10 Brands With Loyalty Programs So Good, Customers Keep Coming Back for the Vibes (and the Perks)

1. Sephora – Beauty Insider

The program: Free to join, with tiered levels based on annual spend (Insider, VIB, Rouge). Members earn points per dollar, get birthday gifts, early access to drops, and can trade points for rewards or discounts.

Why it works:
It’s more than points—it’s access. Sephora treats its Rouge members like royalty, and the perks are prestige-level without being unapproachable.

Your takeaway:
Make your top-tier customers feel exclusive without being elitist. Stack your benefits to scale with loyalty, not just spend.

2. Starbucks – Starbucks Rewards

The program: Earn “Stars” with every purchase. Trade them for free drinks, food, and merch. Bonuses for using the app or preloading funds.

Why it works:
It’s frictionless, fast, and layered. The app tells you when you’re close to a reward and tempts you with double-star days.

Your takeaway:
Gamify your program. Progress bars, streaks, and bonus challenges = dopamine = more sales.

3. Ulta – Ultamate Rewards

The program: Points per dollar, but here’s the twist: points have a direct cash value, and can be stacked with coupons and promos.

Why it works:
The flexibility is addictive. Customers hoard points for big purchases—or burn them fast for everyday deals.

Your takeaway:
Let customers use their rewards how they want. Flexibility = freedom = loyalty.

4. REI – Co-op Membership

The program: Pay $30 once, become a member forever. Get annual cash-back on purchases, access to rentals, special events, and voting rights in the co-op.

Why it works:
It’s community-driven. Being a member feels like being part of something bigger.

Your takeaway:
Can your program feel more like a club than a coupon engine? Invite people into a mission.

5. Nike – Nike Membership

The program: Free to join. Perks include exclusive products, early access, training content, personalized gear, and surprise gifts.

Why it works:
Nike doesn’t just give discounts—they give value. You get workouts, styling help, and a deeper relationship with the brand.

Your takeaway:
Think beyond discounts. Offer content, tools, or experiences that add to your product.

6. Petco – Vital Care

The program: Monthly subscription model. Get discounted vet visits, grooming, food, and points for every purchase.

Why it works:
It’s subscription-based but practical. If you own a pet, this pays for itself—and makes Petco the default.

Your takeaway:
Can you turn your loyalty program into something that builds habit? Loyalty ≠ novelty. It’s about becoming the go-to.

7. DSW – VIP Rewards

The program: Tiered levels with birthday rewards, free shipping, bonus point days, and surprise perks like “double points weekends.”

Why it works:
It’s fun and unexpected. Members get random rewards that feel like gifts, not incentives.

Your takeaway:
Surprise + delight > predictability. Give people little reasons to smile—loyalty lives in emotion, not spreadsheets.

8. Anthropologie – AnthroPerks

The program: Free shipping, early access to sales, and a special birthday treat (no points system).

Why it works:
It’s light-touch, but elegant. It rewards regulars without being a full-blown game.

Your takeaway:
Not every loyalty program needs bells and whistles. Simplicity works if the brand experience is strong.

9. Pela Case – Pela Points

The program: Earn points by shopping, referring friends, following on social, writing reviews—even just browsing.

Why it works:
They reward engagement, not just transactions. It builds ecosystem energy.

Your takeaway:
Let people earn loyalty through connection, not just cart size.

10. Milk Makeup – Milk Fam Rewards

The program: Points for purchases, reviews, and social follows. Redeem for product, shipping, or early access.

Why it works:
The tone. The visuals. The name. It feels cool. The program is fully on-brand from top to bottom.

Your takeaway:
Your loyalty program shouldn’t feel tacked on. It should feel like you.

Final Thought: Loyalty Is a Feeling, Not Just a Feature

The best customer loyalty programs don’t just bribe people to come back—they make them want to stay. They’re woven into the brand experience, reward emotional connection, and build rituals around repeat engagement.

If your Shopify template has a loyalty widget built in, use it—but don’t let it be generic. Give it a name. Give it a personality. And most of all, give your people a reason to keep showing up.

Want help naming your loyalty program, designing the perks, or turning it into something actually shareable? Let’s build it. Let’s make it fun. Let’s make it stick.