In a SmartTan.com poll, nearly two-thirds of indoor tanning business said they do not have a customer loyalty or rewards program.<\/p>\n
They may be something that takes a back seat to more pressing matters for many salon owners, but it\u2019s easy to understand why loyalty programs are useful: It costs a whole lot less to keep your current customer than it does to find and bring in new ones. A well-crafted program can be a cost-effective way to differentiate your business from competitors and remind loyal customers that they are appreciated.<\/p>\n
But more specifically, in an industry so impact by seasonality, the right rewards can help you maintain your EFT income during the off-season. Even if a client tends not to tan much during a certain time of year, you can motivate them to keep their membership active with the lure of rewards that they won\u2019t be able to get if they drop their membership and start it up again later. You can easily accomplish this with a system of tiers, where rewards increases along with the duration of membership. If a client wants to cancel their membership temporarily, they will be faced with starting over at the bottom of the pyramid when they returned. That\u2019s enough to make them think twice about dropping their membership over the summer.<\/p>\n
Other, more traditional variations can still be used to drive individual purchases \u2013 say, offering a free packet of lotion after so many are purchased. Applying a similar offer to upgrade purchases could also be beneficial and encourage customers to permanently step up to a higher level of tanning.<\/p>\n
Research has revealed some general guidelines for implementing a successful loyalty program of this kind. A study by professors Joseph Nunes and Xavier Dreze,\u00a0\u201cThe Endowed Progress Effect,\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 focused on the concept of \u201cartificial advancement.\u201d They identified three critical steps:<\/p>\n