Navigating New Paths with Appstle Memberships: AIC Expat’s Journey to Continuous Client Value
Amsterdam International Community (AIC) Expat, founded and run by globally curious enthusiasts, is a key resource for expatriates in Amsterdam. AIC Expat offers memberships through the AIC card, which grants members free or discounted access to events, as well as exclusive deals with partners. These partnerships include service-based companies such as lawyers, rental agencies, and local businesses that serve and benefit expats. Through a membership-based model, powered by Appstle Memberships, AIC connects Amsterdam’s expats with resources and with each other, fostering a welcoming community in the city.
“ We organize events for expats in Amsterdam…When they purchase the card, we give them tickets for events or discounts on other events, such as yoga sessions, theater performances, and other social events.”
As the expat community in Amsterdam grew, so did the founder’s mission to help newcomers settle in the city. This led the team to explore a recurring membership model using Appstle’s Memberships app, aiming to streamline operations and offer consistent, reliable support for expats.
“The founder, Attila, is Italian but lives in the Netherlands…he started AIC Expats as a hobby because he enjoys meeting new people. Over time, he realized that many people were interested in what he was offering, so it became more than just a hobby.”
The Roadblocks to Growth: Overcoming Key Challenges
While AIC Expat found success in organizing events and offering membership perks, they faced several challenges in scaling and retaining members over time:
- Engaging Long-term Residents: The organization found that members who had lived in Amsterdam for a while were less likely to renew their memberships. AIC Expat wanted to ensure they provided enough value to retain members longer, as some members would naturally discontinue once they felt fully settled.
“People who have lived in the Netherlands for a while are no longer considered expats…They may decide to discontinue their membership if they no longer found value in it, or they may move elsewhere.”
- Managing Membership Options with Variants: Organizing tickets with multiple options, such as early-bird or student rates, occasionally created confusion in the app interface.
“It works well for most products, but when we have variants…for example, with a comedy show, we offer regular tickets, early-bird tickets, student tickets, and tickets for AIC card members. The AIC card ticket is the one I want to hide, but our previous software did not automatically adjust when there are variants.” - Using Data to Enhance Event Offerings: AIC wanted to better understand which events were most popular, and when membership sign-ups peaked, to make data-driven decisions that would improve retention.
“We wanted to use the analytics feature to track how long people keep their memberships…wine-tasting events seem to draw more people, and people tend to sign up for the AIC card to get the discount for those events. We wanted data to support or challenge our observations.”
The Game-Changing Solution: AIC Expat Adopts Appstle’s Subscription Model
To address these challenges, AIC Expat integrated Appstle’s Shopify and Shopify Plus focused Memberships App into their existing Shopify store. This solution provided the infrastructure for a recurring membership model with three-month and six-month packages, keeping AIC Expat’s members engaged with frequent events and service discounts.
Crafting a Tailored Membership Experience: AIC Expat developed multiple membership tiers that catered to different expat segments and their varying needs. Now, with the AIC card, members can access recurring events and enjoy discounts on unique experiences in Amsterdam.
Smooth Integration and Streamlined Operations: Appstle’s Shopify Memberships app enabled seamless integration with AIC’s existing Shopify setup. It allowed the team to manage recurring member payments, adjust membership plans, and customize membership perks, all in one place.
“I think the Appstle Memberships app works great for what we need. It was easy to figure out and easy to manage.”
Enhanced Customer Retention with Engagement and Flexibility: Automated billing cycles and easy membership and member management that are pillars of Appstle Memberships improved member retention of AIC Epat. AIC Expat could also quickly respond to feedback, helping them refine event offerings and keep members satisfied.
“When I reached out to Appstle’s customer service about a settings question, they were very fast and helpful. They explained everything hands-on and comprehensively, and I understood the solution right away.”
Utilizing Analytics for Data-Driven Decisions: The app’s analytics tools allowed AIC Expats to track member trends, event popularity, and the months with the highest retention rates. This insight enabled the team to make more strategic decisions, focusing on popular events and timing offers to coincide with peak periods.
“Using the Appstle Membership app’s granular analytics has helped us understand which events are most popular. This Allows us to plan better for the future…for example, we learned that when we offer food and drink-related events, we tend to see an increase in membership sign-ups.”
Transformational Outcomes: AIC Expat’s Success Story
With the support of Appstle’s Shopify Memberships app, AIC Expat achieved significant improvements in both member retention and operational efficiency:
- Consistent Recurring Revenue: By shifting to a subscription-based membership, AIC Expat now enjoys predictable income, helping them better plan for future growth.
“In addition to generating revenue we’re happy that we’re able to help people connect through a community.” - Higher Member Retention: The new membership model encouraged members to renew, resulting in longer-lasting relationships and increased engagement.
“Using the app’s analytics has helped us understand which events are most popular, which allows us to plan better for future events.” - Enhanced Operational Efficiency: The streamlined membership and billing process saved time and allowed the team to focus on creating more value for members.
“Overall, the Appstle software is easy to understand and use. When I joined the company two years ago, the system was already set up by Attila. I quickly got the hang of it, and I think it’s very intuitive.” - Increased Customer Satisfaction: With personalized event offerings and easy subscription management, AIC Expat successfully improved their member experience.
“The app has helped us better serve our members and keep them feel valued and satisfied. We can focus more on creating events they’ll love.”
Charting the Future: AIC Expat’s Path Forward with Appstle
The integration of Appstle’s Shopify Memberships app transformed AIC Expat’s approach to membership management, enabling them to retain members for longer periods while consistently meeting their needs. The insights gained from the app’s analytics allow the team to make informed decisions about event planning and membership offerings, ultimately contributing to a stronger and more connected community in Amsterdam.
