«Refer a Friend» promotion — is an additional Torgsoft option that launches a referral campaign with promo codes: a regular customer recommends your store to friends, the friend receives a one-time discount on the first purchase, and the customer receives a bonus for each such purchase. It is needed when you want to attract new buyers through recommendations and see who referred whom.
The option is for retail stores and service businesses where many purchases are made on the recommendation of acquaintances, and the owner wants to launch a referral campaign without spreadsheets and manual calculations. It solves the pain of «word of mouth exists, but I do not know who brought the customer and how much I earned from it».
As a result, you get a manageable campaign: you issue individual promo codes to customers, the friend receives a discount at the checkout, the customer’s bonus is accrued automatically, and every code is visible in analytics — how many new buyers came and for what amount.
A referral campaign with promo codes that calculates itself
A regular customer shares a promo code, the friend receives a discount, the bonus is accrued automatically — and you see the result in the report.
What the «Refer a Friend» referral campaign is
A referral campaign is when you reward a customer for bringing a new buyer. In Torgsoft, this works through promo codes. A customer with a discount card receives a set of individual codes and gives them to friends. The friend names or scans the code during the first purchase and receives a discount, while the customer automatically receives a bonus according to the rules you set. The program records which code worked, so word of mouth becomes a measurable sales channel.
Basic concepts
Promo code
A unique code on the friend’s card that gives a one-time discount on the first purchase.
Discount for the friend
The discount percentage a new buyer receives using the promo code.
Customer bonus
A reward credited to the main card of the person who invited the friend, for the friend’s purchase.
Accrual conditions
The bonus rule: a fixed amount, a percentage of the purchase, or a percentage with a limit.
Product group
The product group to which the campaign applies. If not specified — it applies to the entire assortment.
Bonus movement analysis
A report that shows accruals under the campaign and the result of each promo code.
Who this option is for
Clothing and footwear stores
Purchases are often made on a friend’s recommendation. A promo code gives a reason to come and buy.
Cosmetics and perfumery
A high share of repeat and recommended purchases — there is someone to reward.
Children’s goods
Parents actively recommend trusted stores within their circle.
Beauty salons and fitness clubs
Services are easily passed on «through acquaintances», and the customer base is loyal.
Who does not need it. Businesses where purchases are one-time and impersonal, without a regular customer base, or where discount or bonus cards are not maintained. Without customer accounting, there is no one to issue promo codes to and no one to accrue bonuses to.
When to enable it immediately
- you already see that new customers come «by recommendation», but you do not track it in any way
- you want to launch a reward campaign, but without spreadsheets and manual calculations
- you need to understand which regular customers actually bring new ones
What tasks the option solves
How it looks before and after
Before
A customer brings a friend, and you verbally promise to «give something». Who referred whom, how much the friend bought for, and how much you owe in bonuses — you keep it in your head or in a notebook. Some promises are forgotten, and some discounts are used twice.
After
The customer received promo codes on cards and handed them out to friends. The friend scans the code at the checkout, receives a discount, and the customer’s bonus is accrued automatically. Each code is one-time, and the campaign result is visible in the report.
How it works: 6 steps
Configure the campaign. Open the customer card: Marketing → Customers → Refer a Friend → Add. Set the card issue date, validity period in days, and the discount for the friend as a percentage.
Select the bonus rule. Choose the accrual condition for the main card: a fixed bonus amount, a percentage of the friend’s purchase amount, or a percentage with a maximum amount limit. If needed, specify the minimum purchase amount for the friend and the product group.
Issue promo codes. Specify the number of cards for the customer’s friends and click «Save». The program will create an individual discount promo code for each card.
Give the codes to the customer. Click «Print promo codes» and stick them on cards, or «Copy promo codes» to the clipboard to send them by email. The customer gives the cards to friends.
Apply the discount at the checkout. During the friend’s first purchase, scan the promo code into the «Barcode/Art.» field in the «Sale» window and confirm its use — the friend will receive a discount. In «Trade with invoice issuance», use «Scan control barcode».
The bonus will accrue automatically. Enter the payment, and the program will automatically accrue the bonus to the customer for the friend’s purchase. The paid promo code is marked in the customer card.
Important. All promo codes under the «Refer a Friend» campaign give a one-time discount. View accruals in the menu item Analysis → Bonus movement analysis, the «Refer a Friend» tab.
Try it on your own database
Install the Torgsoft demo version for 30 days, configure the «Refer a Friend» campaign, and see how promo codes and automatic bonuses work. All data remains on your computer.
Option capabilities
Scenarios by niche
Clothing store
A regular buyer is given three cards with promo codes for friends. Each friend receives a discount on the first purchase, and the buyer receives a fixed bonus for each paid code.
Cosmetics store
The customer’s bonus is calculated as a percentage of the friend’s purchase with a maximum amount limit. This way, the campaign motivates customers to recommend the store and does not eat up the margin on large receipts.
Beauty salon
The campaign is limited to a product group — for example, care cosmetics. The friend receives a discount specifically on this category, and the customer receives a bonus on the main card.
Example
The scenario is illustrative. A children’s clothing store wants to turn «word of mouth» into a manageable channel. Regular customers are given several cards with promo codes, the discount for the friend is set at the level of a standard promotional discount, and the customer receives a fixed bonus for each friend’s purchase.
Friends come with cards, the cashier scans the promo code in «Sale», the discount is applied, and the card owner’s bonus is accrued automatically. At the end of the month, the owner opens «Bonus movement analysis», the «Refer a Friend» tab, and sees how many new buyers the campaign brought and what amount they purchased for.
Which options and equipment it works with
«Refer a Friend» relies on customer accounting and discount cards, so it works well with options for working with the customer base:
- Referral program — if you need to run partner sales with recommendation tracking and settlements.
- Customer profile and Binotel calls — accumulates purchase history and interests for personalized offers.
From equipment, you will need a barcode scanner to read promo codes and a label printer to print codes on stickers:
- Barcode scanners in the Torgsoft online store.
- Label printers in the Torgsoft online store.
Comprehensive automation. Together with the Torgsoft discount and bonus system, the «Refer a Friend» campaign becomes part of a single loyalty program: you manage customers, accrue bonuses, and attract new buyers in one program.
Price and connection terms
- Licenses. Works with all Torgsoft licenses. The option is purchased for each workstation for standalone versions, or one per local network, or one per terminal license server.
- Version. Available from Torgsoft version 7.9.0 (DB 386) and later.
- Demo version. Free for 30 days, all data remains on your computer.
How to enable
- Download the demo version or open the existing Torgsoft program.
- Purchase the option in the online store or request a consultation.
- Activate the option and configure the campaign in Marketing → Customers → Refer a Friend.
Frequently asked questions
What is the «Refer a Friend» promotion in Torgsoft
It is an option for a referral campaign with promo codes. A regular customer receives individual codes for friends, the friend receives a discount on the first purchase, and the customer receives a bonus for each such purchase.
Who receives the discount, and who receives the bonus
The friend receives the discount on the first purchase using the promo code. The customer who issued this promo code receives the bonus on the main card after the friend’s purchase is paid.
What bonus accrual rules can be set
Three options: a fixed bonus amount, a percentage of the friend’s purchase amount, or a percentage of the purchase with a maximum amount limit. You can also set the minimum purchase amount and product group.
Can the campaign be limited to certain goods
Yes. In the «Product group» field, select the product group to which the campaign applies. If the field is left empty, the campaign applies to the entire assortment.
Can a promo code be used several times
No. Each promo code gives a one-time discount. The paid code is marked in the customer card, so it cannot be used again.
How does the friend apply the promo code at the checkout
During the first purchase, the cashier scans the promo code into the «Barcode/Art.» field in the «Sale» window and confirms its use. In «Trade with invoice issuance», «Scan control barcode» is used.
How to view the campaign result
Open the menu item Analysis → Bonus movement analysis and go to the «Refer a Friend» tab. It shows accruals under the campaign.
Which licenses the option works with
The option works with all Torgsoft licenses. It is purchased for each workstation for standalone versions, or one per local network, or one per terminal license server.
From which version is the option available
The option is available from Torgsoft version 7.9.0 (database 386) and later.
Can it be tried for free
Yes. Download the Torgsoft demo version for 30 days, configure the campaign, and test the promo code and bonus mechanics on your own database.
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