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How Customer Loyalty Cards Help Increase Profits

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It’s a competitive world out there, to say the least – businesses vie for consumers’ attention in every which way they possibly can, looking to create a foundation of positive experience and, eventually, brand loyalty. It’s not enough to get a customer in the door anymore. You have to cultivate an atmosphere of mutual respect and benefit, the end goal being that, when it comes time for them to once again choose a door, they choose yours.

 

Any retail business knows this; from grocery stores to clothing stores, those businesses that make their bread and butter selling goods understand that they have to set themselves apart, and the best way to do that is by implementing a brand loyalty program, complete with a physical card that the customer can carry with them. At Avon Security Products we’ve seen businesses in the retail sector boom, seemingly overnight, upon putting to use customer loyalty cards, and we do our part to help facilitate the process, making it easy, reliable and understandable.

 

But before we get ahead of ourselves: what is it about customer loyalty cards that make them so adept at increasing profits? According to the Harvard Business Review, it costs between five and 25 times more to acquire a new customer than it does to retain an existing one, meaning that if you rely on unique customers for most of your sales you’re going to be spending an excessive amount on advertising, marketing and outreach. It’s sort of a silly though experiment, but think about it in personal terms: how much more difficult is it making a new friendship than maintaining an existing one? Not that you shouldn’t be making new friends, but you should reserve a healthy amount of energy ensuring mutual loyalty with existing friends. This is where customer loyalty cards come in so handy.

 

Customer loyalty cards are all about rewarding the customer for their continued loyalty, in the form of deals, sales and loyalty points, to be used as tender against further purchases. And the cards themselves act as little reminders, nestled in the customer’s wallet or purse, of your business. Aside from being the leading distributer of ID card printers in Canada, we at Avon Security can also offer supplementary software that can help you manage your customer loyalty system, as we as free training on how to use both the software and printer. If you wanted the system tomorrow, we’d find a way to make that happen. 

You might be wondering, however, whether the promotions you offer will be rewarded with higher sales and a good return on investment, and the answer, at least for most businesses studied, is a resounding “yes”. Existing customers spend 67% more than returning customers, meaning that it’s definitely in your best interest to incentivize their repeat business. If you run a grocery store, you want your customers to treat your business like a one-stop shop, not like a one-off shop where they pick up a few small things missing from their pantry. If they know that, for instance, they can have a card handy that rewards them monetarily for shopping at your store, of course they’ll choose you over the competition.

  

With a printer, some training, and maybe some pvc id card printing software (in case you’re a Mac user!), you’re all set to start reaping the benefits of a customer loyalty card. We at Avon Security Products are more than happy to field any questions you might have about customer loyalty card systems. There are precious few win-win situations in the world of retail, but customer loyalty cars are most certainly one of them!

 

 

 

Membership Cards: The Quick And Easy Way To Wow Your Customers

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Whether you’re managing a gym, country club, golf course, spa or any other business that offers services through membership, you want to show members that they belong, and there’s no better way of accomplishing that than by giving them membership ID cards.

 

Not only does it have the potential to cement loyalty, but it also serves a few other important functions – namely, that it acts as free advertising, it offers helpful data, and it allows you to implement tiered membership easier by restricting certain areas. And for all it offers, it’s fairly straightforward and simple to put into effect – a quick perusal of Avonsecurityproducts.com can lead you to a professional ID card system in the time it takes for you to sign yet another customer in manually. But a little more about what they do:

 

Given the plethora of options available, customer loyalty is of paramount importance to a business. Giving customers a physical indication of their membership reminds them of your business every time they open up their purse or wallet, and helps them feel a sense of belonging. The “Exclusivity Principle”, referred to sometimes as “Velvet Rope Marketing” is the principle that making customers feel as though they’re “on the inside”, or “part of an exclusive club” is an enticing incentive to continue patronage. Plus – in the interest of total honesty – people probably like to scan cards and enter buildings because it makes you feel like you’re a government agent in a movie!

 

Membership cards also allow you to restrict certain areas. By customizing the cards, you can allow different access to different people. For instance, if you run a gym that has a basic membership and a premium membership, and say that the premium membership offers entrance to more amenities, like a spa, you’ll want membership ID cards to manage access. In the long run, it’s way cheaper than having someone physically man each door.

 

A lovely by-product of the ID Card system is that you now have your hands on a lot of useful data. What time of day, what day of the week do your customers come most often? When do they come the least? Add to that the fact that you can access their membership information as well, and you start to get a very good picture of the way your business functions. From there you can try to persuade people to come at less busy times by offering certain incentives, to manage the flow of people. It also helps immensely with staffing and scheduling, knowing when peak hours are in a week.

 Finally, yes, membership ID cards are pretty good advertisements. Every time one of your members opens their wallet or purse in public, like for instance when grabbing a credit card to pay for a meal, they inadvertently flash your business’ card – name, logo and all – for anyone to see. It’s not the most effective marketing strategy out there, and it certainly shouldn’t be your only marketing strategy, but it’s effective enough to bear mentioning. Whether you’re looking to modernize your business, or you just want to wow your customers, look into getting membership ID cards.

 

The Benefits of Using Employee ID Cards

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Maybe you’ve seen them jangling on the hip of a morning commuter, or attached to a lanyard around the neck of someone walking down the street – ID cards are becoming more and more ubiquitous in businesses, and for good reason. There are businesses out there that get along fine without using ID cards, but they really are necessary in this day and age if you want a thriving, safe and profitable enterprise. They’re versatile, easy and provide a good return on investment.

 

Beyond the obvious benefit of managing who can and can’t enter your place of business, ID cards can also be used to promote employee accountability, boost productivity, reinforce your brand and help your customers identify with your employees. It’s strange to think that something as small as a plastic card can greatly benefit a business, but it’s true. This post will expand on a few of the benefits of employee ID cards.

 

First, the most obvious: ID cards allow you to restrict and manage access, preventing unauthorized people from either entering your place of business, or entering certain areas of the business. Even within a business, not everyone has access to everything, and ID cards are crucial if you want certain areas or information cordoned off to a select few. For this kind of sophistication, make sure you get your printer from an accredited seller of security products, and don’t be afraid to ask questions – you can find info at https://www.avonsecurityproducts.com or ask them questions about what kind of setup you might need. 

Another benefit of ID cards, and this one’s a byproduct of the above benefit, is that since you’ve taken measures to ensure that no unauthorized people are allowed in your place of business, you’ve created a safer space for your employees. When people feel safe at work, the morale is just better; and when the morale is better, the output is better. ID cards that track location also keep employees safe in case of an emergency, like a fire. Employee whereabouts are so crucial in these cases, and can help firefighters or other first responders immensely.

 

But beyond safety benefits, they promote accountability and productivity at work. Recording entry and exit times using an ID badge ensures that employees don’t leave before they’re supposed to, which in turn creates an environment of better work standards. It also gives employees more of a sense of belonging when they see a card with their name, their face and the company’s name on it – it connects them with the business. And when they head home at the end of a workday, swinging their ID on their lanyard or their belt, they become brand ambassadors, promoting your business to everyone that sees it.

 

 Finally, if you own a business that deals with the public, like retail or hospitality, an ID card can really help customers connect with employees, putting a face and name to the business. This advances   customer service, which creates return customers and boosts ROI. That’s a lot of good you can fit in a little card. If your business isn’t using ID cards yet, it’s never too late to start!

 

The Best Proximity Card Brands

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As a highly specialized service, proximity cards are made by companies that know how to create a product that is difficult to duplicate, secure, and easy to use. It is also important for proximity cards to be customizable since different industries have different needs. You may need to have various types of access for employees, visitors, departments and administrators. Here are some top brands that stand out from their competitors as being significantly higher quality:

Allegion

This brand does an exceptional job of providing minimalist proximity cards that are easy to use. When you want badges and fobs to be unobtrusive without being easy to lose, Allegion has some interesting solutions.

SecureASP

SecureASP offers a secure solution without an excessive price, which is why it is one of the most popular brands. If you need your cards customized, this can be done relatively easily and without a lot of hassle. It gives you a great idea of what you can expect from the best proximity cards brands.

Keyscan

Offering a few simple solutions at an incredibly reasonable price, this brand tends to be taken for granted. From normal license-sized cards to small fobs, Keyscan consistently provides reliable solutions to accessing different buildings, areas, and equipment.

HID

Perhaps the most recognizable name in its industry, HID is a top leader in high-quality proximity cards. Customers can purchase one of several different types with varying degrees of durability and access. Users can also choose from a good selection of layouts to create proximity badges that offer nearly unrivaled security and a minimized look.

RBH Access

Like many brands on this list, RBH focuses on functionality instead of appearance. With several options in badge types and keys, you can find a basic design that gets the job done without costing a lot for it to look a certain way. You can also choose a keytag if you want something that is easier to carry.

Kantech

This brand offers a much wider range of options than most of the competitors, giving you a lot of room to make something that better meets your company’s look. It does tend to be more expensive since it takes aesthetics into account, but it doesn’t sacrifice security to achieve that look. Take the time to review their selection to determine if this is the right brand for your needs.

AWID

The name stands for Applied Wireless ID, and this is something that the company offers with numerous customizable styles. From keychain tools to more common badges to little wafers, you can choose something that will make accessing secured locations easier. Whether you want the card swiped or scanned, AWID has some pretty inventive ways of meeting proximity security needs.

Indala

Offering four solutions to your proximity card needs, Indala strives to provide customers with the right solution for various types of security needs. From badges that can be scanned to cards with stripes for swiping, Indala has earned a great reputation for reliability and durability. 

Ready to pick out the best proximity card brand for your company? Contact us at Avon Security Products today!

The Benefits of a Magicard Printer for Your ID Cards

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Have you made the decision to complete the ID card printing process in house? That’s a great idea linked to a lot of flexibility and convenience. In order to get the best results, however, you’ll need to choose a reliable printer.

When doing a bit of research about such appliances, you’ll probably come across a number of popular brands. Magicard printers are a favourite for many companies because they’re easy to use and they come with an excellent price to quality ratio.

Many Options to Choose Among
The range of Magicard printers is truly diversified. Chances are that you’ll find at least one appliance by the brand that will correspond to all your needs.

Magicard has many solutions – from highly cost-efficient printers to more expensive printers that are ideal for larger enterprises. The Prima 4 Uno ID Card Printer, for example, is a top-of-the-line professional reverse transfer and single-slide printer that makes printing on uneven surfaces possible. It’s also got a high output for larger companies, high-print quality and enhanced wear and tear protection.

Those looking for a more cost-efficient solution can opt for a Magicard printer like the Pronto ID Card Printer. Very compact and user-friendly, Pronto allows for on-demand printing. It’s a single-sided printer that’s very easy to set up and operate even by individuals who don’t have a lot of experience with such appliances.

Guaranteed Quality
ID cards are very much capable of contributing to the brand image. Every single detail matters when you’re trying to establish your professionalism and leadership role in the respective niche. A Magicard printer will give you the finest output every single time, regardless of the model that you choose.

When it comes to quality, retransfer technology is one of Magicard’s innovations that allow for an excellent outcome. Many of the company’s printers can also produce ID cards on materials other than PVC, and provide text and visuals that are crisp and long-lasting.

Security Features
Magicard has taken ID card printing to a whole new level with the numerous safety features that the company’s ID printers are equipped with.

The company’s HoloKote technology is one of the most impressive in terms of guaranteeing security. With this technology, a watermark can be placed on every single ID card. The coolest aspect of this process is that the watermark gets placed on the card during the normal printing process, which makes it quick and efficient.

Optional magnetic stripe encoding is another possibility. Data can be stored on the cards while printing is taking place. Thus, each card will carry a lot more information about its owner than a simple photo ID.

Smart card and contactless encoding are two other possibilities that come with various Magicard printer models.

Intuitive Interface
An intuitive and user-friendly interface is another common characteristic, regardless of the Magicard printer you’ve chosen.

Most models have numerous automatic processes that the user doesn’t have to worry about (automatic cleaning prompts and ribbon detection are just two examples). Usually, the printers come with a functional LCD panel that provides information about some of the most important printing parameters. 

The rule holds true even for the professional Magicard printers that are intended for enterprise use. While these appliances are capable of achieving a lot, getting the job done will simply be a matter of acquainting oneself with the options and choosing the right settings.

For more information on Magicard printers, contact us at Avon Security Products today!

How Visitor Management Software Can Work for Your Business

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When visitors arrive at your business, you want them to have an incredibly positive experience. With today’s technology, it’s very easy to make that first impression favorable, especially with the right visitor management software. Receptionists are nice to have for human interaction, but visitor management software makes it easy to streamline the process. The software can make it so that visitors get what they need quickly, and all necessary documentation is easily squared away for your records. 

The following are some of the most noticeable benefits of using visitor management software:

Accurate and Immediate Record Keeping

The old-fashioned way of checking in visitors, where they sign and wait, can take a considerable amount of time. It also runs the risk of inaccurate data entry when the visitor’s information is entered. Visitor management software allows the visitor to do all their own data entry.  This means it’s far more likely to be accurate and your records will immediately update with required details. It also ensures that data entry does not fall behind on days when there is a large group of visitors or a steady stream of visitors over the course of a day.

All-In-One Solution

Depending on your business and field, there can be a lot of required information and tasks required for each visitor. Visitor management software gives you a way to initiate each required task at the same time. The login is taken care of as the badge is being generated with specific details about each visitor, and it notifies the host that the visitor has arrived. By managing all necessary tasks at one time, your visitors will spend less time waiting.

Customizable Check-In Process

Most software gives you the ability to customize the experience. From information recorded to visitor-friendly functions – you can highlight the items you want your visitors to know and provide them the ability to get the info they require (such as a map of the area).

If legal information needs to be recorded at time of check in, you can add any necessary disclaimers, waivers and warnings as part of the process. The system will then save each visitors’ signature agreeing to the terms of the visit. 

Different Levels of Access

You can establish various levels of security based on a visitor’s purpose and needs. For example, if you’re working with investors, they aren’t going to need access to everything, usually only a few strategic locations and information. However, when you work with inspectors and auditors, their access will likely need to be similar to that of your employees.

Easy Use with Tablets

Visitor software management has increasingly moved to being readily available on tablets (usually iPads), making it easy to offer something simple to use without having to invest in several work stations for visitors. You can determine the average number of visitors a day and have several tablets ready for their use so that several people can be entering their information at a time. Removing the waiting period can really give your visitors an incredibly positive first impression of your business.

                For more information or to purchase visitor management software, contact the pros at Avon Security Products today!

How to Select the Right ID Card Rental Printer

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Renting an ID card printer can be a great idea for your business. Whether you have a high-volume job you need to complete or you have ongoing printing that needs to be done, renting a printer is an economical, efficient option. However, selecting the right rental printer can be overwhelming. With all the options available, how do you know which one is right for you? Here are a few tips to help you select the right printer for the job. 

Short-term or Ongoing

The first thing to look at is whether you’re going to need your printer on a long-term basis or if you’re using it for a short-term job to help with the workload. If you only need am ID card printer that’s capable of making cards for a one-time event, you’ll be looking at very different options than if you require a long-term solution for high-quality, full-color ID card jobs. Additionally, knowing whether you need your rental printer for a short while or long-term can help you decide which option will be most economical. For instance, ink and ribbon purchases can add up quickly, so you might want a model that has less expensive supplies if you’re looking for long-term solutions. 

Color or Black and White

Knowing whether you need color or black and white ID cards doesn’t just guide the choice of printer, it guides your decision on the model, the ink quality, and other facets of your rental printer, as well. Make sure to note the quality level and color needs of your project or business before you shop for your rental printer. 

Number of Users 

The technology surrounding printers is advanced, and entire networks can be digitally supported and orchestrated around a single printer or set of printers. Before you shop for your rental printer, make sure you know how many people will be using it. If you only need one printer that an administrative assistant and a few other people will be using, you might be able to get a budget ID card rental printer and be okay. However, if different teams will be printing from your rental printer, you’re going to need one that can handle that level of volume and that can digitally support a network of that size. 

Compatibility 

Finally, you probably already have a printer system in place, which means the software and wireless set up is already installed and taken care of. When you go to add a rental printer to your lineup, make sure you’re choosing one that will be compatible with the system you already have in place. Make note of your software program and version, the kind of network you have set up, how many people are on the network, and any other details about your current setup before you rent an ID card printer. 

When shopping, bring these details with you and show it to whoever is helping you make your decision. An informed and experienced printer professional can tell you exactly which one would be right for you and can help you implement the new printer into your existing environment and network.

Have more questions about ID card rental printers, contact us today, or shop our wide-range of printers online.

How to Select the Right Badge Clips for Your Employees

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ID cards have become a very popular way for companies to identify who has permission to enter versus who does not. The use of badge clips is the most logical way to avoid having to whip out your wallet before going into a restricted area. As well, while you could potentially misplace your wallet, the use of badge clips on your clothing means you are unlikely to simply set down your ID card. Of course, the right badge clips make a lot of difference versus the wrong ones.

Holders

Sometimes the best type of badge clip is the kind that does not involve clipping onto the ID card itself. A clear, flexible plastic ID card holder is often best because it allows you to change out your ID card periodically without having to make changes to the card or go through a complicated removal process. Slide out the old card, slide in the new card, and you are ready to go. This differs from many other kinds of badge clips because you can use virtually any kind of card, as opposed to only kinds that have notches in them. This is also the most secure way to attach a plastic card to your clothes, because the card is not secured by merely a small strip of its own plastic. Further, this is compatible with metal detector security.

Strap Clips

If you are able to punch slots through your ID cards, strap clips are excellent methods of securing a card to clothing. All you have to do is take a strap of fabric and loop it through the slot to secure your card. This is metal detector compatible, and is the most physically flexible kind of ID securing device because of the fabric itself. There is usage flexibility in addition to physical flexibility. This also has a longer amount of length available, based on personal preferences, so your employees can scan in or be allowed in visually by guards.

Adhesive Back Clips

In cases where the ID badge does not need to move and simply needs to be seen, adhesive back clips are an excellent way to attach the ID. There is no need to weaken the structure of the card itself through punching notches in it this way, and the card stays secure better than any other method. Unless the attachment mechanism is a pinback of some kind, this is also generally a method that is compatible with metal detection.

Plastic Clip Attachments

Plastic attachments can clip onto the side of the card itself without a notch, or a notch can be used for more flexibility in a “keychain” style. Plastic attachments are the least expensive option available, as they are simply a piece of plastic that clips onto the card and then onto a shirt pocket or collar. This type of attachment is also the least likely to have any metal pieces due to its simplicity, making it the most likely type to be completely metal detector compatible.

Magnetic Attachments

Magnetic attachments are obviously not metal detector compatible, but they are generally the easiest method to remove and re-attach for scanning purposes. They are simple, reasonably inexpensive en masse, and can be attached to shirts that do not have a pocket on which to clip the mechanism. The magnets can attach directly to the card itself, or to a plastic sleeve such as the one mentioned above. These also have the advantage of being convenient for your employees to keep on their fridges the night before, and are harder to lose by extension.

To shop a wide selection of badge clips for your business, contact us at Avon Security Products today!

Why Skimsafe Cases are the Perfect Case

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These days it seems almost everything you carry with you is connected to your identity in a fundamental way. While this can be convenient, it can also put you at risk for hackers who would love nothing more than to get your information and use it for their purposes.

Modern credit cards, driver’s licenses, work IDs, and even passports all contain chips that broadcast information about your identity and anyone with a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader can access this information, whether you want them to or not. To combat this, you need a case with RFID-blocking technology.

Protect Your Sensitive Information

SkimSAFE RFID-shielded cases provide the protection you need to keep your sensitive information from would-be hackers. All cases feature GSA-approved RFID blocking technology. This technology renders you completely invisible to RFID hackers. With a SkimSAFE case, you get the ultimate protection in an easy to use package. 

Walk Safely, Sleep Soundly

The physical and electromagnetic protection offered by an RFID-blocking card holder allows you to walk the streets at ease, even when you’re carrying around sensitive information. Made with thin but durable materials, you simply slide your card into the case and your information is instantly protected. In addition, these cases are a snug fit, so you don’t have to worry about anything sliding out. You simply can’t put a price tag on peace of mind.

Something for Every Industry

A SkimSAFE case can help you no matter what industry you’re in or what kind of information you need to protect. Credit cards, passports, public or private sector ID cards can all benefit from the RFID shielding offered by these cases. 

Hassle Free Identity Protection

ID card sleeves come in a variety of styles and colours to fit specific uniform or project needs. These sleeves are opaque and come in single or dual-card models. Using them is easy, simply slide your ID card into the case, lock it into place, and slide it slightly downward when you need to transmit information.

Payment Card and Passport Sleeves

SkimSAFE passport and payment card sleeves are simple and functional, just slide your passport or card into the holder and you’re protected. The ultra-thin sleeve easily fits into your wallet or purse.

Avon Security Products offers a wide selection of SkimSAFE RFID-shielded sleeves for ID cards, passports, and payment cards. You can browse our selection online today, or contact us with any questions.

Why Customer Loyalty Cards Work

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Today, many retailers have adopted loyalty programs as a means of differentiating themselves from their competitors. Loyalty cards work because they are an easy, inexpensive way to keep customers coming back, week after week.

Rewarding Customers

From grocers to electronic retailers to big box stores, retailers opt to offer their customers loyalty cards which give back anywhere from 1 to 2 percent of their total purchase.

Typically, the rewards to customer come in two forms. Customers either receive benefits such as money back, or they receive tailored coupons, coupons which fit their shopping patterns. These tailor-made coupons and their benefits to individual shoppers build over time. As a customer shops more with the retailer, the retailer begins to understand the customer’s shopping habits, rewarding them with coupons better fitting the customer’s needs.

Customer loyalty cards, which offer these tailor-made coupons often work better than those which simply offer a small percentage of cash back, because coupons ensure the customer will keep shopping within the store. The more a consumer spends in the store, the more information the store can collect regarding consumer shopping habits. This, in turn, allows the store to provide customers with more relevant rewards. The more relevant the coupons, the more likely it is the customer will return.

Increased Dollar Spent

Often, the better the rewards, the more a customer spends inside the store. Loyalty cards are an inexpensive way to put a rewards program in place and gives store owners a chance to reap the money benefits too.

Another way to get the most out of customer loyalty cards is to create a tiered system. The more a shopper uses the card, the better their rewards. With some retailers, this may mean high dollar coupons, or it might mean rewards such as discounts on flights, spas, restaurants and more. In this way, tiered systems can motivate customers to increase their spending to help them reach the next rewards level.

Manufacturers Buy-In

Manufacturers tend to invest significantly in retailer promotions, and targeted coupons/points programs via customer loyalty cards are a great way retailers can get manufacturers to help fund promotional ideas. A rewards program basically encourages customers to purchase specific brands.  

Overall, customer loyalty cards are a simple, effective way to inspire customer loyalty while increasing profits. They benefit the customer and the retailer. It’s a win-win! This simple tool will keep customers coming back week after week to save money or achieve tiered rewards. 

Ready to shop for your own ID card maker, or have more questions on customer loyalty cards? Contact us at Avon Security Products today!