Loyalty Marketing

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Retail Inflation, a strong fuelperks! rewards program and increased sales at remodeled stores helped grow identical-store sales at Winn-Dixie Stores by 3.3% during the first quarter of fiscal 2012. This increase was also aided by a 5.5% increase in basket size, but partially offset by a 2.1% decrease in transaction count. The company announced that net sales for the first quarter were $1.6 billion, an increase of $48.2 million or 3.1% compared with the same period in the prior fiscal year. 

Jacksonville, Fla. -- Winn-Dixie Stores reported Monday a loss of $24.1 million in the fiscal first quarter, compared with a loss of $76.8 million in the year-ago period.

Revenue rose 3.1% to $1.59 billion, from $1.54 billion last year, helped by success from its gas-related reward program. Sales just missed Wall Street’s expected $1.6 billion in revenue.

Same-store sales rose 3.3%. During the quarter, the company opened two additional transformational remodeled stores that Winn-Dixie continues to monitor for additional roll-out.

San Diego -- Digital gift card solution-provider Transaction Wireless said Tuesday that restaurant chain Buca di Beppo has selected Transaction Wireless to power its digital gift card program.

The cloud-based digital gifting platform will enable Buca di Beppo, which is owned by Planet Hollywood International, to leverage channels such as email, mobile and Facebook for digital gift card promotions and marketing initiatives.

Austin, Texas -- NewComLink announced that Zale Corp. has implemented the NewComLink platform as part of its new program to provide alternative financing options to its U.S. customers.

Zale announced the new alternative financing program on Aug. 31.

Any given week Target’s circular is filled with various offers of free gift cards designed to incent shoppers to purchase key items.  Some of the offers can be quite generous, as was the case this week with a $50 gift card available to those who purchase an Xbox 360 bundle or a $20 gift card with the purchase of KitchenAid appliances priced at $99.99. The most common gift card denomination is $5, and it tends to be offered on multiple items from the same manufacturer or brand family such as two Gillette razors or three Dial products.

Dallas -- Neiman Marcus announced Thursday that it had entered into agreements with Visa and MasterCard to begin, effective Nov. 1, accepting MasterCard and Visa credit, debit and prepaid cards at all 41 Neiman Marcus stores.

The luxury retailer had long been criticized for accepting only its private-label credit cards, American Express and cash.

"We listened to our customers and heard that they wanted more flexibility in their payment choices," said Karen Katz, president and CEO, Neiman Marcus.
 

Dallas -- Alliance Data Systems Corp. said Thursday that it has signed a new long-term agreement to provide private-label credit card services for Christopher & Banks.

Under terms of the agreement, Alliance Data will provide Christopher & Banks and CJ Banks with private-label credit card services, as well as beefed-up loyalty benefits.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Winn-Dixie is looking to help pharmacy customers better manage their prescriptions by introducing a new mobile application for iPhone, Android or Blackberry smartphones.