Our Editors have curated a list of the latest customer loyalty, technology, and other relevant marketing news for your consumption. Our goal is to make it simple for busy professionals (e.g. YOU) to quickly digest important industry news and trending topics. Join our mailing list today to receive our weekly Newsletter each Thursday and gain access to exclusive content, events, promotions, and more. Or simply enjoy today's Newswire!
- Quik Trip launches self-checkout store in Tulsa Oklahoma based on Amazon Just Walk Out technology
- Amazon second-quarter results share insights on Prime and Just Walk Out
- Shopify Q2 loss that triggered layoff for 10 percent of its workforce provides valuable lessons
- Antavo powers new KFC Rewards Arcade Loyalty Programme in the UK and Ireland
- Dotz, the largest coalition program in South America, celebrates its 22nd birthday
- Tim Hortons mobile app attracts the attention of privacy watchdogs in Canada
Quik Trip launches self-checkout store in Tulsa Oklahoma based on Amazon Just Walk Out technology
Quik Trip, a top 10 convenience retailer in the US based on its 900 locations in 16 states, has launched a concept store in Tulsa Oklahoma based on Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology. The store is in a downtown location and does not offer fuel. The technology allows customers to enter the store using their credit card and enable a quick exit using sensors and cameras that track the items customers take out of the store. Aisha Jefferson-Smith, QuikTrip’s corporate communications manager said, “Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology is designed to eliminate checkout lines, enabling guests to enjoy a frictionless shopping experience and get what they need quickly.”
Amazon 2nd-quarter results share insights on Prime and Just Walk Out
Highlight: In the company’s 2nd Quarter earnings report, Amazon shared several new benefits for Prime Members, including a free one-year Grubhub+ membership, a new year-round 20% discount on select everyday essentials at Amazon Fresh stores, and exclusive deals on home entertainment items and merchandise to help prepare for NFL Thursday Night Football. Additionally, Prime Student members get six months free of a LinkedIn Premium subscription. Market development of Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology for checkout-free shopping and Amazon One for palm recognition and payment service seems to be focused on stadiums and airports. Recent store openings include the Walk-Off Market food and beverage store at T-Mobile Park in Seattle and the Hudson Nonstop store in Nashville International Airport. Three more stores will open at Texas A&M’s Kyle Field later this year.
Shopify Q2 loss that triggered layoff for 10 percent of its workforce provides valuable lessons for marketers
Highlight: Shopify’s results provide a strong reminder that the influence and power of physical retail is not going away anytime soon. The layoffs at Shopify were tied to a bet by Shopify leadership that e-commerce growth would see hockey stick growth in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. “It’s now clear that bet didn’t pay off,” said Shopify CEO Tobi Lütke. GlobalData Managing Director Neil Saunders commented “Put bluntly, this was a huge strategic mistake that was driven by an insufficient understanding of customer behavior, a lack of rigor in analyzing the market, and a bit of hubris.” Shopify was not alone in predicting how quickly e-commerce would push aside physical retail post-pandemic. If anything, marketers can benefit from this wake-up call about the future of retail.
Dotz, the largest coalition program in South America, celebrates its 22nd birthday
Highlight: Born out of one of the early coalition programs in South America in the early 2000’s, Dotz has grown tremendously over its 22-year history. The company successfully closed an IPO in 2021, is the largest Coalition Loyalty Program in South America, and by our measures is one of the top five longest-running coalition loyalty businesses in the world.
Tim Hortons mobile app attracts the attention of privacy watchdogs in Canada
Highlight: Tim Hortons is a Canadian favorite coffee brand. The company merged with Burger King in 2014 and was acquired by Restaurant Brands International Inc. (RBI) later that same year. RBI is one of the world's largest quick service restaurant companies with over $35 billion in annual system-wide sales and over 29,000 restaurants in more than 100 countries. RBI owns four of the world’s most prominent and iconic quick service restaurant brands – TIM HORTONS®, BURGER KING®, POPEYES®, and FIREHOUSE SUBS®. During the summer, privacy commissioners in Canada alleged the Timmies mobile app tracked the movements of customers and recorded the activity every few minutes, even when the app was not open on their phones. We can’t begin to scratch the surface on the details of this case here, but you can read the news release from the Office of Privacy Commissioner of Canada to learn more.
PROMO OF THE WEEK:
Would you marry a can of soda? Edgy brands in the soda and energy drink sector are ramping up promotional efforts to drive awareness and engagement. HARD MTN DEW has made a proposal of marriage to its fan base and will send "the one" lucky fan to Las Vegas to be a permanent part of the brand's history as the first and only person to marry a can. In its press release, the company said, “All eligible bachelors and bachelorettes will need to express their undevoted love and passion for HARD MTN DEW in the form of an epically awesome proposal to be considered.” Are you ready to say “I DO” to HARD MTN DEW?
QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“This investigation sends a strong message to organizations that you can’t spy on your customers just because it fits in your marketing strategy. Not only is this kind of collection of information a violation of the law, it is a complete breach of customers’ trust. The good news in this case is that Tim Hortons has agreed to follow the recommendations we set out, and I hope other organizations can learn from the results of this investigation.” – Michael McEvoy, Information and
Miss the previous newswire? Stay informed: Loyalty Newswire – September 5, 2022
The Loyalty Newswire is compiled and edited by the staff at The Wise Marketer.
