Strategies For Targeting High-Value Ecommerce Customers

Way too many e-commerce brands run bare-minimum loyalty programs that don't move the needle. Points. Discounts. It gets old quick. Your top 10% of customers likely drive 40-65% of your profit. But are you treating them like the VIPs they are? Or just sending them the same generic emails as everyone else? Brands that are crushing it right now are building tiered VIP ecosystems that transform transactional shoppers into high-LTV brand advocates. Speaking from 4+ years of experience, I’ve learned a few things that actually work: --> Early access drops that make top customers feel like insiders --> Exclusive product variants unavailable to regular customers --> Private Slack/Discord communities connecting your best customers --> Physical gifts that arrive unexpectedly (not just on birthdays) --> VIP-only virtual events with your founder/designers Data doesn't lie. Well-designed VIP programs consistently deliver 3-5x ROI compared to acquisition campaigns. These programs also cost dramatically less than constantly chasing new customers. Stop treating loyalty like a cost center using discounts, and start treating it like the profit driver it should be, like leveraging experiences, exclusivity, or building relationships. Your competitors are leaving millions on the table with lackluster VIP strategies. The opportunity is massive for brands willing to invest in their best customers the right way. Who's doing VIP programming exceptionally well in your category? Curious to hear some examples.

If you’re segmenting based on engagement, you’re already behind. Everyone does 30/60/90 day engagement windows. It’s not advanced. It’s basic hygiene. Here’s the real segmentation play most marketers miss: Segment by intent signals, not just opens/clicks. Examples: • Viewed shipping/returns policy? ➝ Hit with reassurance focused CTA • Time on product page > 30 seconds? ➝ Trigger a cart based reminder • Opened 5+ product emails but never clicked? ➝ Try plain text emails with a customer story • AOV based segments - low priced vs high priced ➝ show them the right products • FAQ viewers ➝ Give them more trust • Recent abandon carts/checkouts ➝ Leverage their interests • Time since they opted in for a coupon ➝ Remind them about it • Time since last purchase ➝ Show them complimentary products The list goes on and on... THEN add your engagement for best deliverability Engagement ≠ intent. Intent = actual buying behavior. Stop treating every click the same. Treat the reason behind the click differently.

I analyzed over $1.2B in purchases made by 2.6 million customers across dispensaries. The results were shocking! It really puts into perspective where stores are missing the mark. One-time shoppers made up *52%* of all customers... but only *8%* of revenue. Customers who purchased 10 or more times? Just *14%* of the customer base, but ***73%*** of all revenue. Read that again. The small group that keeps coming back is your business. The rest is just noise. So why are most stores still obsessed with foot traffic and first-time promos? Here’s how you can shift focus to the customers that matter: 1. Segment your customers by purchase count > Use AIQ.com (Alpine IQ) or your POS/CRM. Create groups like: 1-time, 2–3 visits, 4–9 visits, and 10+. This gives you a clear picture of where your revenue actually comes from. 2. Build a journey to move people up > Every customer should have a path to become a 10+ visit regular. That means targeted campaigns, loyalty flows, and retention offers that fit where they are right now to get them to the next stage. 3. Protect your best buyers > If a high-value customer goes quiet for even 15 or 25 days, reach out. Don’t wait. You cannot afford to lose the people who make up 70%+ of your sales. 4. Stop over-investing in one-timers > They are important, but not profitable until they come back. Your budget, time, and team should be focused on turning that first visit into a second and third. You do not need more customers. You need more retained ones. If you want to see what your breakdown looks like, I’ll show you. Dispensaries... come get our Free Retention Audit. One report could shift your entire strategy.

Stop churning high-value customers. Segment your loyalty programs! You’ve worked hard to build a loyal customer base, but are you maximizing their value? If you're not segmenting your loyalty program, you're leaving money on the table. 💵 Based on the success of ‘000s of Appstle customers,  I truly believe personalization is key for customer engagement, retention, and loyalty! 📌 Here’s why I think segmenting your customers into loyalty based tiers is a game-changer: 1️⃣ Personalization drives engagement Generic rewards don’t cut it anymore. Infact, 56% of customers prefer highly personalized loyalty rewards. 👉 By segmenting your customers into distinct tiers based on key characteristics, you can offer rewards that matter to, and motivate them. The result? Higher engagement and increased CLTV! 2️⃣ Encourage more frequent purchases Everyone loves a challenge, and wants to be at the top! Tiered programs with distinctive benefits motivate customers to level up.  Studies show that customers in tiered programs spend 67% more than those without. 👉 As customers move through the tiers, their incentives grow—making them more likely to continue their relationship with your store. 3️⃣ Reward high-value customers Not all customers are the same. Some are your brand’s biggest advocates—your VIPs. With tiered programs, you can give your most valued customers, rewards that make them feel valued. 74% of consumers believe brand loyalty is about feeling understood and valued. 👉 Focus on your top spenders and offer tailored incentives that will keep them coming back. 4️⃣ Track & improve customer behavior With tiered loyalty programs, you gain a clear view of how different shopper segments behave. Are they more likely to shop during specific days and times? Are they influenced by certain promotions and benefits? 👉This data helps you optimize your strategy and maximize LTV over time. ✅Pro tip: The beauty of tiered programs? They incentivize behaviors! Offer perks that motivate customers to reach the next level, and you’ll have customers for life. ♾ Want to grow your Customer Lifetime Value? Segment, personalize, and reward! It’s how you create customer loyalty—and keep it. #Appstle #subscriptions #memberships #loyalty #bundles #customerretention #shopify #shopifyplus