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 Loyalty Programs

Teenage apparel retailers struggle to integrate across marketing channels

February 01, 2012

Abercrombie & Fitch and American Eagle Outfitters use diverse direct marketing approaches to sell similarly priced apparel to teenagers and young adults.
 

Constant Contact acquires CardStar

January 19, 2012

Email marketing company Constant Contact has acquired Boston-based mobile applications provider CardStar, Gail Goodman, CEO of Constant Contact said Jan. 18.
 

Ritz-Carlton CMO reinvents luxury

Alex Palmer December 01, 2011

Once Chris Gabaldon, chief sales and marketing officer of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Co. starts talking about his brand, it's hard for him to stop. He gets on a roll, effusing about how the company has navigated the recession, or its recent brand repositioning, or the launch of its loyalty program, The Ritz-Carlton Rewards. Gabaldon's enthusiasm is, as they say, contagious.
 

Southwest Airlines launches retail rewards program

November 17, 2011

Southwest Airlines launched a shopping initiative that enables loyalty program members to earn points by making purchases with more than 700 retailers, said Katie McDonald, communications manager at Southwest Airlines. The "Southwest Rapid Rewards Shopping" program was built in collaboration with marketing technology company Cartera Commerce.
 

Theater titans unleash multichannel
 strategies to fill seats

November 01, 2011

As the holiday movie season gears up, so do the marketing programs of theater operators AMC Entertainment and 
Regal Entertainment Group — marketing strategies that have come to rely upon online sales of tickets and partnerships with online ticket vendors.
 

Fierce loyalty

November 01, 2011

Competition 
among loyalty
 programs is
 more intense 
than ever, but
 are consumers 
cooling to them?
 

Carlson customizes loyalty programs

November 01, 2011

Hospitality and travel company Carlson relaunched its Goldpoints Plus hotel loyalty program on March 31. The revamped Club Carlson loyalty program featured free in-room Wi-Fi, no blackout dates, rollover nights and complimentary room upgrades, among other benefits.
 

Dunkin' Donuts launches Facebook sweepstakes

September 29, 2011

Dunkin' Donuts and digital agency Studiocom launched a Facebook contest in celebration of National Coffee Day, Dan Saia, vice president of consumer engagement at Dunkin' Brands said in an email. The campaign will be promoted through targeted emails to DD Perks Rewards loyalty program members and on Twitter.
 

Groupon adds loyalty program Groupon Rewards

September 28, 2011

Daily deals company Groupon debuted a loyalty program on Sept. 28 that enables merchants to deliver follow-up offers to consumers who previously purchased a Groupon from the merchant.
 

Sovereign Bank, Affinity Solutions to launch targeted deals program

September 20, 2011

Sovereign Bank and loyalty program provider Affinity Solutions will roll out a deals program on Oct. 18 that will allow marketers to target offers based on consumers' purchases.
 

Associated Press debuts mobile iCircular program

September 19, 2011

The Associated Press (AP) launched a pilot of its iCircular program on Sept. 19, enabling retailers to run digital versions of their weekly print circulars within newspapers' mobile apps or mobile-optimized sites.
 

Google acquires loyalty company Zave Networks

September 06, 2011

Google has bought digital coupon and loyalty program provider Zave Networks. Zave's employees will join Google's Commerce team, said a Google spokesperson via email.
 

Q&A: Marc Caltabiano, VP of marketing and products at Cartera Commerce

August 24, 2011

Marc Caltabiano, VP of marketing and products at Cartera Commerce, a marketing technology company that enables online shopping programs, discusses customer loyalty and how technology has helped revolutionize rewards programs.
 

Virgin America, Hertz partner on car-rental promotions

August 18, 2011

Virgin America and The Hertz Corp. have partnered to give members of the airline's Elevate loyalty program exclusive deals on Hertz rental cars. Elevate members who rent cars from Hertz will earn one point per $1 spent on qualifying rentals.
 

Everyone loves a playground

Michael Leis, VP management director of digital at Draftfcb August 17, 2011

Instead of treating loyalty programs like old-time banks, we should treat them like playgrounds.
 

Barclaycard US launches loyalty shopping program

August 16, 2011

Barclaycard US, the payments business of financial services company Barclays, has launched a shopping platform for more than 1,000 co-branded card programs. The platform will enable cardholders to automatically earn discounts, rewards, miles and cash back for on- and offline purchases with participating retailers.
 

IHG launches an integrated shopping rewards program

August 03, 2011

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) launched an integrated shopping rewards program, Priority Club Shopping, on August 3 that will enable IHG Priority Club members to earn loyalty points for shopping with more than 600 retailers, said Mark Shepherd, director of partnership programs at IHG.
 

American Airlines launches sweepstakes to promote luxury service

July 25, 2011

American Airlines has launched the "Five Star Vacation" sweepstakes campaign, which it will promote through email, on AA.com and in print media. The sweepstakes is supporting the airline's Five Star Service, which assigns a personal airport assistant to members.
 

American Express launches Facebook deals, rewards applications

July 19, 2011

American Express has launched two Facebook applications that allow cardholders to redeem digital deals and rewards, said Dave Wolf, VP of global marketing capabilities at the financial services company.
 

CVS promotes digital rewards with social campaign

July 08, 2011

CVS Caremark launched a digital campaign to support the ExtraCare Rewards loyalty program on July 8. The effort, which encourages consumers to cash in loyalty points, includes a CVS/pharmacy Facebook page with interactive content and loyalty program information.
 

Carlson to complete rebrand in October, continue creative marketing services

July 07, 2011

Carlson will work with brand consultancy Interbrand, PR firm Fleishman-Hillard and several other groups to promote the rebrand, which will be announced during an October Carlson Marketing event in Toronto.
 

Groupon begins grocery discounts

July 01, 2011

Daily discount king Groupon, fresh off filing paperwork with the US Securities and Exchange Commission to hold an initial public offering (IPO), took its first step into grocery retail discounts last month.
 

IHOP launches integrated marketing campaign

June 27, 2011

IHOP Restaurants launched an integrated advertising and marketing campaign on June 27 that will feature email, social media, TV and regional direct mail communications, said Joe Adney, VP of marketing at IHOP. Agency of record, McCann Erickson, is handling the work. Adney would not reveal spending on the campaign, but the brand tallied $74.4 million on advertising in 2010, according to its earnings statement.
 

Rite Aid adds email updates to loyalty program

June 08, 2011

Pharmacy chain Rite Aid began sending monthly email updates to members of its Wellness Plus loyalty program on June 8 to help them keep track of their accrued rewards points and savings. The company is working with email service provider Experian CheetahMail to deliver the messages to loyalty club members.
 

Credit card-brand alliances to help marketers target offers

June 01, 2011

Credit card companies are becoming integrated partners in the marketing process, helping brands deliver targeted offers to consumers by using their customer databases.
 

Sandwich shops compete for $5 lunch 
emphasizing health and value

June 01, 2011

With cost-conscious consumers looking for cheap, healthy lunch options, sandwich chains are focused on marketing that highlights value. Fast food purveyors Subway and Quiznos both promote sandwiches to consumers as a healthy alternative to burgers and fries at a competitive $5 price point.
 

Consumer word-of-mouth activity down since start of recession: Colloquy

Michael Corso May 19, 2011

Consumers have cut back significantly on sharing opinions about companies, as well as their products and services, since the beginning of the "Great Recession," according to research from Colloquy. Fifty-eight percent of consumers said they have discussions with family members, friends and colleagues about the brands they use, down from 73% in 2008, according to the loyalty marketing consultancy.
 

MasterCard campaign highlights World Elite benefits

May 16, 2011

MasterCard Worldwide launched an integrated marketing campaign May 16 to promote new features of its World Elite card. The direct mail, email and print effort highlights new Elite benefits, such as a global concierge service, price assure for travelers and exclusive golf packages. The financial services company worked with McCann-Erickson on the initiative's print elements and R/GA on the campaign's online elements and microsite.
 

Marriott and JetBlue launch joint loyalty program initiative

May 02, 2011

Marriott International and JetBlue Airways launched a joint loyalty program initiative on May 2 that will allow JetBlue TrueBlue members to earn points for staying at any Marriott hotel.
 

Brands turn to loyalty efforts as recovery remains sluggish

May 01, 2011

Major consumer brands are premiering new loyalty programs or overhauling aging membership initiatives to meet consumer expectations, satisfy corporate pressure for ROI, and solidify their customer bases during still-challenging economic times.