RWRD:
How two entrepreneurs are helping the best independent cafes benefit from digital loyalty
The founders of RWRD explain how their app could help drive sales for your independent coffee shop.
The days of a thick wallet crammed with cash, credit cards and a tattered paper loyalty card for a coffee shop with 4 faded stamps (never to be completed), are well and truly on the way out. 80% of customers now prefer a digital loyalty option when purchasing, streamlining their experience at the point of sale as their smartphones control all aspects of their day to day transactions.
It was with this in mind that two entrepreneurs came together from different sides of the coffee shop counter to create a convenient solution for customers. Having spent 6 years serving as an officer within the Infantry, Tim developed a passion for seeking out quality coffee, finding the discovery of excellent independent coffee shops was not always easy and he was rarely able to complete the paper loyalty cards before losing or forgetting the physical card.
Meanwhile, amongst the rapidly expanding residential developments of Nine Elms in South London, Miles was running a small independent coffee shop, facing the familiar challenges of driving footfall through the door of a little known new location. Struggling to raise a following on social media, and located off the beaten track, highlighting his venue to new customers as a prime alternative to the main high street chains was a difficult task. When these two friends put their heads together, they created a platform focused on the independent coffee community, providing a mobile app that enables business owners to reach customers who want to discover the best coffee spots in the area - one place to discover and save on better coffee.
Launched in October 2019, RWRD app is now one year into its journey and has currently partnered with some of the best coffee spots across the UK, on a mission to connect customers to better coffee, supporting the local smaller businesses.
“80% of customer now prefer a digital loyalty option.”
“RWRD found that 8 out of 10 customers who moved to a digital loyalty option returned to complete the rewards card.”
Having spoken with hundreds of fantastic coffee shops across the UK, Miles & Tim have shown that digital loyalty really does make an impact on the retention of customers, cutting out the percentage who have lost the card and those who are tempted away by the bright lights and low prices of high street chains. RWRD found that 8 out of 10 customers who moved to a digital loyalty option returned to complete the rewards card.
Featuring on a mobile app like RWRD enables independent businesses to remain relevant, share news and offers, and engage their customers during and outside visits to coffee shops. Building this relationship is key to retention with over 65% of the customer base now leaning towards mobile applications, with data suggesting that these app users are more than twice as likely to visit a coffee shop multiple times a week. In today's uncertain times, with ever-changing regulations on how to interact with customers, utilising these digital tools give businesses a consistent channel of communication to keep their loyal customers informed, engaged and coming back through the doors.
“Our digital tools give businesses a consistent channel of communication to keep their loyal customers informed, engaged and coming back through the doors.”
The audience that RWRD has available to coffee shops is unique in the digital marketplace. Every single user who has this application has downloaded it because they are interested in drinking coffee and supporting independent businesses. This gives those businesses appearing on the application a community of engaged customers to interact with who are specifically interested in what they have to offer; a great way to win new customers and raise awareness of your brand to a targeted audience. Contact team@rwrd.co.uk to find out more about partnering with RWRD and to start your free trial on the app connecting the independent coffee community with a digital solution.