Building Brand Loyalty Programs

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  • View profile for Juan Campdera
    Juan Campdera Juan Campdera is an Influencer

    Creativity & Design for Beauty Brands | CEO at We Are Aktivists

    84,607 followers

    Loyalty is failing. Gen Z & long-term commitment. 22% of Gen Z consumers consider themselves loyal to one brand is a clear warning for legacy loyalty strategies. Unlike previous generations, Gen Z doesn’t see brand loyalty as a long-term commitment, they’re loyal to moments, not just names. +43% increase in engagement and sales conversions among Gen Z Beauty brands offering "limited-edition drops" and collaborative experiences. +71% Gen Z say they would rather spend money on an experience than a product. >>Loyalty is FAILING, but why<< +Transactional systems feel outdated: Point-based rewards for repeat purchases don’t excite this audience. They expect more than discounts or free samples. +They’re brand-agnostic but experience-driven: Gen Z freely switches between brands if the experience, aesthetic, or values feel fresher or more aligned with their identity. +They buy into stories, not just products: They want to align with brands that represent something, social causes, cultural movements, or communities they relate to. >>DYNAMIC LOYALTY<< What’s this? as it name indicates its a system that rewards interaction, aligns with their values, and constantly evolves. And that is what your brand needs. → Create experience-driven loyalty programs: Offer early access to limited drops, invite-only events, or backstage content. Think like a fan club, not a punch card. +Example: A loyalty tier that unlocks tickets to a pop-up experience or an exclusive AR filter. →Let them co-create: Invite Gen Z customers to co-develop product ideas, designs, or campaign themes. Give them ownership in your brand’s creative journey. +Example: Voting on packaging designs or joining beta tester groups. →Align with their values: Sustainability, inclusivity, and social good aren’t nice-to-haves. they’re expectations. Use loyalty programs to reward actions too, like recycling, sharing causes, or supporting small creators. +Example: “Earn loyalty points by returning empties or attending a sustainability workshop.” →Deliver constant novelty: Rotate limited editions regularly. Use scarcity and surprise to create FOMO and buzz. +Gen Z doesn’t commit to a single brand, but they’ll keep returning if each visit feels fresh and share-worthy. →Go omnichannel but social-first. Should live across TikTok, Instagram, pop-ups, and web. Let them earn or unlock rewards through social engagement, not just purchases. +Example: A user gets exclusive content or perks for creating UGC with your brand. Bottom Line. Loyalty must be earned over and over through experience, relevance, and emotional connection. Think dynamic loyalty: a system that rewards interaction and go for it. Find my curated search of examples and get ready for your next HIT. Featured Brands: Balmain Benefit Chanel Charlotte tilbury Cerave Fennty L’Oreal OGX YSL #beautypackaging #beautybusiness #beautyprofessionals #experienceretail #luxuryexperiences #genz

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  • View profile for Kunle Campbell

    eCommerce operator helping replenishment-led supplement and skincare brands make subscribers profitable through retention · Creator of the RULE OF ONE™ Method

    14,913 followers

    𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗜𝘀 𝗮 𝗛𝗮𝗯𝗶𝘁. 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗕𝗲 𝗧𝗼𝗼. If customers love your product but still cancel, the problem isn’t the product—it’s the experience. The best wellness brands don’t just sell products. They guide behaviours, reinforce habits, and remove friction. But too often, small moments of friction— a failed payment, a forgotten renewal, a skipped order— quietly push customers away before they even realize it. That’s why I put this table together. 7 high-impact automations that keep subscribers engaged, reduce churn, and make retention effortless. Each one removes a key retention blocker before it turns into lost revenue. 1️⃣ 𝗣𝗮𝘆𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗙𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 → 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 ↳ Trigger: Payment fails (Recharge) ↳ Action: SMS + Email with urgency & FOMO ↳ Apps: SMSBump, Klaviyo → Catch failed payments before they cancel 2️⃣ 𝗨𝗽𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗥𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘄𝗮𝗹𝘀 → 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 ↳ Trigger: Renewal approaching (Recharge) ↳ Action: Email & SMS reinforcing product value ↳ Apps: Klaviyo, PostPilot → Remind customers why they subscribed 3️⃣ 𝗟𝗼𝘄 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 → 𝗥𝗲-𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗙𝗹𝗼𝘄 ↳ Trigger: Skipped orders, no logins, inactivity (CustomerHub) ↳ Action: ‘Reignite Your Routine’ email series ↳ Apps: Klaviyo → Help them stay on track before they forget 4️⃣ 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗽𝘁𝘀 → 𝗦𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗮𝗹𝗲 ↳ Trigger: Customer clicks “Cancel” (Recharge) ↳ Action: “Pause instead of cancel” + Exclusive offer ↳ Apps: Klaviyo, RetentionEngine → Give them a reason to stay 5️⃣ 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗢𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿 → 𝗢𝗻𝗯𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 & 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 ↳ Trigger: First order shipped (Recharge) ↳ Action: Educational onboarding sequence ↳ Apps: Klaviyo, Postscript → Guide them to get the best results 6️⃣ 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗲-𝗕𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 → 𝗞𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗛𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗱 ↳ Trigger: 3rd, 6th, or 12th order milestone (LoyaltyLion) ↳ Action: Reward with a discount, gift, or VIP perks ↳ Apps: Smile.io, Klaviyo → Keep them engaged before they churn 7️⃣ 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵 𝗟𝗧𝗩 𝗖𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 → ‘𝗦𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗲 & 𝗗𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁’ ↳ Trigger: Customer hits LTV threshold (Klaviyo) ↳ Action: Personalized gift or early access invite ↳ Apps: PostPilot, LoyaltyLion → Turn subscribers into superfans Subscriptions Should Feel Effortless. Your product builds habits. Your subscription model should too. Set up these workflows once, and let them do the work forever. If you need help with putting any of them together, reach out to me in DM 📥

  • View profile for Jillian Ryan

    Driving Thought Leadership and Event Programming at Intuit Mailchimp | Senior Manager of Content Marketing Strategy | Former eMarketer Principal Analyst

    3,738 followers

    One of the biggest takeaways I spotted from Intuit Mailchimp’s analysis of the 2024 holiday shopping season is that the new year is ripe with new opportunities to drive loyalty. Here’s why → 64% of orders from Mailchimp customers with connected stores came from new customers during Cyber Weekend 2024. That's a huge opportunity to grow your loyal customer base! And research we produced with Canvas8 tells us that the best kept secret to driving loyalty is actually grounded in science. Our Loyalty Wheel reveals 4 key drivers of loyalty: 1. Reward: Our brains love rewards. Create a sense of reciprocity by offering exclusive deals, personalized discounts, or early access to new products. 2. Memory: Make it easy for customers to remember (and repeat!) positive experiences with your brand. Design a frictionless customer journey, offer subscriptions for frequently purchased items, and send well-timed reminders. 3. Emotion: Foster an emotional connection that goes beyond transactional exchanges. Align your brand with causes your customers care about, share authentic stories, and build a sense of community. 4. Social Interaction: Encourage customers to share their love for your brand with friends and family. Create opportunities for user-generated content, run refer-a-friend programs, or host exclusive events. And here's how to put it all into action: 🎉 Surprise and delight: Gift your customers with unexpected rewards. And just not generic discounts. Offer exclusive experiences or partner with like-minded brands to create unique offers. 🛝 Streamline every touchpoint: Remove friction in the customer journey with automation. From browsing to purchasing to post-purchase support, make it easy and enjoyable to do business with your brand. 🎯 Prioritize personalization: Craft your messaging and build authentic connections. Use data and AI analysis to understand your customers' values and preferences and use those insights to create content that resonates. 🤗 Give VIP treatment: Make your customers feel like VIPs. Give them early access to new products, invite them to exclusive events, or feature them on your social media channels. Download Mailchimp and Canvas8’s The Science of Loyalty and The Strategic Loyalty Playbook for a deep dive into the science, complete with actionable strategies and inspiring examples: https://bit.ly/49FJayO Make 2025 the year of the loyal customer. You got this.

  • View profile for Alpana Razdan
    Alpana Razdan Alpana Razdan is an Influencer

    Operator & Business Strategist | Country Manager @ Falabella | Built & scaled businesses to $100M+ across 7 countries | 15+ yrs across 40+ global brands |Strategic Brand & Talent Partnerships

    186,023 followers

    Christian Dior Couture's global revenue dropped by 4%. Meanwhile, UNIQLO's revenue grew 44% just in India while H&M managed only 11%. The brands in the middle are quietly winning, and there's a psychology behind it. Indian consumers have stopped chasing the cheapest option. They've also stopped dreaming about luxury they can't afford. Instead, they've found a sweet spot - brands that feel premium without feeling like you're spending too much. Uniqlo understood this mindset early. They don't sell trendy clothes. They sell "LifeWear" - pieces that last 50 washes, fabrics that solve real problems. Here's how they captured Indian shoppers: → Heattech fabric that actually keeps you warm in Delhi winters → Airism innerwear that handles Mumbai humidity → Simple designs that don't go out of style next season → Quality you can justify as "investment" not "splurge" Indian consumers don't see this as spending more. They see it as spending smarter. This behavior isn't limited to fashion. The same "I deserve better, but I'm being practical" mindset is reshaping multiple categories: → Blue Tokai Coffee Roasters is replacing instant coffee because people want the "single-origin" story → Minimalist grew 86% in beauty because "science-backed" beats celebrity endorsements → BIRKENSTOCK is growing 16% because "orthopedic comfort" justifies the price The psychology driving all of this is simple: "I deserve better, but I'm being practical." That word - practical - changes everything. People aren't calling it a splurge. They're calling it an investment in quality. They have a logical reason to defend their purchase. Brands winning this mid-premium game have figured out one thing. Give your customer a rational excuse to upgrade, and they will. What's one category where you've quietly traded up this year?

  • View profile for Ali Hussein Kassim

    Africa’s Pre-eminent FinTech & Digital Transformation Strategist | CEO, Board Advisor, Leadership Coach | #AliTalksTech

    87,933 followers

    𝗞𝗲𝗻𝘆𝗮'𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹 𝗚𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝗦𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻 𝗮 $𝟭𝟬𝟬𝗠+ 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗚𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗲 – 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗗𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗜𝘁! 💎📊 After deep-diving into #Kenya's Big 3 supermarket loyalty programs (Naivas Limited, Carrefour, Quickmart Supermarket), I discovered something shocking: We're witnessing the greatest missed opportunity in African retail history. 🤯 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸 📈 🔹 Naivas: 2+ million customers, 5-year purchase histories, yet still relies on MANUAL point capture by cashiers 🔹 Carrefour: Digital-first approach, but basic utilization of customer intelligence   🔹 Quickmart: Traditional program with ZERO data sophistication 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗿𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻-𝗦𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗢𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆'𝗿𝗲 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 💰 Kenyan supermarkets are missing out on a trillion-shilling opportunity to leverage their loyalty data for hyper-targeted offers such as personalized discounts and product suggestions based on individual shopping habits. Mass customization at scale through predictive replenishment, personalized lists and subscriptions, and advanced revenue optimization strategies like dynamic pricing, waste reduction, cross-selling, and churn prediction, all of which could dramatically boost profitability and transform customer experience through true personalization. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗱? 🤦🏾♂️ - Naivas: Customers manually tell cashiers their phone numbers to earn 1 point per KES 100 - Carrefour: Has the tech but uses it like a digital receipt system - Quickmart: Prayer, Vibes & Inshaallah 🙏🏾 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗵 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱: 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜𝘁 𝗪𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲 🚀 To truly unlock the value of loyalty programs in Kenya’s retail sector, supermarkets must invest in real-time customer data platforms, AI-powered analytics, mobile money integration, and omnichannel journey mapping, while strategically building teams for data science, segmentation, and personalization; above all, a cultural shift is needed - from simply running 'points programs' to building intelligent customer relationship platforms, allowing for dynamic offers, relationship-driven engagement, and individualized experiences that will drive loyalty and long-term profitability. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗠𝗔𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗩𝗘 📈: proper loyalty data utilization could deliver 20-30% higher customer lifetime value, 15-25% larger transactions, 40-50% better retention, and 10-15% marketing cost reduction. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻❓ 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗞𝗲𝗻𝘆𝗮'𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗝𝘂𝗺𝗶𝗮, 𝗔𝗺𝗮𝘇𝗼𝗻, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗲-𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝘀 to master customer intelligence while they collect dust-gathering phone numbers? 🤔 The data is there. The customers are willing. The technology exists. What's missing is vision and execution. 💪🏾 How do we unlock this goldmine? 🔓 #RetailInnovation #CustomerData #AI

  • View profile for Marc Hiller

    Turning Consumer Psychology into Repeat Revenue | Retention Marketing for 7-9 Figure DTC Brands | Founder @ RELAIN | 100+ Brand Collaborations

    5,102 followers

    Dua Lipa just became Nespresso's new global brand ambassador. She's replacing an $8 billion retention strategy that George Clooney built for them over 19 years. Nespresso is calling this the biggest campaign in their 40-year history. Coffee beans typically cost between $9 and $22 per pound. Through Nespresso capsules, that same pound costs $51. People pay almost 8x times more for the same product and never think twice about it. When Nespresso launched in 1986, the capsule system was their competitive advantage. Only Nespresso capsules fit the machine. For 26 years, that was the lock-in. But those patents expired in 2012… Starbucks and Peet's sell compatible capsules now for less money. People still happily choose Nespresso at $51 a pound. George Clooney built that loyalty: • 19 years as the brand ambassador. • Sophisticated, relaxed, premium • Co-owner since 2013. All of those qualities shaped how millions of people feel when they press the button on their Nespresso machine every morning. When your brand identity is that strong, you don't need to compete on price. They have never run a discount. Instead, they communicate that the product is always worth full price. Nespresso proves that loyalty doesn't come from what you sell. It's built on how your brand makes people feel.

  • View profile for Arindam Paul
    Arindam Paul Arindam Paul is an Influencer

    Building Atomberg, Author-Zero to Scale

    162,583 followers

    How Brands Grow is one of the most quoted books in marketing But what worries me is seeing a lot of early stage consumer founders and VCs getting  influenced too much by it Byron Sharp’s core message is simple: - Mental and physical availability drive growth - Mass marketing > targeting - Light buyers matter more than heavy ones - Loyalty is overrated - Reach matters more than frequency All useful principles—if you're a scaled brand with ₹1000 crore+ in revenue, national distribution, and years of brand equity But if you're a new-age Indian brand doing under ₹100 crore with limited pull—this is the wrong playbook 1. “Target everyone” doesn’t work when you're starting from zero Byron says: go broad. Don’t over-target. But early-stage brands don’t have the money to do that You don’t even know who your best customers are yet. You haven’t earned the right to be broad When you're building from scratch, you must: - Focus on 1–2 cities - Target narrow, high-intent cohorts - Double down on what converts and repeats Depth first. Width later 2. Physical availability is not about being everywhere Yes, consumers should find you easily. But for early-stage Indian brands, “being everywhere” in General Trade or even all SKUs in all ecom/qcom channels often leads to inventory dumps, not sales. GT works only when: - You already have pull in that market - Retailers have seen demand or branded search Without that, it’s just placement without movement. And it breaks working capital 3. Light buyers won’t build your business Byron’s data says light buyers drive brand growth. But for early-stage brands, repeat cohorts are the difference between life and death M1 and M3 repeats aren’t vanity—they're your CAC payback and early signs of brand strength. 4. Mental availability isn’t media spends Yes, people need to know you exist before they buy. But most early-stage media spends don’t build mental availability. They build temporary vanity. Mental availability in early stage brands is earned through: - Strong point of purchase presemce - Great service leading to word of mouth - Delivering a product that over-delivers on value Early stage brands don't buy mental availability. You build it. 5. Brand vs performance is a false binary All communication builds brand. At early scale, you need benefit-first, geography-targeted, performance campaigns that seed pull across D2C, marketplaces and offline How Brands Grow is a good book. But it’s not how brands are built from 0 to 100 cr or even 500 cr It's how brands scale after they've cracked product-market-channel fit. If you’re under 100 cr and chasing Byron’s rules, you’re skipping the unskippable Don’t confuse someone else’s endgame for your opening moves.

  • View profile for Ghazal Alagh
    Ghazal Alagh Ghazal Alagh is an Influencer

    Chief Mama & Co-founder Mamaearth, TheDermaCo, Dr.Sheth’s, Aqualogica, BBlunt, Staze, Luminéve | Mamashark @Sharktank India | Artist | Fortune & Forbes Most Powerful Woman in Business

    751,917 followers

    I've been reflecting on one major trend from last year that I feel will be hard to ignore in 2025: Gen Z’s relationship with brands and social media. This generation doesn’t just consume content, they drive it. And they do so with a level of authenticity and transparency that demands our attention. For Gen Z, brand loyalty isn’t built on flashy ads or influencer endorsements alone. It’s about values. It’s about knowing what the brand stands for and aligning with causes they care about: be it sustainability, inclusivity, or social justice. Here’s how I’ve been thinking about this shift as an entrepreneur: For Gen Z, being true to themselves is really important. They want brands that embrace uniqueness and support personal expression. To connect with them, we need to be authentic and offer products and messages that let them express who they really are. Social Media is the New Word of Mouth: If you’re not engaging in the conversations Gen Z is having on social media, you’re missing out. They trust their peers and online communities more than traditional advertising, and their feedback is immediate and powerful. Experience Over Projection: For this generation, it’s not just about seeing an ad but engaging with a brand in a meaningful way. Whether through personalized experiences, interactive campaigns, or exclusive content, creating a connection is more valuable than ever. Gen Z is not just shaping the future of business but is redefining what it means to build loyalty and trust. Is your brand ready for this shift?

  • View profile for R.J. ABBOTT

    Exploring how belief becomes competitive advantage in the age of AI.

    15,147 followers

    The Biggest Lie in Marketing: That ‘Brand Awareness’ Matters Most brands are forgettable five seconds after you see them. The old playbook says if you get your name in front of enough people, you win. That if you flood the market with ads, influencers, and polished campaigns, consumers will remember you. But here’s the truth, attention is fleeting. Most brands spend millions just to be ignored. Rolex doesn’t fight for attention. Apple doesn’t beg to be noticed. Liquid Death doesn’t run brand-awareness campaigns. They don’t need to. Because they’ve built something stronger than awareness. They’ve built devotion. The Death of the Attention Economy For decades, brands have been obsessed with visibility. Positioning. Consistency. Reach. The Branding Industrial Complex sold you the idea that awareness is the key to success. That if enough people see you, they’ll buy. But that model is collapsing. The internet is saturated. Social feeds are infinite scrolls of noise. AI is churning out more content than any human can process. Brand awareness isn’t enough anymore. Because attention has a half-life. What matters now is who keeps coming back. Welcome to the Era of Devotion The brands that will dominate the next decade won’t just be noticed. They’ll be followed. Worshipped. Defended. Here’s the difference: 🚫 Brand Awareness: “We need more people to see us!” 🙏 Brand Devotion: “We need more people to believe in us.” 🚫 Traditional Brand Strategy: “Let’s define our positioning.” 🙏 Cult Brands: “Let’s create an entire world people want to live in.” 🚫 Old-School Marketing: “Let’s optimize our ad spend.” 🙏 Modern Brand-Building: “Let’s build mythology, rituals, and exclusivity.” The New Brand Playbook: How to Build a Cult, Not Just a Company If you want to be more than a commodity, you need to rethink how you build your brand. 1️⃣ World-Building Over Positioning → Your brand isn’t a tagline. It’s a universe. Apple created an ecosystem. Nike built a mindset. Liquid Death made drinking water feel rebellious. What world are you building? 2️⃣ Rituals & Mythology Over Awareness → Devoted brands don’t just sell products; they create culture. Patagonia customers wear their gear like a uniform. Rolex buyers don’t just tell time, they signal accomplishment. What are your rituals? 3️⃣ Exclusivity Over Accessibility → The harder something is to access, the more people want in. Supreme’s scarcity fuels its demand. Erewhon made a grocery store feel like a luxury. Tesla turned its customers into disciples. How are you making people earn their way in? The Future of Branding: Are You Building a Cult or a Commodity? The brands that survive this next decade won’t be the loudest. They won’t be the ones with the biggest ad budgets. They’ll be the ones that make people choose sides. So ask yourself, are you building a brand people believe in? Or just another forgettable name fighting for attention?

  • View profile for Michael Hershfield

    CEO at Accrue | The future of customer loyalty is in the balance.

    9,841 followers

    I analyzed 100+ loyalty programs in the last 30 days. Most brands still run loyalty like it’s 2009: Earn points, get a discount, repeat. The top 10%? They’re using loyalty to change behavior- not just reward it. If I were Head of Loyalty at a $10B+ brand today, here’s exactly what I’d do to build a program that drives LTV, repeat purchases, and real retention: 1. Stop Giving Away Loyalty - Make Them Pay for It Costco, RH, Barnes & Noble. When customers pay upfront, they buy in - literally and psychologically. Forget free points. Paid memberships = commitment, retention, higher LTV and emotional sunk cost. 2. Make Loyalty Required, Not Optional - Integrate Directly into Payments Starbucks preloads!!! When rewards are embedded in how people pay, behavior shifts faster, and for longer. This is probably the biggest opportunity in loyalty right now. 3. Forget Delayed Points - Instant Gratification is More Important Immediate dopamine beats theoretical future savings. Slow accumulation = slow engagement. Instant offers = repeat behavior. The 2nd purchase matters more than the 10th. 4. Make Loyalty Emotional, Not Transactional REI, North Face, Sephora. Customers want to belong, not just save. Identity, community, and shared values are outperforming cashbacks and discounts in driving long-term loyalty. Loyalty isn’t just a discount strategy, it’s a brand strategy. 5. Invest in Status + Experiences, not Generic Perks This isn't just theory – with companies like Rapha and Lululemon offering loyalty members exclusive product drops, community events and behind-the-scenes experiences. Lean into waitlists and exclusive product drops. Less financial. More status + psychological “being in the club.” 6. Reward Engagement, Not Just Transactions MoxieLash, Pacifica, Lucy & Yak. UGC. Reviews. Referrals. Loyalty now means participation. The modern flywheel starts before checkout - and lasts far beyond it. ~~ Bottom line? If your loyalty program is still playing a game from 15 years ago, your customers are going to find better options. Today, the best brands in 2025 aren’t just rewarding loyalty- they're engineering it. PS: We analyzed 100+ programs across QSR, retail, travel, and fintech. Next week I’ll share the Top 30 loyalty programs leading the way. Stay tuned🙏

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