Loyalty Marketing

The future of retail is mobile. Yet, brands are failing to keep pace with consumer expectations.

Consumers are spending more money per gift online this holiday season than last — 49% more to be exact.   That’s according to e-gifting platform and service Look Commerce, which announced insights into consumer gifting behavior and top gifts purchased between Dec. 10 and Dec. 16, 2016.  

Amazon and Saks came out on top in the 12th annual ForeSee Experience Index (FXI), which identified the top brands for retail customer experience this holiday season across three channels: online, store and mobile.   

More digital connections and a speedier checkout process rank among the top trends for grocery shopping in 2017.   That’s according to John Karolefski, supermarket analyst and purveyor of GroceryStories.com, who also predicts a more diverse produce department, increased availability of meal kits, and better access to product information.   "The top trends for 2017 will result in improved loyalty to stores and more informed shoppers," said Karolefski.   

GNC Holdings is changing its pricing structure and marketing, and adding tech enhancements to its store environment as it looks to replace what it described as “an old broken model.”      The company announced that all corporate stores will close on Dec. 28 and reopen on Dec. 29, when GNC will offer customers a “dramatically improved experience with the launch of One New GNC.”  

Walmart has added to its financial service offerings with a new savings program.   The program, called “Prize Savers,” is a prize-linked savings incentive program available to holders of Walmart MoneyCard, the chain’s branded reloadable pre-paid debit cards, the Associated Press reported.  

Digital payments are getting a boost through a new partnership.   A strategic agreement between Citi and PayPal will enable Citi cardmembers to use their credit cards with PayPal seamlessly online, in-app or in-store in 2017. The agreement makes Citi the first global bank to partner with PayPal and tokenize cards for customers that want to use PayPal for in-store purchases, across Mastercard and Visa portfolios in the U.S.