Content about Microeconomics

March 19, 2013

A privately owned supermarket chain in California and Nevada has partnered with a division of Dunnhumby to develop a grocery retailer advocacy online platform to supplement its loyalty program.

BOSTON — A privately owned supermarket chain in California and Nevada has partnered with a division of Dunnhumby to develop a grocery retailer advocacy online platform to supplement its loyalty program.

Dunnhumby said its social marketing arm, BzzAgent, had partnered with Raley's Family of Fine Stores to build the new online platform, Something Extra Try-It. Raley's 128 stores in northern California and Nevada under the Raley's Supermarkets, Bel Air Markets, Nob Hill Foods and Food Source banners and launched Something Extra in September 2012 with DunnhumbyUSA.

November 16, 2012

Ibotta on Friday officially launched its free mobile application for iPhone users that gives consumers a new way to earn as much as $40 in cash each time they shop.

DENVER — Ibotta on Friday officially launched its free mobile application for iPhone users that gives consumers a new way to earn as much as $40 in cash each time they shop. With Ibotta, consumers earn cash rewards for answering a trivia question, watching videos and/or providing feedback on their favorite products, then buying the products in major national retailers, such as Walmart, Target and Walgreens.  

September 26, 2012

Contradicting claims that showrooming undermines retail sales, new survey results from loyalty management company Aimia revealed that showroomers exhibit more loyal behavior than nonshowroomers, making them an ideal target for retailers.

MINNEAPOLIS — Contradicting claims that showrooming undermines retail sales, new survey results from loyalty management company Aimia revealed that showroomers exhibit more loyal behavior than nonshowroomers, making them an ideal target for retailers.

Retail showroomers, who browse for items in-store before using their smartphones to find a lower price online, also were found to be active participants in loyalty and reward programs, according to the "Through the Looking Glass" retail brief released on Tuesday.

September 18, 2012

While traditional circulars still have their place within retail — especially when it comes to reaching older shoppers — there’s no doubt that the tides are changing as loyalty cards take a greater share of the 
promotional spotlight. 


While traditional circulars still have their place within retail — especially when it comes to reaching older shoppers — there’s no doubt that the tides are changing as loyalty cards take a greater share of the 
promotional spotlight. 


A recent study by market research firm Polaris Marketing Research, for example, found that Americans are participating in loyalty card programs more now than ever before, and many are participating in five or more 
loyalty programs.


September 17, 2012

Walgreens over the weekend officially launched its customer loyalty program, which since Sept. 6 has garnered more than 1 million customers during an online-only, early-enrollment period.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens over the weekend officially launched its customer loyalty program, which since Sept. 6 has garnered more than 1 million customers during an online-only, early-enrollment period.

“Our loyalty program is distinctive,” stated Graham Atkinson, Walgreens SVP and chief customer experience officer. “This comprehensive rewards program is one of Walgreens largest and most important programs in company history."

Balance Rewards offers three key benefits, all customized for the consumer:

September 17, 2012

The CVS/pharmacy ExtraCare program, which boasts more than 70 million active members, now gives shoppers the ability to earn bigger rewards on most purchases during the peak fall and winter shopping season.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — The CVS/pharmacy ExtraCare program, which boasts more than 70 million active members, now gives shoppers the ability to earn bigger rewards on most purchases during the peak fall and winter shopping season.

From Sept. 16 through Dec. 15, ExtraCare members can double their quarterly ExtraBucks Rewards by choosing to participate.

September 7, 2012

Stop & Shop has expanded its gas rewards programs to customers in New Jersey.

PURCHASE, N.Y. — Stop & Shop has expanded its gas rewards programs to customers in New Jersey.

August 24, 2012

Details of Walgreens' new loyalty card — Balance Rewards — that's debuting next month were revealed in a New York Times report.

NEW YORK — Details of Walgreens' new loyalty card — Balance Rewards — that's debuting next month were revealed in a New York Times report published Friday.

Leading that effort is Graham Atkinson, who joined Walgreens in 2011 from his position of president United Airlines Mileage Plus.

The card makes its official debut Sept. 16, though Walgreens will be encouraging first-adopters to sign on earlier in September for a chance to win 10 million rewards points, the report noted.

August 20, 2012

A new network allows customers to use tablets to participate in customer loyalty programs, according to published reports.

NEW YORK — A new network allows customers to use tablets to participate in customer loyalty programs, according to published reports.

MediaPost reported that SpotOn, a San Rafael, Calif.-based company that develops customer loyalty platforms, rolled out its network Friday, with about 1,500 independent and regional chain retailers; the network had previously been under development for more than a year. Most of the retailers are in the Atlanta area, Texas, Arizona, California and the Midwest, but that it's adding about 500 new ones per month.

August 16, 2012

Members of Rite Aid's loyalty card program will have special reward points added to their cards automatically starting next month, the retail pharmacy chain said Thursday.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Members of Rite Aid's loyalty card program will have special reward points added to their cards automatically starting next month, the retail pharmacy chain said Thursday.

Beginning Sept. 2, Wellness+ members will have +UPs loaded to their cards automatically. +UPs are special rewards earned when certain items or groups of items are purchased and can be used like cash toward future purchases. Rite Aid COO Ken Martindale said the national rollout of the Load2Card feature for +UPs would follow a seven-month pilot in four cities.

July 30, 2012

In 2006, Time magazine added a twist to its annual “Person of the Year” cover story, replacing the usual picture of some prominent individual with a picture of a glossy computer screen to show that social networking had made “you” the person of the year. Now, the idea that it’s all about “you” has percolated into retail. 


In 2006, Time magazine added a twist to its annual “Person of the Year” cover story, replacing the usual picture of some prominent individual with a picture of a glossy computer screen to show that social networking had made “you” the person of the year. Now, the idea that it’s all about “you” has percolated into retail. 


April 12, 2012

TIBCO Software on Thursday announced that Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy will be leveraging loyalty management solutions from TIBCO Loyalty Lab as part of a loyalty card program.

PALO ALTO, Calif. — TIBCO Software on Thursday announced that Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy will be leveraging loyalty management solutions from TIBCO Loyalty Lab as part of a loyalty card program.

December 15, 2011

Cambridge Consultants on Thursday released a report outlining how the health-and-wellness market may take shape as more consumer-friendly medical devices featuring the latest in technology reach the market.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Cambridge Consultants on Thursday released a report outlining how the health-and-wellness market may take shape as more consumer-friendly medical devices featuring the latest in technology reach the market.

“Disruption in this market will come from medical firms moving from 10-year product lifecycles and confronting the 18-month lifecycles of the consumer world, and from consumer companies adapting to the rigorous processes demanded by medical regulations,” stated Duncan Smith, head of product development at Cambridge Consultants.

November 8, 2011

Target shoppers have a new incentive for joining the retailer's REDcard Rewards loyalty program: free shipping on Target.com.

MINNEAPOLIS — Target shoppers have a new incentive for joining the retailer's REDcard Rewards loyalty program: free shipping on Target.com.

What's more, Target debit cards now can be used on Target.com, the company said.

October 14, 2011

Rite Aid's customer loyalty card program has received recognition from a trade organization that focuses on marketing practices that use technology, Rite Aid said Friday.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid's customer loyalty card program has received recognition from a trade organization that focuses on marketing practices that use technology, Rite Aid said Friday.

The retail pharmacy chain announced that it received the 2011 LEADER Award in the loyalty category from the Shopper Technology Institute for its Wellness+ program. The institute presents the LEADER Awards for Excellence, sponsored by IBM, at its LEAD Marketing Conference. The award's name is an acronym for loyalty, engagement analytics and digital applications.

July 27, 2011

U.K. health and beauty retailer Boots, whose branded products are available in the United States at Target, Ulta and ShopBootsUSA.com, and at Shoppers Drug Mart in Canada, announced that four of its No7 products have received the Good Housekeeping Seal by the Good Housekeeping Research Institute.

NORWALK, Conn. — U.K. health and beauty retailer Boots, whose branded products are available in the United States at Target, Ulta and ShopBootsUSA.com, and at Shoppers Drug Mart in Canada, announced that four of its No7 products have received the Good Housekeeping Seal by the Good Housekeeping Research Institute.

The Boots No7 products that received the seal include:

  • No7 Protect & Perfect intense beauty serum;

  • No7 Intensive line filler;

June 7, 2011

Through a partnership with Incentive Targeting and HaloEffect, Big Y Foods will become the first grocery retailer to offer Groupon deals digitally loaded to shoppers’ loyalty cards, the companies announced.

CHICAGO — Through a partnership with Incentive Targeting and HaloEffect, Big Y Foods will become the first grocery retailer to offer Groupon deals digitally loaded to shoppers’ loyalty cards, the companies announced.

Big Y’s first Groupon offer, distributed among Springfield, Mass., subscribers on June 7, was for a newly introduced Shellfish Grill Pack, including lobster tails, mussels, clams and other seafood suitable for grilling, which retails at $39.99 and is being offered at a 40% discount for $24.

April 25, 2011

CVS/pharmacy has expanded its highly successful ExtraCare loyalty program with the launch in January of the first-ever beauty club program for the retail pharmacy channel. The CVS/pharmacy ExtraCare Beauty Club provides ExtraCare cardholders, who register their cards, with additional rewards on beauty purchases and other beauty-specific benefits. 


March 17, 2011

A report released Tuesday by payment system provider ACI Worldwide found that many retail loyalty programs leave consumers feeling underappreciated, and many consumers are enrolled in a program they don’t completely understand.

NEW YORK — A report released Tuesday by payment system provider ACI Worldwide found that many retail loyalty programs leave consumers feeling underappreciated, and many consumers are enrolled in a program they don’t completely understand.

Although 3-out-of-4 Americans are members of at least one retail loyalty card program, 85% of those surveyed said that they haven’t heard a single word from a loyalty program since the day they signed up. Likewise, 81% said they don’t even know the benefits of the program or how/when they will receive rewards.

February 8, 2011

With many businesses implementing customers reward programs to drive sales, it seems that the ones that promise everyday value and rewards fare better than their counterparts, according to new research.

CHICAGO — With many businesses implementing customer reward programs to drive sales, it seems that the ones that promise everyday value and rewards fare better than their counterparts, according to new research.

The Recommendation Index, conducted by marketing agency Zocalo Group and M/A/R/C Research, analyzed 1,000 reward program participants, who were asked about brands they most often positively and negatively recommended, and the attributes they used to make their recommendations.

September 6, 2010

LifeNexus recently introduced its personal health card, a dual-purpose payment/loyalty card that comes equipped with...

BROOMFIELD, Colo. LifeNexus recently introduced its personal health card, a dual-purpose payment/loyalty card that comes equipped with an embedded microprocessor, the iChip, designed for an individually controlled health platform.

 

The personal health card can be used to maintain personal health records by securely transferring accurate information at the time and point of need. This will allow professionals access to a patient’s personal health record through card-based consumer authorization, which is both encrypted and password-protected.

August 3, 2010

Drugstore.com experienced a net sales increase of more than 27%, reaching $113.1 million, for the...

January 11, 2010

An insurance brokerage and consulting firm in California has introduced a new pharmacy discount card...