Plastic loyalty cards for new business?

[perfect-cards]

Do you think that small business owners like restaurants or shops can benefit from running loyalty scheme with plastic cards? What are your experiences? Will it increase number of loyal customers?

 

[Square Social]

Hey PerfectCards

To answer your question I'd say yes - most definitely.

However, you need to bear several things in mind:

1) Give your customers a reason to use the loyalty cards (i.e every 5th visit a free meal for one of their friends or something similar)
2) Use it as an opportunity to integrate your online and offline marketing - make sure you include your Facebook and Twitter symbols with links to their pages

 

[Matt121]

You and their customers can most definitely benefit from plastic loyalty cards. Give them an incentive each time they do like a small discount.

 

[Ashley_Price]

Can I be a dissenting voice here and say don't rely on them too much. I don't have any loyalty cards, simply because I don't want companies building detailed knowledge of everything I buy that they can then sell on to others (which is worth far more to them than the discount they offer).

The only type of card I may accept is one where you don't have to sign up - but then I usually forget I've got a loyalty card.

At the end of the day great service, friendly staff, pleasant surroundings, etc., do more to get my loyalty than a "free drink every tenth visit" offer. There is an independent cafe in Lewes that I visit more, because they provide all of the these, than either Costa or Nero (also in the town and offer loyalty cards), which are noisy, full of kids (depending on time of day) and staff seem to have a no real interest in customers.

I have a loyalty card with the one (independent) music shop in town, but I've used it about once. Again, I shop in there because of the great service, not for a free £5.00 voucher once I have spent £100.

 

[perfect-cards]

Thank you for the replies!

If you would like to find plastic cards manufacturer, how would you look and where? UK or abroad? Price would be only factor for decision?

 

[B&H Digital]

If I'm on the same wavelength as you are, I think it's a great idea! I've seen restaurants like Nando's offering similar, however you get it stamped, then you can either work your way towards a 1/4 chicken, or 1/2 chicken. There's also a hotdog company in Cambridge town that offer a free hotdog once you've bought 5 etc

It's good to have a loyalty scheme, providing you have a good-size customer base that will actually use it.

 

[EddyP]

Loyalty cards are great, I just wander if plastic is the best medium - I'm assuming you want them to be digitally readable?

I'd prefer paper based loyalty cards for a small business. You can just have them stamped perhaps.

 

[perfect-cards]

Loyalty cards are great, I just wander if plastic is the best medium - I'm assuming you want them to be digitally readable?

I'd prefer paper based loyalty cards for a small business. You can just have them stamped perhaps.

Well paper based cards are not water resistant. Plastic is also more durable, so it can last years and you know how paper business cards look like after few years.

Yes, plastic cards can be digitally readable. You can put there QR code, bar codes etc.
There can be magnetic stripe or chip. Chips can be contact chips or contact-less (proximity).

 

[PrestonLad]

These sorts of loyalty schemes annoy me.

I would much rather see a big sign over the till saying that the establishment offers great value to ALL its customers.

I'd rather the cafe/shop did NOT make people like me (who can't be bothered carrying a wallet full of loyalty cards), provide subsidies of free coffees for people who can.

My annoyance intensifies as my coffee is cooling whilst the people in front fumble around to try and find their loyalty cards in the bottom of their handbags... or go through the administration of claiming their free drinks.

Seriously... I recoil against companies who do this sort of thing. But I guess I'm in the minority.

 

[perfect-cards]

These sorts of loyalty schemes annoy me.

I would much rather see a big sign over the till saying that the establishment offers great value to ALL its customers.

I'd rather the cafe/shop did NOT make people like me (who can't be bothered carrying a wallet full of loyalty cards), provide subsidies of free coffees for people who can.

My annoyance intensifies as my coffee is cooling whilst the people in front fumble around to try and find their loyalty cards in the bottom of their handbags... or go through the administration of claiming their free drinks.

Seriously... I recoil against companies who do this sort of thing. But I guess I'm in the minority.

If you are business owner it matters when client will go to your shop/restaurant to buy because he is gathering points/discounts and not to other cafe/restaurant. Look at Tesco and their loyalty cards. They spent a lot of money for it, because it matters. But luckily small business owner doesn't have to spent a lot of money.

 

[perfect-cards]

Can I be a dissenting voice here and say don't rely on them too much. I don't have any loyalty cards, simply because I don't want companies building detailed knowledge of everything I buy that they can then sell on to others (which is worth far more to them than the discount they offer).

The only type of card I may accept is one where you don't have to sign up - but then I usually forget I've got a loyalty card.

At the end of the day great service, friendly staff, pleasant surroundings, etc., do more to get my loyalty than a "free drink every tenth visit" offer. There is an independent cafe in Lewes that I visit more, because they provide all of the these, than either Costa or Nero (also in the town and offer loyalty cards), which are noisy, full of kids (depending on time of day) and staff seem to have a no real interest in customers.

I have a loyalty card with the one (independent) music shop in town, but I've used it about once. Again, I shop in there because of the great service, not for a free £5.00 voucher once I have spent £100.

I thought it is business OWNERS forum and not CUSTOMERS forum...

From my experience, I have many clients repeating their loyalty card print because they say they retained customers and they see that sales are not going down. Customers from Greece, Italy etc. I am just wondering about such experiences in UK from business OWNER perspective.

 

[EddyP]

It's a good idea, plastic loyalty cards are excellent when people use them a lot - i.e. Nectar cards etc.

If you're a new business though, creating your own cards, I'd start with paper - you never know how many people will want them, and it's probably preferable to have a few paper cards where you can get more quickly and easily.

 

[perfect-cards]

It's a good idea, plastic loyalty cards are excellent when people use them a lot - i.e. Nectar cards etc.

If you're a new business though, creating your own cards, I'd start with paper - you never know how many people will want them, and it's probably preferable to have a few paper cards where you can get more quickly and easily.

I agree when you have small grocery shop, but if you have let's say watch/jewelry shop...

It all depends on the impression you want to give to your clients. Laminated cards which look like banking cards with silvery glittering elements or matte finish and spot varnish elements can look very classy and clients can even show the card to others if design is unique. For example you can have special card in unique shape or transparent plastic.

 

[Ashley_Price]

It all depends on the impression you want to give to your clients. Laminated cards which look like banking cards with silvery glittering elements or matte finish and spot varnish elements can look very classy and clients can even show the card to others if design is unique. For example you can have special card in unique shape or transparent plastic.

Yes, but unless you've got a lot of customers taking up the scheme the cost of these can be prohibitive. Besides if you are a high class watch/jewellery shop your customers probably aren't going to be interested in a loyalty card anyway.

 

[WJP]

I thought it is business OWNERS forum and not CUSTOMERS forum...

It is, but some of the best business owners I've ever met are the ones who are able to flit between thinking like the former and the latter.

 

[Ashley_Price]

I thought it is business OWNERS forum and not CUSTOMERS forum...

Be careful with your attitude, by asking advice of people who have been on here several years longer than you and then criticising them. You are not going to win very many friends.

You are asking business OWNERS what customers want. Why not ask the CUSTOMERS?

Besides, knowing how I feel as a CUSTOMER in shops that offer loyalty cards, I wouldn't offer them as a business OWNER!

 

[perfect-cards]

Be careful with your attitude, by asking advice of people who have been on here several years longer than you and then criticising them. You are not going to win very many friends.

You are asking business OWNERS what customers want. Why not ask the CUSTOMERS?

Besides, knowing how I feel as a CUSTOMER in shops that offer loyalty cards, I wouldn't offer them as a business OWNER!

I am sorry if I offended anyone, it was not my intent.

 

[callewinters]

Loyalty cards are usually the best way to grab a customer's heart if you want them to stay. Discounts are always a gem in the eyes of people - especially the consumers.

 

[Scott-Copywriter]

They can work very well, but it has to be a good offer. You have to be willing to invest some money in the reward which gives you a return on your investment due to the increase in customers.

If it's a poor offer, then not only does it fail to attract any repeat custom which you otherwise wouldn't have had, but you end up losing some money by giving the reward to those who would have continued using you whether the loyalty card existed or not.

 

[PrestonLad]

If you are business owner it matters when client will go to your shop/restaurant to buy because he is gathering points/discounts and not to other cafe/restaurant. Look at Tesco and their loyalty cards. They spent a lot of money for it, because it matters. But luckily small business owner doesn't have to spent a lot of money.

Perhaps you're trying to convince me of the value of your product. It doesn't change my opinion!

 

[LoyaltyCardNetwork]

We believe digital loyalty cards are the way forward so people have them on their iPhones and mobile phones. We are developing this system and it will be released to all business owners + customers soon.

The problem with paper/plastic card is that many people lose their cards, and it takes space carrying it around. I have so many Nandos and Coffee loyalty cards which I have lost and have had to get a new one. In terms of it working, Loyalty cards definitely work otherwise there wouldn't be so many highstreet shops using them.

 

[Talay]

I'm moving over to readable / swipe cards later this year for one business. It is a service business where we need to know the home address, personal details etc. so it offers a quick way of reconciling all purchases and services provided to the card holder and the address.

That Sainsburys know how many packets of cheese I bought in the last 50 years matters not one jot to me and if they are willing to give me a few hundred quid now and then for collecting such information then I am happy to oblige.