Press
My Loyal One launches e-Gift Card feature
My Loyal One is pleased to announce that its innovative loyalty program platform now includes an e-Gift Card feature. Merchants and vendors in the My Loyal One network can now offer their customers the opportunity to buy electronic gift cards for friends, family members, and colleagues.
The e-Gift Card feature is available to My Loyal One merchants on a subscription basis. Each merchant who subscribes to this feature can provide customers with the option to buy e-gift cards – both in-store and online. In-store customers are able to purchase e-gift cards from a cashier or clerk (who can send e-gift cards to recipients on behalf of the customer). Online customers are able to purchase e-gift cards using a smartphone (via the My Loyal One app) or from the web (via the My Loyal One Member Portal or a secure shopping site available to the general public).
“Digital gifting is a natural extension of the online loyalty features we already offer, so we’re excited to integrate it as part of our evolving loyalty platform,” comments Jaideep Lal, My Loyal One President. “The online purchasing and delivery of gift cards provides real value to merchants in the My Loyal One network – it helps them grow and solidify their presence in a tech-savvy consumer market where purchases increasingly take place online.”
About My Loyal One
My Loyal One Inc. is an Ottawa-based software company specializing in digital loyalty program solutions. The My Loyal One system revolutionizes the concept of retail loyalty program management by replacing those traditional plastic loyalty cards with a multi-vendor, smartphone-based e-card system. Any consumer can sign up as a My Loyal One member by downloading and registering the free My Loyal One smartphone app, which displays a high-resolution, scannable barcode directly on the user’s smartphone screen. Instantly, the user replaces his/her scattered collection of traditional plastic loyalty cards with a single loyalty “e-card”, valid for use across all retailers and merchants participating in the My Loyal One network. With My Loyal One, all of the consumer’s subscriptions to different retail loyalty programs are tracked and managed using a single convenient smartphone app that features a unique loyalty ID. My Loyal One makes it easy for any user to collect loyalty points and rewards from multiple retailers, while reducing the plastic card count.
Tel: (613) 830-4049
Email: info@myloyalone.com
Website: www.myloyalone.com
Loyal One introduces new loyalty platform features
Loyal One is rolling out several new features for the latest version of our loyalty program platform. The new feature set increases the value of Loyal One as a loyalty management solution and makes it even easier for smartphone users to enjoy the full benefits of Loyal One membership.
For Loyal One merchants, the following additional management features are now available:
* Premium Subscription-Only Features
Loyal One now offers premium loyalty features that merchants can utilize on a subscription basis. Merchants can now subscribe to the Mass Email Campaigns feature (see the next point below). Additional premium features will be released in the near future.
* Mass Email Campaigns (Premium Feature)
Send out automated mass emails to your loyalty program members. You can create your own mass email campaigns in which custom emails are automatically sent to targeted groups of members at scheduled intervals. Your members have the ability to opt out of mass emails, thus ensuring that your emails only go to those members who are interested in receiving them. The mass emailing feature is perfect for marketing, allowing you to set up mass email campaigns for advertising, promotions, newsletters, announcements, etc.
* Visualize Your Membership Data
At the click of a button, you can visualize membership report data on a Google map. Based on the geographic information associated with each member account, you can view the locations of different members at a glance, which helps to focus your business insights and improve market analysis.
For Loyal One members, the following smartphone app enhancements are now available:
* Edit Account Details from Smartphone App
You can now edit your Loyal One membership account details and change your password directly from your smartphone.
* QR Code Support
The Loyal One Smartphone App now displays your Loyal One membership account number as a QR code (as well as a regular bar code).
“At Loyal One we’re constantly striving to enhance the online experience for merchants and consumers alike,” comments Jaideep Lal, Loyal One President.
“These latest features provide increased flexibility and value for our users, and they can expect even more in the near future.”
About Loyal One
My Loyal One Inc. is an Ottawa-based software company specializing in digital loyalty program solutions. The Loyal One system revolutionizes the concept of retail loyalty program management by replacing those traditional plastic loyalty cards with a multi-vendor, smartphone-based e-card system. Any consumer can sign up as a Loyal One member by downloading and registering the free Loyal One smartphone app, which displays a high-resolution, scannable barcode directly on the user’s smartphone screen. Instantly, the user replaces his scattered collection of traditional plastic loyalty cards with a single loyalty “e-card,” valid for use across all retailers and merchants participating in the Loyal One network. With Loyal One, all of the consumer’s subscriptions to different retail loyalty programs are tracked and managed using a single convenient smartphone app that features a unique loyalty ID. Loyal One makes it easy for any user to collect loyalty points and rewards from multiple retailers while reducing the plastic card count.
Tel: (613) 830-4049
Email: info@myloyalone.com
Website: www.myloyalone.com
Loyal One President named one of Ottawa’s 100 Rising Stars
Loyal One President Jaideep Lal has been named one of Ottawa’s 100 Rising Stars of 2012 by Invest Ottawa, the key organization committed to advancing Ottawa’s globally competitive, knowledge-based institutions and industries.
As described by Invest Ottawa, “Rising Stars are entrepreneurs who are growing exciting start-ups, social enterprises and non-profit organizations, which have been in operation for less than 5 years. These entrepreneurs are visionary leaders, driving change across all industries and sectors, and are shining examples of entrepreneurial excellence in Ottawa.”
“It’s truly an honor to receive this wonderful support and recognition from my peers,” says Mr. Lal. “As President of Loyal One, I’m excited to be part of a vibrant entrepreneurial community that’s doing so much to generate wealth and jobs in the Ottawa region. We at Loyal One will continue our efforts to play a constructive role in this community.”
The accomplishments of Ottawa’s 100 Rising Stars will be formally recognized and celebrated on November 16, 2012 at the Ottawa Entrepreneurship Awards, which are taking place as part of Global Entrepreneurship Week in Ottawa (www.GEWOttawa.ca).
Loyal One App now available in French on iPhone
Loyal One is pleased to announce that its free Loyal One Smartphone App is now available in French on the Apple iPhone device. The company is also preparing to release the French version of its Loyal One app on the Windows Phone device – an official announcement of this will be made soon.
This latest version of the Loyal One app has built-in support for the French language. If the language setting of your phone is set to French, then the app automatically displays in French.
“As the excitement about Loyal One continues to grow, we’ve been getting repeated requests for additional language support, particularly from the many French-speaking consumers in Canada,” said Jaideep Lal, Loyal One President. “So we’re happy to introduce this French-language version of our smartphone app, which brings the benefits of Loyal One to a broader national audience.”
About Loyal One
My Loyal One Inc. is an Ottawa-based software company specializing in digital loyalty program solutions. The Loyal One system revolutionizes the concept of retail loyalty program management by replacing those traditional plastic loyalty cards with a multi-vendor, smartphone-based e-card system. Any consumer can sign up as a Loyal One member by downloading and registering the free Loyal One Smartphone App, which displays a high-resolution, scannable barcode directly on the user’s smartphone screen. Instantly, you replace your scattered collection of traditional plastic loyalty cards with a unique Loyal One barcode, which is valid for use across all retailers and merchants participating in the Loyal One network. With Loyal One, you don’t need to scroll through your phone to find the right store – the same barcode works with all participating Loyal One stores. Loyal One makes it easy to collect loyalty points and rewards from multiple retailers, right from your phone.
Tel: (613) 830-4049
Email: info@myloyalone.com
Website: www.myloyalone.com
Loyal One joins Invest Ottawa as a portfolio company
Loyal One is pleased to announce its status as a portfolio company with Invest Ottawa, the leading economic development organization for the City of Ottawa.
Invest Ottawa www.investottawa.ca is a not-for-profit organization committed to advancing Ottawa’s globally competitive, knowledge-based institutions and industries. As such, it delivers programs and initiatives that increase entrepreneurial momentum, wealth and jobs in Ottawa and the surrounding region. Client companies that are part of the Invest Ottawa portfolio can receive expert assistance on how to grow their business and connect or expand within their sector. Ultimately, the goal of Invest Ottawa is to make Ottawa the best place in Canada to start and grow a knowledge-based business.
“Loyal One is excited to join Invest Ottawa’s portfolio of growing businesses,” comments Jaideep Lal, Loyal One President. “As a member of the thriving entrepreneurial community nurtured by Invest Ottawa, we’ll continue to play an active role in the creation of a sustainable, innovative environment in which all Ottawa-based companies can grow, become profitable and compete at the global level.”
About Loyal One
My Loyal One Inc. is an Ottawa-based software company specializing in digital loyalty program solutions. The Loyal One system revolutionizes the concept of retail loyalty program management by replacing those traditional plastic loyalty cards with a multi-vendor, smartphone-based e-card system. Any consumer can sign up as a Loyal One member by downloading and registering the free Loyal One Smartphone App, which displays a high-resolution, scannable barcode directly on the user’s smartphone screen. Instantly, you replace your scattered collection of traditional plastic loyalty cards with a unique Loyal One barcode, which is valid for use across all retailers and merchants participating in the Loyal One network. With Loyal One, you don’t need to scroll through your phone to find the right store – the same barcode works with all participating Loyal One stores. Loyal One makes it easy to collect loyalty points and rewards from multiple retailers, right from your phone.
Tel: (613) 830-4049
Email: info@myloyalone.com
Website: www.myloyalone.com
Loyal One App now available in French on BlackBerry and Android
Loyal One is pleased to announce that its free Loyal One Smartphone App is now available in French on BlackBerry and Android devices. The company is also preparing to release the French version of its Loyal One app on iPhone and Windows Phone devices – an official announcement of this will be made soon.
This latest version of the Loyal One app has built-in support for the French language. If the language setting of your phone is set to French, then the app automatically displays in French.
“As the excitement about Loyal One continues to grow, we’ve been getting repeated requests for additional language support, particularly from the many French-speaking consumers in Canada,” said Jaideep Lal, Loyal One President. “So we’re happy to introduce this French-language version of our smartphone app, which brings the benefits of Loyal One to a broader national audience.”
About Loyal One
My Loyal One Inc. is an Ottawa-based software company specializing in digital loyalty program solutions. The Loyal One system revolutionizes the concept of retail loyalty program management by replacing those traditional plastic loyalty cards with a multi-vendor, smartphone-based e-card system. Any consumer can sign up as a Loyal One member by downloading and registering the free Loyal One Smartphone App, which displays a high-resolution, scannable barcode directly on the user’s smartphone screen. Instantly, you replace your scattered collection of traditional plastic loyalty cards with a unique Loyal One barcode, which is valid for use across all retailers and merchants participating in the Loyal One network. With Loyal One, you don’t need to scroll through your phone to find the right store – the same barcode works with all participating Loyal One stores. Loyal One makes it easy to collect loyalty points and rewards from multiple retailers, right from your phone.
Tel: (613) 830-4049
Email: info@myloyalone.com
Website: www.myloyalone.com
Loyal One Integrates with Maitre’D POS System
Loyal One is pleased to announce the official integration of its loyalty program platform with the Maitre’D POS software solution from POSERA Software. Restaurants and other service vendors using the Maitre’D POS system can now seamlessly deploy the Loyal One solution, allowing them to digitally register loyalty program members and conduct loyalty point transactions at the point of sale.
Loyal One seamlessly integrates loyalty program management into the customer service workflow of the Maitre’D POS system. During any customer transaction, the POS operator can easily add the customer as a member of the merchant’s loyalty program and then add or redeem loyalty points for the customer. The operator can also track each customer’s accumulated point balance. With the Loyal One features added, Maitre’D POS provides enhanced capabilities for merchants to promote and reward customer loyalty, enabling them to develop more effective marketing strategies.
Jaideep Lal, Loyal One President, said, “We’re excited about Loyal One’s integration with Maitre’D. We think the integrated solution will be of great benefit to restaurant operators who are eager to increase customer loyalty through points-based rewards programs.”
About Loyal One
My Loyal One Inc. is an Ottawa-based software company specializing in digital loyalty program solutions. The Loyal One system revolutionizes the concept of retail loyalty program management by replacing those traditional plastic loyalty cards with a multi-vendor, smartphone-based e-card system. Any consumer can sign up as a Loyal One member by downloading and registering the free Loyal One smartphone app, which displays a high-resolution, scannable barcode directly on the user’s smartphone screen. Instantly, the user replaces his scattered collection of traditional plastic loyalty cards with a single loyalty “e-card”, valid for use across all retailers and merchants participating in the Loyal One network. With Loyal One, all of the consumer’s subscriptions to different retail loyalty programs are tracked and managed using a single convenient smartphone app that features a unique loyalty ID. Loyal One makes it easy for any user to collect loyalty points and rewards from multiple retailers, while reducing the plastic card count.
Tel: (613) 830-4049
Email: info@myloyalone.com
Website: www.myloyalone.com
Starbucks rolls out smart phone payments in Canada
Starbucks Corp. (SBUX-Q44.08-0.26-0.59%) wants to cash in on one of its customers’ addictions – to their smart phones – to profit even more from their other addiction – to java.
On Tuesday, the giant chain will break new ground in Canada in offering mobile payment, starting from an iPhone and, in the coming months, Android and BlackBerry devices. It’s betting that by transforming shoppers’ phones into mobile wallets, it will get consumers to splurge more – and return more often.
“Many of our customers leave home without a wallet, but almost never leave home without their phone,” said Adam Brotman, senior vice-president of digital ventures at Starbucks.
Starbucks’ mobile payment may be the tipping point for other merchants, along with telecommunications, technology and financial services players launching their own mainstream digital wallets, aiming to turn today’s checkout into a relic. Retailers are counting on new technology to make payment as easy as tapping a phone at a scanner, hoping to spur customers to make more impulse purchases while automatically offering coupons and loyalty rewards so they will buy even more.
But digital payment has been touted as the holy grail of improved commerce for years – and has yet to deliver in a big way. Current tests, such as the free Google Wallet app in the United States, are limited because they run only on single cellphone models, requiring a special “near-field communications” (NFC) chip that will become a widespread cellphone feature in the next few years. Starbucks isn’t waiting for NFC to take off, though; it’s rolling the dice with a mobile bar code app to take the hassle out of checking out.
A speedy checkout is vital for retailers so customers don’t abandon their purchase in a long lineup at the register. A mobile-payment purchase takes about six seconds, two-thirds faster than the time to do a credit card purchase, according to Bank of Montreal and MasterCard. Over all, mobile payments can rev up sales between 25 and 40 per cent, MasterCard says.
“Retailers want to move customers on quickly and move on to the next customer,” said David Heatherly, vice-president of payment products at Bank of Montreal, which in September introduced its own touch-less payment technology, enabled by placing a PayPass sticker on phones. “That is the future and that future is approaching quite rapidly.”
Starbucks’s free iPhone app requires users to enter their prepaid Starbucks card number and tap a scanner. The company learned from its experience in the United States, where it launched mobile payment this past January and has processed more than 20 million transactions digitally since, Mr. Brotman said. About 65 per cent of Starbucks’ U.S. customers have smart phones, which is similar in Canada, he said.
Starbucks customers tend to spend a bit more when they use mobile payment, he said. “You might be willing to pick up a CD or something else at the counter because it’s so easy.”
Starbucks will experiment with NFC chip technology as it becomes more mainstream, he said.
Already, Google is counting on its new phone software, Google Wallet, to become the alternative to real wallets. Other tests around the world, including in Canada, are also shifting payment to the phone.
“This probably has been the most overpromised opportunity,” said Richard McLaughlin, senior vice-president of global products at MasterCard Worldwide, which is a partner in Google Wallet. “We’ve been talking about the smart phone being a loyalty and couponing communication device for probably 10 years. It’s now ready to be a reality.”
Canada is a prime market for mobile payment because people here were early adopters of an array of financial-services technologies, from online banking to automatic teller machines, he said.
Retailers will be key beneficiaries of mobile payment, partly because of its potential to reduce their tab for handling cash or credit cards, he said. They now spend 1.5 per cent to 2 per cent of their sales on, for instance, handling, storing and depositing their cash, he said.
Thousands of stores in Canada under such banners as Loblaws, Sobeys, Tim Hortons and McDonald’s are equipping their scanners to accept NFC-enabled payments, he said. “By next year, there will be a lot of stuff on the go that is currently not on the go here in Canada.”
Why Pay Full Price?
It’s starting to feel like you should almost never have to pay full price.
With retailers’ rewards programs getting increasingly sophisticated, preferred customers can get discounts: points they can turn into store credit, coupons printed on sales receipts, the opportunity to buy merchandise before the general public—even secret password and birthday sales.
At Talbots, Black Card customers—anyone with a store-branded credit card who spends $1,000 annually—were given a sneak peek and chance to order the spring collection early. Old Navy, the bargain-priced division of Gap Inc., had a secret sale last year, with its $8.50 camisoles for $2. To receive the discount, shoppers had to flash a coupon or say to a sales associate “Cami for me.” The clothing store Anthropologie offers discounts to Anthro card members on their birthdays. DSW does as well, along with another coupon on shoppers’ half-birthdays.
What began as a barcode fob for grocery store coupons in the 1990s has evolved into a high-tech way for retailers to track the every move of their biggest, most-frequent spenders. Stores can market to shoppers directly based on the products they buy, aiming to win an even greater share of their wallets, in retailer parlance. Of course, to reap rewards, shoppers must first establish themselves as frequent customers. About three out of four Americans belong to a retail loyalty card program, according to ACI Worldwide, which handles electronics payment for hundreds of retailers and financial institutions.
This discounts are worth it to stores in order to keep the most loyal customers happy. Fifteen percent of a retailer’s most loyal customers can account for as much as half of its sales, says Keith Jelinek, director in the retail division of consulting firm AlixPartners. It takes between 12 and 20 new customers to replace a lost loyal customer, says Keith Colbourn, vice president, global loyalty practice leader at Dunnhumby, an analytics firm that works with retail giants Tesco PLC and Macy’s Inc.
CVS/Pharmacy connected its rewards program with its social media efforts. Just before Easter, CVS/Pharmacy asked its Facebook fans to vote on whether they liked Cadbury Creme Eggs or marshmallow Peeps. Coupons for the winning item—$1 off two eggs—were loaded into the in-store coupon center for one day. “We delivered real value, instantaneously, on the basis of their interests,” says Rob Price, chief marketing officer for CVS/Pharmacy, the retail division of CVS Caremark Corp.
To get discounts, shoppers must hand over personal data. Often, the more details given, the more discounts received, which brings up the issue of data privacy and the corresponding pitfalls.
Floor staff at J.Crew, Ann Taylor and other retailers routinely ask shoppers for their email addresses and nearly every chain store, from Walgreens to Wet Seal, has a spot on its website for consumers to sign up to receive store emails. It’s a quick, cheap way for a retailer to tell shoppers about deals and discounts—and arguably the least invasive piece of information a shopper can give a retailer.
In order to receive their emails, many retailers also will require a name and, in some cases a ZIP code or a date of birth. Some take it a step further and ask users to set up an online account that requires a login, allowing a retailer to track how often they visit the site, as well as what items draw their attention.
At J.C. Penney, shoppers can give a cellphone number to receive as many as eight mobile coupons a month. Old Navy shoppers can receive text messages with details on the featured item of the week.
To sign up for a retailer’s loyalty program usually requires name, mailing address and telephone number. These programs assign shoppers a number, often a barcode or a phone number, essentially applying a digital tracking number to each customer.
DSW uses this barcode-generated purchase data to make its marketing more relevant. “If someone is only interested in buying hiking boots, there’s probably not a lot of point in talking to them about the latest high heels that have come in,” says Derek Ungless, chief marketing officer.
Supermarket chain Kroger Co. sends individualized mailings to millions of its rewards program members several times a year. The packets of coupons from the store as well as its suppliers are based on each shopper’s habits. “Like snowflakes, no two are alike,” says Ted Sarosy, vice president of loyalty for Kroger.
Now, retailers are devising ways to track barcode holders outside the store. CVS, which has 67 million loyalty card members, recently offered fans of its Beauty Club Facebook page a free antibacterial product. For the voucher, shoppers had to enter their ExtraCare number and email address. “That’s another way for us to fingerprint the customer to give them more personalized value,” said CVS’s Mr. Price.
More than 7,100 CVS locations have in-store coupon centers, computerized columns that, when shoppers swipe a rewards card, spit out personalized coupons. The center is designed to “influence their shopping visit that day,” says Mr. Price. The deals attached to a receipt are meant to encourage another visit.
The most details a consumer gives are through a branded credit card, which provides detailed financial information. To encourage use of its credit card, Target Corp. began last fall offering shoppers 5% off every purchase with its branded credit card, the only loyalty program offered by the big box chain.
With Gap Inc.’s credit card program, shoppers get advance notice of sales, exclusive offers and 10% off all Tuesday purchases. Shoppers receive five points for each dollar spent at one of the company’s brands.
Neiman Marcus Group Inc.’s loyalty program, InCircle, is a credit card that can only be used at Neiman Marcus’s five divisions, which include Bergdorf Goodman and Last Call. The card allows the retailer to keep track of purchases, as well as shopping frequency and any cross-shopping among its brands. The loyalty program “can retain customers, it can get new customers, it could win back anybody who has lapsed,” says Maggie Lucas, director of marketing.
Although the majority of apparel and accessories retailers tie their loyalty program to a credit card, some companies have begun to unbundle the two as skittish customers have shunned credit in favor of cash or debit payments.
By adding a non-credit-card loyalty program with free enrollment, retailers widen the appeal of the rewards program. Chains with non-credit card loyalty programs include Sears Holdings Corp., which includes Kmart, Modell’s Sporting Goods and teen retailer American Eagle Outfitters Inc.
Women’s clothing chain Talbots Inc. split its rewards program into three parts in 2009 as part of a brand overhaul. Along with its existing charge card, the company added a non-credit card, allowing it to capture information about its in-store shoppers similar to that of online shoppers. If someone makes a purchase online or through the catalogue, “we instantly capture her information,” says Lori Wagner, chief marketing officer.
Most systems dole out points based on the amount spent. Members of the DSW Rewards program earn a $10 certificate for every 1,500 points earned. (Points differ based on full price or clearance items, but equate to roughly 10 points per $1 spent.) Customers who rack up more than 6,000 points each year achieve Premiere Rewards status. That top tier of customers can receive triple points on purchases two days a year of their choosing.
The company mails out certificates to its 16 million rewards members because customers have said they prefer that method. “It’s not a bill,” says Kelly Cook, vice president of customer strategy and engagement. “It is happiness.”
Nielsen: 28 Percent of U.S. Wireless Users Have Smartphones
More people are opting for smartphones these days, with 28 percent of the U.S. mobile market snapping up the devices in the third quarter, according to Monday data from Nielsen.
The report attributed the growth to the popularity of Apple’s iPhone, RIM’s BlackBerry phones, and Android-based devices.
RIM and Apple are the top two operating systems in the U.S., with 30 percent and 28 percent of the market, respectively. Google’s Android platform, while growing, sits at third place as the OS of choice for 19 percent of smartphone subscribers. However, in the last six months, Android devices were the most popular choice for those purchasing a new smartphone.
Globally, the U.S. smartphone penetration rate is similar to that in the U.K. However, more users have adopted the advanced devices in Spain and Italy, with 37 and 33 percent penetration, respectively, last quarter. Nielsen said the Symbian platform is the most popular OS in the European market.
In terms of operating system demographics, Apple had the highest amount of users under 44 while RIM had the most users over 45, and half of Android users are younger than 35 years old. Broken down by race, Nielsen found smartphone owners to be more a bit more diverse than those with feature phones. About 62 percent of smartphone owners are white, compared to 76 percent of feature phone owners. About 19 percent of Hispanics own smartphones, compared to 9 percent with feature phones. There was not a huge difference between the percentage of African Americans and Asians with smartphones versus feature phones.
The study showed that the number of smartphone users has surged; in the last six months, 41 percent of those purchasing a new phone chose a smartphone rather than a standard feature phone, a 6 percent increase from last quarter.
More smartphone users mean more people online. According to a International Telecommunications Union study, two billion people will be online by the end of 2010, and increased smartphone penetration is a factor.
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