What Gen-Z actually wants from a loyalty program

The headline finding

89% of Gen-Z shoppers won't install a brand app. 71% will join a shared loyalty network if it's web-first.

What kills it for them

• Email-required signup (60% bounce rate at the email field)
• Stacked permissions (camera + contacts + notifications = instant exit)
• Annual fees
• Anything that looks like 'collecting punches'

What wins

• Sharable wins. Screenshots of badges. Streak counts in TikTok bios.
• Status over discounts. Level 23 means more to them than 10% off.
• Cross-merchant identity. The same profile across coffee + bookshop + gym.
• Visible peers. Leaderboards with usernames they recognize.

Implications for indie retailers

Don't build an app. Don't make them download anything. Don't ask for their birthday. Show their level. Show their friends'. Let them brag.