1. Make it fun, not formal

Ice cream isn’t serious. Your loyalty program shouldn’t be either. Give it a name that fits your brand: “The Cone Club,” “Scoop Society,” “Freezer Friends.” Let people earn points or stamps toward free scoops, toppings, or merch. Platforms like CHCKN make it easy to brand your loyalty program your way while automatically tracking who your biggest fans are.

2. Reward flavour explorers

People love to sample new flavours, even when they end up back at chocolate. Use that curiosity to your advantage by offering bonuses for trying limited-edition or seasonal flavours. For example: “Try 3 of our fall flavours, get a free scoop next visit.” It encourages repeat visits and gives you data on what drives traffic.

According to Datassential, 65% of consumers say unique or seasonal flavors influence their dessert purchases.

3. Build “sunny day” and “rainy day” bonuses

Sales spike when it’s hot. Loyalty helps flatten the curve when it’s not. Run weather-based offers through your digital loyalty program, like double points on rainy days or bonus rewards when it dips below 15°C. CHCKN can automate these messages through simple push or SMS campaigns, turning slow days into surprise sales.

4. Celebrate birthdays with more than sprinkles

Birthday freebies work, but they’re predictable. Make them memorable instead. Send loyal members a “Birthday Sundae” coupon and bonus points if they bring friends. You’re turning one birthday into multiple customers. Retail Dive reports that birthday rewards are among the highest engagement drivers in loyalty programs, especially for younger audiences.

5. Host secret flavour drops

If you’ve ever experimented with weird flavours like wasabi honey or corn caramel, use your loyalty list as your test group. Announce “members-only” tasting events or pre-release flavours available a day early for loyalty members. Cass Café uses their CHCKN customer list to fill their event nights fast; you can do the same for flavour previews. It makes customers feel like insiders, not just ice cream buyers.

6. Tie rewards to community events

Ice cream and local events go hand in hand. Reward attendance at markets, fundraisers, or festivals by offering stamps or points for scanning your CHCKN QR code at your booth. Each scan grows your contact list and connects your product to experiences. If you host in-store events like trivia or tastings, promote them through your loyalty app like Cass Café does for their community nights.

7. Reward streaks and seasonal champions

Ice cream is seasonal, but loyalty shouldn’t be. Create milestones like “5 visits this summer” or “10 weeks in a row” and reward them with limited-edition swag: branded spoons, reusable cups, or a pint upgrade. These small achievements gamify your program and keep people returning for the next reward.

8. Partner with local favourites

Pair up with nearby coffee shops, bakeries, or pizza spots. “Show your digital loyalty card from Maps Pizza, get $1 off a scoop” and vice versa. You’ll both grow your customer lists while reinforcing community ties. Harvard Business Review notes that partnerships like these often outperform points systems in creating emotional loyalty.

9. Reward photos and shares

People can’t resist sharing a perfectly messy cone. Offer digital points for tagging your shop in posts or spotlight a “Photo of the Week” winner with bonus rewards. CHCKN lets you log and reward engagement manually, giving you real data on who’s spreading the word.

CHCKN case: SWIRL’s Exclusive Scoops program

Towards the end of the 2024 season, SWIRL quietly introduced a digital loyalty program with zero marketing—just a single poster next to the menu. Two weeks later, 600 people had signed up. Customers loved it, with many stating it was a highlight of their season.

👉 Read more about Swirl’s CHCKN success story