Poundland has launched its nationwide loyalty program, Poundland Perks, across 850 stores and online platforms, marking a significant advancement in high-street retail engagement. The app has rapidly gained popularity, topping UK app charts and amassing over 500,000 downloads shortly after its release.

More Points, More Perks – Just in Time for Christmas

The timing couldn’t be better. As we approach the festive season, Poundland is giving customers the chance to accumulate points on every purchase until December 24. By earning 1 point for every penny spent, shoppers can quickly collect perks – with 5,000 points translating to a £1 voucher. This fast-track savings strategy turns every purchase into a reward, positioning Poundland as a savings destination that doesn’t compromise on choice or convenience.

Spin to Winsday

The app introduces ‘Spin to Winsday,’ a gamified feature available every Wednesday, allowing users to win prizes, points, and exclusive perks. Additionally, Poundland Perks offers over 100 deals on popular brands such as Domestos, TRESemmé, Lynx, and Pot Noodle, ensuring substantial savings on everyday essentials.

£20 Million Tech Transformation

“This investment in our digital ecosystem is about giving customers more ways to save. We want to make Poundland a go-to for everyday savings and exceptional experiences alike.”

Tom Hill, Director of Digital at Poundland

This ambitious launch is part of Poundland’s £20 million investment in a digital overhaul, including faster self-checkouts and seamless in-store technology to enhance the customer experience. The new technology enables smooth integration with the app, so customers can easily track rewards and redeem offers with each visit. It’s a clear sign Poundland is serious about creating a streamlined, tech-driven shopping journey.

Perks On The Move

Extending beyond digital engagement, Poundland has introduced the Perks Caravan, a mobile unit touring the UK to promote the loyalty program. Offering free coffees and facilitating on-the-spot app sign-ups, this initiative blends digital convenience with community interaction, enhancing brand engagement nationwide.

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McDonald’s Monopoly is one of the most iconic marketing promotions in history. For 35 years and counting, this legendary promotion has had customers nationwide eagerly peeling, collecting, and hoping for their big win. Today, the UK launches the 2024 edition, offering 60 million prizes, from MINI electric cars to all-inclusive holidays. We reveal the five key secrets behind its enduring success, including immediate gratification through instant rewards, customer retention driven by collect-to-win mechanics, and a simple, nostalgic format that has woven McDonald’s Monopoly deep into the fabric of popular culture. So, let’s roll the dice, ‘pass GO,’ and unlock the winning formula behind this fan-favourite promotion!

Why Has McDonald’s Monopoly Become So Iconic?

1. Instant Wins Keep the Momentum

At the heart of this promotion is the thrill of instant gratification. The ability to win a free drink, fries, or dessert immediately keeps customers engaged. Unlike promotions that involve lengthy forms or long wait times, McDonald’s delivers rewards on the spot, perfectly aligning with the fast-food model—It’s fast food meets fast rewards.

 “There is nothing quite like that feeling of winning with the Monopoly Game at Macca’s – the surprise of finding a winning ticket, the anticipation as you wait for your prize to be revealed, and the rush of joy as you finally complete a property set or get an instant win to perk up your day.

Tobi Fukushima, National Marketing Manager for McDonald’s

2. Driving Repeat Visits

Big-ticket prizes such as cars and luxury vacations aren’t won in a single visit. The collect-to-win system requires customers to gather multiple game pieces, encouraging them to return repeatedly. This transforms McDonald’s Monopoly into a sustained event, driving foot traffic and building customer loyalty throughout the six-week campaign.

3. It’s an Event, Not Just a Promotion

For many, the return of McDonald’s Monopoly is more than just a promotion—it’s an annual event. Entire communities engage by trading game pieces, strategising on how to complete sets, and celebrating their wins on social media. Fans eagerly anticipate its return, much like other seasonal phenomena such as Black Friday or an iPhone release.

4. “Peel, Play, Repeat”

The beauty of McDonald’s Monopoly lies in its simplicity. Peeling off a sticker to reveal a prize is engaging, tactile, and addictive. Yet, this straightforward mechanic has been scaled up with billions of game pieces and hundreds of millions of prizes. Even though the chances are small, the dream of winning £100,000 or a new car keeps customers hooked. It taps into the same psychology that drives lotteries, and it works just as well here.

5. FOMO is Real

The limited-time nature of McDonald’s Monopoly leverages the powerful force of Fear of Missing Out (FOMO). Customers know that they have only a short window to collect game pieces and win prizes, which encourages frequent visits. This sense of urgency drives a peak period for sales, as no one wants to miss their chance to win big.

The Secret Sauce to McDonald’s Monopoly Success

Since its launch in 1987, McDonald’s Monopoly has established itself as one of the most engaging promotions in marketing history. Its enduring popularity stems from a winning formula of instant rewards, collect-to-win mechanics, and a simple, nostalgic format that resonates with cultural relevance and popular culture.

The “Peel, Play, Repeat” mechanic offers immediate gratification, allowing customers to win prizes like free food items instantly, which perfectly aligns with McDonald’s fast service model. The immediate rewards—such as free drinks, fries, or desserts—satisfy consumer desires for quick service and quick wins, maintaining their engagement with the brand.

A collect-to-win system adds a layer of strategy, requiring customers to gather multiple pieces to win larger prizes, transforming the promotion into an ongoing event rather than a one-time interaction. This encourages frequent return visits, reinforcing customer loyalty as participants are motivated to keep coming back for another chance to progress toward a bigger prize.

By employing a limited-time availability, the promotion taps into the powerful force of FOMO (Fear of Missing Out), driving repeat visits and boosting sales during its run. With all these elements in play, what do you think is the key to its lasting success? Is it the thrill of instant rewards, the excitement of rare prizes, the FOMO effect, or perhaps the nostalgia of this legendary brand partnership? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!

The post Peel, Play, and Win! The Magic of McDonald’s Monopoly Returns appeared first on IPM Bitesize.

In 2011, Coca-Cola faced a challenge many established brands encounter: staying relevant. Young consumers were losing interest, and sales were declining. The solution was simple yet revolutionary: personalisation. By replacing its logo with 150 of the most popular names in Australia, Coca-Cola invited consumers to “Share a Coke” with someone special. This change turned each bottle into a gift, social media post, or conversation starter. Success was immediate, with millions sharing their bottles online and even queuing outside stores to collect the names of friends and family.

“Coca-Cola’s ‘Share a Coke’ campaign shows us the potency of seeing the world through the customer’s eyes, proving that marketing is not just about selling products, but about connecting stories. It embodies what I have always said: Instead of using technology to automate processes, think about using technology to enhance human interaction.”

Steve Jobs

By 2014, the campaign had reached over 80 countries, including major markets like the United States, the United Kingdom, and China. Each country celebrated cultural diversity by incorporating popular local names and phrases. In China, surnames like “Li” and “Wang” decorated the bottles, while in the UK, names like “Jack” and “Olivia” took centre stage. This personalised approach contrasted sharply with the traditional one-size-fits-all marketing strategies that had dominated the industry for decades.

The “Share a Coke” campaign faced challenges. Critics argued it wasn’t inclusive enough, as consumers with unique names often felt left out. Coca-Cola responded by launching an online platform allowing consumers to create personalised bottles with any name. Another innovation came in 2016 with the “selfie bottle“, featuring a built-in camera that captured photos mid-drink, embedding virality into the product to turn each sip into a shareable moment.

Building on this success, Coca-Cola has now announced a new iteration focused on Diet Coke. Until September 2024, UK fans can find personalised cans and bottles featuring over 150 popular names. Recognising that some fans might not find their names on the shelves.

Diet Coke is also offering 4,000 chances to win a personalised can. By purchasing a Diet Coke, scanning a QR code, and downloading the Coca-Cola app, consumers can enter to win. All entrants will also be automatically entered into a weekly prize draw for luxury experiences worth up to £5,000, reinforcing the concept of the “ultimate Diet Coke break.“

“We know how much our fans love a Diet Coke break—taking time for themselves in the midst of their busy lives—so, it made perfect sense for us to make that time even more special. We’re so excited to be bringing personalised cans to our fans this summer and we’d love to hear from them when they spot theirs in-store by tagging @DietCokeGB.”

Louise Maugest, Senior Marketing Director for Diet Coke

The decision to revisit and expand the “Share a Coke” concept has drawn praise from marketing experts. Olivia Mae Hanlon, Founder of Girls in Marketing, highlights the importance of recycling successful ideas while Laura Kinsman, Digital Account Manager at KW Marketing, reflects on the campaign’s enduring success:

“STOP being afraid to repurpose and recycle your old content… The Coca-Cola Company always does this so well. They have recently reinvented their iconic Share a Coke campaign with personalised names, focusing on their Diet Coke brand and leaning into the ‘Diet Coke break’ craze. This is a key example that it’s not about reinventing the wheel in marketing. Review and reflect, then rinse and repeat.”

Olivia Mae Hanlon, Founder of Girls in Marketing

“If it ain’t broke… don’t fix it! The campaigns that stand the test of time are some of the BEST. The campaigns you remember randomly years down the line. Not every piece of marketing WILL be this and that’s normal… and EXPECTED. But when it happens, it’s ICONIC.”

Laura Kinsman, Digital Account Manager at KW Marketing

Coca-Cola’s ‘Share a Coke’ campaign demonstrates the remarkable power of personalisation, turning a simple bottle design into a compelling conversation starter. From its initial success in Australia to the recent Diet Coke campaign, Coca-Cola has broken generational and geographical barriers, one name at a time.

The post The Power of Personalisation: How Coca-Cola’s “Share a Coke” Became a Marketing Masterclass appeared first on IPM Bitesize.

Get ready for a summer of surprises as tpf deposits prize lockers across the UK. Typically associated with dropping-off parcels, these sleek safes allow shoppers to unlock exclusive prizes tailored to the summer of sport. Over three weekends in White City, Southampton, and Liverpool, tpf will blend digital and physical interaction to increase footfall into specific retail locations and drive brand engagement.  

• 

This interactive experience demonstrates the art of anticipation in brand activation. Positioned prominently at the front of John Lewis stores, the prize lockers immediately catch the eye of incoming shoppers. To participate, simply scan a QR code displayed on the prize lockers, which provides a unique entry code. Enter this code into the screen on the prize locker and the moment of reveal arrives, holding your breath to see if you win one of the prizes provided by John Lewis partner brands. This seamless build-up, infused with the possibility of winning incredible prizes, transforms a routine shop into an exhilarating rush. 

“The importance of brands interacting with their customers can’t be underestimated. To stand out from the crowd, retailers need to engage with their customers in innovative and unexpected ways. We’ve loved working with one of the UK’s most trusted brands, John Lewis, to deliver unique prize-winning competitions in their branches across the country.” 

tpf

Maintaining brand relevance in an evolving retail landscape is crucial. By combining a physical prize locker with a digital entry process, the campaign offers a modern consumer experience. Blending the convenience of smartphone technology with the tactile pleasure of in-store shopping, this hybrid model exemplifies the next generation of promotional activities.  

The selection of prizes, provided by John Lewis partner brands, is designed to celebrate the summer of sports. With the Ooni Fyra Pizza Oven, winners can enjoy outdoor gatherings and homemade pizzas while watching their favourite sports. The Therabody massage guns are ideal for recovering from intense sports activities, while the Caudalie Oil Elixir bundle offers a luxurious remedy for self-care. This selection not only complements the sporting season, but also encourages customers to trial new products.

Through the endowment effect, shoppers participating in this activation feel a stronger sense of ownership and value toward the prizes as they interact with both digital and physical elements. This effect ensures that shoppers not only cherish their prizes but also develop a lasting bond with the brand. 

A simple yet unique scan-to-win mechanic saw prize lockers placed in prominent store locations. It was uplifting to see the delight on peoples’ faces when winning a prize. The genuine reactions exemplify the opportunity to drive true brand affinity.

tpf

The possibility of unlocking a prize drives shoppers to John Lewis stores, boosting footfall and creating a lively shopping environment. This engagement strategy not only increases immediate sales but also reinforces John Lewis’s reputation as a premier retail destination. tpf’s prize locker demonstrates the shift towards experiential retail, combining digital convenience with in-store excitement.

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Following the success of last year’s “No More Hairy Moments” campaign with Wilkinson Sword, Activation is thrilled to announce their latest collaboration. This time, Wilkinson Sword has partnered with Morrisons to launch an exclusive free razor offer for Morrisons More Cardholders. Cardholders can choose between the Hydro 5 from Wilkinson Sword’s men’s line or the Intuition Moisture from the women’s line. 

“A ‘Free’ offer hadn’t been activated through the Morrisons More Card before so we were excited to be involved in this retailer exclusive, working closely with both teams for maximum creative output in bringing the retailer and brand together.” 

Dan Hirons, Co-Founder of Activation

The key objective was to continue to encourage consumer trials of their male and female products in a market category that is primarily driven by routine purchase decisions and brand loyalty. This meant they needed to stand out and attract attention so shoppers would choose Wilkinson Sword over competitors. 

Since the offer could not be communicated directly on the packaging, Activation leveraged retailer media and point-of-sale (POS) materials to deliver the message. The creative team developed engaging radio scripts, fully branded shipper designs, and co-branded floor stickers, barkers, and hanging flags to ensure maximum visibility in stores. 

This collaboration between Wilkinson Sword and Morrisons demonstrates the power of strategic brand partnerships. Both brands benefit from the crossover of their audiences; Morrisons More Cardholders gain access to high-quality grooming products, while Wilkinson Sword reaches a broad and diverse customer base through Morrisons’ extensive retail network. 

The success of this campaign highlights the potential for extraordinary brand partnerships. By leveraging each other’s strengths, Wilkinson Sword and Morrisons have created a compelling offer that enhances customer loyalty and broadens market reach. This is just the beginning of what is expected to be many more exciting collaborations in the future. Shoutout to IPM Members Activation for their exceptional work in bringing this campaign to life. 

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With just over 1 week remaining until the entry deadline for the prestigious IPM Awards 2024, the time to shine is now. This is your opportunity to showcase your outstanding work, celebrate your achievements, and stand a chance to claim one of the highly sought-after IPM trophies.

After the resounding success of last year’s event, which saw a sell-out crowd, it’s evident that the promotional marketing industry is brimming with remarkable campaigns. These campaigns play a pivotal role in driving brand success, fostering customer loyalty and engagement, and, of course, boosting sales.

Whether your expertise lies in promotional incentive campaigns, competitions, immersive experiential initiatives, or collaborative brand partnerships, the IPM Awards categories cater to a diverse range of accomplishments.

Its time to get moving; the deadline is Wednesday, May 8th, at 4:00 PM.

Don’t miss out on the chance to be recognised for your excellence in promotional marketing.

Enter the IPM Awards 2024 today and take your place among industry trailblazers.

For all category information visit https://theipm.org.uk/awards-2024/

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The bd-capital team combines best-in-class investors with ex-CEOs to offer the next evolution of the Private Equity Operating Partner model. The firm focuses on high-growth businesses fuelled by changing patterns of consumer behaviour and disruptive technology.

TLC Worldwide has pioneered experience-led marketing and loyalty programs for the world’s best-loved brands for over 30 years. In a world where consumer decisions and loyalty are deeply enhanced by more personalised, generous and immediate rewards – and with every consumer demographic yearning for more experiences in their lives- the TLC platform COSMOS offers a truly unique solution.

David Johnston, former Group CEO of global loyalty business Aimia, also with 20 years’ experience in the FMCG industry, notably with PepsiCo, will become chairman of TLC. Jan-Pieter Lips, co-founder of the Nectar loyalty program and former Executive at fintech Adyen, will also join TLC’s Group Board. TLC Founder, Nick True, will remain on the Group Board as a key advisor, and co-Founder Alec Johnson will continue to lead the business as Group CEO. Leveraging their combined strengths, this exciting new team is set to continue driving TLC’s extraordinary growth trajectory and offering brands the very best consumer rewards solution.

Nick True, Founder of TLC, expressed his great pride in the company’s evolution over the past three decades and looks forward to the next chapter in partnership with bd-capital, emphasizing the significance of their shared cultural values as the foundation for future success.

TLC Worldwide has been at the forefront of connecting clients’ customers with free experiences, offering access to over 45,000 experiences across 40 countries through its global platform COSMOS. From travel and hotels to family outings and wellness activities, TLC’s comprehensive reward network ensures inclusive and generous rewards for all, driving strong ROI, loyalty and supporting brand equity.

Alec Johnson, CEO of TLC, is enthusiastic about the growth opportunities ahead, supported by bd-capital, emphasizing the company’s commitment to delivering best-in-class ROI and advancing its technology and its data proposition. David Johnston echoed this sentiment, emphasising the collective ambition to deliver even more value back to every TLC stakeholder, including clients, reward partners, end-consumers and shareholders.

The partnership between TLC Worldwide and bd-capital signifies an exciting step forward in shaping the buoyant future of the consumer rewards industry.

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Award winning travel, prize and fulfilment agency Cloud Nine Incentives is growing its full service
offering with the appointment of Emma Coleman, Director of Events.
Joining from BCD Meetings & Events, Emma will harness her experience across multiple sectors
to drive Cloud Nine’s events division forward; an important strategic pillar for the agency.
Founder and Director Michael Chambers says, “As Cloud Nine Incentives enters its 13th year,
it’s critical we continue to innovate and deliver excellent service. Growing our events team means
we can offer a ‘one stop shop’ to clients.
I am delighted to welcome Emma to the Cloud Nine team. Her wealth of events experience and
passion for exceptional service levels will help steer the agency into its next chapter.”
With an amplified prize and promotions capability, brands will receive seamless, end to end
campaign management, with their customers at the heart of the journey.

Emma Coleman, “I am delighted to join Cloud Nine Incentives, a leader in their field working with
some fantastic brands. Their ethos of curating standout experiences alongside providing
excellent customer service aligns perfectly with my own passion for events. My role, leading the
strategy and development of the events offering, sparks a new chapter for Cloud Nine and I’m
delighted to be involved at the beginning of this exciting journey.”

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Zappit.co is a leading tech player in the promotional marketing industry, delivering insight led shopper marketing & customer care solutions through digital coupons and instant cashback.

Zappit’s digital-first proprietary tech stack underpins their Coupon, Cashback and Customer Care platforms helping Clients to attract NEW customers, GROW footfall, INCREASE rate of sale, REINFORCE loyalty and REPEAT custom.
The journey starts wherever a customer is able to click, scan or text and can drive sales in-store, online or into hospitality venues.

ZAPPIT activations are;

·        Brand-led and drive sales

·        Rich in 1st party data and insight

·       Built with proprietary technology to minimise fraud

·     100% digital, trackable and eco-friendly from start to finish

·        Accessible to everyone – no login, no app, no paper

·        Easy to redeem via your mobile phone

Clients include Unilever, P&G, Colgate, Fever Tree,  AB InBev, Arla, Costa Coffee, Mitchells & Butler

The post Introducing IPM’s Newest Member, Zappit appeared first on IPM Bitesize.

Opinion from Andrew Ryan, Director at Halo

When John Pemberton invented Coca-Cola in 1886, not even their catchy positioning of “Delicious! Refreshing! Exhilarating! Invigorating!” could persuade consumers to try it over all the other carbonated wonder tonics and elixirs already on the market.

So, to help increase sales his bookkeeper started giving away tickets for free tastes of Coke, but Pemberton chastised him for extravagance. Fast forward a few years when tycoon Asa Griggs Candler bought the company in 1888, he revisited the bookkeeper’s idea, and distributed thousands of bits of paper like the ones above, and so the coupon as we know it was born.

By 1913, Coca-Cola had redeemed over 8.5 million free drink coupons.

Thankfully the humble coupon itself has made a smooth transition to the 21st century and the new dawn of digital coupons will soon be the norm. If you want to boost your sales and attract more consumers, couponing is still a solid marketing tool to use. Coupons can help you create a sense of urgency, reward loyal consumers and increase brand awareness.

This is especially true in the cost-of-living crisis when consumers are even more value conscious. The tightening of consumer purse strings is placing an even greater demand on the need to deliver value where it matters. This is being born out from our findings across the UK, Europe, Africa and the US that there is a noticeable increase in response and uptake on any promotion that delivers real consumer value. Free and Save messages are currently outperforming all other mechanics.

However, unknown performance can place greater demands on budgets which is where Fixed Fee comes in to provide much needed cost certainty. Fixed Fee is perfect for when costs are variable and the final outcome is unknown. It allows a campaign to be budgeted for regardless of the final performance, protecting the variable costs under a one off completely covered​ Fixed Fee with the backing of re-insurance.

By combining the powerful mechanic of couponing with the cost certainty benefits of Fixed Fee, brands can better navigate these tough trading conditions.​

Why coupons?

1. Couponing creates a sense of urgency. When consumers see that a coupon has an expiration date, they are more likely to act fast and make a purchase before they miss out on a good deal.
2. Couponing appeals to the masses, everyone loves saving money, and couponing allows consumers to feel like they are getting more value for their money.
3. Couponing encourages repeat purchases. By offering coupons that can be redeemed on future purchases, you can increase consumer retention and loyalty. You can also use coupons to cross-sell or upsell other products or services that complement your main offer.
4. Couponing generates word-of-mouth. Social sharing. When consumers are happy with purchases, they’re more likely to share their positive experiences with friends and family. You can also incentivize referrals by offering coupons to both the referrer and the referee.

  Quick couponing checklist                                         

• Set clear goals and objectives for your coupon campaign. What do you want to achieve? Who do you want to target? How will you measure your success?
• Choose the right type of coupon for your offer. There are different types of coupons, such as percentage off, £1 off, buy one get one free, free delivery. Choose the one that best suits your product or service and your target audience.

Tracking, ROI and first party data

• Analyse and optimise your coupon campaign. You can monitor and evaluate the results of your coupon campaign regularly. You can use metrics such as redemption rate, conversion rate, average order value, consumer acquisition cost, consumer lifetime value. You can also collect feedback from your consumers to improve your offer and consumer experience.
• Coupons can help you collect valuable consumer data and feedback. You can use coupons to ask consumers for their email addresses, phone numbers, or opinions. This can help you build your consumer database and improve your marketing strategies.

The humble coupon might not get the recognition it deserves, especially at awards events, but you clients will thank you for the direct impact it can have on driving trade.

Couponing is certainly not broken, far from it, but they might need fixing in which case we’d be delighted to help.

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