Prospecting

Sports Authority has announced the launch of its first-ever customer rewards program, The League, which offers members 5% back on their total point balances of 100 points or more earned quarterly. The program offers one of the highest reward funding rates, as well as the lowest reward threshold amongst leaders in the full-line sporting goods retail industry, allowing members qualify for rewards sooner, the retailer said. 

Amazon.com, Inc. nd Avalon Books today announced that Amazon Publishing has acquired the publication rights from Avalon Books to over 3,000 backlist titles predominantly in the Romance, Mystery and Western categories. Established in 1950 by Thomas Bouregy, Avalon Books has long been a home to writers specializing in wholesome entertainment across popular genres, such as Holly Jacobs, Carolyn Hughey and Carolyn Brown.

Williams-Sonoma has launched an in-store clienteling initiative to strengthen the associate/customer relationship by offering one-on-one service. The retailer believes that product knowledge is critical to differentiating the brand from others and the clienteling initiative is key to gaining customer engagement and loyalty.

The world of retail has certainly changed over the past hundred years. What started as small local shops that knew their customers by name and hand-picked products for them has morphed into national chains that see hundreds of shoppers an hour. Due to scale and shrinking margins, personalized service had largely faded from the retail experience.

Freshpair.com, an online retailer of men’s and women’s underwear and intimates, launched a new subscription program called Freshpair Subscriptions. The program offers automatic shipments of Freshpair merchandise such as underwear, bras, panties, T-shirts, socks and shapewear to repeat customers.

Cross-channel apparel and accessories retailer Sierra Trading Post invested significant resources last fall into retooling its customer referral program — called Get $10, Give $10 — to create a more user- and social-friendly platform for its customers. The result has been substantial growth in customer acquisition and program revenue.

Rite Aid has incorporated changes to its wellness+ loyalty program aimed to deliver even more value to its most loyal customers. This January Rite Aid debuted Load2Card, a coupon management program that enables wellness+ members to save, manage and redeem Rite Aid and manufacturer coupons available online via their wellness+ card.

Retailers spend billions on customer acquisition, but then spend very little time or money on the next step: getting customers to stick around. Most retailers have become extremely adept at getting their messages and promotions in front of prospects. But even when they succeed in acquiring a new customer, that person usually only makes up to two purchases per year. That equates to billions of dollars spent for very little long-term value.

Quality content and white hat link strategies helped increase organic search traffic and sales for Sam Ash, one of the nation’s leading musical instrument retailers.
Sam Ash launched its search engine optimization program last year with the help of digital marketing agency Rocket Clicks.

Office supplies retailer Office Depot launched a national back-to-school mobile campaign earlier this year that let shoppers reap big savings via in-store mobile gift card giveaways and other discounts.