- stamp card
- points card
- loyalty programme
Stamp card or points card: which is right for your business?
Choose a stamp card if your customers spend roughly the same on each visit, and a points card if spending varies a lot from one purchase to the next. Stamps reward frequency; points reward spend. And you don’t have to pick one: many businesses combine both.
How each one works
Stamp card. The customer gets a stamp for each visit or purchase. When the card is full, they get a fixed reward.
Example: café, “9 coffees = 1 free”.
Points card. Every euro spent earns points. Once they reach a set number, the customer redeems them for a discount or a gift.
Example: grocery shop, “1 point per euro; 200 points = €5 off”.
Stamps vs points: comparison
| Stamp card | Points card | |
|---|---|---|
| What it rewards | Customers coming back | What customers spend |
| Simplicity | Very high: understood instantly | High, but you need to explain the conversion |
| Motivation | Very visual: “just 2 to go” | Grows with every big purchase |
| Fair to big spenders | No: someone spending €50 earns the same as someone spending €5 | Yes: more spend, more points |
| Cost to the business | Fixed and easy to calculate | Proportional to sales (a % you choose) |
| Ideal for | Frequent, similar purchases | Variable or high-value purchases |
Decide in 3 questions
- Does your customers’ spend vary by more than double between purchases? (for example, from €5 to €40) → Yes: points. No: go to question 2.
- Do your regular customers come in at least once a week, or once a month for a fixed-price service? → Yes: stamps. No: points, because they also reward the occasional big purchase.
- Do you sell products as well as services? (a hair salon selling shampoo, a bakery with a café) → Yes: combine the two.
What works best in each industry
| Industry | Recommendation | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Cafés and bars | Stamps | Low, very frequent spend |
| Bakeries | Stamps | Near-daily, similar purchases |
| Hair salons and barbershops | Stamps (+ points for products) | Fixed-price service |
| Beauty salons | Stamps or points | Stamps for recurring treatments, points for the expensive ones |
| Restaurants | Points (stamps for a set lunch) | Spend depends on the table |
| Local shops: grocery, hardware, fashion | Points | Highly variable spend |
| Newsagents and kiosks | Stamps | Small, daily purchases |
How to combine stamps and points
- Bakery with a café: a stamp card for coffee (“10 coffees = 1 free”) and a points card for made-to-order cakes.
- Hair salon that sells products: stamps per haircut (“5 haircuts = 1 free”) and points for the products the client buys.
In Socios Plus you can run both at the same time in the same shop, and the customer sees them side by side in their app.
What about giveaways?
Neither stamps nor points give customers a reason to come back right after redeeming their reward. That’s where giveaways come in: every purchase earns an entry into a monthly prize draw, such as dinner for two or a shopping voucher. They keep interest alive between rewards and get the neighbourhood talking, too.
Frequently asked questions
Which builds more loyalty, stamps or points?
It depends on the business. For frequent, similar purchases, stamps tend to motivate more because progress is visible. With variable spend, points are fairer and reward those who spend the most.
Can I start with stamps and switch to points?
Yes. Many businesses start with a stamp card because it’s simple and add points later on. What matters is honouring what your customers have already collected.
How many points should I give per euro?
A simple rule is 1 point per euro, with a reward worth between 2.5% and 10% of the amount spent. In grocery, where margins are tight, aim for the lower end; in fashion or services, you can be more generous.
Try both and decide with data
With Socios Plus you can create a stamp card and a points card in minutes and see which one your customers use more. 14-day free trial, no card required. Before you start, work out what it could bring you with the loyalty calculator.
