We collected the most important questions about loyalty and gift cards and the advantages of their use in Retail.
LOYALTY CARDS AND GIFT CARDS
Loyalty cards and gift cards are widely used in the Large-Scale distribution and Retail distribution. The fidelity or loyalty card allows the creation of a points wallet for every euro spent: the aim is to build a connection with the customer, profile them, and foster loyalty.
The advantages of loyalty cards for shops are numerous:
- Increased customer loyalty. Loyalty programs encourage customers to return to the store more frequently and spend more, thanks to rewards such as discounts and gifts. This can lead to an increase in sales and profits for the store.
- Personalised offers and better inventory management. The adoption of loyalty cards enables the issuing company to understand what interests the consumer and in what quantities, allowing them to forecast consumption and better manage stock, as well as propose tailored offers.
- More effective communication with customers. The use of loyalty cards provides stores with a direct communication channel with their customers, useful for sending promotions and information about their products or services.
Loyalty cards vs gift cards. Gift cards offer the possibility to give a monetary value to be spent within the store; both the value and the duration can vary. This type of card also provides significant benefits to businesses that decide to adopt them:
- Improved cash flow. Gift cards are paid for at the time of purchase, allowing the store to receive money in advance for products or services that will be provided in the future.
- Attract new customers. Those who receive a gift card from a store where they have never shopped before will not only be prompted to visit the store to spend the card's value but, if the experience is positive, they are highly likely to continue shopping there afterwards.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT GIFT CARDS
Gift card services
Gift cards can be used by companies as a form of fringe benefit for their employees. Fringe benefits are an additional element to the salary that companies can provide to their staff in the form of non-monetary compensation (e.g. company car, smartphone, meal vouchers). In Italy, article 51 of the TUIR (Testo Unico delle Imposte sui Redditi) allows for the provision of benefits in the form of gift cards.
This type of personalised gift card for businesses offers advantages for small, medium, and large companies, as fringe benefits are tax-exempt. Additionally, employees benefit by being able to spend the credit according to their individual needs.
LEARN HOW TO CHOOSE A LOYALTY OR A GIFT CARD
Best loyalty and gift cards
The selection of the best gift cards or loyalty cards for stores starts with choosing the right material. At Partitalia, we offer a wide range of card materials, such as PVC and PETG, known for their high durability and flexibility.
We also provide eco-friendly loyalty cards printing services, made with green materials for those who want a product with a lower environmental impact without compromising on quality: recycled PVC and degradable PVC, which offer the same technical characteristics as standard materials but are more sustainable; bamboo, maple, or lime wood, which create unique cards thanks to the natural colour and grain of these materials; and paperboard, mainly used for gift cards due to its excellent printability.
Gift cards and loyalty cards with barcode are the most requested. Barcode loyalty cards for small businesses, medium and large companies, are usually in standard ISO format; however, we also produce cards in non-ISO formats, such as minicards. In the loyalty sector, 3 up cards are particularly appreciated. These are pre-cut loyalty cards with barcodes, split into three parts and featuring the same barcode on the back, allowing them to be shared among family members.
DISCOVER HOW TO CUSTOMISE LOYALTY CARDS
Loyalty and gift cards printing solutions
In our facility, we offer the best loyalty cards printing service. We produce personalised gift cards and customised loyalty cards with company logo or the design chosen by our clients, either in colour or black and white, resulting in a unique card that fully reflects the brand’s characteristics.
How to print personalised loyalty cards? At Partitalia, we provide custom loyalty card printing and custom gift card printing for Retail using offset and silkscreen printing. The customisation — such as adding variable data like barcodes and sequential numbering — is carried out with techniques like inkjet printing and thermographic printing.
Finally, once printing and personalisation are completed, we offer additional services — known as fulfillment — such as barcode labelling, flow packing, and enveloping.
FAQs loyalty cards and gift cards
What are loyalty cards with barcodes used for?
Loyalty cards with barcodes are common in Large-Scale distribution and Retail, enabling the creation of a points-based reward system tied to customer spending. By offering discounts and tailored promotions, these cards help foster stronger customer relationships. Additionally, they allow businesses to profile customers and better understand their buying behaviours.
What is the difference between loyalty cards and gift cards?
Loyalty cards foster customer loyalty and drive sales: motivated by dedicated discounts and promotions, customers are encouraged to return to the store more frequently and make larger purchases. Additionally, loyalty cards create a direct communication channel between the brand and the customer, allowing for a better understanding of consumer purchasing habits and optimised stock management and replenishment.
Gift cards offer a monetary value to be spent at a specific store and come in various denominations and durations. Moreover, they are widely used by companies as a form of employee fringe benefit.
How do loyalty cards work?
Using a barcode loyalty card is very simple: at the checkout, when making a payment, the cashier scans the loyalty card with a barcode reader; based on the store's loyalty program, points are automatically added to the card or the applicable discount is applied to the purchase.
How can I print personalised loyalty cards?
At Partitalia, we produce custom loyalty cards with the client’s choice of logo and graphics, both in colour and black and white. We utilise state-of-the-art industrial printing technologies to produce high-quality loyalty and gift cards, using offset printing and silkscreen printing.
How can I customise loyalty cards for my business?
Partitalia specialises in producing custom loyalty and gift cards for businesses. We offer a wide range of personalization options, including variable data printing (barcodes, serial numbers, etc.), using state-of-the-art digital printing technologies like inkjet and thermographic printing.
What materials are used for loyalty card printing?
Partitalia offers a wide range of materials for printing loyalty and gift cards. PVC and PETG provide excellent technical performance, including durability, flexibility, and temperature resistance. For eco-friendly options, we offer recycled PVC, biodegradable PVC, and sustainable materials such as wood - bamboo, maple, or lime wood - and paperboard.
