1)  What is the Union Alcohol Rebate Program?

  • Union’s alcohol rebate program is a fully funded rewards system built into its venue operating system, where Union pays the reward value instead of the business owner.
  • The business still gets full price for the drink or tab item, while the customer receives an instant credit or reward tied to using the Union app or digital experience. 

       Example: Each reward is worth about $5, to which Union will fund 100% of the reward amount so the venue is not discounting the sale itself.

      The breakdown of how it works:

  • A guest uses Union to open a tab or order.
  • If that guest qualifies for an offer, Union instantly applies the reward.
  • The venue keeps the normal sale amount.
  • Union covers the reward cost.


2)  How do business owners benefit from this program?

  • Guests spend more, come back more often, and feel rewarded. The business keeps full menu price while Union funds the rewards.
  • According to the Union website, guest-led mobile tabs produce an average 28% increase in check size, which is a compelling reason for business owners to adopt if they want bigger tickets without raising menu prices.
  • Also, Union states that approximately 15% of mobile users claim reward offers, which means the program can create a built-in incentive loop that keeps guests engaged.
  • Rewards are fully funded by Union. The business benefits with incremental guest acquisition and loyalty rather than giving away margins.
  • In tandem with additional revenue and loyalty, the program also increases staff efficiency by moving more of the ordering and payment process into a guest-led flow, which reduces the number of manual steps that servers need to handle during each transaction. Another benefit is that it allows staff to cover more tables and guests at once.


3) How does the program work once a business opts in to participate?

  • Union notifies business owners via email the month prior about specific alcohol brands that will be featured in the rebates during the following month. The rebate programs are available either nationally or within the business's region. 
  • The manager portal will spotlight all the available programs that are eligible for the rebate. At that time, venues can opt into which rebate programs they want participate with. NOTE: Union verifies that the alcohol brands being spotlighted are on the business's menu. Also, while multiple brands can partake in the rebate, it'll be dependent on what the alcohol brand of the month is.  
  • If required, Union account managers will reach out to businesses that need help getting set up with the following month's rebates. The only information that Union will need is if the business has the specific alcohol in stock and/or if the alcohol is featured as a menu item. Union can add it to a menu item if the business doesn't have it set up at the time of the rebate promotion.  
  • Businesses can utilize up to five (5) brands simultaneously so they aren't limited to selling only one particular brand of alcohol. If the business wants to spotlight a specific brand for the month, they can reach out the distributors to open it up and sell the brand under the rebate program with Union.


4)  How does the promotion work for the consumer?

  • During their visit to the establishment, consumers can take advantage of the discount multiple times by using different cards during their visit. 

           Example:

  • The guest orders their first featured drink and takes advantage of the discount by paying for the drink with one of their specific cards.
  • When the guest orders a second featured drink, they can utilize an entirely different card to pay for that drink and still receive the discount. 


5)  How do merchants get paid when participating in the rebate program?

  • The merchant is paid at time of the sale for the rebate via a card on file