(Newswire.net — March 8, 2021) — Starbucks’ reward system has been a great business success ever since its launch in 2016
With so many of the world’s industries vying for the same attention from millions of consumers, how do businesses attract and secure not only interaction but loyalty across their various products? After all, customer loyalty has the potential to make or break any brand, so it should undoubtedly be a top priority.
When people first think of the words, “reward program,” “deals,” or “special offers,” a myriad of images come to mind. From coffee punch cards to ecommerce marketing emails, sky miles, and buy-one-get-one-free signs, strategies like these are continuously playing out all around us. However, a few industries in particular have been known to excel at these tactics, increasing their profits and gaining valuable customer support in the process.
Food and beverages
Whether it’s a run to the grocery store, driving through McDonalds, or ordering a to-go pizza, the food and beverage industry is one that people interact with almost every single day. Because of this, the sector has developed some strong examples of customer loyalty systems that other companies should look to for inspiration.
For example, Domino’s “Piece of the Pie” rewards program gives customers a chance to rack up 10 points, recorded on the restaurant’s mobile app, each time they order any pizza. After collecting 60 in total, they have the opportunity to receive a medium-sized pie free of charge. In a similar way, coffeehouse chain giant Starbucks is well-known for its own membership reward program which has essentially dominated the coffee industry, providing points, gifts, special deals, and more for valuable customers. Although there are countless instances like these among food and beverage businesses, each place the customer at the forefront, personalizing the experience while providing added benefits.
Gaming
As gaming has recently exploded with more than 2.5 billion users worldwide, the industry is continuing to improve their player-experience by adding more opportunities for rewards and deals. This can also be seen across sectors from online casinos to mobile games, and more. For example, as the casino industry has undergone a digital transformation in the 21st century, casino gaming platforms have become shining examples of successful businesses that are customer-centric. Whether it’s an initial welcome bonus for signing up or an opportunity to redeem free spins on desktop or mobile games, promotions like these run rampant and have been hugely influential on the industry’s continued growth.
Similarly, popular mobile games like Supercell’s genius product, Brawl Stars, are favorites amongst many gamers across the spectrum and succeed at retaining users through in-app rewards. Free gems and upgrades are given to characters, but there are also chances to “level up” and gain different packs and points with discounted offers. The bottom line is that, whatever a user’s game preference may be, the industry is meeting the customer where they’re at, prioritizing their experience above everything else.
Retail and e-commerce fashion
Nowadays the enthusiastic shopper most likely does a majority of their browsing on the web. As Instagram Shopping, Facebook Marketplace, and a variety of virtual fashion sites have largely replaced physical locations, shopaholics have more options than ever before. As such, brands are tapping into the advantages that loyalty programs and rewards can have on their ever-evolving businesses.
One popular American-based retailer, Khol’s, has been using a successful system entitled Kohl’s Cash which gives shoppers various perks and savings when they purchase items, no matter how big or small. The program operates online and on the company’s mobile app where notifications are sent for any type of news or updates, another great strategy for customer retention in online shopping. Because our society today is constantly connected, brands that focus on digital-friendly reward systems are the most successful.
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The miles reward programs that many airlines utilize is a classic example of an efficient loyalty service
Travel
Offers and rewards practically originated in the travel and tourism industry with things like sky miles and accommodation bonuses. Dozens of hotels companies from Marriott, Best Western, and even World of Hyatt have and continue to offer special membership clubs for their customers. Points can be racked up for nearly every aspect of travel, from the flight to car rentals, excursions, and more. The travel industry is our best teacher for customer retention, as they are experts in maintaining loyalty.