The Loyalty Newswire from The Wise Marketer
This edition covers: Bero, Clicki Referrals, CLMP™, Costco, Delta, Dotdigital, Eagle Eye, Etsy, Gen Z Career Trends, Globe, Heineken USA, Hertz, Kalshi, OpenTable, Revolut, Robinhood, RewardPay, Starbucks, Swiftly, The Hub Convenience Stores, TikTok Shop, Vroom
FROM THE EDITOR
Costco’s membership renewal numbers are at an all-time high. Hertz is unleashing dozens of golden retrievers to delight car rental customers in Australia. Heineken USA and OpenTable have partnered to reward and celebrate designated drivers. Customer loyalty, it turns out, can be frivolous, fun, socially responsible, and profitable — maybe that’s why a new UK research report finds points-based programs are still the most popular rewards model.
The news is varied and global this week, with notable brands making moves. Enjoy the read, and don’t miss one of the remaining spots for this fall’s CLMP™ training workshop in Mexico City. Additional workshops will be announced soon for Brazil, Colombia, Dubai, and the US.
Bill Hanifin, Managing Editor — The Wise Marketer
SHORT TAKES
- [AU] Hertz Enlists Loyal Dogs to Promote Its Rewards Program
- [Global] Bero Grows DTC Ecommerce Through Omnichannel Loyalty
- [Global] TikTok Shop Tests Subscriptions in a Move That Echoes Amazon Prime
- [PH] Globe Introduces Globe Circle, Rewarding Members Across Mobile and Home Internet
- [UK] Dotdigital Research: 62% of Consumers Want Points-Based Loyalty Programs
- [UK] Revolut Data Breach: 75 Million Records Allegedly Up for Sale
- [US] Kalshi Agrees to Fully Implement Nevada Geofencing by August
- [US] Vroom and Swiftly Debut C-Store Alcohol Cash-Back Program
CLMP™ TRAINING SPOTLIGHT — MEXICO CITY
Certified Loyalty Marketing Training™ Workshop Coming to Mexico City
Leal Hub, the leading customer loyalty and strategy consultancy in Mexico, is hosting a CLMP™ workshop with the Loyalty Academy in Mexico City on October 21–22. This is the credential that distinguishes professionals who design and lead customer strategies in B2C and B2B markets — an important professional development opportunity for loyalty practitioners across the region.
FEATURED STORIES
Costco Reveals Membership Renewal Figures
Costco’s customer loyalty remains hard to beat. The company’s U.S. and Canada renewal rate hit 92.2% last quarter, with a worldwide rate of 89.7%. Despite mounting warehouse-club competition, members keep coming back — proof that a strong value proposition still outweighs an annual fee in most shoppers’ eyes.
Can Etsy’s Loyalty Initiatives Unlock Higher Buyer Lifetime Value?
Etsy is rethinking loyalty without building a standalone program. Instead, the marketplace is embedding retention directly into the buyer journey — personalized recommendations, targeted offers, responsive support, and initiatives like the Etsy Insider beta — betting that deeper engagement drives more lifetime value than points ever could.
RewardPay Launches New Payments Platform and Subscription Plans
RewardPay, an Australian business payments and loyalty platform, has launched a next-generation customer portal and new subscription plans for SMEs. The update lets businesses earn rewards on everyday spend — supplier payments, ATO obligations, rent, utilities, insurance, contractor invoices — while lowering payment costs.
Eagle Eye Unveils New AI-Powered Loyalty Program for Central Retail Vietnam
Eagle Eye has partnered with Central Retail Vietnam to launch The 1 Vietnam, an AI-powered loyalty program for the retail and wholesale group. The program surpassed 5.8 million members within months, underscoring surging demand for modern loyalty infrastructure in Vietnam’s fast-growing retail market.
Starbucks and Delta Simplify the Terms of Their Loyalty Partnership
Starbucks and Delta are streamlining their loyalty partnership. Starting Aug. 5, members who link their Starbucks Rewards and Delta SkyMiles accounts will earn one SkyMile per dollar spent at participating Starbucks locations — replacing the prior system, where members earned miles by loading funds onto their Starbucks Rewards account.
Heineken USA and OpenTable Partner to Reward and Celebrate Designated Drivers
HEINEKEN USA and OpenTable have launched a first-of-its-kind partnership letting diners designate a driver directly during the booking process. Rooted in HEINEKEN USA’s “There’s No Such Thing as Fine to Drive” campaign, the feature responds to survey data showing 71% of Americans would be more likely to plan a safe ride home if prompted at booking.
Clicki Referrals Launches RewardsPass for Apple and Google Wallets
Clicki Referrals has launched RewardsPass, a digital wallet experience that keeps referral programs, rewards, and promotions inside customers’ phones via Apple and Google Wallet. Built initially for pest control businesses, each branded pass can carry a referral QR code, reward balance, booking links, VIP perks, and contact details.
The Hub Convenience Stores Launches HubPerks Loyalty Program
North Dakota-based The Hub Convenience Stores has launched HubPerks, a mobile loyalty app built with Liquid Barcodes across its five locations. Members earn points on fuel and in-store purchases, save 3 cents per gallon, collect stamps toward free items, and can subscribe to a daily coffee or fountain drink program — with 500+ points unlocking an extra 20% discount.
The Robinhood Platinum Card Is Here, and It’s Better Than Ever
Robinhood, which now counts more than 1 million Gold Card holders, is rolling out the Robinhood Platinum Card to an initial group of customers, with wider availability planned in the coming months. The launch extends Robinhood’s push to become a one-stop financial platform spanning every stage of a customer’s credit journey.
CEOs of Amazon, Citi, and McDonald’s Say Opportunity for Gen Z Is Still There — If You Have the Right Mindset
Amazon, Citi, and McDonald’s CEOs have a message for anxious Gen Z jobseekers: opportunity hasn’t disappeared, but mindset matters more than ever. As AMD’s Lisa Su put it, the biggest opportunities come from running toward the hardest problems, not away from them. For millions of young professionals navigating a tight job market, the advice lands the same way: embrace hard problems, stay curious, take ownership of your career, and stay adaptable.
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Stay. Loyal. Always.