Start with what you want to reward
A digital stamp card works well when progress needs to be obvious: an eligible purchase earns a stamp, followed by a reward at the stated threshold. Loyalty points offer more flexibility when purchase values vary, but require a clearer calculation rule.
Neither model is always more profitable. Reward costs, visit frequency and ease of use matter more than the name of the programme.
Compare the work at the counter
| Question | Stamps | Points |
|---|---|---|
| What does the customer see? | Spaces or visits remaining. | A balance to compare with a threshold. |
| What needs explaining? | Which purchases earn a stamp. | How points are earned and redeemed. |
| What should you watch? | Rewarding very different purchases equally. | Complicated rules or entry errors. |
| What data is needed? | The eligible purchase or visit. | The amount or action determining the points. |
Three everyday situations
Café with similar orders. “Buy 10 eligible drinks, then receive one free” is easy to explain. Define eligible drinks and the treatment of extras. Ten paid purchases precede the reward; a nine-purchase rule would be a different offer.
Hair salon with varied services. Giving the same stamp for a small service and a lengthy appointment may distort the reward. Consider a minimum spend, selected services or points with a clearly displayed calculation. Test the rule on representative receipts before publishing it.
Shop with varied basket values. Spend-based points can make progress meaningful for both small and large purchases. Check how amounts enter the programme: manual entry and a connected POS are different workflows.
Write a promise the team can deliver
Define eligible purchases, the threshold, the reward, exclusions and what happens after a cancellation. If you change the rules while customers are close to their reward, explain what happens to their existing progress.
Goodly supports stamp and points cards with merchant-defined rewards. Start with a simple rule, then review real visits and redeemed rewards. Receiving a benefit does not necessarily make a customer return more often.
How many visits before the reward?
Use your customers' actual visit rhythm. Ten visits may be close for a daily regular and distant for someone who comes every two months. Calculate the expected time to a reward, then check its cost. The threshold should be understandable for the customer and sustainable for the business.
Calculate stamp programme costs · Transfer existing paper stamps · Create a Goodly card