Gift vouchers and loyalty: two ways to build return visits

Gift vouchers and loyalty programmes serve different purposes. A voucher lets someone give a future visit as a present. Loyalty recognises a customer’s ongoing relationship with the business. Used thoughtfully, both can make returning easier without turning every interaction into a discount.

Postree provides a branded online gift voucher shop and a loyalty offering that connects eligible in-store and online activity. For the team, the value is a clearer record of what has been bought, earned or redeemed.

The use case: a café with regulars and seasonal gift buyers

An illustrative café has weekday regulars who order at the counter and occasionally collect an online lunch order. At Christmas, customers also ask to buy vouchers for friends. Handling rewards on separate cards and recording vouchers in a notebook leaves staff checking several places during a sale.

A connected approach gives each activity a more consistent process. The gift buyer uses the café’s branded page, while a returning customer’s eligible loyalty activity can contribute to one balance across POS and online ordering.

The solution: give each scheme a clear job

Postree’s voucher journey lets the buyer choose an amount and design, enter recipient details and a message, then pay through Stripe. The voucher is sent by email and can be downloaded as a PDF. Staff can search voucher records, check remaining value and manage actions such as resending the email.

Redemption can be configured for the till, online or both. Agree those rules and the customer-facing terms before promoting the shop, and show staff how to check a voucher rather than relying on a screenshot of an old balance.

For loyalty, choose an offer that is understandable and sustainable. The published Postree offering describes one points balance across POS and online ordering, with rewards applied at checkout. Train the team to explain how customers are identified and which purchases qualify in your setup.

Where the efficiency comes from

Digital voucher delivery can reduce the time spent preparing and sending each gift manually. Searchable voucher records make queries easier to investigate. Connected loyalty avoids maintaining unrelated reward records for the same customer’s online and in-store visits.

A restaurant might use vouchers for dining gifts. A bakery could offer them for regular treats or celebration purchases. A bar with a food offering could promote a future dining experience rather than a blanket price reduction.

Measure return visits, not just issuance

Track voucher sales alongside redemptions and outstanding balances. For loyalty, compare repeat visits, redemption patterns and the cost of the offer. A large number of issued points does not, by itself, show that a scheme is useful.

Keep voucher receipts distinct from reporting on the later visit and review the appropriate treatment with your adviser. Ask Postree to demonstrate purchase, partial redemption and a repeat customer’s online-to-till journey before launching your campaign.