Happy Monday! Here's what we're following this week:
- Wendy's seeks to expand its customer base with the launch of its new rewards program
- AARP members will earn additional points plus more benefits through ExxonMobil's rewards program
- Panera Bread's loyalty program has flourished during the pandemic with membership surpassing 40 million members
- Lowe's and HomeAdvisor announce a new partnership which aims to provide Lowe's Pro members with qualified leads
- Afterpay's "Buy Now, Pay Later" loyalty program rewards responsible spending
- The accelerated adoption of digital payments has changed the way consumers view and interact with credit unions
- JetBlue and American announce new partnership to offer more routes in the Northeast
- Which airlines are focused on safety and customer service?
- TabMo's research study details UK shopping behavior before, during and after the pandemic
LOYALTY PROGRAM NEWS:
Wendy’s Finally Launches a Rewards Program
Quotable: “Years after both McDonald's and Restaurant Brands International's Burger King started similar programs to reward loyal customers, Wendy's has launched the Wendy's Rewards loyalty program, which will let consumers earn free food by accumulating points. Customers need to download the Wendy's app to keep track of the points earned, but no matter how an order is placed (other than through a third-party delivery provider), points are earned for every item ordered.”
ExxonMobil Offers Enhanced Loyalty Program Benefits to AARP Members
Quotable: “ExxonMobil is offering enhanced benefits in the form of fuel and convenience store rewards points to AARP members through the Exxon Mobil Rewards+ loyalty program. AARP members will earn 4 cents in points per gallon on fuel and 3 cents in points per dollar spent on convenience store and car wash purchases at 11,500-plus Exxon and Mobil locations across the country.”
Lowe's and HomeAdvisor Launch Partnership to Get Pros Leads
Quotable: “To further their commitment to keeping Pros working, Lowe's and HomeAdvisor today announced they will help Pros get leads by offering Lowe's for Pros Loyalty Program members a free, year-long HomeAdvisor subscription. Qualifying Lowe's Pro loyalty members will get the annual subscription and also receive a credit for an average of 10 free leads connecting them to HomeAdvisor's extensive network of millions of homeowners looking for Pros to complete home projects.”
Coronavirus sees Panera's loyalty program grow to 40M members
Quotable: “Panera Bread's loyalty program, MyPanera, has swelled to 40 million members during the coronavirus pandemic, pushed in part by its unlimited coffee subscription... Panera launched MyPanera+ Coffee, its unlimited coffee subscription program and an extension of its loyalty program, in March when restaurant operations were being upended across the nation.”
PAYMENTS NEWS:
Afterpay Rewards On-Time Payments with New Loyalty Program
Quotable: “Afterpay, the leader in "Buy Now, Pay Later" payments, today announced its new loyalty program, called Pulse. The only mass market program of its kind, Pulse incentivizes and rewards Afterpay customers who pay for their purchases on time and choose to spend responsibly. Unlike credit card schemes which reward consumers for increasing their spending, Afterpay rewards responsible spending.”
The ‘Now Normal’: Why Credit Unions Must Hit the Reset Button on Digital Strategy
Quotable: “In the age of the COVID-19 pandemic, digital interaction has become a focal point of contact – and sometimes the only point of contact – between credit unions and members. In a survey from FIS, 45% of respondents reported a change in the way they interact with their financial institution due to the pandemic.”
TRAVEL NEWS:
JetBlue and American Airlines Announce Strategic Partnership in the Northeast
Quotable: “The partnership includes an alliance agreement that proposes codeshare and loyalty benefits that will enhance each carrier's offerings in New York and Boston, providing strategic growth and driving value for customers and team members of both airlines.”
Safety and customer service: Which airlines are doing best?
Quotable: “So which airlines have stepped up to the challenge of balancing customer experience with dwindling revenue, and which have fallen back on their worst corporate habits? To answer this question, our team performed a comprehensive analysis of U.S. airline policies in 2020. I’ll spare you the nerdy details here and focus on the outcomes.”
RETAIL NEWS:
UK Shopping Habits Before, During and After the Coronavirus Lockdown
Quotable: “Mobile-first advertising company TabMo has launched its full research study into the UK’s shopping habits; it aims to make sense of consumer behaviour both before and during the coronavirus lockdown to help brands and advertising agencies plan their short and mid-term retail marketing strategies during these exceptional times.”
Read last week's newswire if you missed it: Loyalty Newswire – July 20th, 2020
The Loyalty Newswire is compiled and edited by the staff at The Wise Marketer.
