loyalty marketing

Video game retailer GameStop will begin testing a revamped loyalty program in May. It will also expand its downloadable offerings, according to its March 18 earnings call for the fourth quarter of 2009. Paul Raines, COO of GameStop, said on the call that the retailer plans to incorporate elements of the MegaCard loyalty program by Micromania, a French video game retailer GameStop bought in 2008.

Duane Reade, a popular and fast-growing New York area drugstore, stepped up its marketing game in November with a holiday promotion. The centerpiece of the effort is its new private-label food merchandise, DR Delish.It also builds on the existing, successful Dollar Rewards loyalty program.

Rob Borden joined Carnival Cruise Lines as VP of customer marketing on December 7. He is overseeing the company's direct and e-mail marketing efforts, including its loyalty programs and co-branded credit card. Those efforts are designed to grow ticket and onboard revenues across all distribution channels, according to a statement from Carnival.

Alliance Data-owned company LoyaltyOne has acquired a 29% stake in CBSM, Companhia Brasileria De Servicos De Marketing, which operates Brazil-based loyalty program Dotz. Terms of the agreement, which was signed in early October, were not disclosed.