Running a café is all about building relationships with your customers. A great loyalty program can keep them coming back, but with so many options, how do you choose the right one? Should you stick to the traditional stamp card, invest in your own branded app, or join a loyalty app that connects you with other businesses?
Let’s break it down in simple terms to help you decide what works best for your café.
You’ve seen them before—the little paper cards where customers get a stamp with each coffee purchase, eventually earning a free drink. But are they still the best choice?
Super Simple: No tech skills needed—just hand out the card and stamp it.
No Internet Required: Works for all customers, no smartphone necessary.
A Physical Reminder: Customers keep them in their wallets, reminding them to return.
Cheap to Start: Printing costs are low compared to digital options.
Easily Lost or Damaged: Customers often forget, misplace, or ruin their cards.
No Customer Data: You can’t track who’s using them or send them special offers.
Takes Staff Time: Employees must stamp cards and manage the process.
Easy to Fake: Some customers may stamp their own cards.
Not Eco-Friendly: Printed cards create waste.
Best for: Small cafés with regulars who prefer a simple, no-fuss system.
A white-label loyalty app is like having your café’s own branded app where customers collect points and redeem rewards digitally.
Fully Branded: Your café’s name, colors, and logo are front and center.
Tracks Customer Data: See what your customers like and how often they visit.
Personalized Offers: Send discounts and promotions directly to customers.
Push Notifications: Remind customers about special deals or new menu items.
Extra Features: Some apps let you add mobile ordering, table reservations, or even online payment.
Expensive to Build: Developing an app can cost a lot upfront.
Needs Regular Maintenance: Apps require updates and bug fixes.
Hard to Get Customers to Download: You’ll need to promote it heavily.
Might Be Ignored: If the app isn’t useful or engaging, people won’t use it.
Best for: Busy cafés with a loyal customer base and a budget for tech investments.
Loyalty aggregation apps allow customers to collect and track points from multiple cafés and businesses in one place. Instead of making your own app, you join an existing one where customers can find your café.
No Huge Costs: Usually just a small subscription fee instead of paying for app development.
Ready-to-Go System: No need to build anything—just sign up and start.
Easy for Customers: They don’t have to download a separate app just for your café.
Attracts New Customers: People using the app may discover your café while looking for deals.
No Privacy Worries: The app handles customer data securely.
You Share the Space: Your café will be listed alongside other businesses, including competitors.
Less Control: You can’t customize the app as much as your own branded one.
Limited Features: You rely on the app’s developers to add new tools or updates.
Best for: Cafés that want a digital loyalty system without the high costs of building their own app.
If you want the easiest, cheapest option, go with stamp cards.
If you want full control and can invest in an app, a white-label app is worth considering.
If you want a simple, digital solution that attracts new customers, a loyalty aggregation app is your best bet.
Want to keep your café’s customers coming back while staying ahead of the competition? Join thousandsof cafe owners using Clique today and give your café a loyalty boost!