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29 Apr 2024

A Peterborough store stocking products solely from local entrepreneurs said it is bucking the High Street trend and looking to expand due to its success.

29 Apr 2024

BIRA is giving independent businesses across the UK a powerful new resource with the launch of its “High Street Matters” podcast.

29 Apr 2024

The Guardian has reported independent shopkeepers saying prices they pay at Tesco’s cash-and-carry arm Booker are often higher than in Tesco’s stores.

18 Apr 2024

Independent record stores around the country are preparing to celebrate all things vinyl for this year’s Record Store Day on Saturday April 20th. 

18 Apr 2024

BIRA, the British Independent Retailers Association, has announced its partnership with this year’s SME National Business Awards., joining the 2024 awards as a leading sponsor, backing...

18 Apr 2024

A Midlands fish and chip shop is celebrating 40 years in business and offering half-price chips to mark the milestone.

18 Apr 2024

Assaulting a shop worker is to be made a separate criminal offence in England and Wales as part of a government response to a wave of retail crime. 

18 Apr 2024

Eleven new businesses that have opened in the last year in the historic arcades of Cardiff city centre’s Morgan Quarter, made up of the Morgan and Royal arcades, have helped the arcades...

15 Apr 2024

The Rediscovery Centre, the National Centre for the Circular Economy in Ireland, today announced its partnership with Cytech, the internationally recognised training and accreditation scheme for...

3 Apr 2024

Research by the University of Stirling and the Scottish Grocers’ Federation has shed light on the impact of rising staff costs on the convenience retail sector in Scotland.

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Three-quarters of craft businesses offer loyalty scheme

Posted on in Business News , Creative News, Polls & Results

Following Hobbycraft's announcement that they will be launching a loyalty card this October, ActSmart explore the options for small independent stores to compete with corporate retailers.

Hobbycraft have introduced a number of new initiatives, including a loyalty card, to focus on growing their sales. The loyalty card is due to launch in October and will be rolled out to all customers by Christmas.

Hobbycraft already has a membership scheme with 400,000 members and the loyalty card is being introduced to tie up in-store transactional data with the company's online shopping data.

Members of the loyalty card scheme will be sent personalised offers depending on their shopping habits that will be segmented by their hobbies.

So, how (and why) should smaller retailers try to compete and enter into the loyalty scheme market?
Why customer loyalty?

  • 88% of businesses with a loyalty programme are more profitable than their competitors without one
  • 64% of customers visit a business with a loyalty programme more frequently
  • A 2% increase in customer retention has the same effect as decreasing costs by 10%
  • It's 6 to 8 times more expensive to acquire a new customer than it is to retain an existing one
  • 65% of customers say they would recommend a business because of a rewards program

Hobbycraft may be the latest retailer to introduce a loyalty scheme, but as a poll by Craft Focus found, over 75% of craft businesses currently offer some form of loyalty scheme.

The Experts CardsWhether you're one of the majority who already offers a loyalty scheme, or one of those considering it for your business, The Experts Cards programme can help. Experts cards offer an easy, low cost solution to engage with your audience bringing in new customers as well as encouraging repeat visits to your business.

The Experts Cards are exclusively available to specialist retailers in the hobby and leisure sectors and encompasses a low cost entry point and national consumer promotion.

Increase your sales and encourage customer loyalty with the multi-functional Experts Cards. Design your own card or choose from a range of seasonal and industry specific designs online and you can have your own gift, loyalty, savings or promotional programme in place within weeks - all with one digital card solution.

Find out more about creating your own Experts Cards by clicking here or contact us.

 

 

 

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