Dick’s adds paid loyalty tier for $99 a year

Benefits for ScoreCard+ members include $100 in rewards each year in increments of $25 per quarter.

By Cara Salpini • July 2, 2026

Why United Airlines is teaming up with Lyft on loyalty

The partnership demonstrates a key aspect of successful collaborations: Both sides get something specific from the deal, and neither has to worry about the other stealing its customers.

By Michael Brady • July 2, 2026

For luxury, the in-store experience still reigns

Some luxury maisons are getting the online experience right, EY's Rachel Daydou said. The key is creating this experience for items that are not available in store.

By Kristen Doerer • July 1, 2026

J.C. Penney, Aéropostale link loyalty programs to cross-pollinate customer bases

Customers who shop at both retailers can earn points to redeem at either one. Both companies are part of the Catalyst Brands portfolio.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • June 30, 2026

Kroger lets shoppers redeem loyalty points for grocery savings

The retailer, which will continue to allow customers to use points to defray the cost of gasoline, is making rewards redemption more flexible as it focuses on value under its new CEO.

By Sam Silverstein • June 26, 2026

Lidl US prepares to roll out new loyalty program

The Lidl Plus rewards program will allow shoppers to earn points redeemable for free products, access personalized coupons and trigger “member exclusive” pricing at checkout.

By Sam Silverstein • June 18, 2026

Stitch Fix’s efforts to cultivate active clients pay off

In the third quarter, the company posted higher retention rates and its first active client growth since 2021.

By Daphne Howland • June 12, 2026

The World Cup scores companies new subscribers. Retaining them is another problem entirely.

Fans from around the world are signing up for streaming platforms to watch the World Cup. But turning short-term subscribers into loyal customers is no easy feat.

By Kristen Doerer • June 12, 2026

Reliable deliveries keep customers coming back, Macy’s and Ulta execs say

"It’s when you’re not reliable is when we’re going to lose our customers, and that’s what we see," Macy’s Vinny Pagliuca said.

By Max Garland • June 12, 2026

Loyalty is not a discount engine. It is a trust engine.

Customers are still willing to engage in loyalty programs, but only if the value exchange is obvious, relevant and trustworthy.

By Halle Stern • June 11, 2026

Don’t confuse loyalty program engagement for lasting allegiance

“Enrollment is a behavior,” AnswerLab CEO Megan Malli said. “Loyalty is a relationship. Most brands are measuring one and assuming they're earning the other.”

By Kristen Doerer • June 8, 2026

Why marketers must rethink loyalty as AI reshapes consumer connections

New research from Gale finds over half of consumers are comfortable filtering their brand communications entirely through AI. 

By Peter Adams • June 5, 2026

Ulta Beauty’s loyalty program is about relationships — not discounts, CEO says

“A lot of times, it's not even about discounts. It's about education. It's about product recommendations,” CEO Kecia Steelman said.

By Bryan Wassel • June 3, 2026

Regulars keep restaurants afloat as overall experience keeps diners coming back

Regular diners tend to spend more, Toast found. But do operators value their most loyal customers as much as they work to acquire new ones?

By Kristen Doerer • June 2, 2026

Chipotle supercharges its rewards relaunch with ‘Summer of Extras’

Curt Garner, chief strategy and technology officer at the chain, explains how a “Summer of Extras” effort builds on and gamifies its rewards program.

By Chris Kelly • May 29, 2026

Wingstop launches loyalty program

Club Wingstop’s exclusive perks and experiences could help improve guest frequency and same-store sales growth.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • May 28, 2026

Kwik Trip doubles down on gamification

The Midwestern retailer is partnering with Eagle Eye to add AI-powered individualized “challenges,” which are more targeted than typical discounts.

By Jessica Loder • May 26, 2026

Walmart paid loyalty shines as membership revenue grows double-digits

The growing subscription-based recurring revenue stream insulates the retailer from “some of the winds in the economy,” CFO John David Rainey said.

By Bryan Wassel • May 21, 2026

Applebee’s offers free delivery to Wyndham Rewards members

The partnership could boost off-premise sales for Applebee’s, which has over 1,100 locations near Wyndham hotels.

By Julie Littman • May 20, 2026

How 8 brands revamped their loyalty program strategies

From Starbucks to United Airlines, brands have tweaked or overhauled their rewards schemes to win over customers and keep them coming back.

By Kristen Doerer • May 15, 2026

JetBlue, United deepen loyalty partnership with reciprocal perks

TrueBlue and MileagePlus members can now utilize travel benefits like priority boarding regardless of which carrier they fly.

By Bryan Wassel • May 14, 2026

Flashfood launches loyalty integration to offer grocers more shopper insights

The new capability, which Meijer has already implemented, is the start of the food waste company’s “major technical transformation,” CEO Jordan Schenck said.

By Peyton Bigora • May 13, 2026

Lyft’s loyalty partnerships are driving customer acquisition and frequency

More than one-quarter of Lyft’s rides in the first quarter of 2026 were connected to the rideshare company’s partnerships with other brands.

By Bryan Wassel • May 11, 2026

How Samsung’s proactive post-purchase experience builds brand loyalty

Samsung’s care team discovered that its most effective loyalty tool wasn’t a product feature or a new technology — it was keeping promises after a customer bought a product.

By Michael Brady • May 7, 2026

World of Hyatt restructures loyalty program award chart

Starting May 20, 136 hotels and resorts will shift to different award categories, while a new points redemption framework takes effect, as travelers prioritize transparency and flexibility. 

By Jenna Graber • May 7, 2026