Christmas is just around the corner, a time when larger brands offer major discounts and coupons. Boutique stores, salons, and independent restaurants often find it hard to compete with the marketing prowess of larger chains. To maximize profits and sales during Christmas, consider focusing on your most loyal regular customers.
Attractive loyalty programs can stop your regulars from being distracted by discounts offered by competitors, and tempt them to walk back right into your store.
Here are some effective ideas to give a boost to your loyalty programs just before Christmas.
Go big on early access to discounts
If you run a local business, you might have already thought of offering discounts for Christmas. Offer early access to some of your most loyal customers, to encourage increased purchases.
An automated loyalty program like Glue will send your customers early access benefits straight to their phones. This allows your top-spending customers to feel special and is tempted to shop before others to gain access to your Christmas offers.
Focus on personalized loyalty programs
Small businesses and local stores have an advantage that larger ones do not: personal connections with customers. You have access to insight that larger and more impersonal brands can only dream of. Capitalize on these human connections and personalize your loyalty programs in time for Christmas. Tailor-made loyalty programs ensure that your regulars don’t feel tempted to look elsewhere for discounts.
For example, as a part of the loyalty program for restaurant, if you run a restaurant and you know that one of your customers is lactose intolerant, send them a notification for a dairy-free Christmas dinner at your restaurant. Credit points into their account if they visit your restaurant.
Offer a sense of belonging through members clubs
Christmas symbolizes hope, cheer, and belonging. Make sure that your business acts as an anchor in the midst of a barrage of marketing communication your customers will be receiving. Make a list of your top-spending customers, and invite them to join your member’s club. Branded member clubs are easy to set up and can be used to create and send content, offers, and other marketing communication at any time.
If you want to know how to build customer loyalty, you can use Christmas as an opportunity to get the most valuable customers to sign up for your members’ clubs. As a welcome gift, give away your top service or product for free. They will thank you for making them feel special and appreciated!
Invite customers to join you in spreading the joy
Christmas is a great time to urge your customers to participate and give back. People are often charitable during Christmas, and participating in your charitable activities will have the surprising result of reinforcing positive emotions and loyalty towards your brand.
Reward those who participate with a valuable memento that they can cherish for a long time to come. You can also give them a digital coupon which can be redeemed in your business.
Unbeatable rewards for special customers
Sometimes, a regular rewards program is just not enough. You may have to do something spectacular in order to bring back your favorite customers. Use past loyalty insight to discover who your most loyal customers are and what they truly like. Present them with a no-conditions offer that they simply cannot ignore.
For example, you can make a list of 20 customers who have repeatedly sought services at your salon, and offer them a free Christmas and New Year makeover. A few other ideas include:
- A full-course dinner for your favorite customers and their special someone
- A custom-chosen gift if you sell products
- A surprisingly high number of reward points automatically credited to their accounts which they can use at any time
Keep your customers loyal during Christmas
Millions of customers around the world wait for lucrative Christmas deals and discounts. Larger businesses have the resources to offer heavy discounts and clear their inventories. To offset competition, smaller stores, restaurants, and salons should use creative strategies to keep customers loyal. Personalizing offers, crediting points, and giving away digital coupons generously will go a long way in retaining top-spending customers.
To discover how Glue can take your loyalty to the next level this Christmas, talk to us.
