Loyalty Marketing

PALO ALTO, Calif. — Shopping app Shopkick has gotten a new look and user interface, making it easier for shoppers to earn rewards and for brands and retailers to engage with their customers.

WAYNE, N.J. — Toys"R"Us has launched its annual nationwide fundraising campaign to benefit the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation. The company has once agained teamed up with Shaquille O'Neal to encourage customers to "Give Back with Shaq."

Houston — Waste Management has partnered with Sam's Club to provide membership discounts to small and medium business customers, allowing them access to Sam’s Club’s savings on bulk merchandise and supplies.

AVON, Ohio — Duck Tape brand duct tape is inviting consumers to design the next Duck Tape print for the chance to win $5,000 and have their design seen nationwide.

Designs drawn by hand or with digital editing software are welcome, and entries must be created using one of the Duck Tape design templates found on the Facebook contest tab to be considered.

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. — Staples is now offering its customers the chance to pre-order the latest computers and tablets optimized for Microsoft Windows 8 through its exclusive "8 Was Easy" program.

Customers can pre-order the computers and tablets online or in stores and receive free personalized training and free support. Consumers who purchase any Windows 8 PC regularly priced $699 and above will also receive free data transfer from their old computer.

New York -- A San Diego judge ordered Rite Aid Corp. and its California subsidiary Thrifty PayLess Inc. to pay $800,000 to settle a complaint alleging false advertising, the Associated Press reported.

Prosecutors claimed Rite Aid led consumers to believe they would pay less for items bought using the company's Wellness Card, the report said. However, they were given a coupon and told it was for a future purchase that would expire and was subject to other restrictions.

PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y. — It seems that consumers' holiday spending intentions are more positive than last year, according to NPD's 11th annual holiday retail study.

Dallas -- Alliance Data Systems Corp., a provider of loyalty and marketing solutions derived from transaction-rich data, announced its Retail Services business has signed a multi-year renewal agreement to continue providing the private label credit card program for multichannel home furnishings retailer Crate and Barrel.

This year, in partnership with Alliance Data, Crate and Barrel introduced a rewards-based credit card that allows customers to earn rewards across all three brands: Crate and Barrel, CB2 and The Land of Nod.