Argo Tea’s recent launch of a pay-ahead mobile app named “LoyalTEA” is a critical way for the company to create memorable customer experiences.
The new mobile app allows customers to pre-order and pay for beverages for immediate pick-up upon arrival at their favorite Argo Tea Café or TEAosk. Enhancing that customer engagement and customer loyalty can create the highly desired brand advocacy.
“We want to assure that we build our business one customer and one cup of tea at a time,” Argo Tea Founder & CEO Arsen Avakian told Loyalty360. “The Argo Experience, as we call it, means our consumer is satisfied from the minute they walk into the cafe until they leave. It’s a 360-degree experience.”
Simply for downloading the free app, which is available for Android and iPhone, Argo will reward customers with a $5 café credit to use at locations in Chicago, New York, and Boston.
“We’re always looking to improve the Argo Experience and for new ways to introduce customers to Argo,” Avakian explained. “The new mobile app aims to 
speed up loyal customers’ experiences. For customers that know what they want, the new app eliminates the need to wait in line. It also allows our team to spend more time with new customers and those that have questions about our beverage choices.”
Along with in-app ordering, LoyalTEA Club members will able to:
Earn and redeem their rewards, track progress, status and special offers, which increase with milestone visits. Customers can progress through four status levels based on the number of visits: SpecialTEA, PrioriTEA, CelebriTEA and RoyalTEA
Use their mobile devices to scan at the counter for fast, seamless payment
Invite friends (via Facebook, Twitter or email) to download and use the app. The app user simply gifts each friend $5 in Argo Tea credit. Once the friend spends the credit with a transaction at Argo, the referrer gets $5 added to their own account
Search for award-winning Argo Tea on-the-go (e.g. bottled teas) at premier grocery, convenience, and drug stores around the country
Migrate over any unused rewards or credit. Existing LoyalTEA account users (plastic card program), can seamlessly enter their card number directly in the app and receive an immediate status level increase
Later this holiday season, the LoyalTEA app will be updated to include holiday e-gifting capabilities, which will allow customers to send an Argo gift card to anyone via email from right within the app.
“The app allows us to do a few things,” Avakian said. “First, it allows customers to more quickly make their choices and pick up their orders. It also allows us to communicate with and reward our loyal customers. Our rewards program is also evolving. In the past, loyal customers received a free drink after buying 10. The new program is tiered, offering incentives to new members—including a $5 credit —and more valuable rewards to the most frequent visitors. Also, for the first time, customers can redeem loyalty credit for any purchase, not just drinks.”
Argo Tea was founded in 2003, and is now present in 40 locations across the United States and six in the Middle East.