Leaders in Customer Loyalty, Powered by Loyalty360

Send us a textIn 1963, Consumer Value Stores was founded in Lowell, MA, providing customers with health and beauty products. The company name changed to CVS by the end of its first year in business, and by 1967, pharmacies began to appear within its stores. The brand focused on healthcare, and huge growth followed through multiple acquisitions and the establishment of new locations. In the early 2000s, CVS Pharmacy launched ExtraCare®, its first loyalty program, and experienced much success in the loyalty space. By 2018, the brand acquired Aetna, and this development supercharged and accelerated CVS’ goal of helping customers with health and wellness goals. CarePass® — the brand’s premium program — was launched in 2019, driving loyalty efforts and creating more convenience for shoppers, and in December 2023, the brand scaled same-day delivery nationwide. Mark Johnson, CEO of Loyalty360, spoke with Zach Dennett, Vice President of Loyalty, Omnichannel and Hispanic Formats, CVS Health, about the brand’s premium customer loyalty program tier, customers engaging with the brand digitally before shopping in-store, and how the customer experience should be personalized, but not overtly obvious. Read the full article on Loyalty360 here: https://loyalty360.org/content-gallery/in-depth-exclusives/cvs-pharmacy-evolving-customer-loyalty-programs-and-creating-a-more-convenient-customer-experience

Send us a textMark Johnson, CEO of Loyalty360, spoke with Mladen Vladic, General Manager, FIS Loyalty Engagement Solutions, about looking at the holistic enterprise value of the consumer, the value in looking inside the organization to determine friction at touchpoints, and the challenges and opportunities in customer loyalty in the year ahead.

Send us a textCustomer expectations continue to evolve, and when considering a purchase — a big ticket item or even a smaller one — they often look for flexibility in payment options. Merchants and retailers operate in an increasingly competitive space, seeking to create a better customer experience to win greater loyalty and frequency while also increasing sales. The customer/merchant relationship does not have to be one of opposition. There are solutions that can benefit both.    The Connected Commerce and Strategic Growth division of Citi Retail Services is designed to reimagine point-of-sale (POS) lending. The team conceptualizes how finance products can be integrated with merchants’ POS systems and how to make it easier for merchants to connect with Citi. The information is leveraged when building products and merchant connection points, enabling customers to access relevant lending products when checking out or buying merchandise. Indeed, Citi’s research revealed that both consumers and merchants are looking for multiple payment options at the checkout. In fact, 90% of surveyed consumers agreed that retailers need to offer various payment options at the POS. Designed for consumers and retailers, Citi Pay® products help consumers understand the monthly cost of a product. Instead of focusing on the total transaction amount, they can assess purchases based on the associated monthly payments. This process helps consumers determine how the product or the purchase best fits into their budget. In this podcast, Mark Johnson, CEO of Loyalty360, spoke with Terry O’Neil, Head of Connected Commerce and Strategic Growth for Citi Retail Services, about the future of POS lending, the strategic partnerships Citi’s formed to enable Citi Pay®, and how merchants shouldn’t underestimate the power of an embedded payment product in building customer loyalty. 

Send us a textMark Johnson, CEO of Loyalty360, spoke with Bob Holtcamp, President and CMO at Bob Evans, about leveraging a new AI-driven loyalty-and-offer solution, merging marketing and IT leadership, and making customers feel recognized and important. 

Send us a textMark Johnson, CEO of Loyalty360, spoke with Kim Welther, Vice President, CRM & Loyalty for Baesman, about the challenges and opportunities in the year ahead, including defining and measuring success, metrics to consider, and what it takes to stand out in a crowd. 

Send us a textMark Johnson, CEO of Loyalty360, spoke with Laura Miller, SVP of Strategic Services, and Martha Cohen, Vice President, Client Services at Kobie, about leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to reduce pain points, breaking down organizational silos to build better programs, and challenges in customer loyalty.  

Send us a textMark Johnson, CEO of Loyalty360, spoke with Jill Moser, SVP of Global Offers at Mastercard, about what will impact loyalty in 2024, how brands should approach building relationships, and why offering customers choice is imperative to remain competitive in the loyalty space.

Send us a textHooters is a globally iconic, image-based, casual dining restaurant brand founded in 1983 in Clearwater, FL. The company consists of nearly 370 stores in total, which include domestic and international franchisees. The brand’s footprint counts 42 states in the U.S. and 29 countries and endeavors to serve great food in a fun environment.  Hooters’ tagline is Hooters Makes You Happy — and that’s the brand’s goal. Hooters wants to give its customers a break from the everyday routine and offers an escape featuring cold beer, chicken wings, and the legendary Hooters Girls, who deliver memorable customer experiences in a fun and engaging way.  Mark Johnson, CEO of Loyalty360, spoke with Bruce Skala, Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), HOA Brands, about how the responsibilities of the CMO have changed, successful partnerships with sports figures, and leveraging social media influencers to drive sales.  

Send us a textMark Johnson, CEO of Loyalty360, spoke with Don Smith, EVP, Chief Consulting Officer at Brierley, about defining and measuring success, trends Brierley notes for 2024, and what generative AI means for brands. 

Send us a textMark Johnson, CEO of Loyalty360, spoke with Tom Madden, Executive Vice President, and Katie Berndt, Vice President, at Phaedon, about expected trends in 2024, challenges and opportunities for brands, and how listening to customers will determine loyalty program success.