Customers of habit
The same coffee, at the same time, on the way to work: the coffee shop customer is loyal out of habit more than by choice. The challenge is not to convince them to come, it is to stop a new place on their route from breaking that habit.
The stamp card, for good reasons
Drinks have similar prices and visits are frequent: one stamp per drink remains the clearest rule. On the digital card, the stamps are shown large, with the icon of your choice (a coffee cup, a tick, a star), and the card shows as many boxes as your reward requires.
The cardboard card had two flaws: it got lost, and it was faked with a stamp bought online. The card in the phone does not get lost with the wallet, and only your scanner can credit it.
The free coffee, and what comes after
- The free drink remains the benchmark reward: simple, immediate, desirable.
- A birthday voucher, sent automatically, for a pastry or a signature drink.
- Levels (regular, ambassador…) to recognise the most loyal and, with the Pro plan, write to them separately.
During the morning rush
Between 8 and 9:30 am, every second counts. The scan happens while paying: the customer shows their card, the barista scans it from the counter's phone or tablet, and the stamp is added. No card to look for, no stamp to ink. Once the card is full, the scanner says so: the reward is confirmed before starting again.
Off-peak hours
Mid-afternoon is often quiet. A multiplier on a time slot (two stamps between 3 and 5 pm, for example) shifts some of the regulars to that moment. Announce it with a message on the card, then let it run.
What to write to your customers
- The seasonal drink, on the day it arrives.
- A new bean, a tasting, a workshop.
- Summer opening hours or an exceptional closure.
Messages show on the iPhone lock screen, with your logo. See the card's notifications.
Following the results
Two figures to look at every month: the number of new sign-ups and the number of visits credited. If sign-ups stall, the card is not being offered enough at the counter. The list of best customers, for its part, gives you the first names to remember. For putting it into practice, see the coffee shop loyalty card page.