Tech convenience and a human touch. Price consciousness and selective splurging. Openness to AI and wariness of it. Shoppers are rife with contradictions, according to Capgemini’s report “What Matters to Today’s Consumers 2026.” For instance, 62% of the consumers worldwide surveyed in October 2025 said they were spending more time searching online for deals and […]
For more than a century, cosmetic brands marketed their products on aspiration: showcasing carefully curated images of stereotypically beautiful people, emphasizing their ability to achieve physical attractiveness and flawless complexions with the stroke of a brush, according to Ian Baer, Founder and CEO of beauty marketplace Soothe. But over the past two decades, consumers’ interest […]
Fintech 3.0 Runs on Stablecoins: Norwest VP Jordan Leites Shares Fintech’s Next Infrastructure Gains
“Fintech 3.0 is about the fundamental shift of the plumbing itself. For decades, you’ve had old banking technology and old rails. Money really hasn’t moved in any new formats or new ways. Stablecoins are redefining how money moves in many different types of formats.” — Jordan Leites, vice president of Norwest Venture Partners Norwest Venture […]
Today we are re-publishing back one of our most popular episodes as our planned episode has been delayed for technical reasons, and now also available to watch on www.Loyalty.TV and listen on Let’s Talk Loyalty Bakers Delight won their award for Best Loyalty Program Launch at the 2023/2024 Awards, so we are delighted to share […]
New physical and digital filtered cards help businesses deliver targeted rewards that align with recipient needs and brand goals PLEASANTON, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 13, 2026 — (BUSINESS WIRE)–Blackhawk Network (BHN), a global leader in rewards and branded payments, is expanding its partnership with Mastercard® to launch two new filtered prepaid card rewards products: the Drive Prepaid Card […]
Announces New Regional President in Asia, Findings of Digital Marketing Transformation Audit, and Thought Leadership Campaigns with New Growth Officer Council and Chief Marketer Network SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 14, 2026 — The CMO Council’s inaugural blog for 2026 reflects on 25 years of an evolving and defining role for the chief marketing officer in the […]
It’s not just enterprise companies investing in AI for driving efficiency and lowering costs–but small businesses have a different set of considerations and hurdles for adoption The analytics gap between large corporations and small businesses is getting wider. Enterprise-level companies have entire teams dedicated to calculating customer lifetime value, justifying big investments and crunching numbers […]
Raising the bar in restaurant loyalty Creating a differentiated loyalty program in the restaurant industry is both incredibly easy and maddeningly difficult. Easy, because we now live in an era where the digital toolbox is overflowing with technologies capable of transforming even the most mundane rewards program into a vibrant engagement ecosystem. Difficult, because too […]
Chief Marketer Network was on the ground interviewing marketing and tech executives at CES 2026 in Las Vegas on Jan. 6-8. In the clip below, Outfront’s Head of Brand Solutions Brad Alperin discusses what marketers can take away from the show, how AI is integrating into marketing processes, how the industry can balance technology with […]
Loyalty Shows Outsized Profit Impact Across Brand Categories NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 12, 2026 — Results of the 28th Annual Brand Keys Customer Loyalty Engagement Index (CLEI) reveal a pivotal shift in the brand landscape as consumer expectations jumped 32% year-over-year – the largest single-year increase since the survey’s inception in 1998. This […]