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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Checkout.com’s latest research on Black Friday and Cyber Monday (BFCM) trends reveals shifting consumer interests in the UK. Drawing from the broader Digital Economy: Peak Season Trends 2024 study, the data shows that bargain-hunting Brits are looking beyond traditional categories like clothing, beauty, and electronics, with new interests in air travel and health products, especially among younger generations. As British consumers gear up for peak season sales, this report offers valuable insights for marketers looking to capture attention in an ever-evolving digital marketplace.

• Air travel is forecast to see increased sales during BFCM this year, with 14% of the population intending to buy during peak season in 2024, up from just 8% saying they have purchased in peak season in the past (a 75% increase compared to previous years). Younger generations are driving this trend, with nearly a third (28%) of Gen Z (an 87% increase compared to previous years) and a quarter (24%) of Millennials intending to buy air travel during BFCM this year. 
  
• A third (32%) of Millennials are looking to buy streaming services during BFCM deals – nearly double the UK average (17%). In fact, streaming is the most popular category for Millennials ahead of usual favourites clothing (31%), Beauty (30%) and electronics (29%). 
  
• Healthcare and wellbeing is also high on UK consumers’ BFCM shopping lists, with 16% intending to buy products in this category, rising to nearly a third (29%) of Gen Z consumers. 
  
• Clothing remains the most popular category, with a fifth (21%) UK adults planning to make a clothing purchase during BFCM, almost doubling to 40% of Gen Z adults intending to buy clothes during the peak sales.  

“Traditionally Black Friday Cyber Monday deals have been focused on clothing, beauty and electronics. However, with a growing digital economy, we’re seeing this evolve. The increase in planned flight spend is fascinating – particularly when it comes to the younger generations, even in an era of conscious consumerism. Travel experiences rate high in priority and they are explored, discovered and made using social platforms. This reflects a growing cultural trend when it comes to travel – and how Gen Z takes a social-first approach to planning trips abroad.  
 
It’s incredibly positive to see how British consumers are planning to spend around health – from private medical, to investing in their own wellbeing.” 

Rory O’Neill, CMO at Checkout.com

Half of Brits Buy Gifts During Sales 

• When it comes to buying for others, UK consumers are also looking to sales to purchase gifts. Half (50%) of Brits are now buying presents for their partner when they see a bargain. 
  
• Two thirds (34%) of this group buy gifts for their partner all year round when they see a bargain, with the remaining third (16%) specifically waiting for BFCM to buy gifts for their partner.  

“While BFCM is still a significant shopping period, we’re also starting to see a trend towards always-on retail sales. By understanding consumer shopping habits based on spending data, merchants can tailor deals to reach specific consumers at the right time and encourage conversions. In short, every day is a peak season sale opportunity – and retailers need to remember that during this peak season.”

Rory O’Neill, CMO at Checkout.com

BFCM subscription deals emerge as a strong customer acquisition tool for merchants 

• Subscriptions are a good acquisition tool during BFCM, with half (49%) of Brits remaining subscribed after the deal ends because they wanted to keep the service.
  
• Gen Zs are the most forgetful at cancelling subscriptions, with 38% intending to but forgetting, compared to just 19% of Baby Boomers. 

Generational split on deal discovery, with TV ads losing their impact with younger generations 

• UK consumers are still fairly traditional in how they discover BFCM deals, with a third (32%) finding out about deals via TV ads, followed by browsing marketplaces (31%) and using a search engine (29%).  
  
• However, looking at younger generations, 40% of Gen Z and 43% of Millennials find out about deals via social platforms (compared to 24% across all UK adults).  

“This data speaks to the need to ensure marketing strategies are always built in mind with the right audiences in mind. Given Gen Z and Millennials are the most likely to buy during BFCM, it’s important to make sure marketing piques the attention of this group, in terms of both the message – and the channels. A tailored, not broad brush approach is always needed, as is remembering the critical role that social platforms play in engaging this community. This research is a stark reminder that merchants need to constantly review and refine their selling channels to avoid missing out on sales when targeting specific demographics with the deals that will appeal to them.”

Rory O’Neill, CMO at Checkout.com

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UK supermarket Sainsbury’s has debuted their exciting new Christmas advertisement today, featuring Roald Dahl’s universally beloved character the BFG.

Set to premier on ITV1 at 8:15pm on Friday 1^st November during Coronation Street, the ad follows the 24-foot friendly giant as he embarks on a new adventure with Sainsbury’s employee Sophie. In a TV first, real-life Sainsbury’s colleague ‘Sophie’ embarks on a journey with the Big Friendly Giant (the BFG), showcasing the delicious flavours of Sainsbury’s festive Taste the Difference range.

The deal was negotiated and managed by Born Licensing, licensing agent for Roald Dahl Story Company. RDSC engaged Born Licensing to bring to life their global partnership and licensing strategy, facilitating ATL campaigns which truly harness the unique storytelling qualities of their IP in an authentic way.

Born Licensing, in collaboration with the Roald Dahl Story Company, worked with Sainsbury’s creative agency, NCA, to ensure this new iteration of the BFG came to life with authenticity. Fans of the beloved book will be delighted to see famous references from the story including snozzcumbers, Frobscottle, and dream jars feature in this magical Christmas campaign. 

The extensive partnership will see the BFG appear across TV, print, outdoor, social media, direct mail, and PR.

“Christmas is the most competitive period for British advertisers and licensing a generationally adored character like the BFG is a sure fire way to capture attention. This is a brilliant example of how powerful advertising can be when combining cherished IP with brilliant creative.”

David Born, Founder and CEO of Born Licensing

“At the Roald Dahl Story Company storytelling is at the heart of what we do and we’re always on the lookout for opportunities to bring our beloved characters and stories to life in new ways, through bespoke and authentic partnerships and marketing campaigns. The BFG is the perfect fit for Sainsbury’s in creating a big Christmas.

Alice O’Brien, Head of Global Commercial Partnerships at the Roald Dahl Story Company

The power of Roald Dahl’s unique stories and characters is evidenced in Sainsbury’s desire to collaborate on the biggest marketing moment of the year. The partnership provided the opportunity to tell their story in a new and innovative way, harnessing the nostalgic love that the BFG brings to generations of audiences.

NCA and Ogilvy were behind the Creative with Rogue Films producing the TVC. The longform” film with cutdowns was directed by award winning Director Sam Brown. Post-production and VFX were done by Electric Theatre Company.

“By collaborating with Sainsbury’s to bring Roald Dahl’s beloved BFG to life in a new story, we hope the nation is as captivated as we are to see two old friends back together this Christmas.”

The BFG is perfect for Sainsbury’s mission to create a Big Christmas for all. Having only snozzcumbers to devour in Giant Country, his curiosity for good food leads to an adventure of discovery and wonderment with Sainsbury’s Sophie in order to bring the magic of Christmas to everyone.”

Natalie Hopkins, Director of Global Product and Partnerships at the Roald Dahl Story Company

This brand-new campaign comes as more and more audiences are enjoying Roald Dahl’s iconic stories being brought to life. Recently, stage adaptations of The Witches and The Enormous Crocodile opened to critical acclaim and sell-out shows, Paul King’s Wonka became an international box-office smash and Wes Anderson’s cinematic adaptation of Roald Dahl’s adult short story The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar received numerous plaudits including an Academy Award. Brand new publishing inspired by Roald Dahl’s The Twits by Greg James and Chris Smith landed in the Top 10 Children’s Hardback charts upon release, and fans the world over continue to devour Roald Dahl products and enjoy partnerships like The Twits and Charlie & The Chocolate Factory Afternoon Teas in London.

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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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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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With National Cholesterol Month just round the corner, Activation have announced the launch of a brand new health-focused promotion for Benecol. 

The task was to bring new shoppers into the cholesterol-lowering category by creating a brilliant activation to raise awareness and sales of Benecol through National Cholesterol Month

Benecol isn’t just a delicious one-off experience or benefit, its positive effect is ongoing and long-term.  So the aim was to reinforce this proposition by offering consumers the chance to win a prize that keeps on giving – a whole year of ‘good living’.

And what does a year of ‘good living’ look like? 

Well, it’s a year-round calendar of healthy and enjoyable experiences for winners; the little luxuries consumers may have cut back on in the cost of living crisis. From a year of unlimited cinema to veg box subscription, to house plant gift vouchers, each winner will also be gifted one brilliant prize per month, for a whole year! And what’s more, each winner can choose from a headline prize of a UK spa break or cottage stay. 

With entries available with any Benecol purchase, consumers are simply asked to upload their receipts for a chance to win. 

The promotion is communicated through multiple touch-points, including retailer media and out of home. Supported through magazine ads, in-aisle POS, ATM advertising and location-based digital programmatic display.

Live until the end of National Cholesterol Month, check out the website here.

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As the Rugby World Cup moves towards the knock out stages, We’re thrilled to see IPM Award winners, Activation working alongside Tribute, a member of the St Austell brewery family, for their latest promotion! 

Their brief called for a campaign that could run across both the on-trade and off-trade, with two specific objectives in mind; increase the rate of sale as well as increase brand awareness. 

We know that this premium pale ale is a real fan favourite all year round, but it’s also particularly enjoyed with friends whilst watching the big game (as if us Brits need any excuse for a pint, eh!). And when the Rugby World Cup started in September, it was the perfect time to launch an attention-grabbing rugby-themed promotion!

With a Rugby themed European City Break for two up for grabs, as well as 300 instant win rugby themed prizes to be won, including Tribute branded rugby balls and £10 Tribute e-vouchers to spend on their online shop, these promotional packs and pints will be flying off the shelf quicker than you can shout TRYYYYY!

To enter, this promotion calls for consumers to either purchase a promotional 4X500ml can pack in-store or a promotional pint at participating pubs, then simply upload a few of their details and unique codes to the specially-built promotional microsite (through Activation’s own ProMotor platform) for a chance to win.

Promotional packs were in store from the 1st of September and throughout the tournament duration, so keep an eye out for them and the promotional pints next time you’re in-store or at the pub (we’ll see you there!) – Good luck! 

Find out more https://www.winwithtribute.co.uk/

The post Tribute Ale Rugby Promotion From Activation appeared first on IPM Bitesize.

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.

This year, Activation has been on a journey with Wall’s developing their new brand comms platform.  From working through their strategic challenges, audience insights, and brand proposition they have landed on a brand line to bring their comms together under a single, unifying idea.

With a best-ever recipe, Wall’s continues to do everything it has always done, but now it’s better, not only in terms of quality and taste, but also there’s also a plan for the brand to do more for the people and communities that it serves, by tackling hunger.

When hunger calls, grab a Wall’s!

The agency has used the new recipe campaign to launch the new line.

With a challenge to use the new recipe story to get sausage rolls into people’s minds and shopping baskets, they developed a high-reach social campaign focused on awareness and consideration.

With 64 layers of moreish flaky pastry and mouthwatering sausage filling, Wall’s sausage rolls are better than ever with their best-ever taste and highest-ever quality.  What more do you expect from the nation’s favourite?!

The team knew that the creative needed a key focus, for them this was ‘hunger’ – one of the key purchase factors for the product (and brand!) and something we can all relate to.

And so ‘Chomp, chomp, chomp’ was born! A mouthwatering animation that highlights the product’s new recipe as the beautifully photographed sausage roll disappears, one chomp at a time! (Hungry yet?)

The animation uses a warm voiceover and most importantly, ends with their new brand line… You can watch it here: https://youtu.be/oBIQZbZEmdI

When hunger calls, Grab a Wall’s

The campaign is live on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube currently stopping thumbs and grabbing attention as we speak!

You’ll be seeing more of this line in months to come as Activation has lots of exciting things coming your way…. Watch this space!

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