Incentive
and Rewards
When you grow up serving diverse rewards program audiences, you realize that one man's incentive is another man's junk pile. One size does not fit all in today's rewards marketplace yet we consistently see the same discount or cash-back offer, the same merchandise, the same travel offers and the same gift certificates comprising the bulk of all reward redemption possibilities.
In fact, many companies who provide loyalty and incentive marketing services buy their rewards from the same few suppliers. No wonder the catalog looks the same! No wonder the customer is bored!
Reward Paths believes that all Incentive and Reward packages should be customized to the program audience and should be aligned with the behavior changing objectives of the program. You can no longer afford to do what everybody else is doing because it's easy. You must put compelling, unique and highly differentiating reward content into your redemption catalogues. We're here to help you make it a little less difficult to inspire.
Our Incentive and Rewards solutions do not come pre-packaged. We have no warehouse full of last year's inventory that we'd like to dump on your customers or employees. We seldom offer the same on-line networks of merchants to any client and we avoid all but the most affordable and relevant gift card offers. While we can't show you our catalog, we can show you what we've done for our other clients. Most important, we can tell you what works and why.
Reward Paths uses the following principles to help you navigate your way through the rewards and incentives jungle:
- Customer and associate profiles are a prerequisite to understanding what needs to be in the redemption mix.
- Rewards must be obtainable by the average program member within a reasonable purchase cycle.
- Rewards must carry an aspirational element. Make members dream!
- Often, the experience is more important than the reward.
- You never really know the value of a reward until you auction it off.
- Remember the four "C's" of rewards management – custom, compelling, convenient and concierge.
- The best program in the world, with the most relevant and obtainable reward components, will suffer if somebody doesn't get what they ordered when they expected it.
- Never warehouse merchandise. Deal directly with the manufacturers of desired merchandise using EDI and inventory-on-demand models.
- Buy in advance of consumer trends and fads. Never buy last year's models or fashions. They are left over for a reason.
- Cost it all out on paper and decide based upon ROI. Do not judge solely on cost per unit or cost per point.
- If your breakage is too high, the only person happy will be your accountant.
- If your shipping and handling charges constitute a profit center then you should not be in the business of rewarding customers.
Incentive Control™ has a robust auction module that allows program members to bid points and auction bucks for special incentives and experiential reward choices. We include personalized wish lists for members to track items of desire that they do not yet have enough benefits to qualify for. All programs include the development, operation and maintenance of the on-line rewards catalog and associated order, redemption and fulfillment functionality.
We know that if your customers or employees don't get excited when they learn what they can get for changing their behavior, then your program will be short-lived. We won't let that happen.
We are more customized than any other rewards provider in the marketplace. Our solutions are affordable; our billing is transparent and our tracking mechanisms are customer-friendly. Contact us for more information about our Incentive and Reward Solutions. |
