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Lagging C-Store Sales? Here's How a Loyalty Program Can Help
Strategy

Lagging C-Store Sales? Here's How a Loyalty Program Can Help

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A good way to keep convenience store customers satisfied is by offering them an amazing loyalty program. Consider Lou Perrine’s Gas & Grocery and their Monday problem—without any issue, business was slow on that day. Thus, they introduced Double Points Monday as part of their loyalty program, which transformed their Mondays into money producers. This is just one way c-stores can enhance their loyalty programs, incentivize their customers, and grow their business.  

Tips for developing a successful c-store loyalty program 

The psychology of using loyalty programs is pretty simple—people react to incentives and motivations. And what's more motivating than getting something for free? Around 43% of customers are added to c-store loyalty programs. While motivation is an important factor in getting customers to sign up, successful programs also include things like rewarding points that customers can redeem at convenience stores. 

A loyalty punch card: a great engagement opportunity  

Traditional loyalty programs had consumers carrying around a piece of paper that would be punched every time they made a specific purchase. Today, a c-store loyalty program is more than that; it offers methods to boost customer engagement.  

According to a Gallup poll, customers with emotional tie-ups with their brand spend 46% more time in the store and are likely to visit it more. That said, you should aim to make their brand personal with a loyalty program. And the best way to get it done is to capture your customer’s data and derive insights about it to find more ways to engage them.  

Boost the rewards 

Your customers can get frustrated by investing in a loyalty program that doesn’t give them anything. They will consider the number of purchases they’ve made and realize all their effort was for nothing. You can easily lose your customers here. Hence, make sure you offer a loyalty program with real benefits that they can use as quickly as possible. From points and gift cards to VIP programs, you can use so many methods to incentivize your clients.  

Run loyalty campaigns 

Merchants can use a campaign builder to create, execute, and track loyalty campaigns for their customers. Whether it’s a promotional offer or a seasonal discount, you can use the campaign builder to draft, run, and handle your campaigns for better engagement and sales.  

Make it simple to use 

You can enhance your customers' interest in your loyalty program by not asking them to perform too many sign-up steps to be a part of it. Just include their basic details, and the rest of the data can be collected over time. Keep the process simple without tons of sign-up fields to activate their loyalty membership.  

Fuel rewards still hold value 

According to the 2019 Roads to Rewards Report, 66% of customers enrolled in a fuel loyalty program use it regardless of whether gas prices are high or low. Fuel savings work as a driving force for customers to join loyalty programs. People look for a lot of ways to save money on fuel. That said, if you don’t have a fuel rewards program, this is your time to integrate one into your business.  

Enhance your app 

With the increase in mobile payments, most customers appreciate the idea of having an app to access the benefits of convenience store loyalty programs easily. Give them the chance to scan coupons, collect benefits, and pay using their app. They will appreciate that they don’t have to rely on a touch screen or paper and can go digital. Using an app doesn’t just work as a great safety measure, but it also increases the engagement rate.  

The control is in their hands  

Once you have given customers the incentives they want, give them reward choices. They have a higher chance of returning to your store when they’ve earned enough points to buy anything they want without paying for it. It is the best gift you can give to your customer.  

Go for an umbrella loyalty program  

Choosing an umbrella loyalty program helps you unite all your stores under a single brand and helps your customers redeem their rewards in the store of their choice. It provides more options for customers to ensure they remain loyal to your brand.  

Ensure it interacts well with your POS 

When you allow your POS system to scan an app or a card, you can make it easier for your customers to use the benefits. With a good POS system, you can integrate digital payments into your loyalty app and deliver better services for your loyalty program, making your system effective. 

With so many convenience store loyalty program providers, fighting your competition isn't simple with customer behavior changing so casually. Without effective c-store customer loyalty programs, you can miss out on additional income and fail to retain your customers. 

The stellar customer loyalty program Loyal-n-Save helps you have a better chance of keeping your best customers, gaining new ones, and retaining the old ones. After all, loyalty is earned, and once you have it, you need to maintain it using the best programs. 

 

FAQs 

1. When should merchants launch a loyalty program? 

Merchants should implement a loyalty program in the following scenarios:  

  • If the repeat purchase rates are falling and income from old customers fails to cover the price of acquiring new customers. 

  • If your customers are at-risk and don't show a sign of making a second purchase. 

  • If most of your visitors only browse and leave the page. 

2. Can you measure the ROI of a loyalty program? 

You can measure it by counting the number of customers signing up for the program. You can observe the customers engaging with a loyalty program by assessing the conversion rate. 

3. Who is eligible to join? 

Anyone can enroll in a loyalty program if it is free. However, if the program is subscription-based, customers should know the terms and conditions.  

How much time do merchants need to run a loyalty program? 

The majority of the time needed is spent on setting up the loyalty program. The convenience store rewards programs should match the customers’ needs and the identity of the store. After the foundation is laid correctly, the loyalty program will be executed.  

This article was written by Loyal-n-Save, an omni-channel customer loyalty solution for retailers looking to increase customer retention and new customer acquisition.
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Douglas Nolan
Written by Douglas Nolan

He believes in solving real problems with realistic technological solutions that stand the test of time. Seeing his clients struggle to retain consumers, Douglas decided to help his clients by offering affordable and top-class loyalty solutions. Doug loves transforming the lives of his employees by assisting them to develop a solid blend of TQ (Technology Quotient) & SQ (Spiritual Quotient) to excel in their professional & personal lives.

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