Gift and loyalty cards can provide a powerful way for smaller companies to compete.
The fact is, what you get out of a gift and loyalty program will depend on the effort and commitment you invest.
Gift and loyalty cards can be a powerful way to grow sales and retain customers. Today, even smaller companies can take advantage of these benefits, but they must be ready to implement them creatively and aggressively.
In this guide we will help you understand the costs, profitability and psychology of gift and loyalty card programs. We will also outline some creative, real-world examples where smaller companies have used gift and loyalty cards to compete against larger chain stores.
The Cost of Gift & Loyalty Card Programs
Upon review - some gift and loyalty cards programs can seem expensive, that is not the case if you understand how they work. Once you understand what the costs of the program will be, it is then easy to implement a profitable campaign for your business’s gift and loyalty card programs.
Setting up a Program
Consider a typical small business that has ordered 250 cards. The cost for 250 custom printed cards can be as low as $199.00. To track the card activity, a business can setup the gift card program to work with their POS terminal in the following ways:
You input the purchased amount onto the cardholders account (called the 'load value').
A receipt is printed, containing the purchase data together with the balance that is still available on the card.
The balance can also be viewed through the point-of-sale terminal.
Typically 20% of gift card holders do not spend the card's full value - the remaining balance goes to your bottom line.
A business can also use the cards as a promotional tool by activating the cards with a specific value and using them as incentives to attract new customers or bring current customers back again. Customers who return to your store usually spend 30% more than the card's face value.
Gift cards can be used as payment for returned items. Dollars remain on the card, where the customer can use them for future purchases from you and nothing comes out of the till.
In fact, studies have found that people will usually spend 30% more when using a gift card, which is known as "uplift" in the industry.
An important note about your legal requirements
As cards become more popular, it is important for business to be aware of new legislation that may affect your gift or loyalty program. For example, The US governments in recent years passed card legislation that prohibits expiry dates or fees on gift cards. Under the new legislation expiry dates can only be used on a gift card if the card is given away during a promotion for a specific good or service. When implementing your program, make sure that you comply with existing or emerging legislation.
The psychology behind gift & loyalty programs
One the most basic psychological benefits behind gift cards is that people perceive the value on the card as "free money" or "found money". The psychological effect is similar to that of a credit card, only much, much stronger.
As a result, people spend more. Someone with a $50 restaurant card will usually indulge in a dinner for two, spending $120. Another shopper in a retail clothing store with $15 left on his or her card will splurge on an item that is $15 more than they would otherwise be willing to spend.
A person who has a FREE $5 gift card is more likely to visit that retailer instead of another store. What's more, they will probably use the gift card to buy something for a friend or colleague.
Strategies to make your gift & loyalty programs successful
Gift and loyalty card strategies can get quite sophisticated. However, you don't want to rely only on a display at the cash register to promote your program. This approach is used by large companies that invest in costly marketing strategies to drive people to their locations.
Suggestions for small companies include adding cards to mailings, instruct sales people to offer cards to customers, offer cards to other businesses as holiday or promotional gifts, offer special discounts to card users, promote your gift cards on your printed marketing material (window signs, menus, flyers, ads etc.) and use gift cards as charitable donations.
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Smaller businesses need to employ more creative personnel .
The trick to having a great gift and/or loyalty card program is to never let a card balance run out. This is called "cycling" in the industry. A savvy merchant will work aggressively to continuously cycle their gift cards, because as long as there is an amount on the card then customers feel the need to come back.
If you allow the card to reach a zero balance then the customer has no benefit to return to your business. Cycling enough times creates an unconscious habit in your customers over time to shop at your location.
The fact is, what you get out of a gift and loyalty program will depend on the effort and commitment you invest.
Gift and loyalty cards can be a powerful way to grow sales and retain customers. Today, even smaller companies can take advantage of these benefits, but they must be ready to implement them creatively and aggressively.
In this guide we will help you understand the costs, profitability and psychology of gift and loyalty card programs. We will also outline some creative, real-world examples where smaller companies have used gift and loyalty cards to compete against larger chain stores.
The Cost of Gift & Loyalty Card Programs
Upon review - some gift and loyalty cards programs can seem expensive, that is not the case if you understand how they work. Once you understand what the costs of the program will be, it is then easy to implement a profitable campaign for your business’s gift and loyalty card programs.
Setting up a Program
Consider a typical small business that has ordered 250 cards. The cost for 250 custom printed cards can be as low as $199.00. To track the card activity, a business can setup the gift card program to work with their POS terminal in the following ways:
- Your customer purchases the gift card, using cash or a credit card.
You input the purchased amount onto the cardholders account (called the 'load value').
- Both the customer and vendor receive receipts.
A receipt is printed, containing the purchase data together with the balance that is still available on the card.
The balance can also be viewed through the point-of-sale terminal.
Typically 20% of gift card holders do not spend the card's full value - the remaining balance goes to your bottom line.
A business can also use the cards as a promotional tool by activating the cards with a specific value and using them as incentives to attract new customers or bring current customers back again. Customers who return to your store usually spend 30% more than the card's face value.
Gift cards can be used as payment for returned items. Dollars remain on the card, where the customer can use them for future purchases from you and nothing comes out of the till.
- Breakage and uplift increase profits.
In fact, studies have found that people will usually spend 30% more when using a gift card, which is known as "uplift" in the industry.
An important note about your legal requirements
As cards become more popular, it is important for business to be aware of new legislation that may affect your gift or loyalty program. For example, The US governments in recent years passed card legislation that prohibits expiry dates or fees on gift cards. Under the new legislation expiry dates can only be used on a gift card if the card is given away during a promotion for a specific good or service. When implementing your program, make sure that you comply with existing or emerging legislation.
The psychology behind gift & loyalty programs
One the most basic psychological benefits behind gift cards is that people perceive the value on the card as "free money" or "found money". The psychological effect is similar to that of a credit card, only much, much stronger.
As a result, people spend more. Someone with a $50 restaurant card will usually indulge in a dinner for two, spending $120. Another shopper in a retail clothing store with $15 left on his or her card will splurge on an item that is $15 more than they would otherwise be willing to spend.
A person who has a FREE $5 gift card is more likely to visit that retailer instead of another store. What's more, they will probably use the gift card to buy something for a friend or colleague.
Strategies to make your gift & loyalty programs successful
Gift and loyalty card strategies can get quite sophisticated. However, you don't want to rely only on a display at the cash register to promote your program. This approach is used by large companies that invest in costly marketing strategies to drive people to their locations.
Suggestions for small companies include adding cards to mailings, instruct sales people to offer cards to customers, offer cards to other businesses as holiday or promotional gifts, offer special discounts to card users, promote your gift cards on your printed marketing material (window signs, menus, flyers, ads etc.) and use gift cards as charitable donations.
|
Smaller businesses need to employ more creative personnel .
The trick to having a great gift and/or loyalty card program is to never let a card balance run out. This is called "cycling" in the industry. A savvy merchant will work aggressively to continuously cycle their gift cards, because as long as there is an amount on the card then customers feel the need to come back.
If you allow the card to reach a zero balance then the customer has no benefit to return to your business. Cycling enough times creates an unconscious habit in your customers over time to shop at your location.
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