The holidays are a time of giving. They’re also the most lucrative time of the year for retailers, with in-store sales expected to increase by up to 6 percent this year.

Online stores can look forward to a 17-22 percent rise.

Get in the spirit of both with holiday rewards for your customers. Online or in-store, a loyalty program is a gift that keeps on giving.

Here’s how to get into the spirit the season and reap the rewards all year round.

Holiday Rewards and Loyalty

Customers are going to be doing holiday shopping no matter what. They’ll want to buy gifts for friends and family, special ingredients for holiday meals, and perhaps a few year-end treats for themselves.

It’s the best time of year to attract and nurture new customers, and a rewards program can ensure they come back.

Almost every kind of retailer can cash in on the Christmas spirit of spending during this time.  It’s a good idea to give back in the form of free gifts and extra loyalty points for regular customers.

These kinds of gestures make your customers feel valued and more likely to support your store in the future. Loyal customers will pay back the small outlay on free gifts many times over.

Use Referrals to Grow Your Customer Base

Another way to gain new customers is by offering rewards to existing customers who get family and friends to sign up for your loyalty program.

You can also reward them with extra points for bringing friends and family into your store for a shopping spree.

If all this seems like a lot of extra admin on your behalf, we have an app for that.

Social Awareness Sells

One of the best ways to embrace Christmas spirit is by allowing customers to convert their accumulated points into a donation toward a worthy cause.

This kind of gifting is a new trend amongst socially-aware millennials and can earn you brownie points with both new and existing customers.

Studies show that 66% of millennials are more willing to support socially conscious brands.

Knowing that your store takes has social issues at heart gives your customers a feel-good reason to support you and can engender strong feelings of loyalty.

Combination Deals

Allowing your customers to pool their points is an excellent way to generate extra sales during the holidays.

If you have a system that allows points to expire at the end of the year, this will prevent them from losing out. Customers who haven’t accumulated enough rewards for significant purchases can also benefit, and they’ll love you for it.

It can also help them save money during this expensive season with all its extra costs, making your store their retail destination of choice.

Get Going for the Holidays

It’s never too late to embark on your holiday rewards program. The sooner you get started, the sooner you can reap the benefits of improved customer loyalty.

If you’re ready to start recognizing your loyal customers, sign up for one of our packages or get in touch to discuss the way forward.