ALL the focus now on loyalty
Accor CEO to revamp 'rather dismal' programmeAccor hospitality group has appointed Ogilvy as global marketing and advertising agency as it plans the launch of its new ALL loyalty programme. Read more ...

Make the returning easy
* Customers won’t come back after bad experience
* Rapid normalisation of returns

Retailers who don’t offer an easy returns process are losing sales and customer loyalty, with 84% of shoppers saying they won’t come back to a brand if they have a poor returns experience. Read more ...

Chipotle launches rewards with Venmo
Integrated digital approach cuts order time by two thirds

Chipotle, the US fast casual dining chain is rolling out a new loyalty programme working with mobile wallet Venmo to publicise its proposition. Highlighting its ability to cater for those on special diets – everyone joining the programme gets free fries and guacamole with their first order after signing up. Read more ...

Carrefour in China launches 100% digital loyalty programme
Eco, healthy and Jamie Oliver
Carrefour may be following a culling strategy in Europe, where it announced plans for 250 store closures in 2018, but in China profits are up 11% and announcements  coming thick and fast. Read more ...

Vodafone adds Drops to Voxi

Vodafone is ramping up its loyalty programme for the under 30s with Voxi Drops and unlimited social media use. Read more ...

The Loyalty Debate
Should my brand be in a loyalty coalition?
Do reward points really earn loyalty?
…should I be thinking about blockchain?
These, and other important questions, were covered in a debate held recently at the Visa Innovation Center in London, and convened by Annich McIntosh of Loyalty Magazine.
Currency Alliance was invited to participate along with Dan Truscott, Head of Business Development, Loyalty at Visa, and Iain Pringle of consultancy New World Loyalty. Read more ...

Comment:
Urban farm concept being explored by Waitrose and John Lewis

There is something a little sad about the announcement from Waitrose and John Lewis that they are working on the concept of ‘urban farms’ in their stores that will enable customers to pick their own produce. Read more ...

Ryanair following subscription model
New loyalty initiative has 10,000 member goal

Ryanair is following easyJet in offering paid for benefits for frequent flyers. Launching later this year is a programme that gives subscribers a host of benefits usually provided on a paid for basis for a fixed yearly price. In this way, Ryanair may encourage traveller loyalty amongst those who don’t have a better option. Read more ...

Air Canada, American Express partner on loyalty programme
10 year agreement begins life after Aeroplan
Air Canada has signed a 10-year agreement with American Express which includes a new loyalty programme run on co-branded payment cards. Read more ...

Nol Plus loyalty offers payment using points
Transport one of the redemption options

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has launched a new “Nol Plus” loyalty programme, so card users can earn points which can be used as payment. Read more ...

ALL the focus now on loyalty
Accor CEO to revamp 'rather dismal' programmeAccor hospitality group has appointed Ogilvy as global marketing and advertising agency as it plans the launch of its new ALL loyalty programme. Read more ...

Make the returning easy
* Customers won’t come back after bad experience
* Rapid normalisation of returns

Retailers who don’t offer an easy returns process are losing sales and customer loyalty, with 84% of shoppers saying they won’t come back to a brand if they have a poor returns experience. Read more ...

Chipotle launches rewards with Venmo
Integrated digital approach cuts order time by two thirds

Chipotle, the US fast casual dining chain is rolling out a new loyalty programme working with mobile wallet Venmo to publicise its proposition. Highlighting its ability to cater for those on special diets – everyone joining the programme gets free fries and guacamole with their first order after signing up. Read more ...

Carrefour in China launches 100% digital loyalty programme
Eco, healthy and Jamie Oliver
Carrefour may be following a culling strategy in Europe, where it announced plans for 250 store closures in 2018, but in China profits are up 11% and announcements  coming thick and fast. Read more ...

Vodafone adds Drops to Voxi

Vodafone is ramping up its loyalty programme for the under 30s with Voxi Drops and unlimited social media use. Read more ...

The Loyalty Debate
Should my brand be in a loyalty coalition?
Do reward points really earn loyalty?
…should I be thinking about blockchain?
These, and other important questions, were covered in a debate held recently at the Visa Innovation Center in London, and convened by Annich McIntosh of Loyalty Magazine.
Currency Alliance was invited to participate along with Dan Truscott, Head of Business Development, Loyalty at Visa, and Iain Pringle of consultancy New World Loyalty. Read more ...

Comment:
Urban farm concept being explored by Waitrose and John Lewis

There is something a little sad about the announcement from Waitrose and John Lewis that they are working on the concept of ‘urban farms’ in their stores that will enable customers to pick their own produce. Read more ...

Ryanair following subscription model
New loyalty initiative has 10,000 member goal

Ryanair is following easyJet in offering paid for benefits for frequent flyers. Launching later this year is a programme that gives subscribers a host of benefits usually provided on a paid for basis for a fixed yearly price. In this way, Ryanair may encourage traveller loyalty amongst those who don’t have a better option. Read more ...

Air Canada, American Express partner on loyalty programme
10 year agreement begins life after Aeroplan
Air Canada has signed a 10-year agreement with American Express which includes a new loyalty programme run on co-branded payment cards. Read more ...

Nol Plus loyalty offers payment using points
Transport one of the redemption options

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has launched a new “Nol Plus” loyalty programme, so card users can earn points which can be used as payment. Read more ...

Paytm First wants to be mother of subscriptions
Several programmes bundled into one
Paytm is launching a subscription loyalty initiative in India that covers several companies including Zomato, Eros Now, Sony Liv, Viu Premium, and Uber. Read more ...

Latest card-linked loyalty start-up gains funding
Second seed round over-subscribed

The concept of allowing consumers to consolidate multiple loyalty and points programmes into one mechanism is moving from a conceptually good idea to a fast moving express train. Read more ...

Closed loop multi-currency giftcard on a blockchain
Solving the issue of multi-currencies for loyalty and gift cards

Tranxactor, working with technology company Kornchain, have released a ground-breaking multicurrency closed-loop gift card product which will use blockchain to create efficiencies, speed of transaction and cross-border usability. Read more ...

Payment brands rush to be heard
Mastercard goes sonic
Anna miaows

If you are one of those who feel it is a massive intrusion into your personal privacy and space when someone’s mobile phone makes a noise, then you may have to rethink your shopping plans.

Avios partners to bring points to banking app
More transparency for points balanceThis is the first of what Loyalty Magazine understands will be a growing list of current accounts linked with Avios. Read more ...

Customers expecting more than they are receiving
Why can't companies be more Google?

Customer service expectations are being raised with the development of artificial intelligence applications. So much so that companies are being pressed to provide ‘SuperService” according to a new report. Read more ...

How about this for a piece of reverse engineering loyalty?
Those who remember (with fondness) spending hours on the floor constructing models using plastic bricks will be excited that Lego is launching a limited edition range of clothes for adults. The difficult part (and there is always a difficult part with Lego) is that the clothes are only available to buy from inside an empty physical shop using the Snapchat app. Read more ...

What brands do students admire most?
CSR raised in importance
It will all change when they reach the big world of work, but for students, the brands that are most admired for a range of factors including quality, innovation, inspring content, environmental footprint and impact on society are …… Read more ...

Target expanding loyalty to fill credit card gap
Programme to provide analytics on non-Redcard customers
Mobile acceptance coming soon
Read more ...

Barclays leads £10m funding round for Bink
*Proposition to provide a marketplace for loyalty programmes back on the agenda
*Lee Clarke and Greg Gormley no longer part of the management team
*Interview with Mike Jordan, CEO here on Monday

Barclays has become a minority stakeholder in Bink, having taken part in its recent oversubscribed £10m funding round. A statement said “Barclays and Bink will work in collaboration to deliver a ground-breaking experience for Barclays customers”. Read more ...