Loyalty Marketing

At a time when loyalty programs are becoming ubiquitous, Lowes Foods’ new service is breaking the mold.    The grocery chain is launching a promotional reward campaign in 75 stores across North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. For every $10 spent at Lowes Foods stores, customers will receive one stamp — either traditional or virtual — at checkout, good toward VIVO kitchen knives, knife blocks and cutting boards. The promotion runs until February 26, 2017.   

Yet another holiday forecast brings more good cheer to retailers.   Consumers plan to spend an average of $636 on holiday-related expenses, up 3% from what they anticipated last year, according to The NPD Group’s 2016 Holiday Purchase Intentions Survey. They are also less concerned this year about the economy spoiling their holiday fun. When asked how the state of the economy will influence holiday purchases in 2016, the 12% who said it will have a “significant impact” is down from recent years (14% in 2015, 19% in 2014).

Hhgregg is ensuring its shoppers retain their buying power.   By entered into a multi-year renewal of its consumer financing program, Hhgregg is extending its 17-year partnership with Synchrony Financial. The electronics chain’s private label credit card program provides qualifying cardholders with special financing offers, exclusive in-store and online deals, and online bill pay. The card is accepted across the chain’s 220 stores, and online.   

Move over Black Friday.   The biggest shopping day in terms of holiday sales is expected to be Friday, Dec. 23, while the biggest day in terms of store traffic is expected to be Saturday, Dec. 17, according to RetailNext Inc. (See lists at end of story.) It’s the first time in many years that Black Friday failed to top either of the lists.    

Bed Bath & Beyond is taking a loyalty lesson from Amazon.com.   The chain, which is synonymous with blanketing its customer base with ubiquitous $5 off and 20% off discount coupons, is beta testing a paid membership-based loyalty program that rewards participating customers with exclusive benefits online and in-store.   

UGG is driving a new level of engagement with loyal shoppers.   Starting today, shoppers nationwide are invited to join UGG Rewards, a loyalty program that awards shoppers with points for every purchase. The program, which was launched as a pilot among a limited customer base between September 2015 and June 2016, is now available to shoppers in-store and online throughout the United States.  

Walgreens on Tuesday enticed its shoppers with a new loyalty program tied to its beauty department with the launch of Beauty Enthusiast, a beauty club within its Balance Rewards loyalty program. Cardholders who register for Beauty Enthusiast gain additional rewards on beauty and personal care items, as well as other benefits.  

Amazon Prime launched its newest set of benefits, but these are targeting gamers.   Bolstering its live streaming video platform Twitch, Amazon has intro-duced Twitch Prime. This membership-based service entitles members to exclusive discounts on pre-orders and newly released games; a rotating selection of free digital games and in-game loot, and a premium experi-ence on Twitch that includes a free monthly Twitch channel subscription.