How to Import Active Gift Card Codes

This guide explains how to import existing gift cards with custom codes from your legacy systems into Expresso Gift Cards.

Overview

The import feature allows you to bring in gift cards with their original codes intact, maintaining continuity for your customers. Custom codes are completely optional - you can mix and match cards with custom codes and auto-generated ones in the same import.

IMPORTANT: If you plan on importing hundreds of existing gift cards, then it is highly recommended to import in batches of 50-100 to avoid potential timeouts. Remember, your customers with active emails receive an email notification when a gift card is created in Shopify.

CSV File Format

Your CSV file should include these columns:

Supported Code Column Names

The system recognizes these column variations for gift card codes:

• code
• giftcardcode
• gift_card_code
• cardcode

Step-by-Step Import Process

1. Prepare Your CSV File
   • Export your existing gift card data
   • Ensure column headers match the required format

   • Save as a .csv file

     Access the Import Feature

   • Open Expresso Gift Cards app

   • Click "Import CSV" button

     Upload Your File

   • Click the upload area or drag your CSV file

   • The system will automatically detect your columns

     Review Imported Data

   • Check that codes appear correctly in the "Code" column
   • Verify all other fields imported properly

   • Make any necessary edits directly in the interface

     Create Gift Cards

   • Click "Create Gift Cards" to process your import
   • Cards with custom codes will use those codes
   • Cards without codes will get auto-generated codes

Important Notes

Custom Code Requirements

• Codes must be unique across your Shopify store
• Codes are case-sensitive
• Invalid or duplicate codes will cause individual card creation to fail
• The system will report which cards succeeded and which failed

Mixed Imports

You can import a mix of cards:

• Some rows with custom codes
• Some rows with empty code fields (auto-generated)
• This gives you flexibility when migrating from legacy systems

Error Handling

If any gift cards fail to create:

• Check the error column for specific issues
• Common problems: duplicate codes, invalid formats, insufficient permissions
• You can edit and retry failed entries

Example CSV Format

firstname,lastname,email,amount,message,expireson,code
John,Smith,john@example.com,50.00,Happy Birthday!,2025-12-31,BIRTHDAY50
Jane,Doe,jane@example.com,25.00,Thank you!,,THANKYOU25
Bob,Johnson,bob@example.com,100.00,Welcome gift,2025-06-30,

In this example:

• John gets gift card code "BIRTHDAY50"
• Jane gets gift card code "THANKYOU25"
• Bob gets an auto-generated code (empty code field)

Best Practices

• Test First: Import a small batch to verify your format
• Backup Codes: Keep a record of your original codes for reference
• Unique Codes: Ensure all custom codes are unique before importing
• Date Format: Use YYYY-MM-DD format for expiration dates
• Amount Format: Use decimal numbers without currency symbols (e.g., 25.00, not $25.00)

Troubleshooting

Q: My codes aren't importing

A: Check your column header - it should be one of: code , giftcardcode , gift_card_code , or cardcode

Q: Some gift cards failed to create

A: Check the error column for details. Most commonly this is due to duplicate codes or formatting issues.

Q: Can I edit codes after import?

A: Yes, you can edit codes in the interface before clicking "Create Gift Cards"

Q: What if I don't have custom codes?

A: Leave the code column empty or omit it entirely - the system will auto-generate unique codes.

Need more help? Contact our support team through the help beacon in the bottom-right corner of the app.