Boost repeat visits with a cost-effective loyalty program

Running a convenience store comes with tight margins, fierce competition, and the constant challenge of keeping customers coming back. While paid advertising can help attract new faces, one of the smartest ways to grow your business is by focusing on the shoppers you already have.

A well-designed c-store loyalty program encourages repeat visits, increases average spend, and strengthens customer relationships—all while stretching your marketing dollars further. Through our partnership with Patron Points^®, Cenex^® gives retailers the tools and guidance to create a program that is flexible, automated, and tailored to your store and community.

The loyalty advantage: retention over reach

It costs 5 to 7 times more to acquire a new customer than to retain an existing one. That’s why the most successful convenience stores focus on turning first-time visitors into loyal regulars.

A loyalty program helps you:

• Boost visit frequency
• Increase average spend per trip
• Build long-term customer relationships
• Get more value from marketing investments

Instead of just spending money to reach people, a loyalty program rewards desired behavior and creates repeatable, measurable results.

Why a Cenex loyalty program works for your store

Not all loyalty solutions are created equal. Cenex-branded programs through Patron Points are designed with your store in mind, combining branding flexibility with smart digital tools. You get:

• A branded mobile app for customers to earn and redeem rewards
• Tools to reward both fuel and in-store purchases
• Targeted promotions without additional ad spend
• Analytics to track program performance and ROI

It’s a marketing solution that pays you back, helping you build repeat business and stronger customer relationships.

Real ways to increase repeat visits without extra advertising

Retailers are seeing measurable results by using Cenex loyalty programs to engage customers efficiently:

• Automated engagement: Schedule recurring offers, birthday rewards, or seasonal promotions to run automatically—no printing or paid ads needed.
• Mobile notifications for targeted deals: Promote specials like weekend coffee discounts or fuel bonuses directly to loyalty members through the app.
• Reward cycles that encourage habits: Offer bonus points for multiple visits in a month to create consistent behavior and repeat store trips.
• Data-driven decisions: Use purchase insights to identify top-selling items and popular offers, allowing you to focus on promotions that truly drive repeat visits.

These strategies make loyalty your most cost-effective form of marketing, helping your store grow without increasing ad spend.

Start building customer loyalty today

With Cenex and Patron Points, you get more than a rewards platform—you get a partner in retention-focused marketing. From automated campaigns to personalized mobile offers, we provide the expertise, tools, and flexibility to make loyalty effortless.

By designing a program that fits your store, engages your community, and rewards repeat behavior, you can:

• Strengthen customer relationships
• Increase visit frequency and spend per visit
• Boost overall sales while keeping marketing costs in check

A smart loyalty program is one of the most effective ways to grow your business, retain your best customers, and create long-term success.

Explore loyalty solutions

About Cenex
Cenex is a trusted partner for convenience store owners and retailers, bringing over 90 years of expertise in high-quality energy solutions. From premium fuels to lubricants and propane, we provide the products, programs and support retailers need to drive traffic, grow loyalty, and increase profitability.