Template, go to Pricing → Fee Sets and configure any Fees required for your Gift Certificate. For further details, access the Create Fee Sets/Fees in an Event Template page. 

Configure Inventory

Within the Event Template, go to Maps → Assign Prices and allocate inventory to each Price Level on the map as you see fit. For further details, access the Create/Edit Price, Hold, Accessible, Tag, or Seat Alert Maps in an Event Template page. 

Note: Only one Price Level per GA section is supported.

Create a Gift Certificate Event

Under Events → Event List → create an Event and set the Event's start date to today or yesterday and its end date to a date far in the future.

Note: The Publish Date and Web On-Sale Date should be in the past, so the event is viewable immediately.

Go through the standard process of generating seats and setting the event to active as you would with any Event creation as detailed in the Create/Edit an Event page.

Top Tip : If Gift Certificate inventory is becoming low or the current event date is expiring:

• Create a new Event (using the same event template) and add + 1 year (for example 31 Dec 2026). Make this Event active.
• Once allocation is exhausted on the current Event (for example 31 Dec 2025 event), you will need to make this Event inactivate for the Gift Certificate inventory to click over to the new/next 2026 Event (Or once you make the current Event inactive, the inventory pulls from the next active Event).
•  In terms of any refunds etc. to the old Event, this will only be applicable if the Admin Off Sale and Lock Date is still current (in the future, not the past).

Gift Certificate Sales

Sell Tickets / Admin Point of Sale (POS) Flow

Once selected, the Gift Certificate Event Template will display the Gift Certificate purchase page.   

The Nliven User will then fill in all the information required and click “Add to Basket”.  

The rest of the purchase path follows the standard Sell Tickets / POS flow. The purchaser will receive an order confirmation email detailing the Gift Certificate purchase.

The recipient of the Gift Certificate will receive the Gift Certificate via email (example below).

For further details, access the Sell Tickets (Point of Sale) page.

Consumer Purchase Flow

The consumer purchase flow on the web has the same design/layout as the Sell Tickets / POS purchase flow detailed above. 

Preliminary Setup For Gift Certificate Redemption

To allow Gift Certificate redemption for a specific Venue, a Gift Certificate Payment Account must be assigned at the Venue level. This is located under Venue → Payment.

Additionally, "Enable Gift Certificate Payments" must be toggled on (Blue), on the Event Template of the Event / Show (within the Venue(s) with a Gift Certificate Payment Account assigned per the above step) you wish to accept this form of payment for (located under Settings → Options → Purchasing).

Note: This toggle will be switched to the on position automatically. To remove the ability for consumers to pay with Gift Certificates for the Events under this Event Template, turn the toggle off and save the Purchasing section settings.

Gift Certificates Redemption (POS)

An Nliven User wishing to redeem a Gift Certificate on behalf of a consumer will choose the Event Template/Series they would like to purchase, choose an Event, and add seats and any products to the basket.

At the checkout page, the Nliven User can apply the Gift Certificate and utilize the new split payment functionality to add any additional payment needed. 

The Amount field will default to the full order total. If the Gift Certificate contains enough balance to cover the entire total, then it will be possible to click Purchase after the Gift Certificate is applied. Any leftover balance will remain on the Gift Certificate and can be applied to a future order.

If performing a split payment, the seller can edit the Amount to be any amount below the total, select Gift Certificate as the Payment Type, and click Apply Payment to apply the partial payment.

For further details, access the Sell Tickets (Point of Sale) page.

Gift Certificates Redemption (Consumer Flow / Web)

A consumer is now able to redeem their Gift Certificate online via the Web Sales channel. In order to utilize this option, you must have Consumer Checkout V2 enabled - contact the Ticketing Services department for further details if necessary.

In the “Payment Method” modal within the checkout page the consumer will be asked if they have a Gift Certificate. If they do, they can click on “Have a Gift Certificate?”.

This will then open up the Gift Certificate Number field (see below).

The consumer will input their Gift Certificate number into the field.  Once done so, the “Apply” button becomes active. This should then be clicked. The action of clicking “Apply” is to validate the Gift Certificate Number is active and has funds for use.

Scenario 1: The Gift Certificate has funds to cover the entire purchase
The redemption amount will be displayed, alongside the last four digits of the Gift Certificate, showing a balance of $0 in the “Order Summary” (See below).

The consumer should then accept any terms & conditions (if applicable) and click on “Complete Purchase”.  This will confirm their order.

Scenario 2: The Gift Certificate does not have funds to cover the entire purchase
If the Gift Certificate does not have funds to cover the entire purchase, the consumer will be given a choice to either add more Gift Certificates or pay the balance by Credit / Debit Card.

By selecting “Card” the following modal will be displayed.

Once completed, and the remaining balance paid, the order will be confirmed.

In both scenarios the consumer will receive their Order Confirmation email and tickets will be delivered according to the delivery method chosen within the purchase.

Printing a Gift Certificate

The recipient of the Gift Certificate will receive an email advising that they have received a Gift Certificate.

If enabled to do so as specified in the "Preliminary Setup for Gift Certificate Sales", a recipient can print the Gift Certificate by clicking on "View Gift Certificate", at which point the Certificate will be displayed - alongside any specific terms and conditions. To print the Gift Certificate, please click on "Print Gift Certificate".  This will print this out to an attached printer on A4 paper.

Gift Certificate Styling

It is possible to style your Gift Certificate using custom CSS styling.  

Please visit the Custom CSS Styling Guide page for details.