You had me at hello, but: What neuromarketing and Big Data miss

I'm a geek. I love big data and ferreting out patterns. Nothing fascinates me more than the burgeoning field of neuromarketing.

The spectacular marketing fail of JC Penney

by Bob Phibbs — CEO, The Retail Doctor

Ron Johnson, Penney's CEO, said last week that "coupons were a drug."

Is Walmart losing out on deeper loyalty by not offering loyalty cards?

by Annamaria Turano — Executive Director, MCAworks

Walmart remains one of the few giant retailers which does not yet offer a customer loyalty card. In the new book, Walmart: Key Insights and Practical Lessons…

Loyalty plan: A compelling showroom model

by Bryan Pearson — President, LoyaltyOne

Recent news stories regarding the trend of "showrooming" have me wondering why more merchants aren't showboating the one feature that distinguishes them from…

Can Penney's squareness lead to loyalty?

by Lisa Biank Fasig — Director, JZMcBride and Associates

Being fair and being loyal are not the same thing. But can one engender the other?

Undressing an online loyalty trend

by Phaedra Hise — Senior Editor, COLLOQUY

Flash-sales online retailer Gilt recently announced that it would be offering discounts based on users' Klout scores. It's all very sexy, using online media to…

Digital payments: Can't generate loyalty without making change

by Bryan Pearson — President, LoyaltyOne

Remember the quaint old days when retail competition merely meant vying for a portion of the consumer's wallet? Well today that competition is literally over…

Loyalty Limelight: Bloomingdale's rewards customers without credit

by Bryan Pearson — President, LoyaltyOne

The program: Bloomingdale's Loyallist Program

Kroger's loyalty plan is fuel for thought

by Lisa Biank Fasig — Director, JZMcBride and Associates

The Kroger Co., the largest traditional supermarket chain in the country, is preparing to release its fourth-quarter and annual earnings March 1, and the…

You're hot and you're cold ...

by Jeff Weidauer — Vice President, Marketing & Strategy, Vestcom International, Inc.

American retailers have been accused of being obsessively consumed with acquiring new customers, but negligent when it comes to retaining existing customers.

On Target

by Phaedra Hise — Senior Editor, COLLOQUY

It will be interesting to see if Target's business falls off or increases in the wake of the recent New York Times coverage of their personalized marketing…

Knock-knock-knocking on loyalty's doors

by Bryan Pearson — President, LoyaltyOne

Never take for granted the mere act of a customer walking through your door. Every time it happens, it symbolizes the passage across many thresholds to…

How price increases led to whopping revenue growth for Kraft

by Dale Furtwengler — President, Furtwengler & Associates, P.C.

A November 2, 2011 Barron's article reports that Kraft Foods' third quarter net revenues grew 11.5 percent in part due to a 7 percent price increase.

Covert loyalty: Treat, or trick?

by Phaedra Hise — Senior Editor, COLLOQUY

Last week I received an invitation to join Zappo's VIP loyalty program. Of course I knew it existed. I had heard that it was a model of customer service and…

Hyundai's Buyer Safety Net: Real protection, or another marketing gimmick?

by Dale Furtwengler — President, Furtwengler & Associates, P.C.

Hyundai recently announced a trade-in guarantee. Buyers of a new Hyundai will know immediately what trade-in value they'll receive on their next purchase.

Identifying and leveraging your VIP customers

by Doug Fleener — President and Managing Partner, Dynamic Experiences Group, LLC

Of course all of your customers are important to the success of your business, but your top customers are even more important. Let's call them your VIPs.…

How to cultivate long-term loyalty

by Peggy Carlaw — VP, Impact Learning Systems

I used to go to the same Chinese Restaurant weekly growing up. My family celebrated birthdays, graduations, and other fun celebrations at this restaurant.

Jewel-Osco’s new strategy: Good business or sheer folly?

by Dale Furtwengler — President, Furtwengler & Associates, P.C.

In a May 3, 2011 Chicago Tribune article Wallin Wong reported that Jewel-Osco "...is continuing to cut prices while tailoring its stores for individual…

When is a reward NOT a reward? A lesson from Panera Bread.

by Dale Furtwengler — President, Furtwengler & Associates, P.C.

In my previous post, "Buying customer loyalty," I railed against reward programs. One restaurant chain, Panera Bread, has proven my point via the type of…

Citi offers easy-peasy redemption option

by Sharon Goldman — Senior Director, COLLOQUY

As we mentioned in our most recent COLLOQUY cover story on today's "squeezed" middle class, offering flexible and simple redemption options is essential for…