Here’s what we’re following in loyalty news during the first week of March: Panera Bread launches unlimited coffee subscription to boost program membership, Giant Tiger continues expansion of loyalty program to Quebec customers, MARTA seeks to launch diversified loyalty program for riders, QDOBA migrates long-standing rewards program to Paytronix platform, Plutus cardholders can earn rewards at over 400 million merchants affiliated to VISA, The Central Bank of Brazil made headlines with release of new instant payment system dubbed PIX, Walmart's developing a paid membership program to challenge Amazon Prime, Hong Kong retail sales fall for 12th consecutive month, Lidl's is expanding upon existing loyalty program to offer incremental rewards for users, and a great overview of the top 5 best frequent flyer programs of 2020.
LOYALTY PROGRAM NEWS:
Panera Bread launches $8.99 monthly unlimited coffee subscription
Quotable: “Panera Bread Co on Thursday is launching an $8.99 per month unlimited coffee subscription as it aims to grow its breakfast traffic and loyalty program membership . . . Chaudhary believes the rewards program - which currently has 38 million members - will gain another “few million” members this year because customers must first join MyPanera in order to sign up for the coffee subscription.”
TG VIP: Giant Tiger continues Loyalty program expansion
Quotable: “As of February 27th the program is available to all Giant Tiger customers in the province of Quebec. 'TG VIP provides Giant Tiger an effective way to connect with our customers and engage with them both digitally and in-store,' says Paul Wood, President & COO, Giant Tiger Stores Limited. 'Providing expanded savings opportunities through our loyalty rewards program will help our current and future customers make Giant Tiger their retailer of choice and allow us to provide them more value every day.'”
MARTA eyes launch of new loyalty rewards program for riders
Quotable: “MARTA envisions rewarding riders with a percentage or dollar-off amount for goods and services at merchants participating in the program. The merchants could be online as well as brick-and-mortar stores 'but must be located in and around the MARTA service area,' MARTA says in a newly posted request-for-information seeking a contractor to provide the service. MARTA wants the merchants in the loyalty program to be within a half mile walking distance of the MARTA bus and rail system, which includes 38 transit rail stations, 12 light rail stops and 101 bus routes.”
QDOBA Partners with Paytronix to Consolidate Its Guest Loyalty, Online Ordering, and Data Analytics Capabilities
Quotable: “In migrating QDOBA Rewards to Paytronix, the fast-casual brand was able to consolidate loyalty, a new branded Paytronix mobile app and its Olo-powered online ordering service on one unified platform . . . 'QDOBA is taking advantage of Paytronix’s ability to track and analyze in-store, online and mobile customer interactions in one centralized data store,' said Andrew Robbins, founder and CEO, Paytronix Systems, Inc.”
PAYMENTS NEWS:
Crypto Debit Card Provider, Plutus, Increases User Rewards and Secures Key Partnerships
Quotable: “To begin with, Plutus card users will now get more PLU rewards when they use their card in the over 400 Million merchants affiliated to VISA. Each transaction will reward cardholders in PLU tokens of a value equivalent to 3% of the purchase. Plutus has been successful in decentralizing loyalty programs. Traditional rewards are usually fixed to specific stores thus leaving users with limited choices of physical and online stores.”
Brazil’s PIX Payments System Has the Same Spirit, but Not a Blockchain Structure
Quotable: “The Central Bank of Brazil made some waves last week with its new instant payment system. The central bank will enable peer-to-peer and business-to-business transactions in 10 seconds or less via mobile phone, internet banking or select ATMs beginning in November 2020. 'PIX will give more freedom to cryptocurrency exchanges that operate in Brazil and will deliver more freedom to users. The entire Bitcoin ecosystem is the big winner of this initiative.'”
RETAIL NEWS:
Walmart expands delivery subscription program to take on Amazon Prime
Quotable: “The world’s largest retailer is developing a paid membership program to challenge the internet giant’s Prime offering—which has become the default online shopping option for millions around the globe. The service, called Walmart+, will expand on the retailer’s existing grocery-delivery subscription service, which it introduced last year.”
Hong Kong January retail sales fall for 12th month due to coronavirus
Quotable: “Since Hong Kong recorded its first coronavirus patient in January, tourist arrivals have slowed to a trickle and shopping malls and restaurants have been largely deserted as residents have stayed indoors . . . 'The business environment of retail trade has turned even more austere lately, as the threat of (the coronavirus) has brought inbound tourism almost to a standstill and caused severe disruptions to consumption-related activities,' a government spokesman said.”
Lidl Dangling New Rewards for Frequent Shoppers
Quotable: “Beginning March 1, users of Lidl’s MyLidl app will be eligible to hit more reward plateaus on their way to achieving higher monthly spending goals. 'Our goal is to reward our loyal shoppers with even more ways to save,' Will Harwood, a spokesman for the Alexandria, Va.-based discounter, said in an email. 'To that end, we will enhance our Super Shopper program, so that it will not only include a reward when a MyLidl member reaches the conclusion of their spend journey, which is how the program works today, but also new rewards in incremental places along the way.'”
AIRLINE NEWS:
The Best Frequent Flyer Programs of 2020 [Updated]
Quotable: “The extensive ranking examined the number of daily flights, destinations and countries served, partner airlines, expiration and blackout dates, earning limits and more—23 metrics in all. And while Delta took first place for the fifth straight year, United Airlines is right on its heels. And Southwest, while fourth overall, had a high score for “light” flyers who spend about $574 per year on air travel.”
The Loyalty Newswire is compiled and edited by the staff at The Wise Marketer.
