eGift Cards continue to be a source of growth for retailers according to a survey of CashStar’s retailer network prior to eTail West that will be held this week in Palm Desert, Calif. The survey also found that of those retailers that have finished planning, 70 percent will expand their mobile shopping capabilities and 75 percent will invest more of their marketing budgets to promote eGifts in 2012.

“The digital age is booming. Smartphone adoption by consumers is overwhelming and retailers are meeting these trends by investing in mobile capabilities and digital gifting,” said David Stone, CEO of CashStar. “Gift cards have reached more than $100 billion in annual sales in the US, and this market is going digital as the survey reflects.”

Other key findings of the survey include:
- eGifts a bright spot this holiday season – Despite the difficult economy, nearly 80 percent of those retailers surveyed who had eGifting programs for the holidays experienced growth in 2011.
- Interest in social marketing continues growth – Nearly a third of those surveyed indicated they will expand their social marketing this year.
- Top eGift Holidays – The survey found the three top eGifting holidays are:
1) Christmas
2) Mother’s Day
3) Father’s Day

Cartera Commerce, the leading provider of card-linked marketing solutions, announced record revenues for the fifth consecutive year, driven by the rapid adoption of card-linked offers by merchants, banks, loyalty programs and consumers. For the year ending December 31, 2011, Cartera's card-linked advertising network drove over $1 Billion in merchant sales -- more than the previous four years combined -- as a result of accelerating consumer adoption and increased advertising spend by national in-store brands, online retailers and local merchants. Local merchants alone increased advertising spend with Cartera by 785% year over year.

"Cartera's rapid and sustained growth directly reflects the success of our performance marketing model and the high ROI of our card-linked marketing solutions," said president and CEO Tom Beecher. "With no up-front costs and closed-loop transaction analytics, our merchants see ROI of up to 600% and are shifting more of their marketing dollars to the highly measurable card-linked marketing channel. We look forward to another year of rapid growth as we grow our merchant network, expand our bank and loyalty partnerships, and deliver new innovations in card-linked marketing."

Fueled by record revenues, Cartera led the card-linked marketing industry in 2011 by adding a record number of new merchants, expanding the largest network of linked cards, and introducing new product innovations to drive card-linked offer marketing and redemption for merchants and issuers.

Nearly seven out of 10 home improvement shoppers say they are not brand loyal when it comes to buying big-ticket items, according to The Complex Shopper™ study conducted by The Integer Group® and research partner Decision Analyst.

"Considering it may be three, five, even 10 years between purchases of home improvement items -- ranging from flooring and gutters to kitchen cabinets and faucets -- it's not so surprising that shoppers turn to new brands when it's time to replace or upgrade," said Frank Maher, president of The Integer Group's Midwest office and chief operating officer of The Integer Group. "However, home improvement brands can turn shoppers into loyal brand advocates by understanding their shopping behaviors and committing to long-term communication in between those purchases."

In its newest considered purchase report, "Revealing the Motivations that Drive Home Improvement Shoppers," http://digital.integer.com/whitepaper/index.php?wp=complexShopperHI The Complex Shopper from The Integer Group shares shopper insights around home improvement categories in general, and in-depth findings in three categories: flooring, windows/doors and major appliances.

Accuray Incorporated, the premier radiation oncology company, announced that it has received the NorthFace ScoreBoard Award(SM) (NFSB Award) from Omega Management Group Corp. (Omega) in recognition of achieving excellence in customer service and support in 2011. In addition to getting exceptional ratings for customer satisfaction, Accuray is the first organization also to qualify for outstanding customer loyalty based on its Net Promoter ScoreTM (NPS) under a new NFSB-NPS methodology Omega announced on Dec. 6, 2011.

Since 2000, the NFSB Award has been presented annually to companies that, as rated solely by their own customers, exceeded expectations in customer service and support during the prior calendar year.

"We are pleased to be recognized by our customers and are honored to be the first company to receive the NorthFace ScoreBoard award for exceeding customer expectations for satisfaction plus high customer loyalty scores, two very different yet equally important metrics," said Euan S. Thomson, Ph.D., president and CEO of Accuray. "As we continue to grow our global presence, we remain committed to providing exceptional support and service to our customers toward our shared goal of improving the lives of cancer patients.

Spur Corporation's 20.2% rise in first half earnings was driven by strong Christmas trading, increased customer loyalty and promotional campaigns across its three franchise brands, its managing director Pierre van Tonder, said.

Despite inflationary pressures such as rising food prices and escalating electricity and water costs facing consumers and the restaurant industry, the company saw an increase in customer spend per head, as well as a rise in foot traffic.

"The consumer was in better shape and of course the family card we put into place in Spur, rewards diners for frequency. It was one of the reasons for an increase [in foot traffic]," Van Tonder told I-Net Bridge/BusinessLIVE. Membership of the Spur family card loyalty programme has more than doubled to over 720,000 in the past six months.

Customers who cycle, run, ride, climb or fish their way into a GO Outdoors store are set to be rewarded with the UK’s first nationwide launch of an innovative mobile-based loyalty scheme.
• First nation wide smartphone-based loyalty scheme;
• Powered by Mobilize Systems’ technology;
• Supports all smartphone handsets;
• No more plastic loyalty cards or paper vouchers.

Powered by technology from Mobilize Systems, GO Outdoors discount card holders with an iPhone can immediately receive and redeem exclusive deals via their smartphone.

This is the first smartphone-based loyalty scheme to be launched nationally, made possible by Mobilize bringing together mobile phone technology, terminal and electronic point of sale (EPOS) payment systems. Customers simply present their smartphone to the cashier at point of sale, so no need to carry a plastic loyalty card, or fumble in a wallet or purse for a paper voucher.

Clarabridge, Inc., the leading provider of sentiment and text analytics software to Global 1000 companies embracing Customer Experience Management (CEM), announced it has been named one of KM World’s 100 Companies That Matter in Knowledge Management 2011.

Clarabridge’s leading text and sentiment analytics solution allows organizations to accurately analyze the customer feedback data found in multiple sources such as emails, contact center notes and social media. Organizations are able to intelligently transform and analyze the customer feedback data in the fastest possible time to draw actionable insights and proactively manage Voice of Customer (VOC) and CEM initiatives.

“Clarabridge has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to their customers helping to harvest an organization’s collective intelligence in order to best serve its entire constituency chain,” said KMWorld Editor-in-Chief Hugh McKellar.

Marriott Rewards, the highly acclaimed programme of Marriott International, has joined Ctrip.com International Ltd to offer Chinese travellers a great variety of reward opportunities when they stay at Marriott International hotels around the world. Marriott Rewards members will soon be able to earn Ctrip points when they stay at any of Marriott International’s hotels globally. It is Ctrip’s first real time XML connectivity with a global hotel chain. Ctrip will have access to Marriott’s inventory and rates in real time, enabling customers to receive instant reservation confirmation, according to a release.

“Marriott International is committed to exceptional customer service and Marriott Rewards is an integral part of that experience. Ctrip is one of the most popular travel agencies in China and is highly regarded by travellers in the country. We believe the co-operation will further strengthen Ctrip’s and Marriott International’s leadership position,” said Simon Cooper, President and Managing Director, Marriott International Asia Pacific.

Confirmit, global software provider for Customer Experience, Employee Engagement and Market Research, announced record global revenue in 2011. Ranked among the elite by Forrester Research Inc. for its data integration, strong survey programming and user accessibility, Confirmit continues to give business leaders and market insight professionals a feature rich enterprise feedback management solution that captures the true Voice of the Customer.

Confirmit achieved its ninth consecutive profitable year in 2011, with an all-time revenue high in the fourth quarter, contributing to solid double digit 2011 revenue growth. Confirmit's commitment to the growing demand for mobile feedback and research applications was underlined as mobile revenue more than tripled in 2011, with the single biggest contract worth over $400,000.

VerticalResponse, a leading provider of self-service marketing solutions for small businesses including email marketing, social media marketing, online surveys, event marketing and direct mail marketing, was presented with one silver and two bronze Stevie Awards® at the sixth annual Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service gala. The event was held at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nev.

VerticalResponse was a finalist – and won – in the following categories:
- Silver Award for Customer Service Leader of the Year – Kristen Hayer, Vice President of Sales and Support
- Bronze Award for Front-Line Customer Service Team of the Year
- Bronze Award for Telesales Team of the Year

The Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service are the world's top sales awards, contact center awards and customer service awards. The Stevie Awards organizes several of the world's leading business awards shows including the prestigious American Business Awards(SM) and International Business Awards(SM).

Dittman Incentive Marketing, an award-winning leader in corporate incentive, recognition, and rewards programs, has announced the launch of the enhanced RewardCardsOnline.com website, an effective resource for corporate rewards program buyers. Corporate debit cards are increasing in popularity and are a smart solution as a spot reward for exceptional employee performance. Corporate debit cards are also a special way to say ‘Thank You’ to customers and employees, and an excellent way to reward referrals. RewardCardsOnline.com was created to meet this growing demand within the business community.

Recognize, Reward & Inspire
“One of the most effective ways to motivate your employees to go that extra mile for your organization is to recognize outstanding achievement with personalized Visa® Prepaid Debit Cards,” says Dave Dittman, EVP Dittman Incentive Marketing.