Welcome back to The Wise Marketer. Every Monday, our team of editors curate a list of the latest customer loyalty, marketing, and other relevant news. Our goal is to make it simple for busy professionals to quickly digest important news and trending topics. Show your support by joining our mailing list to gain access to exclusive content, events, and promotions. Or you could just follow us on social media!
- Cinnabon announces the launch of its first-ever mobile app and Cinnabon Rewards program
- California-based Del Taco introduces its new 'Del Yeah Rewards' program
- EVgo, the nation's largest public EV charging network for electric vehicles, reveals EVgo Rewards
- Brand Keys releases its 2021 annual Loyalty Leaders List
- Chevron taps P97 Networks to enhance its mobile customer experience at retail stations
- Facebook rolls out new business tools in a bid to become an online shopping destination
- Software and payments company SpotOn raises $300 million in Series E funding led by Andreessen Horowitz
- Senate Democrats call on the FTC to address consumer data privacy issues
- Irish EU regulators open two data privacy probes into TikTok
- Hilton Honors implements global loyalty benefit changes to help members retain status
LOYALTY PROGRAM NEWS
World's Most Craveable Cinnamon Rolls At Your Fingertips: Cinnabon Launches New Mobile App, Rewards Program And Online Ordering
Highlight: Today, the iconic bakery and purveyor of craveable cinnamon rolls announced the launch of the first-ever Cinnabon app and Cinnabon Rewards program, along with online ordering with delivery – giving fans easy access to the irresistible treats they know and love, right at their fingertips. “We've already been extending our reach beyond traditional mall bakeries through food delivery and e-commerce partnerships, streetside bakeries and grocery products,” said Kendall Ware, Chief Brand Officer, Cinnabon. “The new Cinnabon app, Cinnabon Rewards program and online ordering is just the latest way we're meeting fans where they are – making their favorite treats more accessible than ever.”
Del Taco Launches Its 'Del Yeah' Loyalty Program
Highlight: Del Taco on Thursday introduced its new loyalty program, called “Del Yeah Rewards,” as the Mexican fast-food chain becomes the latest to push for more one-to-one marketing and consumer insights. The Lake Forest, Calif.-based chain’s app features four tiers that unlock offers and people who join will receive an offer for two free tacos. The rewards program enables customers to earn free food. Del Taco calls its tiers Queso, Scorcho, Inferno and Epic, each of which feature special rewards, challenges, badges, exclusive events and surprise and delights… “As with any relationship, the more you put into it, the more you get out,” Erin Levzow, Del Taco’s vice president of marketing and technology, said in a statement.
EVgo Launches EVgo Rewards™ Program Nationwide for EV Drivers
Highlight: EVgo Inc., the nation’s largest public fast charging network for electric vehicles (EVs) and first powered by 100% renewable electricity, today announced the launch of EVgo Rewards™, a customer loyalty program providing EV drivers the opportunity to earn points towards free fast charging sessions when they charge at EVgo locations. The launch follows a successful pilot program with more than 4,000 customers, making EVgo the first nationwide public EV charging network to offer a rewards program for its expanding customer base. “EVgo customers’ #1 suggestion for us is to create more EVgo stations. And once we build them, those very same customers using our chargers are helping to fuel our rapid growth and expansion across America – and we’re excited to reward that. EVgo Rewards says thank you to EV drivers for charging with EVgo, for promoting transportation electrification on social media, and for just celebrating another birthday as an EV driver,” said Cathy Zoi, CEO of EVgo.
LOYALTY RESEARCH
Brand Keys 2021 Annual Loyalty Leaders List Unveiled
Highlight: The 2021 annual Loyalty Leaders List, conducted by Brand Keys, found consumers chose to recognize brands with established loyalty bona fides rather than acknowledge new brands. This year’s survey, a cross-category examination of brand loyalty conducted by the New York-based brand loyalty and customer engagement research consultancy, included 1,260 brands in 112 categories. “This year’s loyalty rankings describe a desperate desire by the consumer for a return to normalcy.” Over the past year loyalty has experienced a COVID-induced medical and marketplace trial-by-fire, the toughest test of customer loyalty we’ve measured in nearly forty years conducting loyalty research,” noted Robert Passikoff, Brand Keys founder and president.
RETAIL NEWS
Chevron Selects P97 Networks to Enhance Mobile App, Consumer Experience at Retail Stations
Highlight: The new collaboration taps P97 Networks’ leadership in mobile commerce, cutting-edge technology solutions and demonstrated history of innovation to continue enhancing the customer experience at more than 7,800 Chevron and Texaco retail stations across the United States. This includes enabling personalized offers, mobile payments for fuel and EV charging, omni-channel marketing campaigns, and future functionalities aimed at facilitating contactless, frictionless payment transactions that are anticipated for the future. “Chevron is dedicated to providing products and services for people on the go and continuing to address their needs in the retail of the future,” said Harry Hazen, Chevron senior manager of Americas Marketing. “Our collaboration with P97 strengthens that commitment – delivering a premium consumer experience at Chevron and Texaco locations by enabling our offerings with consistency, speed, consumer value, and security.”
Facebook rolls out new messaging, business tools for brands
Highlight: Facebook Inc is rolling out new ways for businesses to find and chat with potential customers on its apps, the social media company said Thursday, as it seeks to become an online shopping destination. The new features will help Facebook, already a leader in digital advertising, offer personalized shopping experiences to its users, said Karandeep Anand, vice president of business products at Facebook. Businesses will now be able to add a button on their Instagram profiles to let people send a WhatsApp message to the company with one click. Integrating WhatsApp is particularly important for customers in countries such as India and Brazil, where the Facebook-owned messaging app is widely used, Anand said.
PAYMENTS NEWS
SpotOn Raises $300 Million in Series E Funding Led by Andreessen Horowitz; Transaction Values Company at $3.15 Billion
Highlight: SpotOn, one of the fastest-growing software and payments companies with comprehensive solutions for restaurants and retail businesses, today announced $300 million in Series E funding, raising its valuation to $3.15 billion. The funding will be used to acquire Appetize, a leading digital and mobile commerce platform for enterprise businesses, such as sports and entertainment venues, theme parks, zoos, college campuses, and more. “This investment enables SpotOn to significantly increase its total addressable market, with an end-to-end platform for restaurants and retail business of all types and sizes,” said David George, general partner at Andreessen Horowitz. “The acquisition is a natural fit given the companies’ complementary technology and shared focus on market-leading customer support.” Following the acquisition, SpotOn is positioned to rapidly expand its reach to serve the middle market.
DATA & PRIVACY NEWS
Senate Democrats call on FTC to fix data privacy ‘crisis’
Highlight: Senate Democrats are calling on the Federal Trade Commission to write new rules to protect consumer data privacy in a new letter to the agency authored on Monday. The letter, led by Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and signed by eight other Democratic senators, was sent to FTC Chair Lina Khan Monday, calling on the agency to “begin a rulemaking process” on privacy. Specifically, the senators are requesting that the FTC pen new rules addressing privacy, civil rights, and the collection of consumer data. “Consumer privacy has become a consumer crisis,” the lawmakers wrote. “Tech companies have routinely broken their promises to consumers and neglected their legal obligations, only to receive wrist-slap punishments after long delay, providing little relief to consumers, and with minimal deterrent effect.”
TikTok's lead EU regulator opens two data privacy probes
Highlight: TikTok's lead data privacy regulator in the European Union has opened two inquiries into the Chinese-owned short-video platform related to the processing of children's personal data and transfers of personal data to China… Owned by China's ByteDance, TikTok has grown rapidly around the world, particularly among teenagers. The first of the probes relates “to the processing of personal data in the context of platform settings for users under age 18 and age verification measures for persons under 13,” the Data Protection Commission said in a statement. The second probe will focus on transfers by TikTok of personal data to China and whether the company complies with EU data law in its transfers of personal data to countries outside the bloc, the statement said.
TRAVEL & HOSPITALITY NEWS
Hilton Honors Extends Global Loyalty Benefits and Unveils 2022 Policies
Highlight: Hilton Honors, the guest loyalty program of Hilton’s world-class portfolio of 18 brands, has implemented the following global benefit changes to help members maintain or achieve elite status, even as travel remains limited in some parts of the world. The changes announced today include: Extending status through March 31, 2023, so members can maintain their status perks and benefits longer. Pausing Points expiration until Dec. 31, 2022, so members have more time to use their Points towards free nights at more than 6,600 Hilton hotels, exclusive Hilton Honors Experiences, live events, charitable donations and more.
Did you miss last week's newswire? Stay informed: Loyalty Newswire – September 13th, 2021
The Loyalty Newswire is compiled and edited by the staff at The Wise Marketer.
