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Creating and Managing Stamp Cards

Complete guide to creating and managing digital stamp cards. Learn how to set up rewards programs, configure earning rules, design your card, and manage single or multi-reward redemptions for your loyalty program.

Michael Francis avatar
Written by Michael Francis
Updated this week

What are stamp cards?

Stamp cards reward customers for purchases or visits. Customers earn stamps for qualifying actions and redeem rewards after collecting a set number. For example, collect 10 stamps, get a free coffee.

Key features:

  • Customers see their progress on their digital card

  • Track how many stamps they've earned and how many more are needed

  • Receive notifications when rewards are earned

  • Start collecting again after redeeming a reward

Example: A coffee shop offers a free drink after 10 purchases. Customers earn one stamp per visit. When they reach 10 stamps, they see the reward on their card and can redeem it on their next visit. You deduct the reward and their stamp count resets.


Creating a stamp card

Step 1: Access the Cards module

  1. Log in and navigate to the left-hand menu

  2. Click the Cards icon to open the Cards module

  3. Click Create from Scratch to begin


Step 2: Select card type

  1. Choose Stamp from the available card types

  2. Click Continue


Step 3: Configure settings

Barcode type – Select how the card will be scanned and recognized by your system.

Rewards program – Choose how customers earn stamps:

  • Spend: Stamps based on amount spent

    • Example: 1 stamp per $10 spent. A $30 purchase = 3 stamps

  • Visit: One stamp per visit, regardless of spend

    • Example: 1 stamp per visit. Every check-in earns a stamp

  • Stamps: Manual stamp issuance

    • You control when stamps are issued (after purchase, for specific products, during promotions)

    • System does not support automatic custom rules like "1 stamp for every 3 visits" or "only if purchase > $20"

    • Apply these conditions manually

  • Products: Stamps based on items in receipt (Toast integration only)

Check-in restrictions – Enable "Restrict to 1 check-in per customer per day" to limit rewards to once per day, regardless of multiple check-ins.

Card expiration – Choose one of three options:

  • Unlimited: No expiration date

  • Fixed term: Card expires on a specific date (remains on customer's phone but cannot be used)

  • Fixed term after issuing: Set number of days after activation before card expires

Reward details

  • Reward name: What customers receive (e.g., "free coffee") - Required field

  • Reward cost: Your business cost for the loyalty program (mandatory for Toast integration)

Happy hours (optional) – Set specific time periods when customers earn increased stamps. This feature only works with Spend and Visit modes. Bonus stamps earned during happy hours have no specific expiration date.

Stamp lifetime

Define how long individual stamps remain valid after they're earned:

  • Lifetime stamps: Stamps never expire

  • Fixed term after stamp earned: Set number of days before stamps expire

Info: Each stamp has its own expiration countdown starting from the date it was earned. Stamps expire individually based on when they were added, regardless of whether the customer earns additional stamps.

Tip: Stamps that have already reached the reward level do not expire. Earned rewards have no expiration date.

Note: Example: If you set the validity to 1 month and a customer earns a stamp on April 5, that stamp expires on May 5. Stamps earned on April 10 would expire on May 10.

Geolocation push notifications – Add your business location(s) to send push notifications to customers within 100 meters. You can add multiple locations, including addresses other than your business location. Learn more about geolocation push settings.

Display settings

  • Language: Select the language for your stamp card

  • Date format: Choose how dates display on the card (irrelevant if no expiration date)

  • Number formatting: Not applicable for stamp cards (only relevant for cards with point balances)

Transaction settings – Enable "Purchase amount when charging" to require the purchase amount whenever processing a transaction via scanner. This amount is counted in ROI statistics and revenue figures. When disabled, the amount field appears but is optional.

Card issuing form

Define which fields appear when customers install the card:

  • At least one contact field (phone number or email) is required

  • Toggle Required to make fields mandatory

  • Toggle Unique for fields that must contain unique values (recommended for phone numbers only)

  • Add custom fields using Add field

  • Remove fields by clicking the cart icon

Warning: Avoid making fields like "Name" unique, as this would prevent customers with the same name from installing cards.

UTM tracking – Create channel links to track which distribution channels generate the most installations. Each UTM tag generates a unique URL and QR code for analytics.

Phone mask – Select the default country prefix for the card issuing form. Customers can change this if they have a foreign phone number.

Privacy policy – Enable to display consent text on the card issuing form. Customers must accept before installing the card. You can customize this text as needed.

Installation options – Choose where customers can install the card:

  • Google Wallet button: Displays for Android users

  • PWA (Progressive Web App) button: Allows installation as a web app without an app store

Distribution and welcome rewards

  • Card limit: Set maximum number of cards that can be issued (0 = unlimited)

  • Daily stamp limit: Control how many stamps customers can earn per day

  • Welcome stamps: Set starting stamps customers receive upon card installation (default is 0)

  • Birthday stamps: Automatically credit stamps on customer's birthday with a push notification (these stamps have no expiration date)

Analytics (optional) – Add custom analytics scripts in this field.

Click Continue when finished.


Step 4: Design your card

Stamp count – Set how many stamps customers need to collect before earning a reward.

Warning: This setting cannot be changed after card activation. Stamp positioning is fixed and determined by the total count.

Active stamp icon – Select or upload an icon representing earned stamps:

  • Choose from preset icons, or

  • Upload your own image (follow size guidelines)

Inactive stamp icon – Select or upload an icon representing stamps not yet earned:

  • Choose from preset icons, or

  • Upload your own image (follow size guidelines)

Note: You must use the same method (preset icon or custom image) for both active and inactive stamps.

Logo – Upload a logo to display on the card and issuing form (click Select File).

Icon – Upload an icon for push messages (click Select File).

Background under stamps – Upload an image to display behind the stamps on the card (minimum size: 1125 x 432 pixels). This can be a themed image. Follow file size and weight recommendations.

Colors – Customize card colors (only applies when using preset stamp icons, not custom uploads):

  • Card background

  • Text color

  • Stamp background

  • Outline color

  • Active stamp color

  • Inactive stamp color

  • Background under stamps

Field customization

  • Use the Field dropdown to select field types from your card issuing form

  • Enter text in Field Name to customize labels (e.g., rename "Name" to "Cardholder")

Issuing form display

  • Enable Show logo at card issuing form to display your logo

  • Enable Show background color on card issuing form to apply your brand colors

Click Continue when finished.


Step 5: Add card information

Tip: Preview your changes on the mobile screen displayed on the right side.

Card description – Enter a short description of the card.

How to earn a stamp – Define how customers earn stamps (e.g., "Make a purchase," "Visit our store").

Company name – Enter your business name (appears in push notifications).

Reward details – Describe the reward customers receive (e.g., "6 stamps = free coffee"). This appears on the back of the card and in PDF promotional materials.

Stamp messages

  • Earned stamp message: Displayed when customer earns a stamp

  • Earned reward message: Displayed when customer earns a reward

Multi-rewards (optional) – Enter stamp milestones (separated by commas, e.g., 3,6,9) to offer multiple rewards before the final goal.

Note: Example: On a 10-stamp card, if you enter "3,6,9", customers unlock a reward at 3 stamps, another at 6 stamps, another at 9 stamps, and a final reward at 10 stamps.

Info: If left empty, the reward becomes available only after collecting the final stamp (e.g., stamp 10 on a 10-stamp card). Rewards are not issued automatically. Customers earn them and can redeem them according to your program rules.

Automatic redemption – Enable "Redeem rewards automatically" to have rewards redeemed immediately when the stamp is issued (assuming the customer doesn't decline the reward during their visit).

Referral program

Enable or disable the referral program using the toggle.

Choose when bonuses are awarded:

  • Card issued to new customer: Bonus awarded when the referred friend installs the card

  • First visit by new customer: Bonus awarded when the referred friend earns their first stamp

Configure referral rewards:

  • Stamps for the referrer: Set stamps earned for referring friends

  • Stamps for the referred customer: Set bonus stamps for new customers

Active links

Add links that appear on the back of the card:

  • Choose link type: URL, Phone, Email, or Address

  • Enter the link and display text

  • Add multiple links using Add Link

  • Remove links using the cart icon

Feedback links – Add review links that appear only after customers earn a stamp and rate their visit. These links display on the back of the card.

Terms of use (optional)

  • Enable the toggle to include terms on the card

  • Enter terms in the text field

  • Add a link to your full terms and conditions (appears on the card registration form and back of the card)

Issuer information – Add your company name, email, and contact number. This information displays on the back of the card.

Click Finish when complete.


Step 6: Preview and activate

After clicking Finish, a preview popup appears with:

  • QR code for the card

  • Copy link button to share the card installation link

  • Activate button

Tip: You can install and test an inactive card. While inactive, only 10 people can install it—sufficient for testing. Activate only when you're confident in the settings.

Click Activate Card to make the card available to all customers.


Managing stamp rewards

Single reward model

The standard setup: customers collect all stamps to earn one reward. After redeeming, they start over.

Multi-reward model

Offer multiple rewards at milestone intervals. Customers can redeem rewards at specific stamp counts while continuing to collect more.

Example: 10-stamp card with milestones at 3, 6, and 9 stamps:

  • At 3 stamps: Customer can redeem first reward

  • At 6 stamps: Customer can redeem second reward

  • At 9 stamps: Customer can redeem third reward

  • At 10 stamps: Customer can redeem final reward

Automatic vs. manual redemption

  • Manual (default): Customers earn rewards and choose when to redeem them

  • Automatic: Rewards are redeemed immediately when earned (unless customer declines during visit)


Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between Spend, Visit, and Stamps modes?

  • Spend: Automatic stamps based on purchase amount (e.g., 1 stamp per $10)

  • Visit: Automatic stamp for each check-in

  • Stamps: You manually control when to issue stamps based on your own rules

Can I create custom stamp rules like "1 stamp for every 2 visits"?
No, the system doesn't support automatic custom rules. Choose "Stamps" mode and apply your rules manually.

Do stamps expire if customers are close to earning a reward?
No, stamps that have reached the reward level do not expire. Only unredeemed stamps expire based on your settings.

Can customers see how close they are to earning a reward?
Yes, the card displays earned stamps, remaining stamps needed, and when rewards are available.

What happens after a customer redeems a reward?
You deduct the reward through your system, and the customer's stamp count resets to zero (or to their next milestone in a multi-reward setup).

Can I change the stamp count after activation?
No, the total number of stamps cannot be changed after card activation. Plan carefully before activating.

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