What is a Shopify VIP program?
A VIP program splits your customers into levels. They move up as they spend, earn points or place orders. Each level earns points faster and unlocks better perks, such as free shipping or early access. The point is to give your best customers a reason to stay, and everyone else a target to reach.
What is a VIP tier?
A tier is one level in that program. Most tiered loyalty programs run three levels. A base level most customers reach, a middle level for repeat buyers, and a top level only your best customers get to.
How do customers qualify for a tier?
You pick one thing that counts: what they spend, the points they collect, or how many orders they place. Then you set how much each level needs, such as $500 spent for Gold. Yuko moves a customer up on the order that takes them past it.
How many tiers should I create?
Three or four. Fewer levels make each step feel meaningful. Add too many and the levels blur together, so moving up stops meaning anything.
What benefits can I give each tier?
Points earned faster, plus money off, a percentage off, free shipping, free products or store credit. Every tier also writes a Shopify customer tag you can use for email and ads.
Can I give VIP customers exclusive offers and early access?
Yes. Discounts, free shipping, free products and store credit attach to a level directly in Yuko. For early access, private sales or event invites, use the Shopify customer tag each level writes. Any Shopify discount or email tool that reads tags can read your levels.
Can I offer member-only products to a VIP tier?
Member-only products are part of Memberships rather than VIP tiers. Customers earn a tier by spending. They buy a membership. Many stores run both, and a paid plan can speed up how fast a customer moves up.
How long does a customer keep their tier?
That is up to you. On a lifetime window they keep it for good. On a rolling twelve-month or calendar-year window they have to re-earn it, which keeps customers buying through the year.
What happens if a customer stops buying?
On a rolling or calendar window they drop a level. You choose whether they fall one step or go back to the base level. Yuko flags a customer once they are within 30 days of losing their level, so you can email them first.
Do tier changes affect rewards customers already earned?
No. A tier change never re-prices a reward a customer already earned. What they banked at Gold stays what it was.
Can I use tiers for email segments?
Yes. Every level writes a Shopify customer tag. Yuko also sends the level name, progress and at-risk flag to Klaviyo. You can build a top-level segment or a win-back flow from either.
Do I need a loyalty program to run VIP tiers?
Yes. Tiers change how fast your loyalty program hands out points, so the points program comes first. Both run in the same app, on one customer record.
How much does a Shopify VIP program cost?
Yuko Advanced is $30 a month and includes 300 orders, then $5 for each additional 100 orders. Growth is $199 a month with unlimited orders. VIP tiers, loyalty, referrals and memberships are all in the same app.
