Leaders in Customer Loyalty, Powered by Loyalty360

Send us a textFor brands with loyalty programs, customer interaction is an integral part of the total customer experience. Brands benefit when their programs are easy to join, and customers can effortlessly earn and use rewards. vPromos works with clients to minimize barriers to program participation by simplifying the loyalty experience for brands and their customers. Loyalty360 spoke with Peter Vogel, Chief Revenue Officer at vPromos, about how payment terminal technology can improve program performance, facilitate customer communications, and open the door to innovation.

Send us a textDan Evins founded Cracker Barrel Old Country Store® in 1969 in Lebanon, Tennessee. Over the next 50 years, Cracker Barrel evolved into a restaurant with a popular retail store and has taken the brand into the digital space with its online store. Within the brand’s “old general store,” customers can purchase everything from apparel to candles to vintage candy to music. Around the holidays, the store is decorated with trees, and a Christmas theme fills the aisles, from stocking stuffers to thoughtful gifts. The welcoming atmosphere extends into the restaurant. Guests dining at Cracker Barrel find familiar Southern favorites on the menu. The fireplace is likely to be lit, a checkerboard awaits, and families can enjoy the brand’s famous Peg game — a triangle block is located on every table. Cracker Barrel endeavors to offer a unique customer experience from the moment guests cross the front porch and enter the building.  Mark Johnson, CEO of Loyalty360, spoke with Amy Barnett, Vice President of Marketing, Loyalty, and Digital Experience at Cracker Barrel, about collecting valuable input from employees and field operations, rolling out the new Cracker Barrel Rewards program, and partnering with an American music legend.

Send us a textHooters, founded in Clearwater, FL, in 1983, is now one of the largest employers of women in the service industry. With 198 corporate stores and approximately 370 stores in total, including domestic and international franchisees, and a footprint encompassing 42 U.S. states and 29 countries, the brand is celebrating 40 years of delivering memorable guest experiences. The I AM initiative recognizes the women who have “worn the orange shorts” — the Hooters Girls — and empowers employees through educational initiatives and tuition reimbursement. The brand boasts a 70% female demographic within the organization and supports employees as they develop the competencies and skills to build successful careers. Mark Johnson, CEO of Loyalty360, spoke with Cheryl Kish, Chief People Officer at Hooters, about collecting valuable employee feedback to drive successful training programs, the I AM initiative, and the brand’s HootClub Rewards program. Read the full interview on Loyalty360 here: https://loyalty360.org/content-gallery/in-depth-exclusives/hooters-creating-a-culture-of-empowered-employees-and-elevating-the-customer-experience

Send us a textPreferred Hotels & Resorts is a portfolio of independent hotels worldwide that offers travelers a wide selection of luxury stays with a focus on leisure. Guests can choose from a handful of distinctive collections to create the aspirational trip of their dreams, including locations that focus on sustainability or even deliver a touch of history. Preferred Hotel Group, the parent company of Preferred Hotels & Resorts, rebranded in early 2023 to Preferred Travel Group. Today, the I Prefer Hotel Rewards loyalty program counts over 4.5 million enrolled travelers globally.Mark Johnson, CEO of Loyalty360, spoke with Lori Strasberg, Senior Vice President of Marketing for Preferred Hotels & Resorts, about its loyalty program, strategic partnerships, and how AI might drive changes in how people research and plan travel.

Send us a textPublix was founded in 1930 in Winter Haven, FL, by George W. Jenkins and is one of the 10 largest-volume supermarket chains in the country. The brand’s retail sales reached $54.5B in 2022, and Publix is expanding into new markets, with stores opening in Kentucky and enlarging the supermarket’s footprint to eight states.  Employee-owned, the company is both customer- and associate-centric. A commitment to caring for and serving the communities in which stores are located is demonstrated through the brand’s focus on corporate social responsibility (CSR). This year, Publix donated $10M to charities dedicated to alleviating hunger. Mark Johnson, CEO of Loyalty360, spoke with Maria Brous, Director of Communications at Publix, about the Club Publix customer loyalty program, customizing the shopping experience through personalization, and the brand’s goal to always evolve.  

Send us a textArtificial Intelligence (AI) has become a topic of conversation for marketers this year. With its ability to enhance personalization, tailor rewards, and make product recommendations, the technology has wide implications for customer loyalty. Even so, many marketers are struggling to wrap their heads around AI — how to define it, what it means for their brand, and the best way to implement platforms that leverage AI.Loyalty360 CEO Mark Johnson recently spoke with Andy O’Dell, Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer at Clutch, about the current role of AI in customer loyalty, potential uses of AI going forward, and how brands can implement the technology to reimagine the customer experience.

Send us a textFor marketers and customer loyalty professionals, creating authentic emotional connections between the brand and consumers is vital to success in today’s competitive marketplace. Consumers are seeking more value beyond the transaction, and if they don’t find it with one brand, they’ll swiftly switch to another.  Doug Zarkin is the Chief Brand Officer at Good Feet Worldwide and is an experienced marketing leader with a background spanning from advertising to fashion and beauty and now to health and wellness. His new book, MOVING YOUR BRAND OUT OF THE FRIEND ZONE, comes at a critical point for those immersed in the customer loyalty industry. Zarkin describes how brands stuck in “the friend zone” may be perceived by customers, what their value proposition should be, and how they may be able to reinvent themselves.     Mark Johnson, CEO of Loyalty360, spoke with Doug Zarkin about The Brand Value Equation, the Art of Sacrifice, and “thinking human.”  

Send us a textData leads the way in modern marketing, serving as the foundation for informed decisions at every turn. Today's customer loyalty strategies rely on an intricate network of gathered and analyzed data points. These insights are then harnessed to craft personalized communications, offers, rewards, and experiences for a brand’s loyal customers.The science of data is a passion of Michael Snyder, Senior Solution Consultant for Loyalty and Experience at Comarch. Loyalty360 recently had the opportunity to sit down with Snyder and gain insights into how Comarch is embracing data-driven customer loyalty techniques to create meaningful customer interactions and generate measurable results for clients.

Aaron Lobliner, Chief Client Officer at CataBoom, discusses gamification in customer loyalty. They explore Cataboom's platform, pricing strategies, and the role of gamification in loyalty programs. They also touch on innovative game development strategies, competitive spirit, and personal reflections on life philosophy.

Send us a textCapillary Technologies, has made waves in the loyalty industry, thanks to its recent acquisitions of two prominent companies: Brierley and Tenerity's Digital Connect Assets. Since its inception in 2012, Capillary has served companies worldwide with its customer data platform. Through the utilization of its AI-powered loyalty management platform, Capillary can enhance a brand’s loyalty program to improve the customer experience and enhance program strategies.In an exclusive interview with Loyalty360, Don Smith, the Global Consulting Officer and Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) at Brierley – Capillary, gave an inside look at Capillary's recent acquisitions. Smith also delved into the concept of generative loyalty and the potential impacts the latest technology will have on the future of the loyalty industry.