SMARTs’ Loyalty Programme and Customer Benefits

Loyalty schemes and rewards programs have become commonplace in today’s society. SMART Garden Offices, supplier and installer of traditional and modern garden studios across the UK, recognise it is becoming increasingly difficult to lock consumers into a single brand as they hop from one offer to another.

It is no longer just about getting a good deal, such as buy one get one free or 10% off if you buy 6 or more, it is also about what else the retailer can offer you.

High street stores and e-commerce sites are all using them to boost retention and drive down acquisition costs but with so many programs on offer, locking in customer loyalty is becoming a very hard task.

Garden Office

The History of Loyalty Schemes

You might find it hard to believe that loyalty schemes have a long history starting as early as the late 1800s when it is believed that American retailers used to give their customers copper tokens with purchases that could later be redeemed on future purchases.

These coins, however, were a costly way of retaining customer loyalty and around 1891, stamps replaced the coins. You may recall Green Shield stamps as being one of the most prominent stamp loyalty programs. This started out by awarding stamps for purchases at selected retailers and then later by introducing a catalogue and stores of products that the stamps could be redeemed against.

Loyalty programs would continue to be led by stamp collection programs until the early 1900s, when coupons would be printed directly onto products. In the US, Betty Crocker introduced their box top program in 1929.

In the late 1900s, we saw the advent of one of the most well know loyalty programs ever – the Frequent Flyers scheme, a program that revolutionised customer loyalty.

Card-based retail loyalty programs gained popularity in the 1990s and are still a popular method today. Just check in your wallet or purse – I bet you have at least one loyalty scheme card!

E-Commerce and Modern Day Loyalty Schemes

With the rise of e-commerce and the digital payment infrastructure, loyalty schemes are becoming even more popular and easy to set up and it is no longer the retail giants who use this as a method of locking in consumer loyalty.

Loyalty programs have certainly evolved throughout history, starting out as a way to simply reward customers for spending a certain amount at a store. Today they are so much more – they are about moving customers along a ‘customer journey’ from being a visitor, to becoming a purchaser, to a repeat purchase and then finally to becoming a brand ambassador.

SMARTs Loyal Customer Benefits

So, here at SMART, we certainly don’t want to be left behind and we have launched our first ever rewards program as our way of thanking you for being a SMART customer and to continue our journey together long after you have had your beautiful building installed, whether it is a modern garden office or one of our timeless traditional designs.

By becoming a Friend of SMART, you can enjoy any, or all, of the following benefits:

• ‘FRIEND OF SMART’ – allows prospective SMART buyers to visit your building as a local showcase. £100 Amazon voucher for up to 6 visits.
• Recommend a Friend – you will receive £500 cash back upon full payment of your friends building. Your friend will also receive a £500 discount off their order.
• Sponsorship/Promotion – gives SMART permission to run a case study on your ‘SMART’ business being run from a SMART building; to include quotes and pictures. In return we will promote your business both in the case study and through a link from our website to yours.
• Positive Google or Facebook Review – SMART will send you a thank you gift.

We hope that you will agree, that this is another great reason to choose SMART.

To find out more about our fantastic rewards program click here.

We are looking forward to welcoming
you as a Friend of SMART