Founded in 2013, Cambridge Spirits features an eclectic selection of craft beers, fine wines and artisanal spirits. Located in a newly renovated area of Kendall Square, one of Boston's prime technology hubs, the sleek, modernist shop frequently hosts tastings featuring high-end wineries, quality distilleries or trendsetting craft beer purveyors like Night Shift Brewing.
MIT's Sloan School of Management is just around the corner, and numerous startups and technology companies have offices nearby. Owner Charlie Marquardt knows his ideal clients are right in the neighborhood, and potentially passing within steps of his shop each day.
Nift is an invitation-only network of neighborhood businesses that rely on giving Nifts--virtual or physical neighborhood gift cards--to bring great new customers through the door. To participate, Cambridge Spirits featured a $15 gift certificate, and specified the maximum number of customers that could come in to redeem it each month.
Nift's proprietary algorithms match Cambridge Spirits' Nift to customers who frequent other local businesses. These shops, restaurants, gyms and spas give Nift cards to their valued customers as a thank you, and people who may never have tried Cambridge Spirits are drawn into the store.
Marquardt appreciates that he knows exactly how much his store is spending, and where that money is going. "You don't know if somebody comes in because of one of your ads," he explains. "But if they come in with a card, you know they're a Nift person."
One year into his shop's partnership with Nift, the program is delivering real, measurable results.
Join Nift to Spread the Word
By attracting customers via an innovative platform, Nift helps inspire these new patrons to share their passion for the quality beer, wine, and spirits shop, driving word-of-mouth.
Join Nift to Attract Customers Who Work Nearby
Nift extends the store's reach, drawing in commuters who might not have visited. "We have people who work around here but live out in the 'burbs," explains Marquardt. “They came here because of their Nift, and even if they only spent $20 or $25 the first time, they keep coming back."
Join Nift to Optimize for Ideal Customers
One of Marquardt's favorite Nift features is the ability to filter customers. On the rare occasion that a new customer doesn't seem keen on supporting local businesses, Marquardt can effectively prevent them from taking advantage of future offerings. "If they seem like they're not into the goal of supporting local businesses, and are just looking for a freebie, we rate them as bad customers," he says.
Join Nift to Boost Annual Sales
Customers return repeatedly, spending $50 to $100 with each visit, resulting in significant overall revenue growth.
One year into the store's partnership with Nift, owner Charlie Marquardt is thrilled that he has finally found a marketing tool that increases foot traffic in a measurabl e way. "It's bringing more people in," Marquardt says, "and that's the biggest driver of the value."
Are you a small business owner? Want to thank your best customers, get discovered by even more customers, and support local businesses? Give Nift a try.