What is a stamp card and how do you set one up?
Updated · 5 min read
A stamp card is a loyalty programme in which customers earn a stamp with each purchase and get a reward when the card is full. “Buy 10 coffees, get 1 free” is the best-known example.
Why it works
A stamp card is simple: customers know what they'll get and when. A half-full card also pulls. A customer on stamp seven comes to you, not the shop next door, to finish it.
1. Choose the reward
Make the reward the thing customers buy most. It costs you little and means a lot to them.
- Café: 1 free coffee for 10
- Döner shop: 1 free döner for 10
- Bakery: 1 free simit for 10
- Patisserie: 1 free slice for 8
- Juice bar: 1 free juice for 8
2. Set the number of stamps
The rule: a customer should be able to fill the card in one to two months. Ten stamps suit a coffee customer who comes three times a week. Eight suit a patisserie people visit less often. Too many stamps and people give up halfway.
Tip: give the first stamp when they join. A half-full card gets finished more often than an empty one.
3. Write the rule in one sentence
“A stamp for every coffee, the tenth is on us.” Keep it short enough for staff and customers to remember. Put exceptions (hot drinks only, say) on the back of the card.
4. Keep it fast at the till
At rush hour a stamp should take no more than five seconds. Hunting for a rubber stamp, or waiting for an extra device, kills the programme. With Stampul, staff scan the QR on the customer's card with their own phone and the stamp lands at once.
5. Measure it
How many customers joined, how many came back a second time, how many filled their card? With paper you can't know. With a digital card, the dashboard tells you.
Moving to a digital stamp card
A digital stamp card puts the same programme on the customer's phone. It can't be lost or copied, and when it's full “Your reward is ready 🎁” appears on the lock screen. For examples, see the café, döner shop, bakery or patisserie pages. The Starter plan is free.
