'Push’ notifications or messages were sent to My Kaboodle app users to remind them of the stamp totals, as well as to ask for confirmation about personal information that perhaps needed to be updated in the Lowes CRM system. This one-to-one communication helped create a more personal connection with its shoppers.
7 minutes
Lowes Foods breaks away from the couponing culture by offering a better digital shopping experience. The retailer collaborated with BrandLoyalty to launch the first digital loyalty program in the USA: Lowes Foods My Kaboodle.
Lowes Foods is a relatively young, family-owned grocery store chain based in North Carolina, USA. It is growing rapidly, specializing in truly local, homegrown products, and focuses on delivering its shoppers the most pleasant experience. In October 2016, Lowes Foods launched its first-ever digital loyalty program in collaboration with BrandLoyalty and IceMobile. Together we created the successful recipe for the first digital loyalty program in the USA: Lowes Foods My Kaboodle.
Shopper experience should always be the number one priority
The retailer always wanted to prioritize shopper experience, and therefore undertook several changes with the aim of attracting new shoppers. To enhance the shopper experience and accelerate growth, Lowes rebranded its stores and looked for new ways to build loyalty with their shoppers. They decided to collaborate with BrandLoyalty to try an innovative new way to accelerate the growth of its supermarket chain and to build a stronger long-term relationship with its shoppers.
Taking the leap to digital
Therefore, Lowes Foods was looking for ways to reward those who came into its stores week in, week out to buy their groceries. Over 16 weeks, customers could save for highly discounted rewards from Vivo | Villeroy & Boch Group. But this wasn’t just your regular paper stamp-based program, as Lowes decided to offer its shoppers a digital alternative – the first of its kind in North America. The digital rewards and innovative experience positively surprised shoppers used to the traditional American coupon collection culture.
Collecting together drives success
The collecting functionality became one of the most significant driving forces for the program’s success. The My Kaboodle app also offered a ‘Collect Together’ function. It was really easy: by connecting your card number with your friend’s card, you could both see the combined stamps balance in the app and/or website after every transaction. Thanks to this functionality, collectors could easily give extra stamps to friends and acquaintances.
'Pushing' shoppers into stores
When a shopper scanned their Lowes Fresh Rewards card, the cash register knew if they were a physical or digital stamp collector. The cashier could then hand out the stamps to physical shoppers or could update their balance in real time. Easier for the cashier and easier for the shopper.
So what's next?
Since agility is key to constantly improving programs for shoppers, the data Lowes Foods collected from the My Kaboodle programme was analyzed and leveraged to enhance a second digital programme, which launched in September 2017. It is built on the same app and tactics as the first, offering loyal shoppers the chance to assemble an entire collection of Vivo | Villeroy & Boch group cookware via the Lowes Fresh Rewards loyalty card.
Lowes Foods recently finished its third My Kaboodle programme. Until January 13th, 2019, loyal shoppers could extend their Vivo | Villeroy & Boch collection with high-quality glassware.
About Lowes Foods
Lowes Foods is a family-owned grocer, founded in 1954 and based in North Carolina with 97 stores. It is growing rapidly and specializes in local, homegrown products. In October 2016, Lowes Foods launched its first-ever digital, short-term loyalty programme: Lowes Foods Kitchen Kaboodle ran for 18 weeks in 75 Lowes Foods stores across North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia.
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