Individual customer and bonus cards are one of the most effective levers for long-term customer loyalty. Whether it's a bonus scheme, a discount system, or a loyalty card with added value: we produce customer cards that suit your programme, with the right technology, in the appropriate material, and in any quantity. From 100 pieces, Made in Germany.
Plastic customer cards are among the most effective tools for physical customer loyalty. This is because, unlike digital solutions that get lost in app folders, a plastic card in credit card format (85.6 × 54 mm according to ISO/IEC 7810... permanently visible every time the wallet is opened. This is why companies with active customer card programmes achieve a measurably higher repurchase rate than those without a physical carrier card.
Furthermore, the tactile quality of a plastic card signals value. Customers who receive a high-quality printed and finished card associate it with a professional company. Compared to paper stamp cards, plastic cards are also much more durable: they are water and abrasion resistant, do not bend, and therefore withstand daily use for several years.
At the same time, the card is integrated with magnetic stripes, barcodes, QR codes, or RFID tags for the data carrier for your bonus programme. This allows for points to be collected, discounts redeemed, and purchase history recorded, all via a single card that your customer already carries with them.
Customer and loyalty cards are used in almost every sector. In retail and chain stores, for example, they serve as a carrier card for points and bonus programmes, giving customers a concrete incentive to return. Supermarkets, DIY stores, and fashion houses use them just as much as petrol stations and oil companies. There, customer cards also function as Fuel cards and fleet cards.
Furthermore, customer cards have established themselves as a professional alternative to paper stamp cards in the restaurant and hotel industry: instead of loose slips, guests receive a high-quality card that encourages them to return. Pharmacies, in turn, use customer cards with barcodes to record purchases and offer personalised discounts. In addition, fitness studios and clubs often combine the membership card with a Access function via RFID.
All areas of application have one thing in common: the customer card creates a physical touchpoint that anchors brand presence in the customer's everyday life and simultaneously serves as a data source for your CRM system. As a result, purchasing patterns can be analysed, target groups segmented, and marketing measures delivered in a targeted manner.
The technology used on your customer card will primarily depend on your point-of-sale system, existing infrastructure, and the desired range of functions. A simple loyalty programme, for instance, can already be implemented with a printed barcode or QR code that is scanned at the till. Magnetic stripes, on the other hand, are particularly suitable for systems that already work with card readers, and therefore offer a cost-effective solution for large print runs.
For modern customer programmes with contactless identification, we recommend instead RFID or NFC chips. The advantage: The card does not need to be precisely aligned, as a brief hold near the reader is sufficient. This speeds up the checkout process and noticeably improves the customer experience. We will advise you on which solution suits your existing system and deliver the cards pre-programmed with the appropriate coding.
A customer card represents your company with every use. Therefore, the material and finishing significantly determine how the card feels and how long it lasts. Standard PVC is the most commonly used base material: robust, brilliantly printable and optimised for daily use. For companies with sustainability aspirations, we also offer three environmentally friendly alternatives with our EcoLine, including cards made from Wood, cardboard and recycled material.
In addition, finishes such as hot foil stamping in gold or silver, soft-touch varnish, holograms or scratch-off panels will make your customer card stand out from the crowd. We particularly recommend tactile finishes for premium programmes and VIP cards, as they increase the perceived value of the card and thereby enhance the willingness to carry it permanently. A combination of several finishes is also possible, for example, hot foil with soft-touch or hologram with spot UV varnish.
We produce customer cards and bonus cards from just 100 pieces. Reorders are therefore possible at any time, even in smaller quantities. Our production facility in Hessisch Lichtenau is also designed for large runs of up to several million cards.
Depending on the checkout system and requirements, magnetic stripes (HiCo/LoCo), barcodes, QR codes, RFID transponders (Mifare, NTAG), or contact chips (SLE 4428/4442) are used, for example. In addition, combination cards with multiple technologies on a single card are possible. You can find further information on our Technology page.
Yes, each card can be individually personalised: with consecutive numbers, names, photos, variable barcodes or QR codes. The personalisation is done via inkjet printing, laser engraving or embossing, directly in our production facility in Hessisch Lichtenau. Even with Employee passes we offer the same personalisation options.
Standard production is typically ready for dispatch within 5 to 7 working days of print approval. For cards with finishes, encoding or special formats, we allow 2 to 4 weeks depending on the scope. Express production is also available upon request.
Yes, our EcoLine range includes loyalty cards made from wood (since 2016), grass-based cardboard with 75 % less CO₂ (since 2018) and recycled material made from 100 % recycled PVC, PET or polystyrene (since 2019). All EcoLine cards can therefore be produced using the same technologies and finishes as standard PVC cards. Also Vouchers are available in sustainable materials.
Yes, in addition to pure card production, we offer assembly, lettershop (application to cover letters, stuffing), mounting onto card carriers, and complete fulfilment including storage, weekly personalisation, and dispatch directly to your end customers. You can find further details on our Service page.
All cards are produced at our plant in Hessisch Lichtenau (Hesse). CF Card Factory GmbH belongs to the Vogt Spezialdruck Group and has been manufacturing at the German site since 2000. The production is certified according to DIN EN ISO 9001:2015. You can find out more about our company on About us page.
Tell us about your customer program and we'll suggest the right card, the right technology, and a realistic timeline. Alternatively, you can design your card directly in our Configurator put together or us about the Contact page reach.
„Every customer programme has different requirements. Tell me about yours, and I will suggest the appropriate technology, the right material and a realistic timeline."
