Loyalty Marketing

Armonk, N.Y. -- IBM and Facebook on Wednesday announced they are teaming up to help retailers and other brands provide more personalization in their marketing efforts on the social network.

The two companies said they are now working together to integrate Facebook’s existing ad technologies, such as Custom Audiences, into IBM’s array of tools and services for retailers.

Austin, Texas -- RetailMeNot and Swirl Networks have entered a strategic partnership to bring in-store promotions using new beacon marketing technology to nearly 20 million RetailMeNot mobile app users and thousands of retailers and brands currently in the RetailMeNot marketplace.

Books-A-Million is getting an early start on summer reading promotions with a giveaway tied to a popular book series.

Cincinnati -- Grocery shoppers have a resounding message for grocery retailers who have been enticing them with fuel rewards for over a decade: Fuel rewards alone aren’t winning their loyalty. Grocery discounts are the new value driver.

In the South, it’s never too early to talk about football, which is why N.C.-based department store Belk made a big college football announcement this week.

The chain says it will be the title sponsor of the 2015 Belk College Kickoff Game, featuring the University of North Carolina Tar Heels and the University of South Carolina Gamecocks. The game is set to take place at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte on Sept. 3 with a 6 p.m. kickoff.

Staples is donating the tools and resources necessary to make graduation happen for thousands of students across the country -- and throwing in a little Taylor Swift to boot.

New York – American Express is launching a new loyalty program called Plenti. The program lets consumers use loyalty points accrued at one participating retailer and use them at another.

Initial participating organizations include AT&T, Exxon, Macy’s, Mobil, Nationwide, Rite Aid, Direct Energy, Enterprise Rent-A-Car and Hulu. The program is expected to include more brands in additional categories over time.

Canton, Mass. - In honor of the birth of the royal baby, Dunkin' Donuts is running a special Twitter sweepstakes for the chance to win a trip for two to London. From May 4-5, Dunkin' Donuts is asking its Twitter followers to share who in their life deserves to be treated like royalty.

Macy’s and Rite Aid are joining the other major retailers and companies that have partnered with Plenti, the first U.S.-based loyalty coalition  that allows shoppers to earn rewards points through a variety of purchases, from paying a phone bill to filling up at the pump.

Shopper sentiment surged in the first quarter of 2015 amid optimism over the labor market, job stability, personal finances and gas prices, according to a new survey.