STOKE CITY'S offer to send two supporters on a dream trip to the World Cup Final will be the first of many excellent benefits that ensure the Club's new Membership scheme rewards fans for their tremendous loyalty.
The Potters are lining up a range of benefits for those who make the most of becoming a Member after the fabulous prize of two tickets to see this summer's World Cup Final in South Africa was an outstanding feature of the recent launch of the Membership scheme alongside the Early Bird Season Ticket campaign.
Some of those exciting offers will be announced by the Club shortly, but a selection of savings and privileges exclusive to each category of Membership will be sent out in their packs before the start of next season.
"We are confident that once people see the benefits of being a Member and gain something from them, they will consider it excellent value to be associated with us in this way," said City's Head of Commercial Andrew Billingham.
"The Membership scheme is not fully formed because we have to launch it before we can obtain some of the benefits.
"But there are a number of other advantages to having this scheme in place, one of which was the opportunity for us to offer the fantastic prize with our Season Ticket campaign to send two fans to the World Cup Final.
"Other exclusive offers will be made available within the next few weeks and by the time Membership packs are distributed ahead of the 2010/11 season, there will be an extensive range of benefits in place."
A Season Ticket holder automatically receives a Gold Membership, giving them a 5% loyalty discount on merchandise, exclusive Gold Offers and also third in line priority for tickets to the Potters' away games.
There is also the opportunity to upgrade to Platinum Plus or Platinum Memberships for an additional cost and among the excellent benefits on offer will be a guaranteed ticket for each away match for Platinum Plus members.
City have also redefined their Junior Membership programme as part of the changes, dividing it into three age groups - Mini Potters (0-3 years old), Junior Potters (4-11 years old) and Teen Potters (12 to 16 years old).
As with the adult categories, Junior Season Ticket holders automatically become a Member in their particular age group and they also have the option to upgrade for an additional cost so that they enjoy many exciting benefits including a meet the players event and the opportunity to be a mascot or a ball boy/girl.
"Not only are we giving supporters the chance to get closer to the Club they love, we are also giving them a choice of category," added Billingham. "Obviously, the higher levels of Membership contain more benefits."
The categories of adult Membership range from Stoke Loyalty Card and Silver Ticketing Membership for non Season Ticket holders to Gold, Platinum and Platinum Plus Memberships for Season Ticket Holders, each of which has different levels of benefits.
City recognise that over and above their Season Ticket holders and loyal supporters, there are many more people who have different forms of engagement with the Club such as the 18,000 people who have a Britannia Save and Support Account.
Customer loyalty is a precious commodity and a key business driver, which is why they are confident the Membership scheme will enable them to drive up their database and bring more people closer to the Club, maximising their Premier League status.
City's Chief Executive Tony Scholes said: "The important thing about Membership is it give us the opportunity to get closer to non Season Ticket holders, while also recognising and rewarding the backing of our loyal supporters."
