Repeat business can be the make-or-break difference in keeping your business successful. It’s far too critical to leave to chance, particularly in today’s economy.  According to a 2010 report from marketing research firm Colloquy, membership in U.S. customer-loyalty reached 1.8 billion in 2009, up from 1.3 billion in 2007.

Every business should have a Customer Rewards Program for one great reason: Because it costs five times as much money to find a new customer than it does to get a current customer to come back and do business with you. Five times the amount! “Recent research indicates that increasing customer retention rate by only 5 percent can boost the average customer net present value by an astonishing 35% – 95%,” writes marketing consultant Collette Weil.  “In other words, getting them to come in your door — and come often — means more money.”

More specifically, rewards programs can help you:

• Retain/increase business with your customer base
• Collect Data on customer buying habits and sales trends
• Advertise − the rewards program card is like a “Mini Billboard” that fits inside your customer’s wallet
• Provide customers with recurring, and (yes!) rewarding experiences that shows how much you value their business

Here are five steps for starting a Customer Rewards Program:

1. Compile a list of possible rewards programs. Do you want to establish a loyalty rewards program, which is when a customer receives an award (such as a discount or free product) after a certain number of visits? Will your rewards program provide incentives for customers who spend a specific amount during a single transaction? After you have compiled three to five rewards programs, discuss them with managers and other employees for a different perspective.
2. Pick rewards. Determine if your rewards program offers reward tiers. For example, after a customer makes five transactions she gets 15% off her next purchase. After 10 transactions the customer receives a complimentary item (such as a keychain, coffee mug, T-shirt, etc.). If you select a tiered rewards program feature a very attractive reward, such as a $15 gift card, as the main reward after spending a specified amount or completing a specific number of transactions.
3. Finalize the rewards program by reviewing all of the options you came up with. Select the program option that will be the most attractive to customers. Speak with store managers regarding the program to obtain their opinions. After you have finalized the program, create a business-wide memo describing the rewards program and related information.
4. Purchase materials needed to carry out the rewards program. Tele-Pak has printed millions of  plastic rewards program cards for restaurants, spas, salons, gyms, boutiques, supermarkets,  and specialty stores worldwide – all in sharp, vivid color and printed to the highest quality standards. For additional card enhancement options, or to get an instant online quote, please visit cardprinting.us today.
5. Advertise your rewards program. Get the word out about of your brand-new rewards program by creating in-store signs, radio advertisements as well as print ads (newspapers, trade magazines, local papers, etc.). Establish an official start date for the rewards program and educate employees regarding the program process.

Finally, make sure you deliver real quality and value first. If you have so-so products or services, offering more of the same might not be regarded as such a great deal.

It’s almost that time.

Not long from now you’ll be starting to see colorful lights on houses and trees… green wreaths and garlands adorning front doors and mall concourses… and before you know it, the shoppers will be making that entrance bell ping.

That’s music to your ears, right?

And hopefully, you’re one of those smart business owners who know instinctively what most of their shoppers have on their shopping lists.  Gift cards!

What? You don’t have a custom gift card for your business?  Then you are missing out entirely on an opportunity to increase your cash sales, at a time in our economy where it is so hard to find those increases and ways to get your hands on extra cash.

Fortunately, Tele-Pak is all geared up and ready to help you rectify this situation.

First, we have started with putting all our gift card products under one brand-new web site, www.CustomGiftCards.com.  Second, we’ve sweetened the deal by offering our art services for free with orders over $500, until September 30, 2011.  We’ve never done that before! Design services are valuable, and in fact, we normally charge $150. But now, for this very short time, get your custom gift card printing done much easier by acting now and be ready to sell them when the customers start making that entrance bell music.

Did you know that you could have multiple designs on a 2, 3, 8 or 10-up plastic key tag matrix?

We didn’t think you did.  Seriously, who keeps that kind of information tucked into their head?  Fortunately, we at Tele-Pak do!

If you were wondering what Keanu Reeves very coolly leaning back and dodging bullets in a movie has to do your customer loyalty program, we have an answer for that, too.

In a word, nothing.

One has absolutely nothing to do with the other.  A “matrix” has nothing to do with the film.  It has to do with the originating plastic form from which the key tags are punched.  That is the “matrix”.

Go ahead and design on each and every key tag, or, do two each of a design.  If you would like some help in planning it out for the most effective design, go ahead and email us at art@tele-pak.com.  We’ll be happy to help you in planning the designs. Unlike other plastic printers, we don’t tack on those additional “version” charges. So go ahead. Pull out that extra large box of crayons and get creative! Maybe pop in a DVD of The Matrix to inspire you.