Loyalty Marketing

Miami -- Mobile coupon application provider Geopon said Tuesday that it has collaborated with mall owner Westfield to debut an Android app that combines geo-targeted coupons with electronic reward programs and payment processing.
 
The new app launched Tuesday in the South Florida market and, said Geopon, will soon be joined by the iPhone, which is currently in beta testing.

The entire platform will be unveiled on Sept. 6 at the Westfield Broward Mall, in Plantation, Fla.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Kmart became one of the first retailers to offer a reloadable prepaid card requiring no initial charge to load funds with the launch of its new Halogen Reloadable Prepaid MasterCard offered by Green Dot. In addition to the no charge for loading funds, the card offers free ATM withdrawals from network ATMs, and is available with no bank account, credit check or minimum balance required.

Toronto, Ontario, Canada -- A recent survey of more than 6,500 U.S. consumers found that Americans consult their social media apps before, during and after retail store visits.

The survey, conducted by customer experience management solution-provider Empathica, found that mobile and social customer experience strategies are becoming more important than ever for brands, with nearly three in four consumers using Facebook to make retail and restaurant decisions.

Riverwoods, Ill. -- Discover on Monday announced that its cards are now accepted at Neiman Marcus stores nationwide.

“By adding Discover as another payment option, Neiman Marcus continues to give customers more flexibility and convenience at the point of sale," said Jim Gold, president, specialty retail, The Neiman Marcus Group. “We are happy to open our Neiman Marcus stores to loyal Discover card members so they can shop their favorite brands and earn more rewards.”

 

Seattle -- Starbucks Coffee Co. announced the continued global expansion of the Starbucks mobile platform with the roll-out of Starbucks app for Android to the United Kingdom and Canada.

In addition, U.S. customers who download or update to the official Starbucks app for Android will be able to experience new enhancements including a widget, PayPal support, PIN code protection, and viewing the My Starbucks Rewards history dashboard.

Dallas – Loyalty and marketing solution-provider Alliance Data Systems Corp. said Tuesday that it has signed a multi-year renewal agreement to continue providing the private label credit card program for Omaha-Neb.-based Gordmans Stores, which operates 78 stores in 46 markets across 18 states.

Additionally, Gordmans and Alliance Data have begun a full rollout of Alliance Data's in-store, tablet-based mobile technology to drive account acquisition efforts following a successful pilot earlier in 2012.
 

New York -- Myers Group plans to install the QThru mobile platform, which enables shoppers to scan items with a smartphone as they shop, in its supermarkets. The company has been testing the system for six months at its IGA Ridge Supermarket in Snoqualmie, Wash.

Inland Diversified Real Estate Services said it has launched a new mobile application designed to enhance customer engagement and retention and interaction with retailers at University Town Center, a neighborhood shopping center in Norman, Okla., that is owned by Inland Diversified Real Estate Trust.