Rally the Troops: Getting Your Bar Staff Genuinely Excited About Your Customer Loyalty Scheme

So, you’ve done it. You’ve launched a shiny new customer loyalty scheme for your pub or bar. You’re rightly chuffed, picturing a stampede of happy, returning customers. But when you look at your team, you see… well, let's call it 'understated enthusiasm'. To them, it might just look like another task to juggle between pulling pints and clearing tables.

Here’s the rub: your bar staff are not a hurdle to overcome; they are your secret weapon. Their genuine buy-in can be the difference between a scheme that fizzles out and one that flies. The goal is to turn them from passive participants into active champions. But how do you do that without it feeling like yet another corporate mandate?

1. Start with the ‘Why’ (and the ‘What’s In It For Me?’)

Before you even touch on the 'how', you need to sell the 'why'. Your staff are at the coalface; they know what makes for a good shift or a bad one. Frame the loyalty scheme in their terms.

• Better Banter, Easier Upsells: It gives them a brilliant, positive reason to chat with punters. Instead of a stilted "anything else?", it becomes a helpful "Don't forget to get your stamp on meed, you're only two away from a free pint!" It’s a natural conversation starter that shows the business cares.

  
  

• Happier Punters = Better Tips: This is the big one. Customers who feel valued and recognised are happier. Happy customers are more relaxed, stay longer, and, yes, are often more generous. A successful loyalty scheme that brings regulars back creates a better atmosphere for everyone and can lead to more cash in their pocket at the end of the night.

  
  

• A Buzzier Workplace: More repeat customers mean a steadier, more predictable flow of business. This makes for a less stressful environment and, ultimately, more secure shifts.

2. Make It Effortless to for Bar Staff to Execute Your Loyalty Scheme

If using the scheme is difficult, your team will avoid it like the plague. Simplicity is everything. This is where you need to choose the right tool for the job. The process should fit neatly into their existing workflow.

At meed, we think about this constantly, which is why we have a few different flavours:

• The ‘STAMP’ Method: If your staff are awarding points, the process needs to be lightning-fast. They can use the meed business app to give a digital stamp in a single tap. It’s quicker than finding that old rubber stamp and ink pad, and there’s no mess!

  
  

• The ‘CHECK-IN’ Method: If you’d rather customers handle it themselves, the staff’s role shifts to being a helpful promoter. A simple prompt like, "Have you checked today?" whilst they're paying is all it takes to remind a customer and make them feel looked after.

  
  

• The ‘SCAN’ Method: For the ultimate hands-off approach, customers can scan a QR code on their receipt. Here, the staff’s job is simply awareness. A quick, friendly, "Just scan your receipt to get your loyalty points!" at the till is enough to get the job done.

  
  

Whichever path you choose, the key is that it doesn’t slow them down or complicate the transaction.

3. Incentivise and Gamify for the Team

Never underestimate the power of a bit of healthy competition. Don't just instruct your staff; incentivise them.

• Run a Team Competition: Create a simple leaderboard. Who can sign up the most new members in a week? The winner gets a bar tab or a voucher for a local restaurant.

  
  

• Set a Group Goal: "If we hit 100 new members this month, we'll have a staff night out on the house." This fosters teamwork and a shared sense of purpose.

  
  

• Reward the Advocates: Actively listen to customer feedback. If a customer mentions that a particular staff member was really helpful with the loyalty scheme, reward that employee. Make it known that their efforts are seen and appreciated.

4. Lead From the Front

Your enthusiasm is infectious. If you, the owner or manager, are visibly excited about the loyalty scheme, your bar staff will be too. Be the first one to mention it to customers. Ask your staff how it’s going. Celebrate milestones together. When they see it matters to you and the business, it will start to matter to them.

Ultimately, your loyalty scheme is more than just software; it’s a human-to-human connection tool. By getting your team genuinely on board, you’re not just implementing a system—you’re building a culture of appreciation that both your staff and your customers will feel. And that’s how you get loyalty sorted.