Plastic VIP Cards: A Comprehensive Introduction

Plastic VIP cards are extremely useful for businesses, providing customers with a more personalised experience while increasing the businesses" loyalty. In this article, we'll provide a comprehensive introduction to plastic VIP cards, exploring their features, benefits, pros and cons, three case studies, frequently asked questions (FAQs), and best practices.

Features of Plastic VIP Cards

The features of plastic VIP cards depend on the provider, though most offer a range of the following:

• Customised printing and embossing, for example, adding a customer's name and photograph.
• Size flexibility.
• The ability to track customer behaviour.
• The integration of existing loyalty platforms.

Benefits of Plastic VIP Cards

Customised plastic VIP cards offer an array of benefits:

• The personalisation of the card builds upon the customer's feeling of being valued, an important aspect of customer loyalty.
• The flexibility of the cardchanges to credit limit, bonuses and discounts, for examplemeans the customer has an ever-changing reason to return to the store.
• Retailers can track usage and the behaviour of customers, improving customer service and allowing them to identify and target customer touchpoints.
• The merging of existing loyalty platforms makes sure that customer behaviour is consistent regardless of the retailer used a great boon for multi-channel retailers.

Pros and Cons of Plastic VIP Cards

Before using plastic VIP cards, businesses should consider the following advantages and disadvantages:

Pros

• The personalisation facilitates customer loyalty programmes, increasing sales.
• The technology can be used to provide customers with special offers, enticing them to return to the store.

Cons

• Setup and installation costs may limit smaller businesses from using the technology.
• Data security must be considered, especially when the plastic VIP cards store personal information.

Case Studies for Plastic VIP Cards

Many businesses have seen great success when introducing plastic VIP cards. Here are a few examples:

Coles Supermarkets:

Coles Supermarkets used plastic VIP cards to retain customer loyalty. Customers who purchased items with their VIP cards were rewarded with discounts, bonuses, and special offers over time. This simple technique encouraged customers to return to Coles, leading to an increase in sales.

Apple:

Apple's plastic VIP cards allowed customers to store information about their purchases, payment methods, and loyalty points on their cards. This information was stored electronically, enhancing customer convenience. The cards also offered members access to exclusive content and activities.

Lush Cosmetics:

Lush Cosmetics took advantage of the embossing capabilities of plastic VIP cards. Lush customers received cards with their name or photograph embossed upon them. This subtle gesture made customers feel valued and appreciated, increasing their loyalty towards the brand. They also keep track of customer behaviour, shipping products that customers may be interested in based on customer purchases.

FAQs about Plastic VIP Cards

Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about plastic VIP cards:

• Q: How expensive are plastic VIP cards?
• A: The setup and installation costs vary depending on the provider, but the actual VIP cards are generally inexpensive.
• Q: What security measures do plastic VIP cards have?
• A: The security measures depend on the provider, though most take measures to ensure personal data is kept safe.
• Q: How can I make sure they're used correctly?
• A: Training staff on the correct usage of the plastic VIP cards is essential to ensure the technology is used to its full potential.

Common Mistakes with Plastic VIP Cards

Not setting up the plastic VIP cards correctly or not utilising the customer tracking aspects of the cards can mean that the technology isn't working to its full potential. With that in mind, here are some of the most common mistakes to avoid when using plastic VIP cards:

• Not offering customer loyalty bonuses or rewards.
• Not tracking customer behaviour and purchases.
• Not customising the cards to make them personalised
• Not reviewing the data, as tracking customer behaviour is pointless if the retailer doesn't use the data to make changes.

Best Practices with Plastic VIP Cards

Finally, when using plastic VIP cards, it's important to establish a few best practices to ensure the technology is used in its best way:

• Train staff in the correct use of the plastic VIP cards.
• Use the customer data gained with the cards to make informed decisions about how to personalise future campaigns.
• Encourage customer loyalty by offering bonuses and rewards.
• Keep track of any changes in customer behaviour or preferences.
• Make sure the data is secure and remain GDPR compliant.

Summary

Plastic VIP cards offer personalised customer experiences whilst also retaining customer loyalty. If used correctly, the plastic VIP cards can reap rewards for businesses through increase sales and more loyal customers. With the correct features, they can also provide customers with a range of options, such as the ability to store their data or the option to receive personalised rewards. For businesses interested in utilising plastic VIP cards, remembering to adhere to best practices and avoiding common mistakes is essential.