A customer loyalty program is a marketing strategy designed to encourage repeat business and customer loyalty by offering rewards, incentives, or benefits to customers who make regular purchases or engage with your business. These programs typically involve customers signing up or enrolling in a membership, after which they earn points, discounts, free products, or other perks based on their spending or participation. The goal of a dispensary loyalty program is to strengthen the relationship between the customer and your business, increase customer retention, and ultimately drive sales.
Cannabis loyalty programs are recognized as a leading dispensary marketing method.
In today's competitive cannabis market, just having great products and prices isn't enough. Customer loyalty is key. So, how do you keep those first-time buyers coming back? By rewarding them, of course! But what about your loyal customers and big spenders? They deserve something special too. That's where a VIP dispensary loyalty program comes in.
Elevate your existing program or start fresh, offering exclusive perks to your top-tier customers. It's not just about discounts anymore; it's about creating an experience they can't resist. So, whether you're fine-tuning your loyalty program or starting from scratch, remember: VIP status isn't just a label; it's a promise of exceptional treatment and unbeatable rewards.
7 easy ways to take exceptional care of your VIP dispensary customers
1. Set Up Your VIP Dispensary Loyalty Program
Before outsourcing your customer loyalty program, it's essential to evaluate the capabilities of your cannabis point-of-sale system and its integration options. What advantages does an integrated dispensary loyalty program offer?
- Self-Redemption: Customers value the ability to manage and utilize their points according to their preferences. Allowing self-redemption empowers them and enhances their overall experience.
- Balance Checks: Transparency is key in maintaining customer trust. Displaying loyalty point balances on receipts provides customers with clear and immediate information about their rewards, fostering transparency and satisfaction.
- Reduced Administration: Opting for an integrated loyalty program means less hassle for dispensary staff. With features that automate tasks and minimize manual auditing or management, your loyalty program can operate seamlessly in the background, freeing up staff to focus on other essential aspects of customer service.
Meadow's all-in-one cannabis software solution includes a built-in Loyalty & Rewards program that encompasses all these features, ensuring a seamless customer experience and requiring minimal effort to maintain.
By prioritizing customer satisfaction and streamlining processes, Meadow enables dispensaries to provide a hassle-free loyalty program that enhances customer retention and engagement. Opting for an integrated loyalty program means less hassle for dispensary staff. With features that automate tasks and minimize manual auditing or management, your loyalty program can operate seamlessly in the background, freeing up staff to focus on other essential aspects of customer service.
2. Create your Point Generator, Rewards and offer Exclusive Deals:
Think about the loyalty programs you love. Don’t be afraid to borrow ideas from retail stores with popular rewards programs like Nordstrom, Sephora, or even your local coffee shop. Dig into shop data—When do your most loyal customers shop? Who spends the most? What are they buying? Ask your best customers about their preferences and test different ideas to see what works to bring them back for repeat business. Choose a variety of rewards, from cash back, discounts, free products or combine a few options!
Here are some examples to consider from cannabis retailers who utilize customer loyalty programs with Meadow:
Cash Back Rewards
Cash Back Rewards are the most generous loyalty reward option in Meadow because customers can choose to spend quickly or save up.
For example, if $1 spent = 1 point, redeem 5% Cash Back by using 1 point for .05 cents off. If I spent $100, I get 100 points, which is $5 off on my next purchase.
Simple Discounts
Simple $ or % Rewards are easy to set up if you're new to cannabis loyalty programs.
For example, if $1 spent = 1 point, redeem $10 off your purchase with 100 points. If I spend $100, I get 100 points, which is $10 off my next purchase.
Alternatively, you could set this up with a percent discount: $1 = 1 point. Redeem 10% off your purchase with 100 points. The benefit of both of these options is that it's easy to set up, it's simple to remember, and customers are always saving up to the point value.
Tiered Discounts
Tiered $ or % Rewards allow the customer to decide when they'd like to spend their points.
For example, if $1 spent = 1 point, redemptions can be set up for $10 off with 100 points, $20 with 500 points, and $40 with 1,000 points.
Customize & Combine Methods
You can also use an order count generator, so every 10th order you receive a discount. Additionally, you can opt in to require a minimum dollar spend to accumulate points. You can require marketing opt-in for customers to participate in Meadow loyalty programs as well.
Meadow also supports 'free' product rewards for cannabis accessories or shop merchandise. You can also run simultaneous reward generators and rewards to truly customize your cannabis loyalty program.
Incentivize high-spending customers with a VIP cannabis rewards program. Add a top-tier to your dispensary loyalty program with access to exclusive rewards.
Overwhelmed? Start small with a simple loyalty program and grow your tiers as your customer base grows. Remember to provide all customers with realistic, small rewards for continued patronage—don’t make them wait until they’ve accumulated thousands of points for their first small reward!
Learn more about creating loyalty “milestone buys” to reward shoppers with prizes and perks on the Meadow Memo podcast: Meadow Memo: Dispensary Marketing & Building Brand Relationships.
3. Think Beyond Discounts: Get Creative with VIP Loyalty Rewards
Leverage Brand Relationships: Offer brand-specific specials or exclusive events to VIP customers. You can even target promos by the brand or product category a customer purchases from the most. Think $0.01 samples, BOGO deals, and free accessory gifts with purchase. Go beyond stickers, lighters, and apparel with branded dab mats for extract fans, a rolling tray for flower aficionados, a battery for cartridge enthusiasts, or a special glass for infused beverage lovers.
Loyalty Events: Consider loyalty VIP days 2x/year with x% off store-wide. Invite VIP customers into the shop for exclusive deals and early access to new product launches with private shopping. Host an event for VIPs—in your lounge or even off-site (consumption welcome is always a plus), and encourage VIPs to bring a friend!
Provide a VIP Concierge: Service Taking concierge care of your VIP customers is easier than it sounds. Think of services like free or no minimum delivery windows for VIPs—or simply training your staff to greet customers with a personal touch. Utilize customer groups and notes to quickly identify VIP customers when they come into your dispensary or place an order for pickup or delivery. Is it their birthday? Remind them that there’s a special reward and wish them a happy birthday. Does the customer prefer a certain name, or another personal detail? Make a note in your CRM to be sure you greet them properly and help them feel at home in your business.
4. Promote Your VIP Loyalty Program
Make sure your customers are aware of your loyalty program: include physical signage at the register, train your employees to tell your customers about your loyalty program, and utilize your website and menu notes to advertise the program.
Explain your program—how it works, how points are generated, different tiers, and examples of rewards. Mention it in your marketing texts, emails, and flyers, and promote it on your Instagram and other social media channels.
VIPs are your biggest customer advocates and word-of-mouth marketing channel. Incentivize these customers to refer their friends!
5. Train Your Team to Integrate VIP Loyalty Into Everyday Operations
Loyalty is all about building a relationship with your customers, so make customer loyalty part of your company values and integral to your complete customer experience.
Train new staff and budtenders from day 1 on your loyalty program. Make it easy for employees to recognize VIP customers during check in, checkout, and online or over the phone. Show them how to properly identify and greet VIP customers. Encourage your team to build relationships with your customers and provide them with personalized attention. Learn more about How to Boost Basket Sizes at Your Dispensary.
Identify an employee or two to be a designated VIP concierge, and put them in charge of the program. Empower them to help create, manage, maintain, integrate and measure your VIP loyalty program. Finally, incentivize and reward your employees for driving customer loyalty. Did a customer leave a review or comment praising a particular employee? Did you recognize exceptional service? Reward them for going above and beyond.
6. Gather and Track VIP Customer Information
Set up an in-store process to collect customer information: Name, birthday, email address, and phone number. Requiring customers to check-in upon entering the store will help track all visitors, even if no purchase is made. Attach a customer to each purchase to ensure they earn loyalty points.
Some customers don’t want their information collected. You can gently remind anonymous customers that they won’t earn any points for their purchases, but respect their need for privacy. Ask for your customers to consent to their marketing preferences, and allow them to opt-out (or back in) at any time. You can still offer specials to VIPs when they order or visit the store, even if they prefer not to receive marketing messages.
7. Reach VIPs with Targeting Marketing Messages
You’re collecting customer and sales information—now put that data to work! Send targeted marketing campaigns to your VIP segment of customers. Recent campaigns with the highest order amount per customer have very specific offers and target customers that have not come in or ordered recently. Include a call to action—remind them to come into the store or place an order online to claim their reward.
Some tips for marketing to your VIP customers:
- Craft marketing messages with your own voice. It should sound like you’re texting a friend.
- Use specific language in your messages to VIP customers. Make it clear that this offer is for your most loyal VIP customers.
- A simple thank you message recognizing customers for their loyalty with a small incentive offer will go a long way. Don’t hesitate to remind them they’re top-tier!
With Meadow’s built in CRM tool and API Integration Partners, it’s easy for retail teams to collect customer data, set up VIP cannabis rewards programs, and send dispensary marketing campaigns.
Meadow’s cannabis retail software tracks loyalty points for each dollar spent (or per purchase), and makes it easy for customers to cash in on rewards online or in-store. With four different reward types to choose from – cash back, flat discounts, percent discounts, and free products – you can have flexibility in the perks you offer loyal customers, and Meadow’s integrated partners let you create targeted, segmented campaigns in minutes.
