Technology | Best New Loyalty Program Awards
WINNER: Stinker Stores Stinker Stores’ new in-app rewards programs offers multiple redemptions with a single scan and stands out with a gamification feature to keep customers engaged. Stinker Stores, with 103 convenience stores across Idaho, Colorado and Wyoming, launched its new Rewards and Gamification app-based loyalty program powered by Liquid Barcodes at the end of June, injecting some fun into the rewards process. Stinker was looking to raise the bar in rewarding its loyal customers with maximum savings. “We wanted to ensure we were providing our customers all the savings that can be harnessed through available incremental funding by utilizing a loyalty program,” explained Shelley Coleman, category and merchandising manager for Stinker. “Given our customer loyalty throughout the pandemic, the timing seemed better than ever to return the highest level of savings possible to our loyal patrons in a way that is both fun and easy for them to use.”
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The loyalty program is available via the Stinker Stores app, which can be downloaded for free from Apple or Google app stores. “The fun, iconic nature of our Mascot, Polecat Pete, really comes through in our app and provides both rewards, games and smiles for our customers,” she said. Stinker’s goal is to deliver convenience for customers through a ‘one scan’ process. In other words, when customers scan the app at the point of sale, they can immediately receive a host of rewards, including dispensed beverage savings, award stamps or digital ‘card punches,’ and engage savings from bundled item purchases — all at the same time with just a single scan. “Our IT department performed extensive research on a loyalty program that would provide our customers with savings, fun engagement and deliver a point of difference for us as the retailer,” Coleman said. “Liquid Barcodes in conjunction with the app developer, Rovertown, not only delivered that, but also shined as great partners to work with from ingenuity to rollout.” The program is app-based, with no card option, which Stinker thinks best aligns with how its customers want to redeem and earn rewards. “Given the percentage of our customers who own smartphones, this seemed like the best fit for convenience, ease of use and reward redemption,” Coleman said.
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