Happy Holidays to all readers of the Wise Marketer! We hope everyone is doing well and staying safe during the ongoing pandemic. As usual, here's TWM team's curated list of the latest customer loyalty and marketing news. Our goal is to make it easy and simple for busy loyalty professionals to stay up to date with essential news and trending topics. If you enjoy our content, and want to support us, subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive content, events and more!
- Kirkland's set to relaunch its K-Club loyalty program with a "special emphasis on top customers"
- qiibee partners with Swiss luxury watch maker Louis Erard to develop blockchain-powered loyalty program
- David's Bridal becomes the first major national bridal retailer to launch loyalty program
- The Mallet Group announces two new Managing Partners and a renewed approach to loyalty services in a post-COVID world
- Murphy USA finalizes deal to acquire family-owned convenience store chain QuickChek for $645 million in all-cash deal
- Hair-care brand Function of Beauty seals one-year exclusive deal with Target to offer its products in-store and online
- ParTech's Brink POS integrates with Mobivity’s Recurrency platform to deliver actionable insights from POS data
- The U.S. will retain its title as the biggest retail market in the world despite COVID hurdles, according to eMarketer
- Inspire Brand's shared services model enables them to create new technology opportunities by working collaboratively across their brands
- The FTC has issued demands to some of the biggest tech companies to hand over information about how they collect and use consumer information
- Air Canada unveils new optional boarding method that utilizes facial biometrics to create a secure, touchless experience for passengers
LOYALTY PROGRAM NEWS:
Kirkland’s Relaunches K-Club Loyalty Program
Quotable: “Kirkland’s set three main goals for the loyalty program relaunch, Pretzlaf stated. First to grow retention of existing customers by demonstrating that the company cares about them while keeping shoppers engaged so that the Kirkland’s brand is top of mind in its segment. Then the goal is to expand Kirkland’s customer base through a program providing advantages that resonate with all customers and promoting brand identity and loyalty as enticements to new customers. Finally, Kirkland’s moved to develop a seamless omnichannel experience that bridges in-store and online shopping, incorporating Kirkland’s private label credit card as a program advantage.”
qiibee & Louis Erard Launch a Blockchain-Powered Loyalty Program to Revolutionize Brand-Consumer Engagement in Luxury
Quotable: “qiibee has announced a new partnership with Swiss luxury watch brand Louis Erard to launch Louis Erard’s new, blockchain-powered loyalty program, which fully empowers its broad base of lovers across the globe. The new loyalty program, designed in cooperation between the Louis Erard and qiibee teams, comes with an ad hoc Louis Erard branded web application, for all fans to track their transactions and pick their rewards on their timing, instantly and seamlessly.”
David's Bridal Announces First of Its Kind Loyalty Program
Quotable: “With this program, customers enjoy FREE gifts at every level, from a curated 'hello beautiful' tote full of goodies to a FREE honeymoon or getaway. Unique to David's, Diamond allows brides to share their loyalty number with friends and family to help her earn points towards a FREE honeymoon faster. With this launch, David's has become the first major national bridal retailer to establish a loyalty program designed around her and her wedding.”
The Mallett Group Announces New Leadership and a Renewed Approach to Loyalty Marketing Services in a Post-COVID World
Quotable: “The Mallett Group, a loyalty and relationship marketing consulting agency, announces the appointment of additional Managing Partners. Lars Holmquist and Steve Sickel, two loyalty marketing veterans with decades of experience between them, join original founding member Marc Berman to lead the consulting agency forward.”
RETAIL NEWS:
Murphy USA Inks Agreement to Acquire QuickChek for $645 Million
Quotable: “Murphy USA Inc. will acquire QuickChek Corp. for $645 million in an all-cash transaction. The purchase price includes expected tax benefits valued at $20 million for a net after-tax purchase price of $625 million, the company reported. The deal is being financed with a combination of cash on hand, existing credit facilities and new debt. Murphy USA obtained committed financing from the Royal Bank of Canada.”
Function of Beauty enters Target in first retail expansion
Quotable: “Customized hair-care brand Function of Beauty expanded to Target on Sunday, Dec. 13, kicking off a major retail development for the 4-year-old startup. Its first permanent foray into brick-and-mortar, Function of Beauty has a one-year exclusive deal with Target to offer its shampoo and conditioner products in-store and on Target.com. Function of Beauty’s DTC business also sells leave-in conditioners, hair serum and a hair mask.”
Mobivity and ParTech Partner to Accelerate Digital Transformation for Brands
Quotable: “Customers of Brink POS can now utilize Mobivity’s Recurrency AI/machine learning to analyze the various data from their POS. By accurately attributing promotions to transactions and being able to identify pre- and post-redemption purchase activity, Mobivity helps restauranteurs and franchisees determine the most effective marketing approach based on guest frequency and spend. Recurrency uses these insights to provide restaurants personalized and intelligent offers, audience segmentation, offer and promotion management and codes.”
U.S. will remain biggest retail market as government stimulus, e-commerce push the nation ahead of China
Quotable: “The U.S. will hang on to its title as the biggest retail market in the world despite COVID-19, thanks to a boost from government stimulus and consumer spending from the comfort of home, according to eMarketer. U.S. retail sales are now poised to grow 0.8% for the year, reaching $5.506 trillion, up from a previous forecast for a 10.5% decline. That represents $612.20 billion in sales eMarketer experts hadn’t anticipated in April.”
PAYMENTS NEWS:
Inspire Drives Brand Innovation with Order Ahead, Contactless Payment for Guests
Quotable: “Following a OneInspire approach, Inspire has built a best-in-class IT team of global digital, data and platform engineers, enabling cross-functional and brand collaboration to enhance the guest experience. The latest focus for the team has been on increasing the speed and convenience of ordering for guests while improving in-restaurant team member efficiency at brands like Arby’s and Buffalo Wild Wings.”
DATA & PRIVACY NEWS:
Amazon, Facebook Among Targets in FTC Data Practices Review
Quotable: “The top U.S. privacy regulator ordered some of the biggest technology companies, including Amazon.com Inc., Facebook Inc. and Google’s YouTube, to hand over information about how they collect and use information from users. The Federal Trade Commission said Monday it is issuing sweeping demands for information to the companies, saying their use of consumer data is “shrouded in secrecy.” The move intensifies the U.S. government’s scrutiny of the tech industry’s business practices.”
TRAVEL & HOSPITALITY NEWS:
Air Canada Becomes First Canadian Airline to Offer Optional Biometric Boarding for Flights Departing the US to Canada
Quotable: “Air Canada said today it is the first Canadian airline to offer its customers the safety and convenience of a new boarding option utilizing facial biometrics. The technology is now available for customers departing San Francisco International Airport (SFO) with plans to progressively roll it out for customers at other US airports where the airline operates”
Read last week's newswire if you missed it: Loyalty Newswire – December 7th, 2020
The Loyalty Newswire is compiled and edited by the staff at The Wise Marketer.
