How to start a loyalty program for your café
Pick one card, five to eight stamps, and a reward people actually want, usually a free coffee. Allow one stamp a day, tell every customer at the till for the first two weeks, and look at your list of regulars at the end of the month.
Choose the number of stamps
Five to eight. Fewer feels too easy, more feels too far away. Six is the most common for coffee.
Choose the reward
A free product works better than a percentage off. It is easy to understand, and it costs you only what goes into the cup.
Set simple rules
One stamp per day stops people collecting several at once. If you want a minimum order, keep it low, like AED 15, so the till stays quick.
Tell people about it
For the first two weeks, mention it with every coffee: "Do you want a stamp?" Put the counter sign next to the till so people ask for their stamp.
Look at the results
After a month, check how many customers came back more than once and who has gone quiet. Invite the quiet ones back with a short note.
Questions
Should I give a stamp for every item?+
One per visit is easier for staff and customers. Use a minimum order if baskets vary a lot.
Can I change the reward later?+
You can add a new card. Changing a card people are already collecting on breaks a promise, so Ekhtem locks it after the first stamp.