Loyalty Programs

Walmart is developing a paid membership program to challenge Amazon's Prime offering, which is the default online shopping option for its 150 million or so paying members worldwide. The service, called Walmart+, will expand on the retailer’s grocery-delivery subscription service, which it introduced last year. Walmart Chief Customer Officer Janey Whiteside will spearhead the service’s…

With less time between Thanksgiving and Christmas, and growing consumer expectations, the busiest season for retailers and shoppers continued to evolve in 2019 as the battle for consumers’ attention and dollars was as competitive as ever. Alliance Data’s Holiday Hindsight research and holiday retail data showed the importance of customer connections, convenience and channels, promotions,…

Two conflicting sentiments — hope and trepidation — are the driving force behind many U.S. retailers’ marketing plans for this year. U.S. retail sales rose 3.4 percent during the 2019 holiday season. The online sales for apparel, jewelry, and department stores all saw year-over-year increases. In 2020, retailers hope for growth rests on their ability to…

Marketers continue looking to loyalty programs for growth and sustained customer relationships, tailoring loyalty investments that enable holistic views of customers. Fifty-one percent of marketers within retail intend to increase loyalty program spending this year to improve program awareness and engagement through multichannel ad campaigns, and to increase benefits that deliver real value upon participation.…

Connecting with individual shoppers is the mandate for retailers today. Using new technologies, they're capitalizing on internet-connected capabilities, launching new in-store innovations, and more, all to satisfy shifting consumer demands. But it's not enough. Consumers have moved beyond these shiny “new” technology innovations. They now expect a personalized, convenient and flexible shopping experience, and are…

When you think of grocery stores’ loyalty programs, discounted pricing might be the first thing that comes to mind. However, West Coast supermarket chain Raley's is trying to change that perception. Mike Molitor, head of e-commerce and loyalty at Raley’s, discussed this and more yesterday at the Case Studies in Digital Marketing & Loyalty session at Groceryshop in…

In episode 213 of Total Retail Talks, Executive Editor Joe Keenan interviews Brian Venuti, vice president of loyalty and CRM at Luxottica, a leader in the design, manufacture and distribution of fashion, luxury and sports eyewear. Listen as Venuti discusses the loyalty programs across all of Luxottica's brands, the company's efforts to streamline leadership and…

In episode 212 of Total Retail Talks, Executive Editor Joe Keenan interviews Kimberley Brennan, director of enterprise and customer loyalty at Petco. Listen in as Brennan discusses why she recently joined the Petco team, what challenges and opportunities she sees in loyalty in the pet category, and why she values her time spent at CRMC. In…

Target has announced that it will roll out its new loyalty program, Target Circle, nationwide on Oct. 6. The expansion of the loyalty program complements Target’s branded credit card, Redcard, which only a quarter of its customers use. It also replaces Cartwheel, a separate discount program, in an attempt to offer a “more seamless, intuitive shopping experience.” The…

In episode 211 of Total Retail Talks, Executive Editor Joe Keenan speaks with Jonathan Clarkson, managing director of loyalty, partnerships and products for Southwest Airlines. Listen in as Clarkson discusses Southwest's Rapid Rewards loyalty program, how the program differentiates from other airlines’ rewards programs, and the fundamentals of its revenue-based earn-and-burn points system. He shares Southwest Airline's…