What Starbucks Can Teach Cannabis Dispensaries About Loyalty
Starbucks didn’t invent loyalty programs — but they perfected them. With over 30 million active users in their rewards program, the coffee giant has turned everyday purchases into lasting brand loyalty. For cannabis retailers, this is more than just impressive — it’s a blueprint.
If you’re a dispensary using a POS like Flowhub, Treez, or Dutchie, you already have the data you need. What you need next is a loyalty experience that brings customers back again and again. That’s where Sticky Cards comes in.
Why Loyalty Programs Work (Hint: It’s Not Just About Points)
The best customer loyalty programs don’t just give discounts — they build emotional connection. Starbucks uses perks, gamification, personalization, and push reminders to stay top-of-mind and keep users engaged.
Cannabis retailers face unique challenges — advertising restrictions, compliance laws, and shifting consumer habits. But loyalty bridges the gap between regulation and retention.
5 Loyalty Lessons from Starbucks — Applied to Cannabis
1. Make It Seamless
Starbucks rewards are built right into their app and POS. Similarly, Sticky Cards integrates directly with your cannabis POS (like Flowhub), so every visit, purchase, and reward is synced in real-time. No extra apps, no clunky sign-up process.
Tip: Use QR codes at checkout for instant wallet signup with no downloads required.
2. Reward Frequency, Not Just Spend
Starbucks incentivizes small, frequent purchases — not just big spenders. Cannabis dispensaries can do the same by offering points for visits, product categories, or even leaving reviews.
Example: Give bonus points on slower weekdays to shift traffic and boost engagement.
3. Personalize Offers
Starbucks sends custom offers like “double stars on your usual latte.” With Sticky Cards, you can create hyper-targeted campaigns based on Flowhub purchase data — whether it's rewarding frequent pre-roll buyers or re-engaging dormant users.
Pro Tip: Automate birthday or anniversary rewards to delight customers at the right moment.
4. Create VIP Tiers
Starbucks has “Gold” status and people love climbing the ladder. Sticky Cards supports tiered rewards too, turning first-time shoppers into brand evangelists.
Tier 1: Entry — earn points per dollar
Tier 2: Regulars — exclusive drops or early access
Tier 3: VIP — access to swag, events, or private discounts
5. Go Mobile, Not Manual
Just like Starbucks uses its app to drive engagement, Sticky Cards leverages push notifications to reach customers where it matters: their lock screen. It's compliant, immediate, and far more engaging than outdated text marketing.
Why It’s Time to Think Beyond Punch Cards
Old-school loyalty programs (like paper punch cards or static discounts) don’t offer insights or automation. Sticky Cards gives cannabis retailers modern tools like:
Real-time data sync with POS systems
Smart segmentation
Automated reward triggers
ROI-focused analytics dashboards
It’s not just a loyalty program — it’s a retention engine.
Final Thoughts: Build Loyalty Like the Best
If Starbucks can turn coffee into community, you can do the same with cannabis. The key is making it easy, personalized, and rewarding — and that’s exactly what Sticky Cards was built for.
Whether you're running a single location or a multi-state operation, customer loyalty programs are essential to long-term success. With Sticky Cards, your dispensary isn’t just following trends — you’re setting them.
