Did you know that 80% of American consumers are enrolled in some sort of loyalty program?
Loyalty and rewards programs are increasingly popular as a way to keep customers coming back to retail stores — and pet stores are no exception to this trend.
Taking care of a pet requires regular purchases of food, along with toys, accessories, and grooming items. Rewarding your customers for these frequent purchases gets them into the habit of choosing your pet store over competitors.
There are a variety of options, but which is the best pet store rewards program? In this blog, we’ll take a look at five options (and answer the question).
What Are Pet Store Rewards Programs?
Reward or loyalty programs reward customers for frequent purchases. These programs can be set up in a variety of ways, but they all function under the same premise: The more customers buy, the greater the rewards they receive — incentivizing them to buy more to reach their next reward.
Here are a few examples of how loyalty programs are set up:
- Point-based: Customers earn points each time they make a purchase. When they earn enough points, they can exchange them for rewards.
- Spend-based: Spend-based rewards programs grant customers a reward after they spend a predetermined amount at your pet store.
- Tier-based: A slightly more complex system, tier-based rewards programs allow customers to reach purchase milestones that put them in tiers. You might have a platinum, diamond, and/or gold tier. The more a customer buys, the higher up they go in the tiers — and the better the rewards.
- Fee-based: These programs, also called premium loyalty programs, are for your most dedicated and loyal customers. Customers pay a recurring subscription fee for rewards they can take advantage of whenever they want, like lower prices or free shipping.
- Punch cards: A classic loyalty system, these are typically physical cards that are literally punched — with one punch after each purchase, a full punch card usually results in a free product. A punch card system can also be implemented digitally.
Choose the type of rewards program you feel is best for your pet store and your customers. Regardless of how you set up your program, be sure to offer meaningful rewards to your customers. If the rewards are too small, you’ll struggle to generate interest in the program.
Related Read: A Guide to Loyalty Rewards for Pet Stores
How Do Rewards Programs Integrate With POS Systems?
Point of sale (POS) systems help businesses process payments, manage their inventory, deploy e-commerce, and handle many other aspects of their operations. In some cases, they also include a loyalty program.
Some POS systems include a native loyalty program that business owners can use and customize. There are also loyalty program software offerings that are not tied to a POS system that business owners can use independently. Some POS systems have built-in integrations with external loyalty programs or can be integrated with a variety of external programs.
As we go through your best options for a pet store loyalty program, we’ll outline which programs are part of a POS system, which are independent, and which programs can integrate with a POS system.
Related Read: The Benefits of Having an All-in-One POS System for Your Pet Store
Pet Store Rewards Programs: 5 Options
There are a variety of options for a pet store rewards program, each with its strengths and weaknesses. Let’s take a look at your options to determine the best pet store rewards program.
Shopify
Best for: Retailers that want a customizable loyalty program with many options
Shopify is a general POS system that’s used by many different kinds of businesses. Rather than having a native loyalty program, the Shopify app store allows users to download one of many loyalty apps that can be integrated with their system. With over 300 different loyalty and rewards apps on their digital store, users can find an app that fits their business.
Key features:
- Hundreds of options to find an app that fits your pet store
- Apps integrate with the Shopify POS system
Pricing: External apps are individually priced (some are free).
Loyalty Lion
Best for: Retailers who want a system that can function independently of their POS
Loyalty Lion is a stand-alone loyalty software provider. Although it can function on its own, it can also be integrated with some POS systems, like Shopify. Loyalty Lion offers customizable features for both business owners and customers. Business owners can offer rewards for a variety of in-store and online actions, and customers can be given the option to redeem their rewards for a variety of products and services.
Key features:
- Customer rewards for in-store and online actions
- Multiple reward options for customers
Pricing: Plans start at $249 per month.
Square
Best for: General retailers who want a simple rewards solution
Square is another general retail POS that’s used by small businesses in many different industries. Square’s loyalty program is built into their system rather than being through an external app. With simple and easy-to-use features, Square is a basic loyalty system.
Key features:
- Text notifications to alert customers to their points and rewards
- Limited time or recurring promotions
- Customized VIP tiers
Pricing: $45 per month plus the cost of square POS.
Astro Loyalty
Best for: Pet stores that need an industry-specific loyalty program with extensive features
Astro Loyalty is a loyalty and rewards program designed specifically for independent pet stores with broad feature offerings. Astro Loyalty integrates with some POS systems.
Key features:
- Rewards program integrates with some POS systems
- Communication tools for text, email, and social media marketing
- Exclusive manufacturer incentives/programs for those who qualify
- Distributor credits
Pricing: Frequent Buyer program is $50 per month.
eTailPet
Best for: Pet stores looking for a loyalty program integrated with a POS system
eTailPet is a cloud-based POS system designed specifically for small pet stores. eTailPet offers general POS features like payment processing and inventory management, along with pet-specific features like memberships, subscriptions, and services scheduling. eTailPet offers a built-in loyalty program, and is also fully integrated with Astro Loyalty.
Key features:
- Members-only discount and promotion features
- Subscription features
- Full access to features offered by Astro Loyalty
Pricing: Request a custom quote for your pet store.
The Best Pet Store Rewards Program: eTailPet With Astro
So, what’s the best pet store rewards program? Your store needs a POS system designed with the needs of small pet stores in mind — and one that includes an integration with the leading pet store rewards program. You need eTailPet with Astro Loyalty integration.
eTailPet lightens the load of pet store owners by automating tasks that have traditionally been done by hand. Whether it’s e-commerce, website development, or email marketing, you can manage your store’s operations all from one place. With Astro Loyalty, you can offer your most loyal customers better rewards, making your store their pet destination.
Want to see what eTailPet can do for your pet store? Contact us today to schedule a demo.
