Here's your loyalty-related news for this week:
- Sephora updates Beauty Insider loyalty program to include a slew of new features
- AT&T announces multi-year partnership with Salesforce to reinvent its customer experience
- Six Flags reopening with new safety measures to ensure a safe and fun customer experience
- Costco aims to become one of the first retail grocers to implement taste testing in a safe way in June.
- Lowe's to launch new video tool to enable skilled trade professionals to virtually consult with customers at home.
- Will COVID-19 accelerate the widespread adoption of "ghost kitchens"?
- UK travel and hospitality firms join the aviation industry in protest against the government's planned quarantine rules
- Airlines have announced buyout offers to reduce layoffs in favor of voluntary departures
LOYALTY PROGRAM NEWS:
Sephora North America Evolves Its Beauty Insider Program
Quotable: “This update takes the client experience to the next level thanks to new offerings like Beauty Insider Cash, which allows clients to get instant savings on their purchase, along with other perks like point multiplier events, more sampling choices than ever, and exclusive experiences like early access to brand launches and the most coveted beauty events (whenever social distancing restrictions begin to lift and we can safely welcome clients back).”
CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE NEWS:
AT&T Selects Salesforce to Accelerate its Customer Experience Vision
Quotable: “AT&T will deploy Salesforce Customer 360 to create a single view of every customer across every touchpoint—whether it happens in person at a storefront, over the phone, in a business setting or on any AT&T digital property. The announcement is part of AT&T's broader transformation to accelerate momentum in wireless, 5G, fiber-fed broadband and software-delivered entertainment.”
Six Flags Announces Extensive New Safety Measures for Reopening Parks
Quotable: “All parks will employ a sophisticated online reservation system to manage attendance, schedule guests for entry by day, and stagger arrival times to minimize proximity exposure ... The park reopening plan, which the company developed with its epidemiologist consultants, meets or exceeds federal, state, and local guidelines. It sets standards for executing at the highest levels of hygiene and social distancing protocols.”
RETAIL NEWS:
In a post-Covid world, here’s what Costco and other grocers are doing about samples
Quotable: “Costco Wholesale Corp. has long been known for offering some of the best free samples, both in quality and quantity, to create loyalty with customers and increase sales. Now it wants to lead grocery stores in being one of the first to restart taste testing in a safe way in June. The update was revealed by Costco CFO Richard Galanti during the company’s latest earnings call Thursday afternoon after an analyst noted samples have become part of the Costco experience that customers love.”
Lowe’s launches virtual tool for home visits to boost pros’ business—and its own
Quotable: “Starting Monday, professionals can use a video chat service from the home improvement retailer. By providing the service, called Lowe’s for Pros JobSight, the company is trying to encourage more pros to join its loyalty program — and inspire them to buy more tools and products at its stores.”
HOSPITALITY NEWS:
Is COVID-19 Going to Accelerate the Ghost Kitchen Craze?
Quotable: “Ghost kitchens benefit customers, too, whether or not the diner is even aware of the fact that their meal comes from this type of establishment. The lower costs for restaurants means lower-priced meals. However, because the concept is fairly new, it’s essential for these restaurants to consistently ask for customer feedback if they plan to expand the concept or keep customers coming back. While ghost kitchens can save businesses money, without collecting feedback from customers, it will be difficult to evolve the business model to be even more successful.”
More than 200 UK travel and hospitality firms want quarantine U-turn
Quotable: “More than 200 travel and hospitality companies have called on the government to change planned quarantine rules, which they say will be unworkable and deeply damaging to their industry. The companies have joined the aviation sector in a growing backlash against rules due to be introduced from 8 June. All visitors and returning travelers entering the UK will have to quarantine for 14 days and face spot checks and fines for breaching isolation.”
AIRLINES NEWS:
An American Airlines worker reveals why he's giving up his dream job — and his paycheck — to take a buyout
Quotable: “With layoffs looming across the US airline industry, carriers are trying to avoid forced job cuts by offering employees incentives to leave voluntarily. In recent days and weeks, major airlines including American, Delta, and United have announced voluntary buyout offers for some employees. American and United's offers were for managers, along with support and administrative workers. Offers for frontline employees are coming.”
Don't forget to check out last week's newswire: Loyalty Newswire – May 26th, 2020
The Loyalty Newswire is compiled and edited by the staff at The Wise Marketer.
