Author: shopkick

The Power of Augmented Reality in Retail

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Technology is at the forefront of one’s shopping experiences. Anyone can connect their debit or credit cards seamlessly and pay by tapping their mobile phones to payment terminals without having to carry around cash or physical credit cards. These conveniences are further enhanced with experiential shopping experiences offered by augmented reality which can create extensive engagement and long-term benefits for brands, retailers, and shoppers alike.  

Augmented reality (AR) is a form of photographic technology that overlays information onto real-world objects. Perhaps most popularized by break-out mobile games like Pokemon Go!, augmented reality has realistic benefits for brands and retailers. A 2021 study published in the Journal of Marketing found that retail companies could see a boost in sales when incorporating AR thanks to the tech’s ability to create engaging and entertaining experiences for shoppers; streamline customer’s knowledge of products available for sale; tangibly visualize what products will look like “in place” after purchase; and enhance post-purchase experiences.

Entertain customers (and keep them coming back for more) 

Pinning down the wants and needs of retail shoppers can be tricky. Most shoppers are interested in buying online, yet e-commerce still accounts for less than 20% of all retail sales. That share is growing steadily each year, but it shows consumers will continue to visit physical stores for retail purchases. 

As competition for customers remains fierce, businesses can stand out by incorporating AR shopping experiences that entertain and enhance visits to retail spaces. This falls under the emerging concept of “retailtainment”. A 2020 study presented at the International Conference on Business, Management, and Economics concluded that experiential marketing provided brands with “more powerful marketing, more engaged customers, and better return on marketing investments”. By design, augmented reality provides the framework for establishing experiences customers want as AR provides a layer of self-driven interaction.

Educate customers about available products

Shoppers want to know more about the products they buy before they purchase. This has led to an explosion in SEO-driven product review content with titles such as “Top 10 Lawn Chairs” or “Best Skin Care Products”. These are popular for no other reason than consumers want to know what to buy and don’t enjoy the experience of having to return products. And as any retailer will note, chargebacks are a major problem and exceptionally expensive, especially for e-commerce. 

AR can allow you to add real-time informational pop-ups to your retail products. Incorporating the technology allows consumers with mobile devices to get instant feedback in an exciting way. It’s similar to high-end vehicles with a Heads-Up Display (HUD) beamed onto the windshield. Tons of product data becomes available without consumers having to go looking for it.

Allow customers to see products “in place” 

An important benefit offered by AR is its positive impact on product returns. When shoppers go to buy retail products such as clothes or furniture, they often have to imagine what that product will look like in their own space. This is a bit easier for brick-and-mortar retailers, as buyers can try on clothes in the store. And physical furniture stores do still have some advantages as buyers can at least see displays. 

Nevertheless, many buyers still prefer to shop online. As many have come to experience, online shopping makes the “try before you buy” process a bit more difficult. Buyers are far more likely to return a product if they didn’t have a chance to test it out first. This helps account for the fact that online products have a 20% return rate according to Shopify, compared to an 8-10 percent return rate for products purchased in-store. 

AR is an excellent solution to this. Some businesses have already begun adding AR concepts into the buying process. Zeekit, for example, allows shoppers to try on clothes virtually before making a purchase. Meanwhile, the popular Swedish furniture brand, IKEA, rolled out an AR app in 2017 that lets customers “see” what the furniture looks like in each room.

Build on-going, post-purchase experiences

Brands have long sought to engage customers after purchases are made. There are multiple ways to do this, but AR interactivity post-sale can help expand the lifecycle of existing product lines. 

Lego is an example of this with its AR-driven Hidden Side ghost game. The game offers a multiplayer gaming experience that allows several users to play a “hide and seek” style game using a Legos mobile app. An experience of this nature brings customers back to the product and gives Lego the opportunity to build its brand and attract users to new products within the same or other lines. 

Brands hoping to add post-purchase AR interactivity will need to be particularly inventive to create experiences buyers enjoy. Thankfully, the possibilities of what AR can do for product life cycles is limited mostly by the imagination of marketing teams

Shopkick is an established shopping rewards app with a proven track record of helping retailers and brands drive awareness, incremental sales, and customer loyalty throughout the full-funnel shopping journey. To learn more about our interactive mobile technology capabilities and how we help our partners improve the customer experience, contact our team.

83 Percent of Americans are Tightening Budgets Due to Threat of Continued Inflation

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54 percent of consumers are very concerned about the risk of continued inflation; 86 percent report experiencing price increases on everyday goods

As the U.S. economy picks back up, the Labor Department reported in April that inflation accelerated at its fastest pace since 2008. In turn, the Consumer Price Index rose 4.2 percent compared to this period last year. While most Americans (72 percent) say their income has not increased over the past year, 86 percent are experiencing price increases on everyday goods, causing concern for many. 

Shopkick surveyed more than 19,000 consumers across the nation to gain insight into consumer awareness and behavioral changes in light of accelerated inflation rates. The online survey was conducted between May 14-17, 2021. 

 

Key Findings Include:

  • Cause for Concern: Of the 77 percent of Americans who were aware of the accelerated inflation rates, only four percent do not feel any level of concern about the risk of continued inflation. While the Fed reported it expects these rates to be temporary, most Americans feel very concerned (54 percent), leading 42 percent to plan to tighten their overall budgets slightly, followed closely by 41 percent who plan to tighten budgets significantly. 
  • Groceries and Gas: Nearly all consumers (86 percent) are already experiencing price increases on everyday goods and services, particularly groceries (96 percent), gas (93 percent), dining out (57 percent), and clothing (42 percent). 
  • Pricier Products: Of those who have experienced price increases at the grocery store, categories reach across the board, including meat and seafood (79 percent), dairy products (76 percent), fresh produce (71 percent), paper products (66 percent), beverages (60 percent), cleaning supplies (59 percent), personal care items (45 percent), bread and bakery items (43 percent), cereal (40 percent), canned goods (37 percent), snack items (35 percent), and pasta and grains (26 percent). 
  • Checking Out Other Choices: Fifty-nine percent say these price increases have caused them to forego their typical grocery choices for less expensive options. Even further, 69 percent say brand names are not important during times like these. In comparison, 85 percent of Americans said the same at the start of the pandemic. 
  • Private Label Popularity: Sixty-three percent of consumers say they are now opting for less expensive private label brands, with 71 percent saying they will continue to purchase private label even if prices return to normal levels.

 

Shopkick Announces Nationwide Scavenger Hunt, Rewarding Consumers with Millions of ‘Kicks’

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Shopkick celebrates National Scavenger Hunt Day with a weeklong scavenger hunt for users to win hundreds of dollars in rewards

In honor of National Scavenger Hunt Day, Shopkick announces the nationwide Shopkick Scavenger Hunt Week this May 24-28. All week long, Shopkick users will have multiple ways to win major ‘kicks’ (Shopkick’s reward currency) as they interact with brand and retail partners by scanning items in-store, all while searching for one of ten hidden Golden Tickets in retailers across the country, worth 125,000 kicks ($500) each.

“Following a difficult year for many of our users, we wanted to create an experience that would be fun and rewarding, both of which are core to our mission,” said Dave Fisch, general manager of Shopkick. “Shopkick Scavenger Hunt Week provides consumers with new and exciting ways to engage with our brand and retail partners, all while offering opportunities to win millions of kicks. We are excited to see all of the great ways our users enjoy this week-long event!” 

How to Participate in the Shopkick Scavenger Hunt:

  1. Starting May 24, Shopkick users will be able to open the “Scan Mission” section within the app where they will find a list of five featured products to scan in-store.
  2. Once all five products are scanned, users will automatically be rewarded with 100 bonus kicks. While crossing items off their list, users can also share a picture or video through the Shopkick app for a chance to win an additional 35,000 kicks.
  3. Throughout the scavenger hunt, users will also be searching for one of ten Golden Tickets hidden within store shelves alongside the listed items. Those who find a Golden Ticket must follow the redemption instructions to win the grand prize of 125,000 kicks.
  4. Finally, users can redeem their kicks for free gift cards to their favorite brands and retailers in the Shopkick Rewards Mall.

To join in the scavenger hunt fun this May 24-28, simply download the free Shopkick app on your iPhone or Android device. 

For more information on how Shopkick helps our brand and retail partners reach consumers in fun and engaging ways, contact our team. 

The Shopkick Scavenger Hunt is open to all U.S. residents age 18 and up.

Celebrate Scavenger Hunt Day with Shopkick

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What was your favorite book when you were growing up? If you’re like us, Roald Dahl’s classic “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” likely topped your book list. Willy Wonka’s world of wonder and chocolate and colorful candy was one we wanted to inhabit. And, who didn’t dream of finding a golden ticket? Well, your dream may become a reality because golden tickets and millions of kicks will be up for grabs next week!

Monday, May 24 is National Scavenger Hunt Day, and Shopkick is celebrating the best way we know how – with a week-long scavenger hunt filled with nostalgia and plenty of kicks! We’re launching a scan mission at Walmart stores throughout the country where you can scan a select grouping of products in order to earn 100 bonus kicks. 

But, there’s more! 

(Because, of course there is.)

To give you even more of an incentive to go on your own scavenger hunt in honor of National Scavenger Hunt Day, allow us to unveil the biggest news of all…

We’re hiding a limited number of Shopkick golden tickets in stores throughout the country worth $500 in kicks (each)! Your job is to find one and mail it in by May 31 to receive your prize! 

We aren’t sharing the locations (what kind of scavenger hunt would!?), but we can share a few hints. One city is located in Colorado, another is in Florida, and one more is in Florida…!

So, what are you waiting for? Get your search on!

P.S: If you’re looking for even more chances to win kicks, we’re also giving away 35,000 kicks to select Shopkickers who share their Shopkick Scavenger Hunt journey! Simply snap a photo or video of you (and your crew!) completing the Shopkick Scavenger Hunt and upload it to the app. We’ll announce the winners once our week of scavenger hunt fun is complete!

Simple Spring Bucket List for Foodies

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When a new season begins, bucket lists of activities to do to make the most of the season tend to catch our eye. Rather than share a long list, we thought we would create something simple that has something specific in mind – food! New seasons tend to want to make us try new foods, especially as we welcome back many fruits and vegetables. From picking berries and planting a garden to making a delicious sweet treat many of us know and love, below we’re sharing six foodie things for you to tackle throughout the spring with your family and friends! 

Pick Berries

Have you ever picked your own berries? Blueberries and strawberries are in-season in the spring, and it’s so much fun to fill bushels with your own fruit. Look for a u-pick farm in your area, and choose a time to visit! Many farms also have plenty of other activities to enjoy, so make a day of it. After you pick your own fruit, think about creating a fun recipe at home. We can confirm these blueberry muffins and these strawberry recipes are delicious!

Pack a Picnic

When was the last time you packed a picnic to enjoy while out and about? Think about making sandwiches at home, picking up subs from the grocery store, or ordering takeout (pizza does the trick!). Then visit a park or beach and dine on the grass, sand, or even from the comfort of your car. A change of scenery can make a meal feel like a completely different experience! 

Dine Al Fresco

A spring sight we love to see is diners enjoying breakfast, lunch, and dinner outside! If you typically opt to eat inside, visit a restaurant you frequent or a new spot you’ve yet to try and mix up your routine by sitting outside. This is especially nice to do when there’s a warm night in the forecast!

Make S’mores

As a pre-summer celebration treat, plan to make s’mores! The classic way to make them is over a campfire, but you can also make them on a grill or even bake them in the oven. The only ingredients you need are graham crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate bars.

Plant a Garden

There’s still plenty of time to plant a garden, and the spring is the best time to get your seeds in the ground or in pots. Consider planting flowers, starting a vegetable garden, or growing herbs inside. The fun thing about growing fruits, vegetables, and herbs is you can eat what you grow throughout the spring and summer and sometimes even the fall and winter.

Try a New Restaurant

It’s a new season, so why not try a new or new-to-you restaurant? The pandemic was hard on restaurants, and they will welcome your support! Plus, you might find a new dish you love or a restaurant you will frequent for weeks, months, and even years to come.

Foodies, how are you welcoming the spring? Let us know on Facebook!

Move Over Millennials – When It Comes To Brand Loyalty It’s All About Gen Z

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Gen Zers have been accused of many things: short attention spans, an inability to maintain eye contact, and an unhealthy relationship with their AirPods. But, according to a recent Bank of America study, the generation born between 1996 and 2016 is set to usher in a new wave of disruption across industries and economies. Not only is Gen Z more technologically savvy than their millennial counterparts, but sustainability and activism also factor more heavily into their agendas than any generation before. And the kicker? Gen Z is set to crush millennials’ earning ability by 2031.

They may be young, but Gen Z has an estimated spending power of over $143 billion. And with more and more of this generation reaching adulthood, brands are naturally lining up outside their doors.

 

Gen Z Shopping Habits 

Gen Z mainly scopes out brands across preferred online channels, but while the assumption might be that the world’s first completely-digital natives prefer to buy online, they don’t conduct their entire customer journey solely through the internet. Gen Z are the ultimate omnichannel shoppers, expecting brands to offer a top-notch experience through online channels and in-store.

Gen Z consumers like to do their product discovery through social media channels, primarily through Instagram. A recent report showed that 60% of Gen Z shoppers use Instagram to discover new brands and products ahead of Snapchat, Youtube and Facebook. Additionally, TikTok has become a go-to tool for discovering new brands and products, staying on top of trends, and watching reviews. This indicates an appreciation for the ability to interact with and learn as much as possible about the brand before deciding whether to purchase.

Gen Z loves to make purchase decisions by tapping into insights from influencers who share key product details—the good, the bad and the ugly. They rely on voices they’ve trusted to fully research a brand: not just what it’s like to use their product, but what the shopping experience, customer experience and brand values are (and whether a brand lives up to its promises).

 

They Want Their Products—And They Want Them Now 

While some members of Gen Z still prefer the brick-and-mortar shopping experience, a majority of the generation has a need for speed around pretty much everything—especially when it comes to e-commerce. Speed, convenience, and an intuitive online experience can mean the difference between attracting and retaining this generation’s loyalty, and being left in the dust. 

E-commerce adds speed and convenience to the shopping experience. An American teen can see a cute top on their favorite Instagram influencer in a shoppable video or image and order it with the simple click of a button. But if the influencer lives in Australia—along with the top—cue disgruntlement. It’s in your best interest to reconfigure your shipping strategy to reflect the reality of a global market. More importantly, your shipping strategy can set you apart as a brand and boost sales simultaneously: can you say win-win?

While Gen Zers love the ease of a well-crafted online shopping experience, they chafe at longer wait times and shipping costs. This inconvenience eclipses the frustration of not being able to try on clothes in-store. In fact, only 18.4% of Gen Zers are bothered by the latter, compared to 26.16 % of millennials. That’s why investing in an efficient shipping strategy is such an effective way to add value to the purchasing experience and retain brand loyalty. Ensuring that your products are delivered in a timely fashion and at a decent shipping price goes a long way with Gen Z shoppers.

 

They Want Their Purchases To Reflect Their Values 

According to a recent Facebook study, Gen Z increasingly makes purchase decisions based on what brands are doing for the world. 

They demand that the brands and retailers they support align with their core values, especially those centered around environmental sustainability, social justice, healthcare, and the socio-economic and personal implications of the COVID-19 pandemic. They see what they buy as a reflection of their own personal values and beliefs, and this translates into the brands they engage with.

On top of that, they’re willing to spend more to get behind a brand that’s actively making a difference. And considering this group accounts for 30% of the world’s population (almost 2 billion people), retailers need to sit up and take notice. Tapping into this social conscience gives retailers the perfect opportunity to attract and grow brand loyalty with a group that, quite simply, is the future. To resonate with this idealistic group, brands should actively showcase their values and demonstrate how they are serving the needs of the community.

 

They Want A Personalized Brand Experience

This generation has vast social media circles and thinks nothing of nurturing hundreds of online relationships simultaneously. So when it comes to choosing which brand to attach their loyalty to, the bar is pretty high. They want a personalized, on-site experience that acknowledges their uniqueness. They’re savvy shoppers, highly attuned to insincere messaging. If they sniff out rote communication, they’ll scroll past so quickly it’ll leave you breathless. That means retailers must find meaningful ways to engage, and put the time into crafting compelling messaging that’s on-brand and connects with this demographic.

While Gen Z is still big on social commerce, with more time spent shopping on social media than any other generation, brands still have to have strong touchpoints both online and in-store in order to get this generation to buy. In-store and online experiences are both important parts of the consumer journey for Gen Z,  and cannot be ignored. When companies over-invest in tech and online marketing tactics to attract these shoppers and neglect the in-person shopping experience, they’re missing a crucial point in the customer journey. These consumers expect brands to be consistent with the level of service they provide at both live and digital touchpoints.

 

They Want To Be Part Of The Conversation 

The best way to get to know Gen Z customers is by engaging with them. Social media platforms like Instagram Live (which allows multiple accounts to participate in a live stream discussion) let your brand create a safe space for customers to engage, share stories, and talk about important issues. But it can’t be hollow — let your brand create a safe and authentic space for customers. A successful example of this is Headspace. The meditation app connects with its community via Instagram, where users can ask questions, offer feedback and discuss meditation techniques. This is just the display of community that Gen Z wants to get behind and support.

Gen Zers, the socially conscious, digitally-native consumers have paved the way for a new era in the customer experience. An innovative brand will recognize these shoppers as omnipresent and invest in engaging them at each brand touchpoint, from discovery to purchase, and even onto advocacy. 

Shopkick is an omnichannel solution that allows brands and retailers to engage shoppers and influence their behavior throughout the full path to purchase—whether they’re shopping in-store or online. We share key intel on ever-changing consumer shopping behaviors and trends, and provide our partners with real-time shopping data, helping them fill gaps in the customer shopping journey and invest marketing dollars wisely. To learn more, contact our team. 

Create Your Own Baseball Ballpark Inspired Menu

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There’s a sport for every season, and the spring and summer are dominated by baseball. In fact, we think one of the best ways to spend a warm summer weeknight or sunny Saturday or Sunday is at a ballpark. We’re eager to cheer on our favorite teams, root for our favorite players, and sometimes jump in on the fun with friends as we play our own nine innings.

One of the reasons why we think we enjoy baseball so much, other than the fact that it’s a classic American sport, is because the food is delicious. Hotdogs, fries, ice cream, and popcorn are all ballpark menu staples. We thought we would round up 10 of our favorite recipes so you and your family and friends can enjoy the baseball menu fun from home!   

Cherry-Vanilla Soda Syrup:

Rather than sharing a cocktail, we thought we would start things off with a drink you and your kids can all enjoy together! The Kitchn shared a recipe for homemade Cherry-Vanilla Soda Syrup that calls for five ingredients, including the soda you will mix it with. It sounds like a fun take on a Cherry Coke or Pepsi!

Pretzel Bites:

Pretzels are a classic food at a ballpark, so try making your own! What’s Gabby Cooking shared an easy recipe for pretzel bites that you can pair with mustard or your favorite sauce of choice. Gabby also shares other pretzel recipes on her site, like these Garlic Herb Parmesan Pretzel Twists.

Pigs in a Blanket:

Instead of serving classic hotdogs, mix things up and opt to make pigs in a blanket! When a recipe is called the Best Ever Pigs in a Blanket, there’s a high probability it’s the one you should use. 

Olive Oil and Parmesan Popcorn:

We have a feeling you will turn to this popcorn recipe often, even when you’re not watching baseball! It calls for olive oil, grated parmesan cheese, and Italian seasoning. Gimme Some Oven is definitely on to something! 

Garlic Fries:

Try your hand at making homemade French fries or purchase a ready-made pack – either option will work well! Once your fries are prepped, you will toss them in a garlic, butter, parmesan, and parsley mixture before baking them to create Garlic Fries.

Walking Tacos:  

This recipe is called Walking Tacos, and it involves prepping all of the classics of a great taco, like meat, tomatoes, beans, and all of the toppings. Once everything is ready, open a bag of corn chips, and pop your taco favorites inside!  

Honey Buffalo Meatball Sliders:

Typically, meatballs are most often served with sauce. But, this recipe calls for hot sauce, apricot preserves, blue cheese, and ranch dressing, so it offers a fun twist. If you try making Honey Buffalo Meatball Sliders, let us know what you think!

Deep-Dish Sausage Pizza:

Pizza is a game day classic, and if you want to feel as though you’re visiting Chicago deep-dish pizza is a must! This recipe will walk you through the steps to make your own crust as you craft Deep-Dish Sausage Pizza. We can’t wait to try it!

Turkey Burger: 

It’s not a baseball game menu if there isn’t at least one burger recipe included! We spotted this recipe for turkey burgers, and we’re excited to try the Mexican version, which calls for topping the turkey burger with guacamole and salsa.

Strawberry Ice Cream: 

To cap off your ballpark at-home menu, dessert is a must! Have you ever made your own ice cream? Celebrate baseball and strawberry season with this egg-less Strawberry Ice Cream recipe. Serve with chocolate sauce, extra strawberries, and waffle cones.

What will you include on your baseball menu for your next watch party at home? Let us know on Facebook!

5 Simple Ways to Celebrate Mother’s Day

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We love moms, grandmas, aunts, cousins, girlfriends, and chosen moms! So, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that we cannot wait to celebrate Mother’s Day in less than two weeks on Sunday, May 9. This year, we’re imagining many more (safe) gatherings and time spent together after a year mostly spent apart. And, we think you might feel the same way. This year, more than ever, we want your favorite gal to feel loved and celebrated. Below, you’ll find five easy ways to spread the Mother’s Day love!

Get Cooking:

Whether mom typically creates meals in the kitchen or she’s a foodie at heart, think about cooking breakfast, lunch, and dinner for her! For breakfast, we’re eying a little something indulgent, like this French toast casserole. For lunch, why not make one of these savory toast recipes? Once dinner rolls around, think about whipping up a family-style favorite, like burgers, taco, or pizza.

Frame Kids’ Art:

Kids are only little once, and we have a feeling mom has a favorite piece of art made by the littles she adores! So, frame it! You can purchase a frame at Target or Walmart, opt for custom framing at a craft store, like Michaels, or send off the piece to become an heirloom with Framebridge. For an added surprise, create a new art piece for mom. Anything with hand or footprints is always a great idea!

Create an At-Home Retreat:

Moms love family time, but sometimes they crave a little time and space away from the chaos. So, create an at-home retreat that encourages mom to step away to read a book or magazine, indulge in a bubble bath, sip on wine or coffee, or catch up with a friend. She’ll come back feeling refreshed and grateful!

Pick Flowers:

Rather than picking up flowers from the grocery store or a florist, think about visiting a you-pick farm and cutting your own flowers for mom. This would be a great outdoor activity for a warm spring day. Plus, you’ll likely capture a few great shots for Instagram too! Quality family time + flowers? It sounds ideal to us!

Send Her to the Spa:

Similar to our suggestion to create an at-home retreat for mom, present her with a gift card to visit a spa or nail salon on Mother’s Day. Many of us have missed our pampering sessions throughout the past year, and Mother’s Day is a great day to resume self-care.

How are you planning to celebrate Mother’s Day? Let us know on Facebook!

After More Than a Year of Zoom Holidays, Americans Will Gather to Celebrate Mother’s Day

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Shopkick survey finds most Americans plan to celebrate Mom in person and shop in-store for gifts this year

This Mother’s Day, the majority of Americans are ready to celebrate Mom in person after a year of virtual gatherings due to COVID-19.  According to a new survey from Shopkick, more Americans plan to physically gather with family this year (61 percent) compared to 2020 (52 percent), and most plan to purchase Mother’s Day gifts in-store (79 percent), a significant uptick compared to last year (38 percent). 

The shopping rewards app surveyed more than 22,000 consumers across the nation between April 7 – 12, 2021 to gain insight into this year’s Mother’s Day plans, preparations and spending habits.

Key Findings:

  • Moment for Mom: The majority of consumers (80 percent) plan to celebrate Mother’s Day this year, with 61 percent planning to do so in person. Meanwhile, only 11 percent plan to celebrate virtually, a significant decrease compared to last year’s 27 percent who celebrated via video calls. 
  • Group Gatherings: For those celebrating in person, most plan to make a meal at home (55 percent), followed by those who will celebrate at an outdoor get-together (21 percent), head to a restaurant (20 percent), or take part in a different group setting (4 percent). Of those in person celebrations, Gen Z is most likely to go to a restaurant this year, with 29 percent planning to do so, compared to Millennials (20 percent), Gen Xers (20 percent) and Boomers (18 percent).
  • Getting Gifts In-Store: Seventy-nine percent of consumers said they plan to purchase their gifts for Mom in-store this year, compared to only 38 percent who did so last year. The most popular purchases include flowers (59 percent), gift cards (49 percent), clothing or accessories (30 percent), food items (29 percent), beauty and wellness products (19 percent) and fragrance or perfume (18 percent). 
  • Deals, Please: This year, nearly half (48 percent) of consumers say cost remains the most important factor in making a gift decision, trailed by style (19 percent), convenience (17 percent) and whether the brand aligns with personal values (16 percent). 
  • Big Spenders: When it comes to purchasing gifts this year, 15 percent plan to spend more than last year. Of those, 37 percent said it is because they want to make up for not being able to fully celebrate last year. Consumers also said they want to spend more after a year of being restricted by the pandemic (27 percent), want to spoil the women in their life with pricier gifts (24 percent) or plan to purchase a vacation as a gift (4 percent). Across demographics, more Gen Zers (27 percent) plan to have bigger budgets for Mother’s Day gifts this year, compared to Millennials (18 percent), Gen Xers (14 percent) and Boomers (12 percent). 
  • Less is More: Similarly, 15 percent said they plan to spend less on gifts this year, with the majority (58 percent) stating it is because their finances have been impacted and they need to budget. Other reasons include choosing quality time over gifts (26 percent), the women in their lives not wanting gifts (7 percent), or planning to save money for a trip later this year (6 percent). 

“For over a year, many of us have been separated from the people we love most. Luckily, it feels like we have reached a turning point,” said David Fisch, general manager of Shopkick. “Americans are celebrating Mother’s Day in person, and they are heading to physical retailers to get their shopping done. That’s why it is essential for retailers to prepare for an influx of in-store shoppers, keep shelves stocked with popular Mother’s Day gifts and maintain a clean environment to create the most positive experience possible for consumers.” 

Halo Top

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Driving awareness, consideration and sales while scaling distribution nationally

Campaign Goals

Halo Top was scaling distribution and looking to build awareness and drive trial of the full portfolio of Halo Top flavors sold at national retailers.

Shopkick Solution

Shopkick first built awareness and consideration of the full portfolio of Halo Top flavors through engaging video content, where users earned a small reward for engaging with the video.  Upon completion, shoppers could save the ice cream and be reminded to engage with Halo Top products at their next store visit.

Next, to drive traffic and in-aisle engagement with Halo Top at multiple retailers, Shopkick leveraged proximity messaging to drive to the frozen aisle and intercept with high impact messaging. 

To drive purchase conversion at shelf, Shopkick rewarded shoppers for scanning the product and for uploading a verified receipt. Finally, Shopkick served an in-store consumer research study to all shoppers who had engaged with Halo Top products, in order to collect valuable insights for the Halo Top team.

Results

Shopkick users were highly engaged with Halo Top content and products throughout their entire shopping journey. The video saw a 95% completion rate and drove activity further down the funnel such as in-store engagements and purchases.

The campaign successfully reached a new audience, with 59% of shoppers first becoming aware of Halo Top ice cream through Shopkick, which was more effective than traditional media in driving awareness.

The campaign had a 17% purchase conversion and of those that did not buy, 47% had future purchase intent.

45%

Of video viewers purchased

59%

New buyers

3:1

Sales ROI

Details

Goals

Scale distribution nationally

Drive awareness and consideration

Drive foot traffic to the frozen aisle

Drive sales and conversion

Capture consumer insights

Retailer Distribution

Nationwide

Products Used

Kicks for Video Promo Unit In-Store Scans Purchase Validation Consumer Research Study

Shopkick’s parent company, Trax, secures $640M in series E funding from visionary investors

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Today, we’re excited to share that our parent company, Trax, has secured $640 million in a Series E financing round led by SoftBank Vision Fund 2 and technology-focused funds managed by Trax’s existing investor BlackRock, Inc. 

 

Trax acquired Shopkick in 2019 to accelerate its mission to drive the future of retail, where the physical and digital combine to enable the best shopping experiences. Since then, the team has made major strides in enabling brands and retailers to better navigate the new frontier of retail: delighting shoppers and providing actionable insights right at the shelf.

This financing round accelerates Shopkick’s mission to expand our footprint to new audiences and destinations, enabling our partners to reach consumers all throughout their digital and physical day, beyond our core shopping endemic environments. These new opportunities to earn rewards will attract new and diverse audiences, elevate our omnichannel offering and deepen our first-party consumer insights. In the coming years, we’ll continue to focus on growth through new partnerships, new audiences, and expansion into new markets. 

It’s an exciting time in retail, and we are thrilled to continue to chart the future as part of the Trax family. 

Best,

Dave Fisch

CEO, Shopkick

Read more from TechCrunch

Retail Refined Podcast: Strengthening Customer Loyalty with Data

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When supply chain issues and panic buying left grocery shelves empty for weeks, shoppers had to consider alternative options when their go-to brands weren’t available. In fact, in the height of the pandemic, 85% of consumers said brand names no longer mattered, and 69% said they would purchase a different brand if their preferred brand wasn’t in-stock. 

There’s no doubt that the past year has had a major impact on consumer purchase behaviors, and many brands and retailers are reevaluating their current strategies and considering new avenues for building, and maintaining, customer loyalty. Enter: loyalty programs and rewards apps. 

“There’s a misconception that if you build a rewards program, customers will love it… but every marketer knows that’s not true. If people don’t feel like they’re getting a benefit, if it’s too limited, if it’s hard to get rewards, if it’s confusing, they can tend to fall flat. And it does impact buying behavior, customers consider the quality of loyalty programs in buying,” says Jaysen Gillespie, SVP of Data and Analytics at Shopkick. 

There’s a ton that brands and retailers can learn about loyalty from the last 12 months, room for improvement, and an abundance of data to inform decisions moving forward. In Market Scale’s Retail Refined Podcast, Gillespie joins host Melissa Gonzalez to discuss trends in consumer engagement and app usage, how the quality of reward programs determine adoption, how to use consumer buying data to cultivate stronger loyalty, and more.

Listen here: https://marketscale.com/industries/retail/strengthening-customer-loyalty-with-data/