Setting up your loyalty programme

Your loyalty programme is configured from your dashboard. The structure is simple: customers collect stamps, and at a threshold you set, a reward unlocks. Here’s how to choose well.

Step 1: Threshold

The most common threshold is 9 stamps for the 10th drink free. We default to that for new cafés because it’s familiar to customers and gives a strong return rate.

You can choose anywhere from 5 to 15 stamps. A lower threshold turns over more rewards (good for new cafés trying to build a regular base) but costs more in margin per customer. A higher threshold rewards loyalty more heavily (better for established cafés with strong retention) but takes longer to unlock.

Step 2: Reward

Most cafés set the reward to “one free coffee of the customer’s choice” or “any drink up to X dollars”. Some set it to a discount on a future visit (10% off the next bill). Some run a paired reward (free coffee + pastry).

Choose the reward that fits your margins and signals what you want regulars to associate with you. A free flat white speaks to specialty coffee positioning. A free pastry speaks to brunch positioning.

Step 3: Redemption rules

You can set:

• A cooldown period (e.g. “earn one stamp per visit, max one per day”)
• A required minimum spend (e.g. “spend $5+ to earn a stamp”)
• A blackout period (e.g. “rewards can’t be redeemed before 11am on weekends”)
• Expiry (e.g. “rewards expire 90 days after unlock”)

We recommend keeping rules simple. Cooldown of one stamp per day is sensible. Beyond that, every rule you add is a friction point you’ll need to communicate.

Step 4: Visibility

Each customer sees their stamp count for your café in the app and on Apple/Google Wallet. They see exactly how many stamps to the next reward. You see the same view from your dashboard, plus aggregate stats for all your customers.

Step 5: Roll out

Print and display the QR you’ll receive. Tell staff how it works. Mention the loyalty programme to a few customers who you know to be regulars; word spreads fast.

See also

• Registering your café
• Reading your analytics dashboard