Store Credit > Discounts: How Shopify Plus Brands Keep Customers Spending More
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If your brand still relies on constant discounts to keep revenue moving, you’re not alone, but you’re also not in control. Discounts can feel like a quick win. They move product, bring traffic, and keep the numbers looking good for the week. But over time, they build habits that work against you. That’s why more Shopify Plus brands are comparing store credit vs discounts, and finding that credit-based memberships lead to stronger loyalty, steadier cash flow, and healthier margins.
Why Discount-Led Growth Stops Working?
Discounts are easy to scale but hard to sustain.
Every “20% off” cuts through your margin, and the more you run them, the less your customers want to pay full price.
You’ve probably seen this:
- Sales spike during campaigns, then drop fast.
- Your “loyal” buyers wait for codes.
- Margins shrink while acquisition costs rise.
A study from McKinsey confirm that discount-driven strategies create volatile, margin-eroding growth, a pattern that undermines long-term brand value. In short, heavy discounting creates dependency, not loyalty. And dependency is expensive.
Why Store Credit Wins the Store Credit vs Discounts Debate?
A paid membership with store credit as a perk changes the equation.
Instead of lowering prices to chase sales, you invite your best customers into a program that rewards commitment.
Here’s how it works:
- A shopper joins your membership for a recurring fee: monthly, quarterly, or annual.
- They receive equal value in store credit to spend anytime, it’s free for the shopper since every dollar they pay becomes credit to use on future purchases.
- Credits renew automatically, bringing them back to your store.
No coupons. No promo fatigue. Just a healthy, recurring rhythm that benefits both sides. You collect predictable revenue, they enjoy flexible value.
This model isn’t theoretical. Adore Me, whose founders built Subscribfy, scaled to $300 M/year with this approach before being acquired by Victoria’s Secret. The secret was simple: give customers credit, not discounts, and you’ll build loyalty without cutting into profit.
What Store Credit Actually Delivers for Your Brand?
1. Customers feel invested.
Memberships turn transactions into relationships. When shoppers pay to join, they see their store credit as “their money.” It builds intent and keeps them coming back.
2. It reframes value.
Discounts lower price. Store credit raises perceived value. The result: customers feel rewarded, not bought.
3. It forms a habit.
Monthly credit renewals encourage regular visits. That repeat rhythm compounds retention and lifetime value.
4. It protects your margin.
You reward loyalty selectively instead of discounting broadly. Members get more; you keep more.
5. It stabilizes cash flow.
Credit memberships bring predictable income that helps plan inventory and marketing spend.
How to Launch a Paid Membership with Store Credit on Shopify Plus?
You don’t need to rebuild your business model, just change the way you reward repeat customers.
1. Define your offer clearly.
Example: Pay $30/month → Get $30 in credit + early access + free shipping.
2. Fit the cadence to your shoppers.
The cadence should align with your customers’ existing purchase behavior and habits, how often they naturally return to shop.
3. Make redemption effortless.
Show available credit at checkout and remind members when it refreshes.
4. Communicate exclusivity.
This isn’t a coupon club. It’s your insiders’ circle.
5. Track results.
Monitor redemption rate, repeat orders, and incremental margin.
Want real-world examples? See the Awe Inspired Case Study for proof of concept.
Inside Subscribfy: The Platform Powering Store Credit Strategies
Managing credits, billing, and analytics manually is complex. Subscribfy was built for Shopify Plus brands to make it simple.
Our team pioneered one of the most successful membership models in eCommerce, Adore Me’s VIP program, scaling it to a $300M / year business and a $400M acquisition by Victoria’s Secret.
That experience powers Subscribfy today.
We combine strategy, data, and technology to help every Shopify brand build a high-performing paid membership program, designed for profit, retention, and brand love.
Here’s what it delivers:
- Shopify-native store credit infrastructure: credits issue automatically and are easy for shoppers to redeem during checkout.
- Custom membership design: monthly, quarterly, or annual models tailored to your brand.
- Unified analytics: track AOV lift, churn, and lifetime value of members vs non-members.
- White-glove onboarding: our team helps design pricing, perks, and rollout strategy.
- True partnership: we don’t just launch your membership, we stay invested in making it a long-term success story.
- Continuous optimization: we review performance data and help you scale retention efficiently.
The Bottom Line
The store credit vs discounts question comes down to this:
Do you want short-term bursts or long-term stability?
Discounts drive spikes.
Store credit drives loyalty.
If you’re ready to turn discounts into a retention engine that pays both you and your customers back, it’s time to act.
Book a demo to see how Subscribfy powers store-credit memberships for Shopify Plus brands building predictable, profitable growth.
