Content about Microeconomics

February 21, 2013
Card marketer names new CTO

Brian Michon was named chief technology officer at Cartera Commerce, a Boston-based provider of card-based marketing solutions for merchants, banks and loyalty programs.

Brian Michon was named chief technology officer at Cartera Commerce, a Boston-based provider of card-based marketing solutions for merchants, banks and loyalty programs.

In his new role at Cartera, Michon, a former vp of engineering at Intuit, is expected to drive Cartera’s card-linked offer technology strategy and lead the company’s development, operations and solution delivery teams.

January 14, 2013
Global tech startup personalizes shopping experience

Global technology startup Synqera has launched Simplate, an in-store point-of-sale terminal that provides real-time business-to-consumer media communications, at the National Retail Federation’s 102nd Annual Convention & EXPO.

NEW YORK — Global technology startup Synqera has launched Simplate, an in-store point-of-sale terminal that provides real-time business-to-consumer media communications, at the National Retail Federation’s 102nd Annual Convention & EXPO.

Synqera describes Simplate as one of the first interactive POS terminals that uses big data, such as customer preferences, behavior, demographics and purchasing information, to provide personalized media communications for on-the-spot marketing.

January 4, 2013
Ace adds instant savings to rewards

Oak Brook, Ill.-based Ace Hardware launched Instant Savings, a program for Ace Rewards members that allows them to receive instant discounts at the register.

Oak Brook, Ill.-based Ace Hardware launched Instant Savings, a program for Ace Rewards members that allows them to receive instant discounts at the register.

“We have made it even easier for our customers to shop with Ace by delivering more value and convenience for them,” said John Surane, senior VP, merchandising, marketing, advertising and paint. “We constantly look for ways to add value for our customers, and Instant Savings is a major new exclusive benefit to our Ace Rewards loyalty program that does just that.”

November 14, 2012
Loyalty Programs: One of the Hottest Trends for Retailers in 2013

By Victor Ho, CEO, FiveStars

June 27, 2012
Toys"R"Us enhances loyalty program

Toys"R"Us has enhanced its loyalty program with the launch of an all-new integrated, point-based system that delivers streamlined benefits for members, as well as new and existing "R"Uscredit card holders.

WAYNE, N.J. — Toys"R"Us has enhanced its loyalty program with the launch of an all-new integrated, point-based system that delivers streamlined benefits for members, as well as new and existing "R"Uscredit card holders.

March 8, 2012
Williams-Sonoma puts 2011 to bed with higher profits

Williams-Sonoma ended fiscal 2011 with revenue and earnings growth in its fourth quarter.

SAN FRANCISCO — Williams-Sonoma ended fiscal 2011 with revenue and earnings growth in its fourth quarter. The company reported that net revenues for the fourth quarter of 2011 increased 6.1% to $1.3 billion versus $1.2 billion in the fourth quarter of 2010. The company reported diluted earnings per share on a GAAP basis of $1.17 compared with $1.05 for the same period last year.

November 7, 2011
Free shipping a new incentive for Target loyalty program

Target shoppers have a new incentive for joining the retailer's REDcard Rewards loyalty program: free shipping on Target.com.

MINNEAPOLIS — Target shoppers have a new incentive for joining the retailer's REDcard Rewards loyalty program: free shipping on Target.com. In addition, for the first time Target Debit Cards can be used on Target.com, the company said.

June 7, 2011
Groupon ventures into grocery deals with Big Y

Through a partnership with Incentive Targeting and HaloEffect, Big Y Foods will become the first grocery retailer to offer Groupon deals digitally loaded to shoppers’ loyalty cards, the companies announced.

CHICAGO and CAMBRIDGE, Mass. and SPRINGFIELD, Mass. and BOSTON — Through a partnership with Incentive Targeting and HaloEffect, Big Y Foods will become the first grocery retailer to offer Groupon deals digitally loaded to shoppers’ loyalty cards, the companies announced.

February 1, 2011
What will you do with your 5%?

Another week and another full page ad in Target’s circular touting the REDcard Rewards program launched last fall. Nothing unusual about that right? The 5% savings program has been promoted heavily since is arrival last October to the point where it is impossible to look anywhere in a store and not seen 5% Rewards signs.

What’s different about the most recent ad is it enters some new territory in that Target is touting not only that its prices are low, but that they are in fact the lowest because shoppers are able to take advantage of a low-price promise and then save an additional 5%. The concept and messaging is similar to the situation in the home channel where Home Depot and Lowe’s have nearly identical low-price guarantees. However, they go a step further and promise to beat the competitor’s price by 10%, offering shoppers considerable savings on large-ticket purchases.

Another week and another full page ad in Target’s circular touting the REDcard Rewards program launched last fall. Nothing unusual about that right? The 5% savings program has been promoted heavily since its arrival last October to the point where it is impossible to look anywhere in a store and not seen 5% Rewards signs.

January 7, 2011
Best Buy Dec. comp doesn't damper CES mood

Reporting from the Consumer Electronics Show, Best Buy said that revenue for the fiscal month of December ended Jan. 1, decreased 1.6% to $8.4 billion.

LAS VEGAS - Reporting from the Consumer Electronics Show, Best Buy said that revenue for the fiscal month of December ended Jan. 1, decreased 1.6% to $8.4 billion. The revenue decline for the five-week period, as compared with $8.5 billion in revenue for the five-week period ended Jan. 2, 2010, was due primarily to a comparable-store sales decline of 4% partially offset by the addition of new stores in the past 12 months and the favorable impact of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates.

November 23, 2010
Borders offering early deals to loyalty members

Borders announced that Borders Rewards loyalty program members will be able to use a 50%...

October 26, 2010
Toys'R'Us offering discounts to loyalty program members

Toys"R"Us announced that new and current members of its popular loyalty program, Rewards"R"Us, can earn...

September 22, 2010
Kroger expands fuel rewards program

Kroger announced that it has expanded its relationship with Shell to help customers save at...