Most Shopify brands invest heavily in online loyalty — but miss out on the growth potential sitting right at the register.

According to the 2025 Omnichannel Retail Study, only 22% of retail stores use a connected loyalty program at point of sale (POS). That means the majority aren’t taking advantage of a key moment to boost in-store AOV, increase return visits, and build deeper customer loyalty in real time.

The good news? Bridging that gap is easier than you think.

This guide shows you how to do it — and how Joy Loyalty Program & Rewards helps you sync online and offline loyalty, simplify staff experience, and turn every checkout into a retention win.

Why Omnichannel Loyalty Is Mission-Critical in 2025

Customers don’t think in “channels” — they just shop. Sometimes that means browsing online and buying in-store. Other times, it’s the reverse. And if your loyalty program doesn’t follow them across that journey, they’ll start to disengage.

Shoppers Use Both Online and In-Store — So Should Your Loyalty Program

Today’s customers expect a seamless experience, whether they’re checking out on mobile or walking into your flagship store.

• They want to earn points on any purchase, no matter the channel.
  

• They want to redeem perks instantly, without confusion.
  

• And they want to feel like your brand knows who they are — everywhere.
  

In fact, 76% of customers say they prefer brands that let them earn and redeem rewards across both online and offline touchpoints.

Disconnected Loyalty Means Missed Sales

When loyalty programs don’t sync across channels, you’re not just creating friction — you’re losing revenue.

• No points earned at POS = no reason to return.
  

• In-store perks that aren’t tracked = missed marketing moments.
  

• Manual systems = poor staff experience (and frustrated customers).
  

And without full visibility, your post-purchase emails, SMS flows, or VIP campaigns are flying blind.

Common pitfalls in in-store loyalty execution

Let’s say you already have a loyalty program running online — adding one in-store should be easy, right? Not always.

Plenty of Shopify merchants hit snags when trying to bring loyalty into their brick-and-mortar experience. Here are the most common problems we see (and ones you’ll want to avoid):

Disconnected Customer Data

This one’s a silent killer.

• A customer earns points in-store… but they don’t show up online.
  

• Their loyalty status gets lost between systems.
  

• You’re left with confused shoppers — and even more confused staff.

If your POS and online store don’t talk to each other, your loyalty program will always feel fragmented.

POS Redemption Issues That Hurt Loyalty

In-store moments are fast-paced. If your staff needs to manually search for loyalty profiles or open another app to apply rewards, the whole process starts to fall apart.

• Checkout lines slow down.
  

• Customers get impatient.
  

• Staff get frustrated — or skip the loyalty process altogether.

And when redemptions are clunky, shoppers are less likely to engage next time.

No Follow-Up After Store Visit

This is a big one. After someone shops in person, what happens next?

If your loyalty system isn’t tied to your post-purchase marketing, then nothing happens. No point reminders, no tier nudges, no retention flows.

That means your program loses momentum — and customers quietly drift away.

If you're unsure where to start, this expert guide walks you through everything — from program types to the best tools — to help you launch and optimize a Shopify POS loyalty program.

No More Gaps: How Joy Loyalty Turns Shopify POS Into a Retention Engine

The biggest barrier to in-store loyalty isn’t lack of effort — it’s lack of connection. When your POS loyalty program doesn’t sync with your online store, things break: data gets lost, staff get frustrated, and customers miss out.

Joy Loyalty bridges that gap, turning fragmented touchpoints into a seamless, retention-driven experience.

Real-Time Data Sync Between Online and Offline

With Joy, loyalty activity flows across all touchpoints — automatically.

• Customers earn and redeem rewards wherever they shop: online, in-store, or both.
  

• Profiles stay updated in real-time — no syncing delays or manual fixes.
  

• That means no more surprises at checkout or mismatched reward histories.

Data can be auto-synced without manual effort or delays

Whether it’s their first in-store visit or their tenth online order, shoppers see one unified loyalty journey.

Seamless Checkout Experience for Staff and Shoppers

In-store transactions should be fast, smooth, and rewarding — not slowed down by clunky tech.

That’s why Joy is built to work directly inside Shopify POS:

• Staff instantly see loyalty status, available rewards, and tier progress on-screen.
  

• No need to open separate apps or manually search for profiles.
  

• Perks can be applied in just a few taps — even during peak hours.

A smooth POS loyalty experience makes customers feel recognized and valued

The result? A faster line, a better experience, and more moments that make customers feel valued.

Smart Automation That Brings Customers Back

What happens after the checkout matters just as much as the moment itself.

With Joy, in-store actions automatically trigger follow-ups that keep your brand top of mind:

• Birthday rewards sent right before their next visit
  

• Tier upgrades that motivate higher spend
  

• “We miss you” emails after periods of inactivity

Loyalty reward reminders that bring customers back — right when it matters most

And since Joy plugs directly into Shopify Flow, Klaviyo, and other key tools, your loyalty strategy runs quietly in the background - personalized, consistent, and fully automated.

Real Shopify brands are seeing big results with Joy. A boutique fashion label used instant VIP rewards at checkout and follow-up emails to drive a 28% increase in return visits. Meanwhile, a beauty brand ran an in-store-only bonus points campaign for carts over $80 — leading to higher AOV and more foot traffic from email to storefront.

5 Ways Joy Loyalty Drives More Revenue at the Point of Sale

Loyalty isn’t just about retention — it’s a smart way to drive more revenue per visit, more return traffic, and more value from every customer. Joy Loyalty helps you do this right inside your Shopify POS. Here’s how:

1. Increase In-Store AOV With Tiered Rewards

Encourage bigger baskets by setting cart value thresholds that unlock bonus points, gifts, or VIP progress.

→ In Joy, you can create a “Spend $80, get 50 bonus points” rule just for POS checkouts — motivating customers to add one more item before paying.

2. Boost Repeat Visits With Smart Follow-Ups

Use Shopify Flow or Klaviyo integrations to trigger automated emails or SMS after in-store purchases.

→ Set up a “Thanks for shopping in-store” flow that reminds customers of their point balance, teases the next reward tier, or sends a bounce-back offer.

3. Drive Urgency With In-Store Only Promotions

Run exclusive, time-bound offers that only apply in retail locations.

→ Joy lets you create geo-segmented rules (e.g., “Only apply in Store #2”) and limit them to date ranges — perfect for “Double Points Fridays” or local-only flash deals.

4. Make Redemption Staff-Friendly and Fast

No extra apps, no friction. Joy integrates directly with Shopify POS, so staff can instantly view customer loyalty status and available rewards.

→ Rewards appear on-screen during checkout, and applying them is just a tap — meaning faster lines and fewer abandoned perks.

5. Understand What Works With POS Loyalty Analytics

Track what matters: redemption rates, return visits, AOV by location. Use these insights to double down on high-performing promos and identify your most loyal customers.

Final Tips to Maximize Your Shopify POS Loyalty Program

You’ve got the tools — now it’s time to get the most out of them. Whether you’re just getting started with Shopify POS loyalty or looking to fine-tune your setup, these tips can help you go further:

• Make loyalty visible in-store. Add prompts at checkout, print reward reminders on receipts, and train staff to mention perks in under 10 seconds.
  

• Test POS-only offers. Run limited-time in-store bonuses and compare performance to omni-channel campaigns.
  

• Watch the right metrics. Track KPIs like redemption rate, time to second visit, and in-store lifetime value — they’ll tell you what’s actually driving growth.
  

• Keep it simple for your team. The easier it is to apply rewards, the more likely your staff is to promote them.
  

Small changes at the counter can lead to big wins in retention. And when loyalty feels effortless for both customers and staff, that’s when it really starts working.

👉 Explore Joy Loyalty on the Shopify App Store and see how it fits into your growth strategy.

Frequently asked questions

Q1: What are the technical requirements for implementing a loyalty program with Shopify POS?

A1: All you need is the Shopify POS app, a loyalty app that supports POS integration, and customer accounts enabled in your store settings. No extra hardware or coding required — especially with apps like Joy Loyalty, which plug directly into your existing Shopify setup.

Q2: How do staff permissions affect loyalty program management?

A2: Staff permissions determine what team members can see and do with the loyalty program at POS. For example, you can allow staff to view customer points and apply rewards at checkout, while restricting access to program settings or analytics. This helps keep operations smooth while maintaining control over key functions.

Q3: How do tiered VIP programs integrate with Shopify POS?

A3: Tiered VIP programs sync with Shopify POS by showing each customer’s tier and available perks directly at checkout. Staff can instantly apply VIP rewards, and any in-store purchases count toward tier progress — keeping the experience seamless across both online and in-person shopping.

Q4: What omnichannel strategies maximize program effectiveness?

A4: The key is creating a consistent experience across all touchpoints. Let customers earn and redeem rewards both online and in-store, trigger personalized follow-ups after each purchase, and promote your program through email, SMS, and at checkout. With tools like Joy Loyalty, you can manage all of this in one place — making it easy to run a seamless, high-impact loyalty program.

To sum up, loyalty has been treated as an online-only play. But customers don’t think in channels — they think in experiences. That means your in-store checkout is more than just a transaction point — it’s a chance to deepen the relationship.

With Joy Loyalty, connecting those moments becomes simple. You can reward purchases in real time, follow up automatically, and turn occasional shoppers into repeat customers — no matter where they buy.

Whether you're getting started or looking to unify your retention strategy, Joy is built to make POS loyalty easy, scalable, and effective.