Thursday, 28 June 2012

Rewards with Cheap Deals

Did you know that even those daily deals have a loyalty program?  I've just discovered that "Groupon" a site I'm fond of from great daily deals, has introduced a customer loyalty program called Groupon rewards.  Let me give you some information about Groupon.  It's a website that promotes daily deals from many different companies and consumers can purchase these items online. Usually the deals are really good that you wont see in a flyer so there are many purchasers on this site.



With Groupon Rewards you don't collect points or stamp any cards.  All you have to do is register a credit or debit card at Groupon.com and earn rewards while using it for purchases at participating merchants.  The merchant sets an amount to be spent then the consumer can purchase a special Groupon associated with that company.  What a great Idea!

I never knew about this program so I'm glad to of come across this during my research.




Announcing Groupon Rewards. (2011, September). Retrieved from Groupon Blog: https://blog.groupon.com/cities/announcing-groupon-rewards/

Loyalty Expanding!

As each company learns how success is achieved by other businesses, they establish their company to the standards of what other companies are doing.  The loyalty program has developed in most companies but some are still lacking that customer relationship bond.


Yesterday Toys R Us announced their customer loyalty program "Rewards R Us" has undergone improvements and as effective on July 1st customers will no longer have to worry about their points being expired.  Its an all new intergrated points system that gives rewards for its new and existing customers.  For every dollar spent on most items from any Toys R Us or Babies R Us either in store or online you will receive 2 points.  For every electronic, baby goods or gift card you buy you get 1 point.  You would think since electronics are mostly more expensive they should get the 2 points no? 

Redemption offer of 500 points gets you a $5 rewards card.  The system before you were only able to earn points during promotional periods that could not be carried over and had an expiry date.  You can earn up to $20 worth of points monthly and any other accumulated points would be carried over to the next month.

The Toys R Us credit card holders will automatically be enrolled into the Rewards program earning double points or four points on every dollar spent on purchases within the store or online.  For every dollar spent on other transactions you earn 1 point using the "R" Us MasterCard.

As new loyalty programs rise some of the existing ones are focusing on what they can do to satisfy their consumers more out of these programs.  Toys R Us saw the disadvantages of the reward system they offered so they revamp their systems to the wants of the consumer.  Making it beneficial to their customers as well as increasing profit and customer loyalty.

Tuesday, 26 June 2012

Loyalty equals profit

What are companies doing to maintain their members to stay loyal to their business?  Are customer loyalty programs important? With these types of programs customers are more willing to shop and spend more knowing they will get something back.  It's essential for businesses to provide this service in order to produce profit for the company.

Here's a video on some important facts businesses should consider in loyalty programs and retaining them.



After watching this video the facts shows that consumers do value their rewards card.  Businesses are likely to gain more in profits if they focus on providing quality customer loyalty programs to regular customers rather than obtaining new ones.  

What disadvantages do you think would impact businesses today from a loyalty program?  Maybe the funding in marketing a new program? What are your views?

Sunday, 24 June 2012

Better to give than to receive!

Many organizations have expanded their loyalty programs where customers have options to redeem their rewards.  Members who want to contribute to the world in need can now offer their points to charities that are available by the loyalty program's organization.

I think its a great idea that companies are putting it out there to show world support and giving back to society.  There's so much we could do to help others in need that even just a little could go a long way.

Here is a list of some charities and a brief description of their cause that are associated with Customer Loyalty programs.


CANADIAN TIRE ADVANTAGE - JUMPSTART
Every donation of 25 points or more Canadian Tire will give an additional 25 bonus points to the community you donate to.

Helping kids who cannot afford to participate in sports due to the cost of enrollment and equipment.  Jumpstart funds their financial barriers so they are able to joind teams and be part the sports they enjoy.


AIR CANADA AEROPLAN MILES - KIDS' HORIZONS PROGRAM
Donation of miles 


Helps give free travel for kids who need medical attention from rural areas.


SHOPPERS DRUG MART - OPTIMUM POINTS DONATION PROGRAM
Donation of optimum points


Charitable organizations registered with Shoppers Drug Mart.  Helps fundraising events.


PETRO CANADA POINTS - THE CANADIAN CANCER SOCIETY
Donation of 1000 petro points


Offers support programs to servicing patients with cancer.


SEARS CLUB POINTS - BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS
Sears matches your donations of club points

After school support programs to help families encourage their children's potential growth.



These are just some of the loyal programs that support charities through their rewards.  Most programs have the option of point donation but I was surprise to see Scene card was not one of them.  It makes me question why some companies don't look at an environmental angle of how we can contribute back to society.  What are your thoughts on this?







Donate your Points. (n.d.). Retrieved from Shoppers Drug Mart website: http://www1.shoppersdrugmart.ca/en/Shoppers-Optimum/DonateYourPoints.aspx
Let's make cancer history. (n.d.). Retrieved from Petro-Canada Website: http://retail.petro-canada.ca/en/petropoints/1148.aspx
Sears Canada. (n.d.). Retrieved from Boys & Girls Clubs of Canada Website: http://www.bgccan.com/en/Partners/OurPartners/Pages/Sears-Canada.aspx
Using Aeroplan Miles. (n.d.). Retrieved from Air Canada website: http://www.aircanada.com/en/aeroplan/use.html
Vision. (n.d.). Retrieved from jumpstart.canadiantire website: http://jumpstart.canadiantire.ca/en/what-is-jumpstart#vis

Friday, 22 June 2012

Statistics on customer loyalty programs

I came across a couple of statistic charts from last year I found interesting.



Canada loves it's Customer Loyalty Programs


According to Colloquy the loyalty marketing industry Canada is one of the top ranking countries that inspire the loyalty programs. Canada has consumers registered by almost 20% more than the US.



Air Miles racks up the members!


From the looks of it members of Air Miles put more usage on their card than the Optimum and Costco loyalty cards during the month of August of last year.  




Loyalty and Entertainment


Cineplex Scene card has advanced in members by almost a million joining their loyalty program each year.  They are the first and only entertainment loyalty program and continue to satisfy their consumers with valued rewards.



Easy Access


Convenience is the what most consumers look for in today's society. With mobile access loyalty members like to be able to view their information about points and reward offers.



What do you do with your rewards?



Reaping the benefits is what consumers look for in loyalty cards.  Earning those points and getting the gift card shows in 2011 Canadians would rather that then to save for bigger things like going on vacation.  To me I would rather the vacation but using Air Miles you would have to spend more to accumulate a lot of miles in order to gain the travel rewards.




Customer Loyalty Programs in Canada. (n.d.). Retrieved from GDSourcing website: http://www.gdsourcing.com/statspacks/Statspack-Loyaltyprograms.htm