Costco collects $5.3 billion a year in membership fees. Amazon pulled in $49.62 billion in subscription revenue in 2025, a category led by Amazon Prime. And RH, formerly Restoration Hardware, has converted 98% of sales to paying members who now pay about $200 a year.
A paid loyalty program asks customers to pay a recurring or upfront fee for membership, in return for benefits a free program doesn't offer. It works for some brands and fails for others, and the difference comes down to....