KickBack Rewards Systems to Exhibit at the National Restaurant Association (NRA) Show

KickBack Rewards Systems to Exhibit at the National Restaurant Association (NRA) Show

Restaurant operators and fast-food retailers looking to drive loyalty can learn all about KickBack’s innovative loyalty solutions by visiting the KickBack team at Booth 9524 at The National Restaurant (NRA) Show from May 18-21 in Chicago. KickBack Rewards Systems, an Idaho-based rewards and loyalty solutions provider, is pleased to announce that it will makes its [...]

The Importance of Making a Great First Impression

The Importance of Making a Great First Impression

Something as simple a smile and a “thank you” goes a long way in elevating the customer service experience. By Jim Callahan. The saying goes, and I so agree, that you never get a second chance to make a first impression.In the business world, when you are expected to be a leader, this is something [...]

Is Consumer Trust Eroding?

Is Consumer Trust Eroding?

New LoyaltyOne study looks at customer attitudes toward divulging personal information. LoyaltyOne has released new loyalty findings that show when it comes to privacy, U.S. consumers are still protecting some of their personal information as much as they do their social security number. Of the 1,000 U.S. consumers that responded to a recent online survey, [...]

Valero Makes Connections Through New Website

Valero Makes Connections Through New Website

Valero Corner Stores strengthens its relationship with loyal customers through its new CornerStore4U.com Website. Valero Retail Holdings Inc. Corner Store locations delve deeper into the social media world as the company creates the new CornerStore4U.com Website and a store app. The launch enabled more than 100,000 consumers to participate in the free music and movies [...]

CITGO Freedom Oil Celebrates Its 10th Year In Business

CITGO Freedom Oil Celebrates Its 10th Year In Business

Freedom Oil celebrates its 10th anniversary by offering a month-long rewards program to its loyal customer base. Freedom Oil, a Warsaw, Ind.-based CITGO Marketer, is celebrating its 10th anniversary by offering loyal customers with its Freedom Rewards Program. Customers can earn cents-off-per-gallon rewards based on store purchases marked at Freedom Express locations through Aug. 31. [...]

WilcoHess Partners With OpenStore by GasBuddy

WilcoHess Partners With OpenStore by GasBuddy

“With these social and mobile initiatives, our company will be better equipped to meet our customers’ needs on a much more tailored level,” says WilcoHess spokesperson. Over the past year, WilcoHess has strategically realigned its non-traditional marketing and branding strategies to focus on tapping into a new industry demographic and, in turn, drive sales by [...]

SymphonyIRI Says Shopper Marketing Is Critical To Retailers

SymphonyIRI Says Shopper Marketing Is Critical To Retailers

SymphonyIRI reports that “shopper-centric” retailers perform stronger than those focused more on the products. SymphonyIRI Group released its latest Times & Trends report, “Shopper Marketing: Every Decision Begins & Ends with the Shopper” for c-store owners to consider. Amazing products, strong advertising and outstanding stores are useless without shoppers. The shoppers in today’s market demand [...]

Landmark Selects Gilbarco’s Applause TV with Outcast

Landmark Selects Gilbarco’s Applause TV with Outcast

Exclusive forecourt media solution for up to 300 Houston area sites. Houston based Landmark Industries, operator of Timewise convenience stores, has selected Gilbarco Veeder-Root’s Applause TV with Outcast as the exclusive digital forecourt media solution for 300 company operated and dealer sites. Gilbarco and Outcast Media were first to market with the award-winning Applause TV, [...]

Cenex Launches Tanks of Thanks

Cenex Launches Tanks of Thanks

First of its kind, community-driven initiative celebrates customers’ good deeds and generates engagement from retailers. Cenex—the CHS energy brand—has launched a new a program that recognizes and rewards people for the everyday acts of kindness that make our communities a better place to live. As part of a new marketing campaign launched last December, Tanks [...]

Are Customers Always Right?

Are Customers Always Right?

As anyone even remotely associated with the service industry will tell you the customer is king. But a new book is challenging that theory and takes a critical look at the true value of disgruntled customers. For example, in a retail setting, the squeaky wheel almost always winds up getting the grease. Customers tend to [...]

The Impact of Restrooms on Food Sales

The Impact of Restrooms on Food Sales

Poor safety and sanitation practices will turn customers away. Going above and beyond what’s required is the key to a healthy program. By Howard Riell, Associate Editor. The numbers tell an interesting story: according to a recent research study by Cintas Corp., fully 95% of people avoid patronizing a business in which they have had [...]

Hess Introduces Toy Truck Racing App

Hess Introduces Toy Truck Racing App

2011 Hess racer game app debuts free on Android. Hess Corp. has released of its second edition Hess Toy Truck game app, the Hess Racer Game, on Android. Based on the 2011 Hess Toy Truck and Race Car, the game app extends the company’s 47-year old Hess Toy Truck holiday tradition online and builds on [...]

The Importance of Fully-Stocked Shelves

The Importance of Fully-Stocked Shelves

A survey shows lack of inventory, difficulty finding desired items and long checkout lines are top threats to retaining loyal customers. Nearly 70% of U.S. adults would avoid shopping at a retail store if they encountered empty shelves, according to a nationwide survey commissioned by Galleria Retail Technology Solutions, a provider of retail and category [...]

Cultivating Loyal C-Store Customers

Cultivating Loyal C-Store Customers

An effective rewards program can drive new business and increase the average ticket ring with existing customers. By Howard Riell, Contributing Editor. There was a time when loyalty programs were tools used by large chains to reward customers for their daily business. But the times have changed. Convenience store operators of all sizes are now [...]

Meijer and Quiznos Partner

Meijer and Quiznos Partner

Meijer’s Michigan locations to feature Quiznos. Meijer, a Great Lakes region supercenter chain and grocery retailer based in Michigan, and Quiznos, a quick-service restaurant (QSR) chain and pioneer of the toasted sandwich, have partnered to open Quiznos restaurants inside Meijer locations. The relationship between Quiznos and Meijer is the most recent in a series of [...]