Coffee shop customer push notifications

If you run a coffee shop, you already know the pain: customers lose their loyalty cards, forget to bring them, or leave them in a drawer. Paper loyalty cards have a redemption rate that drops every year — and every lost card is money you never earned.

The solution isn't another redesign or a fancier punch card. It's moving your rewards into the one place customers never lose: their phone. Digital passes in Apple Wallet and Google Wallet look professional, update instantly, and stay with your customers for good. No printing costs, no reorders, no "I forgot my card" at checkout.

This guide walks through why coffee shops are switching to digital loyalty, how it works in practice, and how to get started in under 10 minutes — no coding, no agency, no hassle.

Why coffee shops are ditching paper loyalty cards

Paper loyalty cards have been around for decades, but the math has never been worse. Industry data suggests 15–20% of punch cards are never fully redeemed — either lost, forgotten, or abandoned halfway. That's revenue you never captured. On top of that, printing costs add up, designs go stale, and updating terms means reprinting everything.

Digital passes solve all of that. They live in Apple Wallet or Google Wallet — right next to credit cards and boarding passes. Customers don't "forget" their phone. They redeem with a tap, you update offers in real time, and you get analytics that paper can't provide. For coffee shops, the switch typically pays for itself in the first month from reduced waste and higher redemption rates.

Benefits of digital loyalty for coffee shops

Never lost or forgotten

Customers keep their phone with them. Digital passes stay there — no more "I left it at home" or "it got damaged in the wash."

Professional look, zero design cost

Wallet passes look premium. You add your logo and branding; the format handles the rest. No graphic designer or print shop required.

Instant updates, no reprinting

Change terms, add offers, or refresh the design — updates push to every pass immediately. With paper, you'd reprint and redistribute.

Track who your best customers are

See redemption rates, repeat visit frequency, and which rewards drive the most engagement. Paper gives you none of that.

Push notifications when it matters

Remind about appointments, send flash offers, or nudge customers to use earned rewards. Reach them on their lock screen — higher open rates than email.

The power of lock screen notifications

Email open rates for promotional messages hover around 20%. Push notifications on wallet passes? They appear on the lock screen — customers see them without opening anything. That visibility drives 2–3x higher engagement. For coffee shops, that means more filled appointment slots, more redeemed offers, and more repeat visits.

Use them wisely: appointment reminders, rebooking prompts for no-shows, flash sales for slow days, or reward milestones ("You're one visit away from a free treat!"). The key is relevance. One targeted message beats five generic blasts. Easy Loyalty lets you segment customers and send the right message at the right time.

Pro tip: Notifications on Apple Wallet passes have 2–3x higher engagement than email. Customers glance at their lock screen — your offer is right there.

How to get started in under 10 minutes

1Sign up for Easy Loyalty and start your 7-day free trial.

2Create your pass: add your logo, set reward rules (e.g., 10 stamps = 1 free item), and choose your colors.

3Publish and share the signup link or QR code with customers — they add the pass to their wallet in one tap.

4At checkout, scan the pass or have customers show their phone. Track redemptions in your dashboard.

5Optional: enable push notifications to remind, rebook, or promote offers.

Frequently asked questions

How do push notifications on loyalty passes work?

When you send a notification, it appears on the customer's lock screen — no app to open. It's attached to the pass itself, so they see it right when they glance at their phone. Much higher visibility than email.

What can I send push notifications for?

Appointment reminders, rebooking prompts, flash sales, happy hour offers, reward milestones, birthday discounts — anything that drives repeat visits. Target specific segments or broadcast to everyone.

Do push notifications work better than email?

Yes. Lock screen notifications typically get 2–3x higher open rates than email. Customers see them without clicking anything. For time-sensitive offers like 'empty slot tomorrow at 2pm,' push is far more effective.

Will customers find push notifications annoying?

When they're relevant — a reward they've earned, an appointment they booked, or a limited offer — customers appreciate them. The key is relevance and frequency. One targeted message beats five generic blasts.