Chuck Tanowitz

The economic story of 2022 has been around one word: inflation. But there’s a second story that has remained under wraps: how loyalty programs keep customer spending in line with inflation. By studying the check sizes for customers of 64 restaurants and convenience stores, Paytronix data analysts discovered that loyalty customers kept their check sizes roughly the same, despite the rise in prices.

Of particular note, the customer segment hit especially hard by inflation was fuel purchasers at convenience stores, who saw their prices more than double between January 2020 and June of 2022 (though fuel prices have since dropped). Despite this rapid rise, fuel-purchasing loyalty members continued to buy until prices rose nearly 80%, and even then continued to spend more. As prices once again dropped, loyalty spending quickly moved to match.

Turning to restaurant concepts, QSRs saw a similar pattern from their loyalty members. Prices did not increase as rapidly as they did for fuel, but the most loyal customers of these QSRs kept increasing their spend, at times doubling the rate of the increase in menu items.

As the rest of the data brief shows, inflation is difficult to overcome, but restaurant loyalty programs provide the ideal tool to hedge against even the toughest economic circumstances.[CT1] 

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There’s some tasty news to celebrate this summer. Delish Sisters, a fresh and wholesome food brand from South Africa, opened its first-ever U.S. location at Clemson University’s new The Shepherd Hotel, a full-service accommodation that employs individuals with disabilities.

Delish Sisters sought out Paytronix technology for online ordering and delivery, customer loyalty, gift cards, and the launch campaign. As part of the Paytronix Gives Back program, the cost of the programs were covered in full.

According to the Delish Sisters’ website, the eatery’s collaboration with The Shepherd Hotel and the ClemsonLIFE program brings, “a team concept with heart, centered around empowering and employing people with special needs/abilities.” The Shepherd Hotel was founded with the mission of positively impacting lives, while ClemsonLIFE empowers students with intellectual disabilities. Paytronix could not be more proud to have a customer that supports this mission.

Though the original plan was to launch in March, construction delays had no damper on the Delish Sisters’ opening day. On August 8, gorgeous green plants, a bouquet of fresh flowers, and freshly baked croissants were arranged neatly in the light-filled restaurant. Employees smiled as Delish Sisters welcomed its first customers—just in time for fall semester.

To learn more about how Paytronix helps its customers create frictionless customer experiences, visit https://www.paytronix.com/platform/.

With the summer vacation season in full gear, C-stores should take advantage of travelers who are passing through for work or pleasure. Just as brands segment and market to their regular customers, it’s also possible to reach out to different categories of travelers with tailored offers designed to get them into your stores and buying more.

Download the Paytronix report, Where All Roads Lead: Why Your C-Stores Should Target Travelers

In this report, Paytronix explains the data science behind segmenting travelers from other customers and then further subdividing the segment into frequent and occasional travelers. The report describes how marketers can leverage this data to:

• Identify trends within the traveler population
• Determine what products each segment is purchasing
• Develop marketing strategies to target each segment

Travelers represent a tremendous opportunity for brands to reinforce their unique value propositions. Whether they are truck drivers coming off the road after a long day, or vacationers in the midst of generating lifelong memories, the members of this segment deserve special attention. Targeting them can go a long way toward building loyalty and increasing revenue.

Every year the competition is on: which house is going to give out the best stuff at Halloween? Not everyone can be the legendary one that gives out full-sized candy bars. And then there are the folks that go all out with decorations, creating a haunted experience that rivals Disney. And let’s face it, you’re not going to be the Red Sox catcher who gave out autographs when facing an empty candy bowl. […]