Leaders in Customer Loyalty, Powered by Loyalty360

Send us Fan Mail In an era where retail continues to evolve at breakneck speed, Office Depot and OfficeMax are setting a new standard for how customer loyalty is earned, nurtured, and scaled. With hybrid work as the new norm and customer expectations growing more complex, Office Depot is meeting the moment with a bold blend of personalized service, smart data use, and culture-driven execution.  At...

Send us Fan Mail How Loyalty Principles Drive Impact in the Nonprofit Sector  Loyalty professionals spend much of their time optimizing engagement, designing value exchanges, and driving long-term brand affinity. While these strategies are typically associated with commercial brands, they’re just as relevant, and arguably more critical, in the nonprofit sector, where emotional commitment and susta...

Send us Fan Mail Bringing Loyalty to Life with an Authentic, Brand-First Approach  Since its founding in 1963, Portillo’s has built a loyal following with its crave-worthy Chicago-style street food, from iconic Italian beef sandwiches to its famous chocolate cake. Customers don’t just dine at Portillo’s—they celebrate there, creating memories that span generations. Now, with the launch of its firs...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to the latest installment of Leaders in Customer Loyalty , the podcast where Loyalty360 sits down with some of the most innovative and accomplished leaders in customer loyalty, engagement, and experience. As part of our Executive Spotlight series, we’re excited to feature a conversation with Per Jensen, Director of Loyalty at Stop & Shop.  Per brings a global perspecti...

Send us Fan Mail First Tech Federal Credit Union has a long-standing history of serving individuals in the tech industry, providing financial services tailored to their unique needs. In a recent interview, Mairi Burns, Vice President of Brand Marketing at First Tech, discussed the organization’s strategic vision, customer loyalty initiatives, and the recent launch of their ambitious First Tech Bey...

Send us Fan Mail In this edition of Loyalty360’s Executive Spotlight , we speak with Don Smith, Chief Consulting Officer at Capillary Technologies. With nearly two decades of experience at Brierley, now part of Capillary, Don offers unique insight into the evolving loyalty landscape — from program design and advanced analytics to the role of AI-driven personalization and member-controlled experien...

Send us Fan Mail For many, Applebee’s is more than just your neighborhood bar and grill, it’s a place where lifelong memories are made. Whether it’s a first date, a post-game meal with teammates, or a family gathering, the brand has fostered deep emotional connections with its guests for generations. By focusing on personalization, relevance, and employee engagement, Applebee’s is redefining custo...

Send us Fan Mail Loyalty programs are undergoing a transformation, driven by shifting consumer expectations, technological advancements, and an increased focus on delivering real value. As brands navigate this evolving landscape, they’re making bold moves to refine, reinvent, and, in some cases, completely overhaul their loyalty strategies.  In this installment of Leaders in Customer Loyalty: Indu...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to another Leaders in Customer Loyalty: Executive Spotlight , where we bring you insights from top executives driving innovation and excellence in customer engagement. Today, we’re thrilled to feature Aly Blawat, Senior Director of Customer Strategy at Blain’s Farm and Fleet. She is a seasoned leader in customer loyalty and the driving force behind Blain’s rewards programs...

Send us Fan Mail Cruises.com has unveiled Cruises.com Rewards, the cruise industry’s first points-based loyalty program, offering travelers the flexibility to earn and redeem points on any cruise booked through their platform. This loyalty program is unique as it enables cruisers to immediately redeem their points for onboard credit, cash back, merchandise, and more, enhancing the overall cruise e...

Send us Fan Mail As part of the Leaders in Customer Loyalty: Industry Voices series, we had the opportunity to speak with Alexa Pak , Customer Success Lead of EMEA at Talon. One . Pak brings extensive expertise in helping brands enhance their loyalty programs through strategic innovation and personalization. In this discussion, she shares her insights on key trends that will shape customer loyalty...

Send us Fan Mail In our first Executive Spotlight of the year Loyalty360 CEO Mark Johnson dives into an energizing conversation with Amy Barnett, the Vice President of Digital Experience and Loyalty at Cracker Barrel, as part of the Leaders in Customer Loyalty Series. From spearheading a loyalty program that now drives 30% of Cracker Barrel’s sales to shaping an iconic brand’s transformation in to...

Send us Fan Mail Customer loyalty in the grocery industry is no longer just about discounts and rewards points. It is about creating meaningful connections and offering tangible value in ways that truly resonate. United Supermarkets has embraced this shift by blending gamification, digital engagement, and health-focused initiatives to drive deeper customer loyalty.  To explore this strategy, we sp...

Send us Fan Mail Loyalty programs have evolved far beyond simple points and rewards. In an era where consumers expect hyper-personalized experiences and seamless omnichannel interactions, brands must rethink how they engage and retain customers. From leveraging AI to recalibrating business models, staying ahead requires both innovation and strategic execution.  In this episode of Industry Voices,...

Send us Fan Mail In a beverage industry dominated by coffee culture, iced tea is making a bold statement, thanks to HTeaO. The rapidly growing franchise has transformed a traditionally home-brewed beverage into a sought-after, in-store experience that fosters both emotional and transactional loyalty.   We recently sat down with Heath Nielsen, President of HTeaO, to discuss the company’s journey, i...

Send us Fan Mail Chuck E. Cheese has been a household name in family entertainment for nearly five decades. With 560 locations across 17 countries, the brand has entertained families with children ages 2 to 12 through its unique blend of games, pizza, and birthday celebrations. However, as consumer preferences and economic challenges have shifted, Chuck E. Cheese has adapted with significant inves...

Send us Fan Mail Loyalty is no longer just about points and perks. It is about creating authentic connections and experiences that resonate. In this edition of Loyalty Live, we spoke with Katie Berndt, Vice President of Strategy, Research, and Insights at Phaedon, to uncover the biggest trends in customer loyalty and how brands can rise to meet them. Katie shared grounded, data-driven insights tha...

Send us Fan Mail Brands are constantly exploring innovative ways to engage their audiences and stand out in a crowded marketplace. From leveraging partnerships to gamifying experiences, the loyalty strategies shaping 2025 are redefining how brands connect with their customers on a deeper, more meaningful level. In this edition of Loyalty Live, Loyalty360 speaks with Ellen Green, Vice President of...

Send us Fan Mail When a brand like True Religion—famous for its bold urban casualwear and iconic denim—reimagines its customer loyalty program, it’s more than a refresh. It’s a statement. Under the leadership of Kristen D’Arcy, the brand’s first-ever Chief Marketing Officer, True Religion’s loyalty program has undergone a transformation that has already delivered impressive results. In this podcas...

Send us Fan Mail Brands today face a growing challenge: how to keep loyalty programs engaging and relevant in a market filled with similar offerings. As customers demand more tailored experiences and meaningful interactions, the loyalty landscape is shifting toward smarter integrations, innovative technology, and creative strategies. In this edition of Loyalty Live, Loyalty360 sits down with Aaron...

Send us Fan Mail Loyalty360 recently spoke with Paul Nguyen, Senior Marketing Manager at Upper Deck, a leading brand in the trading card and memorabilia industry. Paul shared valuable insights into Upper Deck’s approach to customer loyalty, particularly through their innovative My MVP 2024 promotion. This program highlights the importance of fan engagement and community-building, two key pillars f...

Send us Fan Mail As marketing, and the technologies powering it, are becoming increasingly complex, brands that are striving to connect with customers on a deeper level must navigate emerging challenges like anonymous website traffic and fragmented data. To stand out, companies must embrace advancements that enhance personalization and drive loyalty without compromising privacy. Enter Wunderkind,...

Send us Fan Mail Loyalty360 had the pleasure of speaking with John Sellers, Head of Rewards at Bank of America and 2024 Loyalty Expo Champion of Customer Loyalty honoree. Bank of America’s Preferred Rewards program boasts 11 million members and leverages technology and engaged associates to provide personalized value. Mark Johnson, CEO of Loyalty360, discussed key perspectives on the customer loya...

Send us Fan Mail As the digital experience becomes a bigger and bigger part of a buyer’s journey, brands must quickly adapt to meet the evolving preferences of their customers. Nowhere is this truer than with Gen Z , a generation that expects seamless, personalized, and mobile-first experiences. Fat Brands, a global leader in franchising with over 2,300 locations and 18 brands, is making strides t...

Send us Fan Mail David’s Bridal stands as a powerhouse in the bridal retail market, with one out of every three brides in the United States walking down the aisle in one of their gowns. Kelly Cook, President of Brand Technology and Finance at David’s Bridal, explains that this prominent position not only fuels their dedication to brides but also their innovative approach to customer loyalty. In a...