Gift Vouchers on Shopify: Community Solutions for Automated PDF Delivery

View original discussion by Pure on Shopify Community →

Automating PDF Gift Vouchers: What's the Best Approach for Your Shopify Store?

Let's talk about gift vouchers – a fantastic way to boost sales for your Shopify store, especially in the beauty and salon industry, as one store owner, "Pure," recently discussed in the Shopify Community. They were looking for a way to automatically email PDF gift vouchers after checkout. The discussion that followed offered some really helpful solutions and insights.

The Core Need: Automated PDF Delivery

Pure's initial question was straightforward: how to automatically email PDF attachments for gift vouchers. They needed a solution where customers could receive a printable PDF voucher upon completing their purchase. This is crucial for allowing customers to easily save, print, or forward the voucher as a gift.

App Options: Weighing Costs and Features

Several community members jumped in with app recommendations. @R4B mentioned their experience using workflows and automated PDF generation. Apps like Keyshop, iziGift, and AchieveApplabs' PDF certificate app were brought up. Each has its own pricing model and feature set. Keyshop, for instance, charges 1% of sales (up to $200/month), while iziGift focuses on sending a link to a printable page. AchieveApplabs offers a PDF certificate app that generates PDFs with dynamic data, delivered via email.

Pure was particularly concerned about per-transaction fees, stating, "I dont mind a monthly charge with them but trying to avoid % per voucher charges for an auto pdf.". This highlights a common concern for store owners: balancing app functionality with cost-effectiveness.

The "Thank You Page" Workaround

@Shadab_dev offered an interesting workaround: implementing a button on the "thank you" page that allows customers to download the PDF directly. This avoids the need for an automated email. While it requires the customer to manually download, it could potentially save on app costs. Shadab_dev even mentioned using a free email service with templates called emailjs if you wanted some email functionality. The downside is that you'd have to figure out the automation piece yourself.

This solution sparked a discussion about Shopify plan limitations. As @Adrian-Nathalia pointed out, direct access to `checkout.liquid` (for deeper customization) is typically only available on Shopify Plus plans. Shadab_dev confirmed this, noting that apps are often necessary for features that require checkout customization on standard plans.

DIY Automation: A Manual Approach

Interestingly, @R4B, who is "pretty new to Shopify", described a DIY approach, creating a workflow with a form and automated PDF generation using Word/Canva. This involved putting the PDF in their files and setting up a workflow to generate the PDF when certain conditions are met. This is a great example of how you can leverage existing tools and Shopify's built-in features to achieve a desired outcome, even without coding experience.

Key Considerations When Choosing a Solution

Based on the community discussion, here's a breakdown of the key factors to consider when choosing a PDF gift voucher solution:

  • Cost: Monthly fees vs. per-transaction fees. Consider the volume of gift voucher sales to determine the most cost-effective option.
  • Automation Level: Do you need fully automated email delivery, or is a manual download option acceptable?
  • Customization: Do you need to customize the PDF design and data fields?
  • Shopify Plan: Your Shopify plan will determine your access to customization options (like `checkout.liquid`).

Instructions: Implementing the "Thank You" Page Download Button (Workaround)

If you're on a standard Shopify plan and want to try the "thank you" page workaround, here's a simplified guide:

  1. Create Your PDF: Design your gift voucher PDF using a tool like Canva, Adobe Illustrator, or even Microsoft Word.
  2. Upload to Shopify Files: In your Shopify admin, go to "Content" > "Files" and upload your PDF. Note the URL of the uploaded file.
  3. Edit the "Thank You" Page:
    • Go to "Settings" > "Checkout".
    • In the "Order status page" section, you can add custom HTML.
    • Add the following HTML code, replacing `YOUR_PDF_URL` with the actual URL of your PDF file:
    Download Your Gift Voucher
  4. Customize the Button (Optional): You can further customize the button's appearance using CSS. Add CSS styles within the