The Seasonal Business Challenge
Let's be honest about the dessert business: Summer is wonderful. Queues out the door, families everywhere, ice cream flying out the freezer. Then September arrives, kids go back to school, and suddenly it's just you and the occasional dog walker.
The Numbers Don't Lie
- Peak season (May-August): 70-80% of annual revenue for many parlours
- Off-season (Nov-Feb): Some days you won't cover staff costs
- Customer loss: 60% of summer visitors never return in winter
- Marketing reality: You're too busy in summer to collect details, too quiet in winter to matter
The Paper Card Problem (Kids + Cards = Chaos)
Paper loyalty cards are especially problematic for family businesses:
- Kids lose everything: Average lifespan of a paper card in a child's pocket? 3 days
- Parents forget: "We left the card at home" (every. single. time.)
- Sticky hands: Ice cream + paper = illegible stamps
- No winter contact: Paper cards can't send "we miss you" messages
- Fraud potential: Kids have been known to "creatively" add stamps
"We tried paper cards but families kept losing them. Now with Lokaly, kids actually ASK to tap for stamps - it's become part of the treat."
What If You Could...
- Capture every summer customer's visit patterns (automatically)
- Message them when school holidays end ("Weekend treat time!")
- Promote hot desserts when it's cold ("Hot chocolate and warm brownies")
- Send birthday rewards to every child via Lokaly
- Turn seasonal visitors into year-round regulars
That's exactly what Lokaly does.
How Lokaly Works for Dessert Parlours
The Magic Tap Experience
Your staff wear NFC tags on lanyards. When customers pay, they tap their phone to collect a stamp. It takes 0.5 seconds.
For families, this is golden:
- Kids love it: Watching a stamp appear on the phone feels like magic
- Parents love it: No paper to lose, stamps travel with the phone
- You love it: Customer patterns visible, marketing via Lokaly enabled
Staff-Worn = Fraud-Proof + Personal
Unlike QR codes at the counter (which kids can tap repeatedly), NFC tags are worn by staff:
- Staff control every interaction (one tap per purchase)
- Feels personal, not mechanical
- Creates a moment of connection ("There you go, 3 more stamps to a free sundae!")
- Cryptographic security prevents duplicate stamps
Gain Customer Insights Automatically
Every customer who downloads the Lokaly app to collect stamps gives you visibility into:
- First name (for personalised messages via Lokaly)
- Push notification reach (Lokaly sends on your behalf)
- Birthday (optional, for birthday rewards)
- Visit history and patterns
This is your off-season goldmine. By September, you'll have insights on hundreds of families you can message via Lokaly - no ads, no cost, just direct communication. GDPR compliance handled professionally for you.
Dessert Business Types We Serve
Lokaly works for any dessert-focused business. Here's how different formats use it:
🍦 Ice Cream Parlours
Typical setup: "Buy 9 ice creams, get 10th free"
- Perfect for walk-in trade and seaside locations
- Summer rush = maximum app downloads
- Winter campaigns: hot desserts, milkshakes, birthday parties
- Family groups = multiple stamps per visit
🍧 Gelato Shops
Typical setup: "Collect stamps, earn free scoops"
- Higher price point = more valuable loyalty
- Flavour rotation = "New flavour alerts" to customers via Lokaly
- Premium positioning maintained with professional app
- Tourist locations benefit from year-round visitors
🧇 Waffle & Crepe Houses
Typical setup: "5 waffles, next one free"
- Often year-round businesses (less seasonal)
- Lunch/dessert hybrid = more frequent visits
- Student discounts via app campaigns
- Multiple card types: "Waffle Card" + "Crepe Card"
🍩 Frozen Yogurt & Self-Serve
Typical setup: "Earn stamps based on spend"
- Health-conscious positioning
- After-school crowd = predictable patterns
- Toppings bar upsell opportunities
- Loyalty drives return visits vs competitors
🎂 Traditional Dessert Parlours
Typical setup: "10 desserts, get one free"
- Broader menu = higher average spend
- Evening trade + families
- Special occasion marketing (Valentine's, anniversaries)
- Party bookings via app promotions
Benefits for Dessert Parlour Owners
1. Survive (and Thrive) in the Off-Season
This is the #1 reason dessert businesses choose Lokaly.
What happens without Lokaly:
- Summer ends, customers disappear
- You have no way to contact them
- Social media posts reach 2% of followers
- January is brutal
What happens with Lokaly:
- Summer builds your customer insights (400+ customers easily)
- September: "Weekend treats are back!" notification
- November: "Hot desserts now available" campaign
- December: "Christmas party bookings open" push
- January: Birthday rewards bring families in
Average results: Parlours using Lokaly see 31% increase in winter visits compared to previous year.
2. Never-Lost Cards = Happy Families
Paper cards and children are natural enemies. Digital solves everything:
- Stamps in the cloud: New phone? Just log in again
- Parent manages account: Even if kids use it
- Progress visible: "Mum, we only need 2 more!"
- No excuses: Phone is always with them
3. Birthday Rewards = Built-In Return Visits
Families celebrate birthdays. A lot. Lokaly helps you capture this:
- Customer birthdays: "Free sundae on your birthday!"
- Children's birthdays: Parents can add kids to account
- Automatic delivery: Message sent 3 days before birthday
- Party bookings: "Celebrate with us - 10% off party packages"
Birthday maths: Average family has 2 children. That's 4 birthday opportunities per family per year (2 adults + 2 kids). Each visit = £15-30 spend. Birthday rewards cost you £3-5. ROI is enormous.
4. New Flavour Launches Become Events
When you introduce a new flavour or seasonal special:
- Push notification to all customers via Lokaly: "NEW: Salted Caramel Brownie Sundae"
- Double stamps on new items (first week only)
- Create excitement and urgency
- Social media posts amplify, but app notification guarantees visibility
5. Know Your Customers (Finally)
Paper cards tell you nothing. Lokaly shows you:
- Who's visiting: Names and frequency
- When they visit: Peak times and patterns
- Who's at risk: Regular who hasn't visited in 4 weeks
- Campaign results: Which promotions drive visits
Pricing for Dessert Parlours
Starter
Perfect for small businesses just getting started with digital loyalty.
£0
Per Month
Features
- 1 loyalty card design
- Background image
- Custom stamp icons
- Interim rewards
- Custom stamp issue limitation
- Customer engagement
Campaigns
- Birthday treat
- Win back X days
- Scratch and win
- Nearby notification
Dashboard
- Visit frequency chart
- Stamps vs rewards chart
- Recent activity
Analytics
- Basic analytics
- Weekly heat map
- Security analytics
Limits
- Up to 50 customers
- 1 staff account
- 2 NFC tags
- 0 offers
Growth
Designed for growing local businesses that want better engagement.
£10
Per Month
Features
- 1 loyalty card design
- Background image
- Custom stamp icons
- Interim rewards
- Custom stamp issue limitation
- Customer engagement
Campaigns
- Birthday treat
- Win back X days
- Scratch and win
- Nearby notification
Dashboard
- Visit frequency chart
- Stamps vs rewards chart
- Recent activity
Analytics
- Advanced analytics
- Weekly heat map
- Security analytics
Limits
- Up to 250 customers
- 5 staff accounts
- 5 NFC tags
- 1 offer
Power
For established businesses ready to scale and automate loyalty.
£25
Per Month
Features
- 5 loyalty card designs
- Background image
- Custom stamp icons
- Interim rewards
- Custom stamp issue limitation
- Customer engagement
Campaigns
- Birthday treat
- Win back X days
- Scratch and win
- Nearby notification
Dashboard
- Visit frequency chart
- Stamps vs rewards chart
- Recent activity
Analytics
- Full analytics
- Weekly heat map
- Security analytics
Limits
- Up to 1,000 customers
- 10 staff accounts
- 10 NFC tags
- 5 offers
Not sure which plan? Calculate your ROI
Getting Started (10 Minutes Setup)
Step 1: Create Your Loyalty Card (5 minutes)
Log into merchant.lokaly.co.uk and design your stamp card:
- Card name: "Sundae Lovers Card" or "Ice Cream Club"
- Stamps required: 9 stamps for 10th free (standard)
- Reward: Free scoop, sundae, or dessert
- Card colours: Match your brand (bright, fun works best)
Pro tip for parlours: Create seasonal cards - "Summer Sundae Card" in May, "Hot Dessert Card" in October. Keeps things fresh and gives reasons to visit year-round.
Step 2: Set Up NFC Tags (2 minutes)
- Clip NFC tags to staff lanyards or apron strings
- Position near the till for easy customer tapping
- Test by tapping your own phone
- Retractable cords included - won't get in the ice cream!
Step 3: Promote to Customers (3 minutes)
In-parlour:
- QR code posters at counter and on tables
- Staff mention: "We have a loyalty app - collect stamps for free desserts!"
- Kids love the pitch: "Want to see something cool? Tap here for a stamp!"
First-week promotion: "Download now, get 2 free stamps to start!" - creates immediate progress and excitement.
Step 4: Collect Stamps
- Customer downloads app (30 seconds, once)
- They tap staff NFC tag (0.5 seconds)
- Stamp appears on their phone (magic moment)
- Kids shout "It worked!" (priceless)
That's it. By end of summer, you'll have insights on hundreds of families you can reach via Lokaly.
Real Dessert Parlour Results
"We actually look forward to winter now"
Sweet Spot Desserts, East London - Family-run dessert parlour, 2 locations
Before Lokaly:
- • Summer was 75% of annual revenue
- • January-February almost closed
- • Paper cards constantly lost by kids
- • No way to contact customers
After Lokaly (18 months):
- • 847 customers in loyalty program
- • Winter revenue up 31%
- • Birthday rewards drive 15+ visits/month
- • "Hot desserts" campaign brought back 89 families
"The birthday rewards alone have transformed January. We used to dread it, now we're actually busy with birthday treats. And kids love the tap - they drag their parents in just to use it!"
"Families actually remember us in October"
Gelato Dreams, Brighton - Seaside gelato shop
The challenge:
- • Tourist location = summer only
- • Locals forgot about us in off-season
- • Social media reach was terrible
Results after 12 months:
- • 412 local families in loyalty program
- • "Hot chocolate + waffle" winter campaign = 67 visits
- • New flavour launches = 20% spike in visits
- • December takings up 45%
"We can actually message our customers now. When we launched our winter menu, we sent one notification and had 30 families come in that weekend. That never happened before."
Want to see more examples? Visit our case studies page
Compare: Digital vs Paper Loyalty Cards
| Feature | Paper Cards | Lokaly Digital |
|---|---|---|
| Lost by kids | Constantly | ✓ Never (cloud-stored) |
| Sticky hands problem | Illegible after 2 visits | ✓ Not applicable |
| Off-season contact | Impossible | ✓ Push notifications |
| Birthday rewards | Manual tracking | ✓ Automatic |
| New flavour alerts | Impossible | ✓ Instant notification |
| Family-friendly | Kids lose them | ✓ Kids love the tap |
| Customer insights | None | ✓ Full visit history + GDPR handled |
Why Families Choose Digital
In surveys of Lokaly users, families cite these top reasons for preferring digital:
- 78%: "We always lost paper cards"
- 65%: "Kids love the tap experience"
- 54%: "Can see progress anytime"
- 41%: "Feels more professional/modern"
Frequently Asked Questions
Lokaly is designed for family-friendly dessert businesses. Staff-worn NFC tags let kids tap for stamps (they love it!), while parents manage the account. The free plan supports 50 customers, perfect for testing during your first summer rush.
Lokaly helps you gain customer insights during summer, then re-engage them in winter with automated campaigns via the platform. Send messages like 'Miss our sundaes? Hot desserts now available!' to bring families back during quiet months.
Yes! Kids love the 'magic tap' experience - watching stamps appear on a phone feels like a game. Parents appreciate never losing paper cards (kids constantly lose them). 78% of family customers prefer digital over paper.
Your staff wear NFC tags on lanyards. When a customer buys a dessert, they tap their phone to the tag and instantly receive a digital stamp. No scanning, no codes, no waiting. Takes 0.5 seconds - faster than paper stamps.
Absolutely. Create 'Summer Sundae Card' in July, 'Hot Chocolate Card' in November, or 'Valentine's Couples Card' in February. Unlimited cards on paid plans, one card on free plan. Switch campaigns seasonally.
Stamps never expire (unless you set an expiry). Customers can continue collecting next season. You can also pause cards during closed periods and reactivate when you reopen - stamps are preserved.
When customers sign up, they can add their birthday. Lokaly automatically sends birthday rewards (e.g., 'Free sundae on your birthday!'). For families, parents can add children's birthdays too - huge for repeat visits.
Yes. Send push notifications to your entire customer base: 'New mango sorbet just arrived - double stamps this weekend!' This turns new flavour launches into events that drive foot traffic.
Stamps are stored in the cloud, not on the device. If the phone is lost or replaced, parents simply log in again and all stamps are restored. Unlike paper cards, nothing is permanently lost.
Yes. Lokaly works for any dessert business: ice cream parlours, gelato shops, frozen yogurt bars, crepe stations, waffle houses, and traditional dessert parlours. The stamp card concept works across all formats.
Lokaly starts free for up to 50 customers. Paid plans are £10/month (250 customers) or £25/month (1,000 customers). This includes NFC tags, automated marketing, analytics, and support. No setup fees.
Yes. Your dashboard shows stamp activity over time. If you create separate cards for different desserts (e.g., 'Ice Cream Card' vs 'Waffle Card'), you can see which drives more engagement.
Each person in a group can collect their own stamp if they have the app. For parties, you can offer 'host rewards' (e.g., free dessert for the birthday child's parent who brought 10 kids).
Display QR code posters prominently. Train staff to mention loyalty on every purchase: 'Would you like to start collecting stamps for free desserts?' Summer rush = maximum exposure. Most downloads happen in first 2 months.
Lokaly manages all customer data professionally and handles GDPR compliance for you - this protects you from liability. Parents trust us with family data because we're ICO registered with UK/EU hosting and encryption. You get full access to customer insights (visit patterns, preferences) via your dashboard. Customers can delete accounts anytime.
Next Steps
1. Calculate Your ROI
See how loyalty could boost your off-season revenue.
2. Read Case Studies
See how other dessert businesses use Lokaly.
3. Start Your Free Account
No credit card required. Set up in 10 minutes.
4. Book a Demo
See Lokaly in action first? Book a 15-minute demo.
Ready to Turn Summer Visitors Into Year-Round Regulars?
Gain customer insights when you're busy. Bring families back when you need them. GDPR compliance handled for you.