/industry_news en info@loyalty360.org Copyright 2010 2010-03-12T17:16:24+00:00 http://www.loyalty360.org/index.php/industry_news/article/stratmark_launches_ground-breaking_newspaper_loyalty_program/ http://www.loyalty360.org/index.php/industry_news/article/stratmark_launches_ground-breaking_newspaper_loyalty_program/#When:17:16:24Z -STRATMARK, a leading direct response marketing agency in Dallas, Texas, has launched a dynamic new subscriber loyalty program for newspapers. My Reader Rewards is a first in the industry.First Of Its Kind, My Reader Rewards to Revolutionize Newspaper Revenue Model DALLAS--STRATMARK, a leading direct response marketing agency in Dallas, Texas, has launched a dynamic new subscriber loyalty program for newspapers. My Reader Rewards is a first in the industry. “It transforms the value proposition between the three constituent parties: newspapers, advertisers and subscribers-it's a one-of-a-kind program.” “My Reader Rewards can be a significant new profit center for newspapers, while offering subscribers unparalleled rewards and participating merchants the opportunity for an infusion of new business,” says James Dunne, STRATMARK president. “It transforms the value proposition between the three constituent parties: newspapers, advertisers and subscribers-it's a one-of-a-kind program.” With more than 30 years of direct marketing experience, Dunne helped conceive and launch several of the largest airline and hotel loyalty programs beginning in the early 1980s. He also built affinity group marketing of insurance products internationally and created Miles4sale.com, an interactive company selling frequent flyer miles for major airline loyalty programs. Utilizing this experience, Dunne created My Reader Rewards, an unprecedented alignment between newspapers, subscribers and participating merchants. Participating newspapers enjoy a welcome new revenue stream, obtain new subscribers, improve retention of existing subscribers and provide a quantifiable enhancement and incentive for advertisers. “Here’s how it works,” Dunne explains. “The newspaper subscriber registers a credit card or cards with My Reader Rewards proprietary data administration system. When the subscriber uses that card at participating merchants, they automatically earn points that can be used toward dream vacations and other incentives. It is truly a ‘day in the life’ program whereby participants earn points for making everyday purchases in their local community. With every purchase the subscriber builds more equity in the program and therefore more brand loyalty to both the newspaper and to local participating merchants.” My Reader Rewards is available to newspapers with a reader base of 100,000 or more. To learn more about this innovative program please visit myreaderrewards.com or contact Debbie Snyder at 866.628.0888 or dsnyder@stratmark.com. Industry Press Releases 2010-03-12T17:16:24+00:00 http://www.loyalty360.org/index.php/industry_news/article/starwood_launches_super-secret_loyalty_program/ http://www.loyalty360.org/index.php/industry_news/article/starwood_launches_super-secret_loyalty_program/#When:17:11:42Z Barb DeLollis over at USA Today's Hotel Check-in is reporting that Starwood Hotels has launched a super-secret new loyalty program, separate from the SPG program. Apparently, Starwood is trying to identify new levels of important guests aside from their frequency of hotel stays. Here's what Mark Vondrasek, Starwood's senior vice president of interactive and loyalty marketing, told Barb today:Barb DeLollis over at USA Today's Hotel Check-in is reporting that Starwood Hotels has launched a super-secret new loyalty program, separate from the SPG program. Apparently, Starwood is trying to identify new levels of important guests aside from their frequency of hotel stays. Here's what Mark Vondrasek, Starwood's senior vice president of interactive and loyalty marketing, told Barb today: Starwood invited "several thousand" travelers to test the program. "We looked at factors beyond just frequency, which is the key measure in traditional hotel loyalty programs," he said. "For instance, we evaluated factors including guest's profitability, their lifetime growth potential and their ability to influence travel by others. We even targeted some travelers who were loyal not to Starwood, but to our competitors. " (Emphasis mine.) There's no real scoop on what incentives the program gives its members but it looks as if they will... Read Full Article on HotelChatter.com Industry Articles 2010-03-12T17:11:42+00:00 http://www.loyalty360.org/index.php/industry_news/article/christopher_banks_corporation_launches_multi-channel_loyalty_program/ http://www.loyalty360.org/index.php/industry_news/article/christopher_banks_corporation_launches_multi-channel_loyalty_program/#When:16:57:13Z Christopher & Banks Corporation, a specialty retailer of women's clothing, is proud to announce the launch of its Friendship(TM) Rewards loyalty program across the Company's entire business of 800 plus retail locations and two e-commerce sites. "Friendship(TM) Rewards allows us to offer a more valuable shopping experience for our customers, or better known to us as our 'friends,'" commented Lorna Nagler, President and CEO. "We have always had a strong, dedicated following of customers and this program was specifically designed to recognize and reward them for their loyalty."Christopher & Banks Corporation, a specialty retailer of women's clothing, is proud to announce the launch of its Friendship(TM) Rewards loyalty program across the Company's entire business of 800 plus retail locations and two e-commerce sites. "Friendship(TM) Rewards allows us to offer a more valuable shopping experience for our customers, or better known to us as our 'friends,'" commented Lorna Nagler, President and CEO. "We have always had a strong, dedicated following of customers and this program was specifically designed to recognize and reward them for their loyalty." Christopher & Banks and CJ Banks offer exclusively designed collections that are classic, casual and comfortable. This new program continues to deliver on the Company's strategy of 'Celebrating Women of all Sizes.'(TM) "Friendship(TM) Rewards is a point-based program that offers our friends meaningful rewards on purchases across all channels," said Etienne McManus-White, VP of Marketing for Christopher & Banks. "In addition, our friends will be rewarded with invitations to exclusive sales and events." Beginning in May of 2010, Friendship(TM) Reward members will also receive complimentary shipping on all of their online purchases. Customers can become Friendship(TM) Reward members by visiting a local store or going online at http://www.christopherandbanks.com or http://www.cjbanks.com. About Christopher & Banks Corporation: Christopher & Banks Corporation is a Minneapolis-based specialty retailer of women's clothing. As of March 9, 2010, the Company operates 805 stores in 46 states consisting of 539 Christopher & Banks stores, 264 stores in its plus size clothing division CJ Banks and two dual-concept stores. The Company also operates the http://www.christopherandbanks.com and http://www.cjbanks.com e-commerce websites. Keywords: Women's Clothing, Plus Size Clothing, Christopher & Banks, CJ Banks Source: Christopher & Banks Corporation Industry Press Releases, Loyalty Today 2010-03-12T16:57:13+00:00 http://www.loyalty360.org/index.php/industry_news/article/target_launches_first-ever_scannable_mobile_coupon_program/ http://www.loyalty360.org/index.php/industry_news/article/target_launches_first-ever_scannable_mobile_coupon_program/#When:15:38:19Z Target is the first national retailer to offer a scannable mobile coupon program that allows guests to receive exclusive offers directly on their mobile phones. Coupons are redeemed by scanning a barcode on the phone at checkout. “At Target, we know that mobile phones are an integral part of our guests’ lives, and mobile coupons are just another way we’re providing convenient, on-the-go shopping solutions” MINNEAPOLIS--Target is the first national retailer to offer a scannable mobile coupon program that allows guests to receive exclusive offers directly on their mobile phones. Coupons are redeemed by scanning a barcode on the phone at checkout. “At Target, we know that mobile phones are an integral part of our guests’ lives, and mobile coupons are just another way we’re providing convenient, on-the-go shopping solutions” “At Target, we know that mobile phones are an integral part of our guests’ lives, and mobile coupons are just another way we’re providing convenient, on-the-go shopping solutions,” said Steve Eastman, president of Target.com. Guests can opt-in to the program on their PC at Target.com/mobile, on their phone at m.target.com or by texting COUPONS to 827438 (TARGET). After opt-in, guests receive a text message with a link to a mobile Web page that contains multiple offers, all accessible through a single barcode. Offers are single use and expire on the date listed. Target’s point-of-sale scanning technology makes mobile coupons possible, and Target is the first major retailer with the ability to scan mobile barcodes in all of its stores. A leader in mobile retail, Target continues to offer innovative mobile solutions for guests. In addition to using the new mobile coupons, Target guests can access their Target Mobile GiftCards, view online assortments, check product availability and store locations, manage their Target gift registry and lists, browse the weekly ad, and receive text and e-mail notifications of great deals – all via their mobile phones. About Target Minneapolis-based Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT) serves guests at 1,740 stores in 49 states nationwide and at Target.com. Target is committed to providing a fun and convenient shopping experience with access to unique and highly differentiated products at affordable prices. Since 1946, the corporation has given 5 percent of its income through community grants and programs like Take Charge of Education. Today, that giving equals more than $3 million a week. Target Corporation news releases are available at www.target.com. For Target Corporation:KaplowGloria Quinn, 646-747-3582orTarget Communications, 612-696-3400 Industry Press Releases 2010-03-10T15:38:19+00:00 http://www.loyalty360.org/index.php/industry_news/article/grocery_iq_adds_android_to_its_list/ http://www.loyalty360.org/index.php/industry_news/article/grocery_iq_adds_android_to_its_list/#When:15:22:23Z Grocery iQ®, the wildly popular shopping application for the iPhone, is now available for Android phones. Designed to make it easy to create and manage shopping lists, the mobile application is priced at 99 cents and is available now in the Android Market. The announcement was made by Coupons.com Incorporated, the leader in digital coupons and the developer of Grocery iQ.Top Shopping List App Now Available for Android Devices MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--Grocery iQ®, the wildly popular shopping application for the iPhone, is now available for Android phones. Designed to make it easy to create and manage shopping lists, the mobile application is priced at 99 cents and is available now in the Android Market. The announcement was made by Coupons.com Incorporated, the leader in digital coupons and the developer of Grocery iQ. “significant improvements [of Grocery iQ 2.0, including its ability to tap into the cloud] have pushed the app from ‘frequently used’ to ‘indispensable’ on my own iPhone.” “Grocery iQ has been well received from the moment it was introduced in 2008. Since that time, we’ve continually improved the application with a regular stream of new features and capabilities that make creating and managing shopping lists even better,” said Steven Boal, CEO of Coupons.com Incorporated. “Users love Grocery iQ, and it continues to draw rave reviews. So, we’re really happy that with today’s announcement we can now offer the time- and money-saving benefits of Grocery iQ to the Android community.” Much Loved, Much Used Grocery iQ is frequently an Apple App Store Staff Pick, No. 1 in the Paid Lifestyle category and a Top 100 Paid app in the entire store. In addition, Grocery iQ has received rave reviews and accolades from users, bloggers and the media consistently since its introduction in September 2008. A few highlights include: The New York Times named Grocery iQ “the best of the grocery-list apps.” July 9, 2009 Advertising Age called Grocery iQ one of only six applications that “stand out for the impact they’re having on the way consumers shop” in an article titled, “How Mobile is Changing Shopping.” March 1, 2010 SheKnows.com, a very popular mommy blog, included Grocery iQ in its “Top 6 iPhone Apps Moms Will Love.” “Ever get to the checkout line at the grocery store and realize you forgot your coupons at home? With Grocery iQ from Coupons.com, you can store your list and all your coupons in your phone. Snap a picture of a barcode to add items to your list, separate your list by stores, and organize them by aisles for streamlined shopping, and print and email coupons directly from the app. You can also save coupons to your store savings card, and sync up your list with your spouse so you don't wind up with 8 gallons of milk. Grocery iQ is 99 cents -- and it pays for itself many times over.” February 22, 2010 theAppleBlog.com’s Weldon Dodd noted, the “significant improvements [of Grocery iQ 2.0, including its ability to tap into the cloud] have pushed the app from ‘frequently used’ to ‘indispensable’ on my own iPhone.” “Frankly, I love this app because it actually makes shopping easier than using pencil and paper.” February 26, 2010 Consumer Behavior: Purchasing Decisions and List Making IRI research† measured that 83 percent of consumers make buying decisions prior to entering the grocery story, a 38 percent increase in just two years. The economic downturn and increased access to information are identified as having played significant roles in the growing trend for planning before entering the store. Experts predict this and other learned savings behaviors will continue long after the economic environment improves. The research also shows that nearly two-thirds (64 percent) of shoppers explicitly create a grocery list. Shoppers employ lists to save money, speed shopping, reduce trips to the store, bargain hunt, and accomplish other time- and money-saving objectives. Store flyers and coupons are key list-making tools, indicating that marketers benefit by engaging consumers before they reach the store. “For list makers, Grocery iQ is a game changer,” said Boal. “It gives consumers access and control of their lists during the entire shopping experience—from pre-planning to in-store decision making.” Grocery iQ: Packed With Useful Features Grocery iQ includes a long list of features and functions to easily create, organize and share lists, and get and use coupons. “Grocery iQ solves a pervasive, real-world problem. It makes the process of creating and managing shopping lists fun and easy and ensures that you will never leave your list at home again,” said Steve Horowitz, CTO of Coupons.com Incorporated. “Grocery iQ is list making for the 21st century, and we’re thrilled to now offer the application to the Android community.” Some of the time- and money-saving features found in Version 2.0 are highlighted below. Quickly and Easily Create Grocery Lists Voice Input: Grocery iQ hooks into Android’s speech recognition so that shoppers can add items to lists by simply speaking into the phone. It’s accurate and almost effortless. Auto-suggest: Shoppers can begin typing a product type or brand and Grocery iQ will suggest grocery items to add to lists. Barcode scanning: Using the camera on their phone, shoppers can scan barcodes on product packaging to automatically add an item to their shopping list. No writing or typing required. Favorites and History: Grocery iQ lets users save items to Favorites to make adding frequently purchased items to shopping lists in the future fast and easy. At the same time, Grocery iQ keeps track of shopping history, so users can easily add previously purchased items to lists or save them as favorite items. Organize Lists, Make Shopping Easier Create lists for different stores: Add items to a specific list or to the global “Any Store” list. Add item details: Enter product quantity, package size, and other product details. Shoppers can also enter price information which is used to calculate the dollar amount of items in their Shopping Cart or as a reference for value seekers searching for best prices. Organize items by store aisle: Grocery iQ automatically sorts list by category. Users can arrange categories to reflect the layout of their favorite stores to have their shopping list automatically ordered by the store’s aisle arrangement. No more backtracking inside the store, saving shoppers’ time and sparing them from frustration. Get Coupons and Save Money Coupons by category: Click on an aisle from a list to view coupons related to that category. Coupon gallery: Grocery iQ includes coupons from Coupons.com, and users can browse offers and add items to their shopping list by simply selecting coupon offers. New offers are added almost daily for top brands consumers love, trust and buy every day. Savings Card: Grocery iQ also offers Save to Card coupons, which are virtual coupons that are loaded directly to grocery store loyalty cards. Save to Card offers are automatically redeemed at checkout—without clipping. The Save to Card capability currently works with loyalty cards from Safeway, Vons, Dominick’s, Genuardi’s, Randalls, Tom Thumb, Pavilions and Carrs, with more coming. Share Your List to Coordinate Shopping Synchronized list sharing – With synchronized list sharing, multiple users can share a single shopping list. If someone is on the way to the store or even already there, no problem—users can add a last-second item to a Grocery iQ list at home and the item is automatically updated on the shared list. Or, split up in the store and get the shopping done twice as fast. Email your lists: Users can email shopping lists at their convenience. Grocery iQ Pricing and Availability Grocery iQ for Android is priced at 99 cents and is immediately available in the Android Market. Grocery iQ 2.0 requires Android OS version 1.5 or higher. The application is also available for the iPhone, and versions for other mobile operating systems are in development. Coupons.com App Coupons.com also is in the process of developing an Android version of its Coupons.com mobile application, which is currently available for the iPhone and iPod touch. The free application allows users to access and browse coupon offers, including coupons they can print for redemption, Save to Card coupons that load directly to their store loyalty card as well as Show & Save coupons they show on their mobile device for redemption at point of sale. About Coupons.com Incorporated Coupons.com Incorporated is the recognized leader in digital coupons, including online printable, save to loyalty card and mobile promotions. For consumers, the company’s products include Coupons.com, recently the 39th largest Web property and No. 1 in the Coupons/Rewards category in the U.S. ††, as well as Grocery iQ and Coupons.com mobile applications. For brand marketers, the company distributes digital coupons to millions of consumers through Coupons.com and thousands of Web sites comprising the Coupons.com digital coupon network. The company also powers the digital coupon initiatives in 1-to-1 online marketing campaigns—including display advertising, email and social media programs. For publishers, the company offers solutions to monetize Web site traffic, including branded microsites, and Brandcaster, a self-service coupons syndication platform. Clients include hundreds of top consumer packaged goods brands (including Clorox, General Mills, Johnson & Johnson, Kellogg’s, Kimberly-Clark, and Kraft Foods), leading restaurant, toy and entertainment companies, as well as top retailers (such as A&P, CVS, Duane Reade, H-E-B, Kmart, Kroger, Safeway and Walgreens). Founded in 1998, the company is based in Mountain View, CA. To start printing coupons, visit www.coupons.com. To learn more about the company visit www.couponsinc.com. † IRI, Times & Trends, A Snapshot of Trends Shaping the CPG and Retail Industries, October 2009 †† Nielsen, October 2009 Coupons.comPatrick Crisp, 650-605-4695patrick@coupons.com Industry Press Releases 2010-03-10T15:22:23+00:00 http://www.loyalty360.org/index.php/industry_news/article/nbc_universal_and_bigpoint_announce_first_ever_mmog_based_upon_the_televisi/ http://www.loyalty360.org/index.php/industry_news/article/nbc_universal_and_bigpoint_announce_first_ever_mmog_based_upon_the_televisi/#When:15:20:41Z The global market leader in browser-based Massively Multiplayer Online Games (MMOG), Bigpoint, (http://www.bigpoint.com/) will be demonstrating the next generation of client-free PC gaming at Game Developers Conference 2010. Leading its product slate for 2010 will be Battlestar Galactica Online, a tactical space combat and adventure MMOG based upon Syfy’s Battlestar Galactica series. The game, inspired by one of the most popular science fiction series in television history, will launch worldwide exclusively this fall on Syfy.com for a 30 day period. The Unity co-developed MMOG will offer state of the art graphics that can be played directly in an Internet browser.Co-Development with Unity Pushes Visual and Technology Boundaries Game Developers Conference 2010 SAN FRANCISCO--The global market leader in browser-based Massively Multiplayer Online Games (MMOG), Bigpoint, (http://www.bigpoint.com/) will be demonstrating the next generation of client-free PC gaming at Game Developers Conference 2010. Leading its product slate for 2010 will be Battlestar Galactica Online, a tactical space combat and adventure MMOG based upon Syfy’s Battlestar Galactica series. The game, inspired by one of the most popular science fiction series in television history, will launch worldwide exclusively this fall on Syfy.com for a 30 day period. The Unity co-developed MMOG will offer state of the art graphics that can be played directly in an Internet browser. The teaser website for Battlestar Galactica Online is available at http://www.bgo.bigpoint.com and Bigpoint will be discussing this announcement at booth 2038 at Game Developers Conference, March 9th-12th. Battlestar Galactica Online is licensed through Universal Partnerships & Licensing, on behalf of the NBC Universal Television Consumer Products Group. “Our investment strategy is to help high-growth companies like Bigpoint that can also drive growth for NBCU, so we're excited to see this collaboration working so well.” Battlestar Galactica is the gripping saga of humanity's last remnants and their struggle to find a new home while fleeing from their deadly Cylon enemies. Redefining the space opera with its gritty realism, Galactica's intensity, issues-driven topicality, and command performances have garnered it numerous awards, including three Emmy® Awards and the prestigious George Foster Peabody Award. The show was recognized by the American Film Institute (AFI) as one of the most outstanding programs of the year two years running. The series was produced by Universal Cable Productions and executive produced by Ronald D. Moore and David Eick. The outstanding ensemble cast was led by Edward James Olmos, Mary McDonnell, Katee Sackhoff, Jamie Bamber, James Callis, Tricia Helfer and Grace Park. "Battlestar Galactica is a supremely gameable intellectual property, with compelling character classes, a fantastic array of ships and weaponry, multiple worlds, and a dramatic storyline," said Bill Kispert, VP & GM, Digital Platforms, Universal Partnerships & Licensing. " We are excited to work with Bigpoint – and our partners at Universal Cable Productions and Syfy – to bring an epic, accessible, and ‘always on’ BSG experience to fans of the franchise and online gamers alike." "Cooperation between Bigpoint and NBC Universal is a very important strategic step for us," explains Heiko Hubertz, CEO and founder of Bigpoint. "Battlestar Galactica has a huge and passionate fan base. We are proud to be able to publish such an internationally famous title as one of our online games. For the first time ever, we're relying completely on Unity in order to offer our users fantastic game graphics right in their browsers." Battlestar Galactica Online is the first game inspired by a blockbuster Hollywood franchise to be fully developed on Unity technology for MMOG audiences. This platform independent engine makes it possible to produce real-time 3D applications such as MMO games with exceptionally high quality graphics without having to download a client. Players will be able to choose to play as cylons or humans in a constant struggle to control the universe or just survive its perils. A blend of tactical space combat, exploration, and mission-based gameplay will provide a diverse experience. The dramatic missions will define the game's overall storyline, enabling the player to delve into mysteries of the Battlestar universe. Battlestar Galactica Online will create a new standard for web games, with beautiful 3d graphics and innovative game mechanics bringing a new level of game play to browser based MMOG. Assets from the television production will be integrated into the game to deliver an even more authentic experience. The game is being developed by Artplant (http://artplant.no), a Norwegian development studio specializing in 3D MMO games. Megumi Ikeda from NBC Universal's strategic venture capital arm, Peacock Equity Fund, investors in Bigpoint, said, "Our investment strategy is to help high-growth companies like Bigpoint that can also drive growth for NBCU, so we're excited to see this collaboration working so well." About Bigpoint Bigpoint is an online-game publisher, content provider for large media concerns and browser-based game developer. The company’s game portfolio has achieved the same high level of quality usually associated with CDs or consoles. More than 300 employees from over 35 different nations work together in Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany at the headquarters of the world’s largest browser-game portal. The company also has locations in Berlin, San Francisco and Malta. The games are available in over 30 languages and provide more than 108 million gamers from Europe to America and beyond with free, first-class entertainment, without the hassle of having to download or install any additional software. Bigpoint has pocketed such prestigious honors as the Eco Award "Best Content Provider" 2009, the Ruban d’Honneur at the European Business Awards 2009, the Red Herring 100 Europe, the OnlineStar for the most popular website in Germany and the MTV Skyscraper Award for extraordinary achievement in game development. People’s choice awards and user awards such as the Dutch HME Award 2009 and the American Website of the Year Award 2009 confirm Bigpoint’s sensational success. Bigpoint placed third in the Deloitte Technology Fast 50 due to company growth of 4,094.06% within four years. Founder Heiko Hubertz was awarded second place as Internet Entrepreneur 2007. For further information about Bigpoint and its games, please visit http://www.bigpoint.net. About Universal Partnerships & Licensing UP&L oversees Universal’s consumer product licensing, film and home entertainment promotions, and all corporate alliances for Universal’s theatrical, home entertainment, theme parks and stage productions. This dedicated division is also responsible for monetizing the Studio’s vast library of films and characters through licensing, branding and marketing opportunities. UP&L is part of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Formed in May 2004 through the combining of NBC and Vivendi Universal Entertainment, NBC Universal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renowned theme parks. NBC Universal is 80%-owned by General Electric, with 20% owned by Vivendi. About Syfy Syfy is a media destination for imagination-based entertainment. With year round acclaimed original series, events, blockbuster movies, classic science fiction and fantasy programming, a dynamic Web site (www.Syfy.com), and a portfolio of adjacent business (Syfy Ventures), Syfy is a passport to limitless possibilities. Originally launched in 1992 as SCI FI Channel, and currently in 95 million homes, Syfy is a network of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies. Syfy. Imagine greater. About NBC Universal Television DVD, Music, and Consumer Products Group NBC Universal Television DVD, Music, and Consumer Products Group manages all global ancillary television business endeavors for the NBC Universal Television Group, including third-party home entertainment distribution, consumer products, musical soundtracks, special markets projects and the NBC Universal Online Store. About Unity Unity Technologies is revolutionizing the game development industry and was named one of the top five game companies of 2009 after just four years in the market. Today Unity Technologies has more than 100,000 registered users worldwide – including leading companies like Cartoon Network, Electronic Arts, LEGO and NASA, large and small studios, independent professionals, students and hobbyists – using the Unity platform to develop high performance interactive 3D content for the Web, for mobile and for consoles. Unity Technologies is one of the fastest growing software companies and is aggressively innovating to expand usability, power and platform reach so that it can deliver on its vision of democratizing interactive 3D technology. Unity Technologies is headquartered in San Francisco and has development offices worldwide. For more information, visit unity3d.com. Bigpoint GmbH Janine Griffel Head of PR Tel.: +49-(0)40 881413-163 Fax: +49-(0)40 881413-7163 E-mail: j.griffel@bigpoint.net or Erik Reynolds 47 Communications on behalf of Bigpoint Tel.: (310) 717-7727 E-mail: erikleereynolds@yahoo.com Industry Press Releases, Loyalty Today 2010-03-10T15:20:41+00:00 http://www.loyalty360.org/index.php/industry_news/article/when_the_olympics_happened_the_world_turned_to_yahoo_the_no._1_online_desti/ http://www.loyalty360.org/index.php/industry_news/article/when_the_olympics_happened_the_world_turned_to_yahoo_the_no._1_online_desti/#When:15:20:24Z Yahoo! Inc. today released comScore audience figures showing that Yahoo! Sports was the No. 1 online destination in the US for Olympics coverage, beating out NBC and ESPN as the destination people turn to for the most relevant, timely, and comprehensive information about major sporting events.Yahoo! Sports Takes Gold, Beating NBCOlympics.com, ESPN and All Other Sites in Number of Unique Visitors and Time Spent SUNNYVALE, Calif--Yahoo! Inc. (NASDAQ:YHOO) today released comScore audience figures showing that Yahoo! Sports was the No. 1 online destination in the US for Olympics coverage, beating out NBC and ESPN as the destination people turn to for the most relevant, timely, and comprehensive information about major sporting events. “We know what users want when they come to Yahoo!, and we delivered a cross-platform Winter Games experience that helped us turn in our own gold medal performance: record traffic, engagement and click-through rates.” According to comScore, Yahoo!’s site dedicated to Olympics coverage (sports.yahoo.com/olympics/) attracted 32 million unique visitors from February 12 to 28, signifying the largest online audience for the 2010 Winter Olympics. Yahoo!’s site for Olympics coverage surpassed NBCOlympics.com and ESPN which both counted 19 million unique visitors each, during the same period. Yahoo! Sports received more than 40 million total unique visitors during the Winter Olympics, breaking the monthly record in the online sports category and exceeding its closest competitor by more than 19 million unique visitors. Additionally, visitors to Yahoo!’s site covering the Olympics spent 314 million total minutes on the site, compared to the 218 million total minutes spent by visitors to NBC’s Olympics site. "The 2010 Winter Olympics featured exciting competition, brilliant performances, spectacular blunders, compelling human interest stories and once again the world turned to Yahoo! for the most comprehensive and engaging coverage of the games,” said Jimmy Pitaro, vice president, Yahoo! Media. “We know what users want when they come to Yahoo!, and we delivered a cross-platform Winter Games experience that helped us turn in our own gold medal performance: record traffic, engagement and click-through rates.” Yahoo!’s Searches During the Games Audiences consistently looked to Yahoo! for up-to-the competition results, the most interesting stories and for answers to a wide range of questions about all aspects of the games. Below is a sampling of search highlights: Most searched athlete: Lindsey Vonn was the top searched athlete of the 2010 Winter Games. Most searched Olympic sport: Curling climbed the ranks to become the top searched sport/event by a wide margin. Most random searches: Searches for esoteric trivia such as “how heavy is a curling stone” and “why does Apolo Ohno yawn” were extremely popular. Top mobile searches: Julia Mancuso and her reported “feud” with fellow USA skier Lindsey Vonn caught people’s attention: Searches soared 97% during the first week of competition, ultimately landing the silver medalist among the most searched Olympic athletes on mobile. The dating habits of athletes were also a hot topic, with many searchers looking for information on the personal lives of Evan Lysacek, Shaun White, Apolo Ohno, and Bode Miller. Most Clicked Stories Once again, Yahoo!’s editors featured fascinating stories on the Yahoo! homepage from its industry-leading team of writers that really clicked with Olympic fans, including: A story about a private pre-race conversation between Shaun White and his coach that was accidentally broadcast became the most popular story on the Yahoo! homepage during the Winter Games. The second most popular story focused on the controversy over the Canadian women’s hockey team’s gold medal victory celebration. A popular figure from the Summer Olympics rounded out our top three. Michael Phelps’ announcement that he would retire following the London Olympic Games was the third most popular feature. Yahoo! Olympic Offerings During the Games Yahoo! Sports' coverage of the 2010 Winter Games had one of the largest editorial teams in Vancouver, led by Yahoo!'s award-winning writers Dan Wetzel, Charles Robinson, Martin Rogers, Jeff Passan and Greg Wyshynski. To give fans a multifaceted view and analysis of the competitions, Yahoo! Sports also lined up Olympians and champion athletes, including Sasha Cohen, Dominique Dawes, Tiki Barber, Elvis Stojko, Donna Weinbrecht, Ken Daneyko, Jessica Mendoza, Bryon Friedman, and Jennifer Jones, plus video hosts Charissa Thompson and Angela Sun. Yahoo! Sports featured additional daily Olympics coverage with: “Fourth-Place Medal,” a leading blog about the Olympics with keen insights from editor Chris Chase and Puck Daddy blog editor Greg Wyshynski. “Medal” vaulted into the top 20 of sports blog rankings after two weeks of activity. Yahoo!'s mobile site covering the Olympics which let on-the-go fans keep up with the latest, including medal counts, news and expert coverage, live results, and athlete profiles. Winter Games Roundup, a daily video news show hosted by Dawes that provided recaps of top stories along with information on upcoming events. Yahoo! also built a custom-designed broadcast studio in Vancouver, and an entertainment center, FanCouver, where more than 100,000 fans attending the games visited to participate in Yahoo! events and promotions. Yahoo! Sports is no stranger to domination when covering the Olympics. During the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, the site attracted the largest online audience for a sports destination, reaching more than 38.5 million people during the month of August 2008 and setting a then all-time audience high. Yahoo! Sports beat the closest competitor (NBC Sports) by a decisive 15 million unique visitors. During August 2008, one in five U.S. Internet users visited Yahoo! Sports, and Yahoo! News also set an all-time site record, reaching 44.3 million unique users. Combined, Yahoo! Sports and Yahoo! News reached 57.3 million users, nearly one-third of the entire Internet audience. About Yahoo! Yahoo! attracts hundreds of millions of users every month through its innovative technology and engaging content and services, making it one of the most visited Internet destinations and a world-class online media company. Yahoo!'s vision is to be the center of people's online lives by delivering personally relevant, meaningful Internet experiences. Yahoo! is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California. For more information, visit pressroom.yahoo.com or the company's blog, Yodel Anecdotal (yodel.yahoo.com). Yahoo! is the trademark and/or registered trademark of Yahoo! Inc. Yahoo!Carrie Davis, 310-907-3774carried@yahoo-inc.com   Industry Press Releases 2010-03-10T15:20:24+00:00 http://www.loyalty360.org/index.php/industry_news/article/heartland_payment_systems_signs_martin_eagle_oil_company_as_first_smartlink/ http://www.loyalty360.org/index.php/industry_news/article/heartland_payment_systems_signs_martin_eagle_oil_company_as_first_smartlink/#When:15:19:25Z Martin Eagle Oil Company, Inc., a multi-branded marketer of motor fuel products, has selected Heartland Payment Systems’® (NYSE: HPY) new SmartLink® technology to create a consolidated managed network for payment transaction data and back-office information. SmartLink will initially be implemented at 11 Martin Eagle locations with the remaining locations to follow shortly.New State-of-the-Art Technology Enables Convenience Store and Petroleum Businesses to Streamline Network Operations and Reduce Telecommunications Costs PRINCETON, N.J.--Martin Eagle Oil Company, Inc., a multi-branded marketer of motor fuel products, has selected Heartland Payment Systems’® (NYSE: HPY) new SmartLink® technology to create a consolidated managed network for payment transaction data and back-office information. SmartLink will initially be implemented at 11 Martin Eagle locations with the remaining locations to follow shortly. “SmartLink has enabled us to provide our dealer locations with additional value-added services, such as new high-speed payment options. We’re looking forward to implementing SmartLink at the rest of our locations.” Heartland’s SmartLink telecommunications technology consolidates multiple in-store communication lines into one high-speed broadband line. This streamlining of network services enables critical business data to be transmitted quickly over a secure, SSL-encrypted connection. The SmartLink Network delivers first-of-its-kind technology that can transmit both transactional data as well as integral back-office information, allowing convenience and petroleum store owners to spend less time managing their networks ― and more time managing their businesses. The merchant gateway allows merchants to monitor their automatic tank gauge data, in-store environmental control system data and daily back-office data such as email, file sharing and internet usage. The payment gateway allows them to monitor their point-of-sale terminals, money-order terminals, check verification, ATM, fleet card and loyalty card transactions. With SmartLink, businesses receive a single network-related invoice and can rely on one customer service resource for troubleshooting and network monitoring, reducing in-house support costs and the need for additional IT staff. By consolidating multiple phone lines and telecom providers into one network, SmartLink enhances operational efficiency and reduces the costs typically associated with data communications and networked services. “The benefits of SmartLink are tremendous. The installation was turnkey and seamless, and our entire network operation has been streamlined to run more efficiently,” said Bill Meek, Martin Eagle Oil’s director of information services. “SmartLink has enabled us to provide our dealer locations with additional value-added services, such as new high-speed payment options. We’re looking forward to implementing SmartLink at the rest of our locations.” Michael Youngkin, transport and monitoring product manager at Heartland, added, “Heartland is pleased to be working with Martin Eagle Oil as our first SmartLink customer. This ‘one-stop-shop’ managed network service resolves the common industry issue of dealing with multiple telecom providers. It enables convenience store and petroleum business owners to streamline processes, reduce overhead ― and concentrate on making their businesses profitable.” Through a robust dealer network, Martin Eagle supplies fuel products to hundreds of locations in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana. It also operates convenience stores under the Quick Track brand in Texas. Heartland is one of the largest payments processors in the convenience store and petroleum industry, offering a comprehensive suite of products and services including card processing, gift marketing, prepaid services, check management, payroll services and more. For more information about SmartLink, visit SmartLinkPro.com, call 866.976.1359 or email SmartLinkPro@e-hps.com. About Heartland Payment Systems Heartland Payment Systems, Inc. (NYSE: HPY), the 5th largest payments processor in the United States, delivers credit/debit/prepaid card processing, payroll, check management and payments solutions to more than 250,000 business locations nationwide. Heartland is the founding supporter of The Merchant Bill of Rights, a public advocacy initiative that educates merchants about fair credit and debit card processing practices. For more information, please visit HeartlandPaymentSystems.com, MerchantBillOfRights.com, CostOfABurger.com and E3secure.com. Heartland Payment Systems, Inc.Nancy Gross, 888-798-3131 x2202Nancy.Gross@e-hps.comorVault CommunicationsLeanne Scott Brown, 610-455-2742LBrown@VaultCommunications.com Industry Press Releases 2010-03-10T15:19:25+00:00 http://www.loyalty360.org/index.php/industry_news/article/fortune_magazine_hay_group_rank_the_worlds_most_admired_companies/ http://www.loyalty360.org/index.php/industry_news/article/fortune_magazine_hay_group_rank_the_worlds_most_admired_companies/#When:14:58:36Z Hay Group, a global management consultancy, and FORTUNE magazine today released their thirteenth annual World’s Most Admired Companies (WMAC) list. Hay Group also conducted supplemental research on employee engagement practices at these organizations, which found that companies at the top of the list generated stronger employee loyalty to the organization over the last two years and reported greater decreases in employee frustrations over work conditions that were not conducive to their success.Employee Engagement Drives Loyalty and Business Performance at World’s Most Admired Companies PHILADELPHIA--Hay Group, a global management consultancy, and FORTUNE magazine today released their thirteenth annual World’s Most Admired Companies (WMAC) list. Hay Group also conducted supplemental research on employee engagement practices at these organizations, which found that companies at the top of the list generated stronger employee loyalty to the organization over the last two years and reported greater decreases in employee frustrations over work conditions that were not conducive to their success. “Companies on the World’s Most Admired list are not only better at engaging employees in a way that reduces internal frustration and fosters loyalty, they are also better at sharing those metrics with influential groups outside the organization, and translating their success into new business and an enhanced customer experience.” “The World’s Most Admired Companies have been particularly good at focusing on long-term strategies, showing little tolerance for executives that compromise long-term objectives for short-term gains,” said Mel Stark, vice president in Hay Group’s Reward Practice. “Equally important, the WMAC communicate their objectives to all employees, connecting the goals and objectives of every employee to the overall business strategy, and as a result, were able to come out of the downturn with motivated and loyal employees.” Hay Group’s study found that 90 percent of respondents from the WMAC identified their company as very effective or effective at fostering high levels of employee engagement, compared to 71 percent of their peers. The majority of respondents from the WMAC (94 percent) believe employee engagement efforts reduced employee turnover, and 85 percent believe employee engagement efforts reduced employee performance problems, compared to 67 percent and 72 percent at peer companies respectively. In addition, only 19 percent of the WMAC experienced compensation freezes to a great extent in the past two years, compared to 36 percent of peer companies, and only 10 percent of the WMAC experienced layoffs to a great extent, compared to 23 percent at peer companies. The study also analyzed the connection between employee engagement and a company’s business development and consumer relationship. Ninety-four percent of respondents from the WMAC believe employee engagement has created a competitive advantage in the market place, compared to 82 percent at peer companies. Additionally, 71 percent of respondents from WMAC believe their company has been successful at linking employee engagement to customer satisfaction, compared to 58 percent at peer companies. “Employee engagement is increasingly being recognized as a major driver of business performance, revealing important information about an organization’s health and future prospects,” says Mark Royal, a senior consultant with Hay Group’s Insight Practice. “Companies on the World’s Most Admired list are not only better at engaging employees in a way that reduces internal frustration and fosters loyalty, they are also better at sharing those metrics with influential groups outside the organization, and translating their success into new business and an enhanced customer experience.” Other findings from the study include: 73 percent of respondents at the WMAC say their ease of recruiting talent to fill key positions is much greater/greater than two years ago, compared to 57 percent at peer companies 69 percent of respondents at the WMAC say employee loyalty to the organization is much greater/greater than two years ago, compared to 49 percent of peer companies 84 percent of respondents at the WMAC believe employee engagement efforts have led to better relationships with customers, compared to 72 percent at peer companies 86 percent of respondents at the WMAC say line managers have a very high/high involvement as owners of the organization’s engagement initiatives, compared to 76 percent at peer companies 27 percent of respondents at the WMAC report that their company conducts employee opinion surveys more than once a year, compared to 14 percent at peer companies 87 percent of respondents at the WMAC rate the effectiveness of the employee survey program in generating action and change as very effective/effective, compared to 69 percent at peer companies About the FORTUNE magazine/Hay Group World’s Most Admired Companies research Hay Group has collaborated with FORTUNE magazine annually since 1997 to identify, select and rank the World’s Most Admired Companies and uncover the business practices that make these companies both highly regarded and successful. The World’s Most Admired Companies list can be found on the FORTUNE web site. For the supplemental research, Hay Group surveyed senior executives at a sample of companies that participated in the 2010 Most Admired Companies survey, and compared the responses from companies that ranked in the top three in their industries in overall corporate reputation, with those of other participating organizations to better understand how the World’s Most Admired Companies approach employee engagement compared to their peers. For more information and to see related content, please visit Hay Group’s Social Media Press Release at http://bit.ly/bgi8BO, join the conversation at http://twitter.com/hay_group or contact Erica Michel at 212-584-5469 or Erica@blisspr.com to arrange an interview. About Hay Group Hay Group is a global management consulting firm that works with leaders to transform strategy into reality. We develop talent, organize people to be more effective and motivate them to perform at their best. Our focus is on making change happen and helping people and organizations realize their potential. We have over 2600 employees working in 85 offices in 47 countries. Our clients are from the private, public and not-for-profit sectors, across every major industry, and represent diverse business challenges. For over 60 years, we have been renowned for the quality of our research and the intellectual rigor of our work. We transform research into actionable insights. We give our clients breakthrough perspectives on their organization, and we do it in the most efficient way to achieve the desired results. For more information please contact your local Hay Group office at www.haygroup.com. About FORTUNE FORTUNE magazine is a global leader in business journalism with a worldwide circulation of more than 1 million and a readership of nearly 5 million, with major franchises including the FORTUNE 500 and the FORTUNE 100 Best Companies to Work For. FORTUNE Live Media extends the brand's mission into live events, hosting a wide range of annual conferences, including FORTUNE’s Most Powerful Women and the FORTUNE Global Forum. FORTUNE publishes English-language editions in Europe and Asia, and local-language editions in China, South Korea, TK TK And TK. FORTUNE magazine’s online home is CNNMoney.com, the most visited and utilized business destination website.   Industry Press Releases 2010-03-10T14:58:36+00:00 http://www.loyalty360.org/index.php/industry_news/article/2du_media_launches_first_secure_and_anonymous_social_network_for_business_a/ http://www.loyalty360.org/index.php/industry_news/article/2du_media_launches_first_secure_and_anonymous_social_network_for_business_a/#When:16:34:22Z With privacy and security becoming more of a priority for companies and end-users, 2du Media has created the first social media platform where users remain anonymous and are given full control of all their real-time messaging with potentially thousands of member businesses, sports teams, musicians or celebrities.With the only anonymous social platform that combines secure microblogging, opt-in mobile marketing, and customer control portals, 2du Media is revolutionizing the way businesses communicate with customers in real time and showcase their brand. March 4, 2010 -- With privacy and security becoming more of a priority for companies and end-users, 2du Media has created the first social media platform where users remain anonymous and are given full control of all their real-time messaging with potentially thousands of member businesses, sports teams, musicians or celebrities. 2du Media creates new media business tools to help companies interact with customers in real time, with the goal of increasing sales and customer loyalty. By giving client companies an inexpensive and efficient way to spread their brand message, 2du helps them build long-term, highly profitable relationships with their customers. The 2du Messaging Platform offers businesses their own business MicroBlog, which features a safe, spam-free environment for instant business-to-customer connections. Businesses can interact with their opt-in customers concerning customer support issues, sales issues or industry-relevant discussions. Support personnel can provide instant rewards and relevant information to customers while gaining insights into their opinions and preferences. Knowledge gained is entered into 2du’s hosted CRM backend to support real-time sales and marketing initiatives using one-to-one promotions or highly targeted Super Message broadcasts to customers who follow a brand. “Right now, the hot topic is social media and the lack of personal privacy and the risk of spam and malware attacks,” says 2du Media founder and CEO Bob Ofenstein. “We set out to design a messaging platform where consumers are in a safe and family-friendly environment and businesses are able showcase their brand and learn about their customers’ needs.” Concerning the multibusiness loyalty concept of 2du, Ofenstein said “Everyone loves getting discounts and rewards, but it’s just not realistic to join a hundred individual loyalty clubs. Loyalty programs needed a centralized way for consumers to participate. We created 2du so one can follow (or unfollow) ANY number of businesses instantly using a spreadsheet-style selection page.” With 2du, consumers get their own online account where they have full control over what businesses match their lifestyle preferences, when and how many messages they will accept, and what communications form they prefer (private MicroBlog client, email, or mobile phone). With 2du Business MicroBlogging, companies can reward customers with uniquely barcoded eCoupons and eTickets, or can provide preferred customer information or support to customers using their mobile phones while shopping or doing errands. 2du’s Messaging Platform uses the latest security technologies to reduce the risk of spam, malware and identity theft. All 2du sites are protected by the same technology used to protect online bank accounts, and mobile text messages are protected by optional security PIN codes that stop caller-ID spoofing. The anonymous, but informative, demographics and behavioral information about the opt-in members is hosted in a state-of-the-art database with easy support tools, extensive analysis, statistics, and reward targeting features. 2du has made efforts to be family friendly with such innovative features as an inline SMS dictionary, profanity filtering, no-user uploadable pictures, and security protection from unknown short URL links. 2du’s MicroBlogging system allows businesses the opportunity to offer an unprecedented level of timely customer service, including instant communication and support. Business or venue information, eCoupons, eTickets, and specials can be text messaged or emailed to consumers in real time. The MicroBlogs are even integrated into a location-based multimedia directory of local business and event MicroSites offering self-entry YouTube videos, and mobile text reminders. Unlike the typical friendship-style social networks, 2du’s MicroBlogs and MicroSites are specifically designed for brand presentation and useful communications. Businesses can experiment with new products and customer engagement methods in real time and find out immediately what works. 2du’s administration features are specifically designed for easy central management of a large number of Business MicroBlogs and MicroSites at one time. About 2du Media: 2du Media is a next-generation new media company, which provides self-serve, real-time business solutions. Their Business MicroBlogs use a customer-facing front end with many innovative social networking features and a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) backend for improving customer support and sales initiatives. 2du’s Local MicroSite Directory gives companies a place to showcase their brand and promote their existing website or events using self-entry YouTube videos, geo-location sorting, mobile reminder messages, eCoupons or eTickets, customer loyalty clubs, and more. For more information, contact 2duMedia. Please visit the 2du Media website:http://www.2du.com/ and blog: http://2dublog.com/   Industry Press Releases 2010-03-09T16:34:22+00:00