The Loyalty Newswire from The Smart Marketer
From the Editor
Joyful Monday!
Alibaba, China’s main tech and e-commerce firm, is launching an revolutionary cross-service loyalty program in a strategic effort to reclaim its dominance within the nation’s extremely aggressive e-commerce market.
And US retailers are celebrating the ruling of a District Court docket decide that the Federal Reserve’s longstanding cap on debit card swipe charges is against the law. The ruling is a victory for retailers of their battle with banks and fee networks over the charges.
Launching what seems as a Center East model of BILT Rewards, Attire Group’s Membership Attire (UAE) partnered with PRYPCO Blocks to rework purchasing rewards into property possession.
And – in a IYKYK second – Buc-ee’s ranked #4 in an America’s Finest Retailers survey and #1 on Newsweek’s Prime Comfort Retailer record.
These are just some headlines and there may be way more information to learn on this week’s Newswire.
We’re right here that can assist you succeed. Tell us how we might help.
Invoice Hanifin, Managing Editor, The Smart Marketer
Brief Takes
Alibaba Upgrades 88VIP in Bid to Reclaim E-Commerce Management
China’s main tech and e-commerce firm Alibaba is launching an revolutionary cross-service loyalty program in a strategic effort to reclaim its dominance within the nation’s extremely aggressive e-commerce market. The brand new initiative, centered round its flagship platform Taobao, goes past conventional purchasing by integrating companies like meals supply and journey right into a unified person expertise.
The corporate’s current loyalty program, 88VIP, will function the muse for this expanded service mannequin. As a part of this plan, the meals supply service Ele.me and journey reserving platform Fliggy have been built-in into Alibaba’s core e-commerce unit.
US District Court docket Guidelines in Favor of Retailers in Debit Card Price Case
A US federal decide has dominated that the Federal Reserve’s longstanding cap on debit card swipe charges is against the law, siding with retailers who had challenged the charge restrict as larger than what’s allowed beneath the regulation. The ruling is a victory for retailers of their battle with banks and fee networks over the charges.
In a press launch, The Nationwide Retail Federation welcomed the choice, saying “As retailers have argued for 14 years, the Fed’s broad try to permit massive banks to basically cost rent-seeking charges for debit card transactions is against the law,” NRF Chief Administrative Officer and Basic Counsel Stephanie Martz stated.
Tide Rewards Launches to Assist Small Companies Save Extra on On a regular basis Spending
Tide, the UK’s main enterprise administration platform, has simply launched Tide Rewards, a brand new cashback characteristic designed to assist small companies save extra on on a regular basis spending.
Powered by Valuedynamx, Tide members can now earn cashback with 100+ well-known UK manufacturers, together with Apple, Sainsbury’s, Deliveroo, Wickes, and Currys and extra, just by utilizing their Tide card. In addition they profit from unique, personalised provides aligned to their spending habits and enterprise wants, making rewards extra related and precious.
Snipp Launches New Program with Digital Ventures Unit (DVU) of NutriAsia (Philippines)
Snipp Interactive Inc. (“Snipp”) pronounces the launch of an revolutionary, multi-brand rewards program for the Digital Ventures Unit (DVU) of NutriAsia Inc., a number one title in meals and drinks within the Philippines. Snipp is a worldwide supplier of digital advertising promotions, rebates, and loyalty options.
The brand new initiative is designed to drive model engagement throughout the corporate’s intensive portfolio, together with family staples like Datu Puti, Silver Swan, UFC, Mang Tomas, and Golden Fiesta, whereas constructing lasting buyer loyalty and producing highly effective shopper intelligence for actionable insights.
Attire Group’s Membership Attire (UAE) companions with PRYPCO Blocks to rework purchasing rewards into property possession
Attire Group, a worldwide trend and life-style retail conglomerate based mostly in Dubai, has introduced a strategic partnership between its flagship loyalty programme, Membership Attire, and PRYPCO Blocks, the Dubai-based fractional actual property possession platform. Collectively, they’re introducing Spend to Make investments, a brand new means for customers to show their on a regular basis purchases right into a step in direction of proudly owning a house.
Membership Attire has been greater than a platform to gather factors. Within the UAE alone, it has constructed a group of just about 4 million members who get pleasure from personalised rewards, unique experiences, and direct entry to among the most liked trend, footwear, magnificence and life-style manufacturers on the earth. Now, with Spend to Make investments, members can store their favorite Attire Group manufacturers and use the factors they earn to purchase a share in Dubai’s vibrant property market via the PRYPCO Blocks app.
Australian trend retailer SHEIKE has launched its first ever loyalty program
The inaugural loyalty initiative in its 46 12 months historical past, SHEIKE Society, options 4 membership tiers, is designed to reward prospects for his or her purchases and engagement with the model and join the digital and bodily purchasing expertise for patrons.
“Our new loyalty program marks an thrilling first for our model,” stated Mel Grafton, Head of Digital and CRM, SHEIKE. “It goes past factors and perks – it’s a method to have a good time our group and construct deeper, extra significant connections with our prospects.”
Platypus Footwear (Aus) launches new Kicks Membership
Platypus Footwear has launched a brand new loyalty program referred to as “Kicks Membership,” partnering with Join by Reside Nation to focus on Gen Z customers via music and community-focused experiences. This system provides unique perks like early entry to product launches and occasions, in addition to alternatives to attend reside music occasions and collaborations. Members also can earn rewards and unlock member-only offers.
Members should choose in for advertising communications and may earn a $10 voucher for each complete $100 spent in a transaction (excludes delivery). The voucher is legitimate for 90 days earlier than expiring and voucher redemption can solely be utilized on transactions over $100 (excluding delivery
Information From Down Beneath
Here’s a abstract of key information objects within the Australia and New Zealand loyalty market. Information is offered by Simon Rowles at Ellipsis & Co.
Interchange caps are coming
- The Reserve Financial institution of Australia’s proposing to cut back interchange domestically to 0.3% of transaction worth. That is down from 0.8% presently and consists of elimination of the weighted-average interchange benchmark of 0.5%. Banks warn this might dismantle loyalty and rewards packages and improve cardholder charges.
Bother at Qantas
- Loyalty breach – Attorneys have filed a consultant criticism with the Workplace of the Australian Info Commissioner towards Qantas over the cyber-attack that compromised the information of 5.7 million prospects. It alleges Qantas didn’t fairly defend the information at its Manila name middle.
- Qantas Frequent Flyer devalues – Qantas Frequent Flyer raised the variety of factors required for Basic Reward flights by 5% – 20%. Members may also earn as much as 25% extra factors on home flights, and extra Basic Reward seats are being added throughout the community.
Cordial Releases ‘Manufacturers Battle for Consideration as AI Redefines the Funnel’ Report
Cordial, the chief in messaging for enterprise retail advertising groups, launched a brand new report uncovering 3 truths reshaping advertising: Manufacturers wrestle to interrupt via the noise, private AI brokers are the brand new gatekeepers, and know-how consolidation is accelerating.
Combining the survey outcomes of 1,000 U.S. customers and 30 advertising executives, Cordial’s report discovered that Millennials and Gen Z repeatedly use AI platforms like ChatGPT, Perplexity and Claude all through their purchasing journey. Regardless of this rising pattern, almost half of all manufacturers (47%) preserve minimal or no AI agent presence, whereas solely 7% have developed complete AI optimization methods.
Work Tendencies: 6 in 10 Gen Z Staff Are Quiet Vacationing This Summer time
ResumeBuilder.com, the premier useful resource for skilled resume templates and profession recommendation, printed a brand new survey report exploring the prevalence of “quiet vacationing” in 2025. The observe happens when staff take time without work with out formally requesting it, usually persevering with to work or sustaining the looks of working whereas away.
The survey discovered that 41% of staff have taken a quiet trip this 12 months, and 39% have already or plan to take action this summer season. The survey additionally discovered that 3 in 4 quiet vacationers maintained the looks of working a full day.
Comfort Retailer Buc-ee’s Ranked #4 on America’s Finest Retailers 2025 record
The rating, compiled by Newsweek and Statista, included 210 manufacturers on the 2025 record. Buc-ee’s landed within the high 10, coming in at No. 4 with a rating of 92.78. Buc-ee’s is the one comfort retailer chain that made the highest 10, which additionally included manufacturers comparable to Cartier, Golf Galaxy, LEGO, Pink Wing Footwear, Russell Stover, Tory Burch, Vera Wang and Von Maur.
In what has turn out to be a phenomenon for US highway warriors, Buc-ee’s shops are huge in and out. The typical measurement of a Buc-ee’s journey middle is round 50,000 to 75,000 sq. ft, with about 100 gasoline pumps on website. There are presently 54 Buc-ee’s in operation and it has turn out to be the equal to a vacationer attraction for US highway warriors, additionally rating #1 in Newsweek’s finest American comfort retailer record.
The NEW Bond Loyalty Report™ explores key shifts in loyalty and the model who win
Bond, a number one insights-driven buyer loyalty and engagement firm, has launched The Bond Loyalty Report 2025 version in partnership with Visa. Now in its fifteenth 12 months, the report breaks down the manufacturers which might be providing impactful loyalty experiences and showcases new challenges and options for manufacturers in a aggressive market house.
The report finds that shopper loyalty and engagement packages are extra standard than ever however what initially introduced prospects right into a program by way of factors and discounting has modified. Delivering on experiences and entry is now turning into extra related to driving true buyer loyalty.
Obtain an government abstract right here.
What’s Energy and How can we Outline it?
Final week Fortune launched its second annual 100 Most Highly effective Individuals in Enterprise rating. In the event you should know, Nvidia’s Jensen Huang changed Elon Musk on high this 12 months. The article raised an attention-grabbing query: what precisely is energy and the way can we outline it for such an inventory?
The methodology utilized by Fortune applies six standards, evaluating the dimensions and well being of a frontrunner’s enterprise, together with their innovativeness, affect, and profession trajectories, in addition to their affect outdoors their organizations. How would you adapt this query for the worldwide buyer loyalty enterprise?
Jobs in Loyalty
There are numerous gifted folks on the lookout for full time and contract positions in loyalty advertising. Happily, there are alternatives out there from each manufacturers and suppliers. We record a sampling of what we’re conscious of right here.
Please click on via the hyperlinks if offered or contact us right here to be taught extra and apply for these positions.
- VP Loyalty with a high 20 World model based mostly on the West Coast of america. Please ship indications of curiosity instantly to phil@greyspacematters.com.
- Loyalty Strategies – Mission Supervisor and different positions out there.
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