Traditional loyalty programs reward past behaviour. That approach alone no longer meets guest expectations. Today’s diners expect real-time value, personalised incentives, and clear reasons to return.

Nomni supports a dual approach to loyalty:

• Rewards that engage customers at the moment of payment

• Brandollars that secure future visits through prepaid incentives

This guide explains how each works, where they are most effective, and how to apply them operationally.

Brandollars: Prepaid, Branded Currency

Brandollars are prepaid, branded currency that customers buy and spend exclusively within your brand’s ecosystem. You control how they’re issued, how they’re redeemed, and who pays for them (receiving venue, issuing venue, or Nomni). 

Customers purchase Brandollar packs because venues typically offer a bonus percentage on the purchase value. For example, a $80 Brandollar pack may provide $100 in value. The additional $20 acts as an incentive for return visits and increased spend.

How Brandollars Work for Your Business:

• Prepaid model – Customers purchase Brandollars with bonus value included (e.g. Pay $100, get $125)

• Brand-exclusive spending – Redeemable only within a specific brand or group

• Increased transaction size – Guests with prepaid credit often spend beyond their balance

• Custom payer model – Cost coverage assigned to the receiving venue, issuing venue (escrow), or Nomni

• Additional incentives – Further promotions can be layered on top of Brandollar redemption

• Brand control – Custom naming and configurable bonus percentages, including enterprise-level flexibility

Implementation Best Practices for Brandollars

• Start with attractive bonuses: 25-50% bonuses typically drive strong adoption

• Create seasonal campaigns: Promote during gift-giving seasons or before slow periods

• Customise naming: Use brand-specific names that resonate with your customers

• Set expiration policies: Balance customer value with operational needs

Rewards: Flexible, Multi-Venue Currency

Rewards are a digital currency designed to incentivise customers when they transact. Rewards are earned instantly at payment, accumulate over time, and can be redeemed at participating venues.

Rewards are white-labelled to your brand and fully customisable (for example, a gelato store may rename them “Scoops”). You define reward value, issuance rules, and redemption conditions.

Why operators choose Rewards:

• In-the-moment engagement – Issued immediately after payment, reinforcing behaviour when the guest is most receptive

• Broader customer reach – Guests who have earned Rewards elsewhere may discover and visit your venue

• Brand control – Custom names, values, rules, and conditions configured within Nomni

• Clear customer value – Expressed in dollar value rather than points

• Seamless integration – Automatically issued through POS and payment flow, with no manual input

Operator Playbook: When and How to Use Rewards and Brandollars

Scenario 1: New Venue Launch

Challenge: Build a customer base quickly.

Approach: Enable Rewards to attract guests who have already earned currency elsewhere. This supports discovery and accelerates early acquisition.

Scenario 2: Generating Social Momentum

Challenge: Drive group bookings and social sharing.

Approach: Launch Brandollars with compelling offers such as “Pay $50, Get $75.” Prepaid bonuses naturally encourage sharing and group dining decisions.

Scenario 3: Seasonal Revenue Management

Challenge: Manage fluctuating demand and cash flow.

Approach: Promote Brandollars during peak seasons. The prepaid model supports cash flow smoothing, while bonuses incentivise return visits during slower periods.

Scenario 4: Multi-Location Operations

Challenge: Drive traffic across multiple venues.

Approach: Configure Brandollars to work across all locations while using Rewards to attract customers beyond your existing database. This creates a two-layer loyalty structure that supports both internal retention and external acquisition.

Why They Work Better Together

Single-layer loyalty programs are limited in their ability to drive both immediate engagement and future commitment.

Using both Rewards and Brandollars enables venues to:

• Drive repeat visits through tangible incentives

• Capture prepaid revenue

• Customise loyalty mechanics to suit operational goals

• Automate issuance and redemption

Rewards encourage behaviour in the moment. Brandollars secure future intent.

Ready to implement the right loyalty currency for your venue? Contact our team to discuss how Rewards and Brandollars can be configured to meet your business objectives.