Welcome back to the Wise Marketer! That is, if you've been here before! Each week, our team of editors curate a list of the latest customer loyalty, technology, and other relevant marketing news. Our goal is to make it simple for busy professionals to quickly digest important industry news and trending topics. Show your support by joining our mailing list to gain access to exclusive content, events, promotions, and more. Or simply enjoy today's newswire!
- Rite Aid replaces existing wellness+ Rewards offering with new Rite Aid Rewards program
- Access+, Engage People's Pay with Points solution, attributed to year-over-year revenue growth
- Penn National's myheroes loyalty program reaches milestone with 100,000 members
- The Marketing Practice strengthens US position with acquisition of 90octane
- C&S Wholesale Grocers prepares for Grand Union relaunch in New York and Vermont
- Lowe's announces DIY-U experience, same-day delivery with Instacart, and new inventory management system
- Apple continues to ignore Dutch authorities as sixth antitrust fine increases total penalty to €30 million
- American Airlines officially relaunches AAdvantage program with innovative single-point system
LOYALTY PROGRAM NEWS
Rite Aid Unveils Rite Aid Rewards – A New Loyalty Program That Reaches More Customers and Provides Additional Ways to Save on Products to Support Their Whole Health
Highlight: Rite Aid Rewards allows members to earn points through everyday purchases, prescription pickups, personalized challenges and special members-only promotions. A digital first program, customers will track and convert points into Rite Aid Rewards BonusCash through a member’s digital account on riteaid.com or the Rite Aid app. “The Rite Aid Rewards program reflects our customers’ desire for a simpler program with more ways to earn and save,” said Erik Keptner, Rite Aid’s chief marketing and merchandising officer. “We moved from a tiered program to a points-based program that allows more customers to earn rewards. And as a digital first program, customer preferences will guide personalized offers and challenges, providing them with engaging experiences online or in the app.”
Engage People Achieves 33% Year-Over-Year Revenue Growth
Highlight: Access+, Engage People’s platform that powers the loyalty network and PwP capabilities, grew revenue by 94% – a signal of continued demand from retailers and financial institutions (FIs) for the convenience of paying with points. In addition, its Podium Loyalty platform saw revenue increase by more than 32%, and merchandise and gift card sales through the platform increased by more than 23% last year. The growth achieved across Engage People’s suite of loyalty solutions is attributed to the company’s dedication to expanding its loyalty network while enabling a better customer experience for its partners. “2021 was a year of growth for our business as a whole, from attracting new partners to strengthening our investment in expanding talent,” said Jonathan Silver, CEO of Engage People.
Penn National Gaming’s “myheroes” Program Reaches Milestone with 100,000 Active-Duty Military, Veterans and First Responders Enrolled
Highlight: Penn National Gaming, Inc. (NASDAQ: PENN) (“Penn National” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that its “myheroes” program, which honors active-duty military, veterans and first responders, has surpassed enrollment of 100,000 members. In celebration of this milestone, the company has dedicated $100,000 to support local veterans organizations and first responder groups in the communities in which it operates... “The ‘myheroes’ program is our way of honoring and giving back to all those heroes who have sacrificed so much for our safety. I’m proud of how our properties have embraced this program and made it such a success,” said Jay Snowden, President and CEO of Penn National. “As we reach this milestone, we’re pleased to contribute $100,000 to local veterans and first responder organizations across the country that are helping to make a difference in our communities.
B2B NEWS
The Marketing Practice Announces US Expansion Plans With the Acquisition of 90octane
Highlight: Backed by Horizon Capital, The Marketing Practice is responding to client drivers by bringing together the best in specialist B2B marketing in a fully integrated strategy helping clients take more accountability for growth and revenue impact, so that marketing becomes the “engine room for growth” in B2B businesses… “The addition of 90octane to our business is great news for our global and US client base. We know that US-based B2B companies, like all our clients, are looking for more ways to bridge the gap between business strategy and marketing campaigns, with scalability and fewer relationships to manage. We also both bring two of the strongest reputations in the market for quality and the strength of client partnerships, and our product and cultural fit is ideal. This is an exciting time for both companies, with huge opportunities for shared growth on a global scale.”
RETAIL NEWS
C&S Wholesale Grocers readies Grand Union relaunch
Highlight: Keene, N.H.-based C&S said Monday that affiliate GU Markets LLC plans to open the new Grand Unions from March 2 to 5. “The Grand Union stores are back and better than ever. We have taken an iconic brand that everyone loved and leveraged our best-in-class retail strategies to take this legendary brand to the next level,” C&S Wholesale Grocers CEO Bob Palmer said in a statement. “Shoppers will get great prices and an extensive selection of fresh and grocery staples. These stores have been specially designed and stocked to ensure braggingly happy customers with a customized local assortment.”
Lowe’s Doubles Down on Consumer Offerings, Streamlines Supply Chain
Highlight: In a bid to strengthen its consumer efforts, both for the novice DIY-er and its Pro segment, Lowe’s has launched several initiatives to improve the end experience, implementing changes across its entire ecosystem, including the supply chain. According to the company’s Q4 2021 earnings report, Lowe’s reported net earnings of $1.2 billion for the quarter ended Jan. 28, 2022, gaining market share across DIY and Pro through its total Home strategy. Additionally, the company’s partnership with Instacart is a larger part of its market-based delivery model, moving away from the store delivery model, where each store acts as its own distribution and transportation center for these products.
PAYMENTS NEWS
Apple hit with sixth antitrust fine over Dutch dating apps payments
Highlight: Apple still hasn’t complied with a Dutch antitrust order to allow local dating apps to have the option to use third party payment tech to sell digital content to their app users. In a statement today, the Dutch Authority for Consumers & Market (ACM) said it has levied a sixth fine (of €5M) against the tech giant for non-compliance with an order first issued last year... Apple has been maintaining a public silence for weeks on this issue — including after the EU’s head of digital strategy, EVP Margrethe Vestager, called out its behavior last week, accusing the company of a deliberate tactic of choosing to pay fines rather than comply with competition orders.
TRAVEL & HOSPITALITY NEWS
American Airlines Officially Launches Reimagined AAdvantage Loyalty Program, the Gateway to a World-Class Customer Experience
Highlight: At the center of this innovative approach is Loyalty Points, the only metric that, starting March 1, AAdvantage members need to track to earn status. This single-point system, in which one qualifying AAdvantage mile earned equals one Loyalty Point, positions the AAdvantage program as the largest airline loyalty program that will not require members to track miles, dollars and/or flight segments to earn status. “The past few years have taught us that loyalty is not one-size-fits all — it comes in different forms,” said Alison Taylor, American’s Chief Customer Officer. “We recognize the path to earning status is different for each individual, which is why we’re giving members more ways to earn Loyalty Points — whether by flying, shopping or using an AAdvantage credit card.”
Did you miss the previous newswire? Stay informed: Loyalty Newswire – February 22nd, 2022
The Loyalty Newswire is compiled and edited by the staff at The Wise Marketer.
