RegularhoodDiscount or reward
Discount or loyalty reward: which brings customers back?
Both give the customer something. But a discount and a loyalty reward teach customers very different habits — and cost your shop very differently.
Side by side
| Discount | Loyalty reward | |
|---|---|---|
| Who gets it | Everyone, including one-time buyers | Only people who keep coming back |
| What it teaches | Wait for the next offer | Come back to finish the card |
| What it costs you | Taken off every bill | One small item, every few visits |
| How it feels | A price cut | A gift from the shop |
| Easy to stop? | Customers notice when it ends | The card simply carries on |
Why a free item costs you less
A discount comes straight out of your margin on every bill. A free item costs you only what you paid for it, and you give it once every few visits.
Customers also tend to value a free item more than the same amount as a discount. A free pastry feels like a gift; a few rupees off is forgotten by the time they leave.
When a discount makes sense
- Clearing old or seasonal stock.
- Opening week, to get people in the door the first time.
- A festival offer that everyone in the market is running.
When a loyalty reward makes sense
- You want regulars to choose you over the shop next door.
- Your customers come often — daily, weekly or monthly.
- You want to know who your regulars are and who stopped coming.
Doing it with Regularhood
Regularhood is a loyalty reward without the paperwork. You set one rule — every N visits (3 to 10), one reward you choose. At the counter you type the customer’s phone number and tap Add visit, and the app tells you when to give the reward. No points, no QR codes and nothing for the customer to install. Free to start.
Questions
Is a discount or a free gift better for customers?
For bringing people back, a free gift for repeat visits usually works better. It rewards loyalty instead of a single purchase.
Can I run a discount and a loyalty card together?
Yes. Use the discount for short offers like opening week or clearing stock, and keep the loyalty card running all year.
What reward should I give instead of a discount?
A small item or service you sell often and that costs you little — a free pastry, a free juice, a free head massage.
Will customers still come if I stop giving discounts?
Regulars come for your shop, not only the price. A reward for coming back gives them a reason to stay when the discount ends.
Your next regular walks in today.
Set up takes two minutes on the phone you already have. Free to start.