Loyalty Programs

While COVID has been an “unprecedented disruption” for business and consumers, it’s clearly been an accelerant for existing trends. For retailers, this includes “Retail Darwinism.” Retailers filing for bankruptcy is nothing new, but regardless of a vaccine or another “unprecedented” event, failure to understand the context that made COVID exacerbate retail’s challenges will only leave…

While many studies have assessed the efficacy of retail loyalty programs and their influence in driving desired member behaviors, little has been researched as to the consumer perception of these programs in relationship to the perception of the brands themselves. Are these programs elevating the brand … or are retail loyalty programs damaging the brand…

Walmart on Tuesday unveiled a subscription service that will go toe-to-toe with Amazon Prime, reports CNN. The Walmart+ membership plan includes free shipping on items $35 and over, including same-day deliveries on certain items from stores, such as groceries. It will cost $98 a year or $12.95 a month, and includes a 15-day free trial period. Members…

Uncertain and unsteady are two words often used to describe the current state of the U.S. retail industry. This fact is compelling companies to adapt to an ever-changing marketplace in real time, which for some savvy brands has included avoiding spending unnecessary cash on advertising and tapping into one particularly stable marketing effort where they…

Predicting when the COVID-19 outbreak will subside, and then navigating consumer shopping behavior when it does, is a challenge for all retailers. Indicators suggest that consumers want to resume their retail rituals, with 33 percent of shoppers buying retail goods as much as they did before the coronavirus. Because of increased digital shopping and supply…

According to eMarketer, 58.7 percent of consumers say loyalty programs are one of the most valuable parts of the retail experience. When your goal is to motivate customers to spend more, loyalty programs can provide new avenues to get in front of your customers and get them to consistently purchase from your brand. While recency,…

Loyalty marketing is a major investment for retailers. Most organizations have devoted considerable time and resources to ensure their customer acquisition efforts deliver lifetime value. For companies with points-based loyalty programs, that investment is a significant P&L contributor. For many, loyalty marketing is often the foundation of customer insight and brand affinity. Unfortunately, with stores…

Some brick-and-mortar retailers are obligating customers to allow cashiers to keep their change as the U.S. experiences a coin shortage due to the COVID-19 pandemic, PYMNTS reported. Recently, grocery chain Kroger has been temporarily refusing to give coins out as change to customers. In these instances, customers have three options: round up their bills to…

The recent surge in online shopping has given e-commerce brands new opportunities to expand their customer base and strengthen relationships with current customers. Online sales increased by 52 percent in Q1 compared to the same time frame in 2019, and the number of online shoppers has grown by 8.8 percent. So when REVOLVE, an e-commerce…

Walmart is launching a new subscription service later this month called Walmart+ that closely resembles Amazon Prime, multiple sources told Recode last week. According to the sources, Walmart+ will cost $98 a year, and will include perks such as same-day delivery of groceries and general merchandise, discounts on fuel at Walmart gas stations, and early…