IslandBlinds.com launches customer-referral rewards

IslandBlinds.com, a retailer of low-cost blinds and window treatments, has launched a rewards program than allows customers to earn back up to 100% of their purchase amount through customer referrals. The program is being administered by Freeshopping.com.

IslandBlinds.com, which launched the rewards program July 13, originally introduced the program in mid-June at FreeBlinds.com, a sister site. “We haven’t had enough time to get any orders but we have had a number of people signed up who have sent out referrals,” an IslandBlinds.com spokesman says.

IslandBlinds has been marketing the rewards program via e-mail to customers, press releases, and advertisements on Google pages, the spokesperson says.

Under the program, a customer earns 20% of each referred purchaser’s sales amount. Participating customers are given access to tools that allow them to e-mail family and friends with a brief note outlining the program and containing their referral code. Participants also can post a text box provided by IslandBlinds.com for cut-and-paste posting of a link on their personal web sites or MySpace pages. The customers’ unique referral codes are embedded in each link, making it possible for them to potentially earn back all of their money without ever referring anyone personally. Customers also can print out personalized, coded referral cards for distribution to others. IslandBlinds.com customers have up to five years to sign up for the rewards program.

IslandBlinds.com founder Joe Mehm designed the rewards program as a low-cost alternative to pay-per-click advertising, which can cost up to $5 per click for a referral. “You’re just hoping they’ll buy something, but you get no guarantee,” the spokesman says.

In contrast, with the rewards program, the referring customer is paid only if there is a sale. “This way, it’s a guaranteed sale and you’re not paying anything until you’ve generated the revenue,” he says.

IslandBlinds.com is located in St. Augustine, FL.