Look at this wonderful collection of coffee shop loyalty cards I carry in my wallet and use regularly. I’m pretty loyal to each of these purveyors of fine coffee and visit them depending on which is the closest one to me at the time.

But here’s what I often wonder. Why haven’t any of them ever, at the very least, asked for my email address? They get me in for coffee when I choose to visit them, but they could occasionally send me an email offer that would invite me to come back sooner, spend more or bring in a friend. But I never, ever hear from them. It’s only when I decide to visit them that they get my business. Why don’t they try to initiate my visit?

And think what they could do if they had my phone number or snail mail address… but I guess they believe it’s all too hard!