Following a brainstorming session in a Canadian hotel room, the founders of Air Miles developed a company that eventually grew to be known as Loyalty One. This was not just a company, but a completely unique way for retailers and service providers to offer a rewards program to its consumer. It changed retail marketing in such a way that a large portion of the industry jumped on board.

This company believes that keeping its employees happy will make its clients happy, which shows as it is frequently listed as one of the premier places to work in Canada. The program does not simply provide rewards for consumers of certain stores. It also gives these stores insightful information regarding the purchasing habits of its consumers.

Customer loyalty to a particular store or chain helps to create profits and keep them at a steady rate. By frequently returning to the same place, a shopper shows their satisfaction with a particular venue. In order to grow profits, the stores must convince current shoppers to buy more and convince new shoppers to come into their place. They can best do this by establishing good word-of-mouth advertising.

When people began discussing the great benefits they were receiving simply by signing up for a loyalty card, others wanted to get in on the experience. Providing coupons for several dollars off of an entire purchase or reduced prices on key items seemed like such a great deal. This encouraged people to change where they were shopping at.

The success and popularity of the Loyalty One program encouraged other chains to make use of its benefits. The company had the foresight to see what kind of data they would be able to collect. This enabled them to see a new direction for retail marketing, which was even more beneficial to the users of the cards. It was extremely pertinent to the retailers, as well.

Once managers for these organizations began to see what they had exactly and understand how it could be of use, they saw the increased profit potential. All they had to do was convince manufacturers to get on board. Coupons were supplied to the consumer for goods similar to what they already bought, only for different brands. This could prove to be extremely beneficial.

There were advantages to be had by all involved. Manufacturers and retailers saw a way to drive sales in a particular direction that suited their needs. Customers saved money and then were given a way to save even more in the future. Everyone felt like they were benefiting from a program that stemmed from a simple little card.

Loyalty One was a game changer in the retail marketing and market research industry. It grew out of three guys in a hotel room to become the premier means for providing customer rewards. As it continues to develop, more stores will seek to provide this type of benefit to its consumers. This will further drive people through the front doors of these chains, continuing the growth and development.

Author Bio: Providing custom strategies for Loyalty cards since 1981, whether you\’re looking for a program update or an enterprise-wide solution, trust the experts.

Category: Marketing
Keywords: sales, merchandising, customer service, purchases, customer loyalty, business management, marketing