November 23, 2010

HMV adopts First Data Real-Time rewards program

Over 310,000 customers have enrolled

First Data Corporation, a global leader in electronic commerce and payment processing and HMV, Canada's leading entertainment retailer, has announced that HMV has launched its “purehmv” customer loyalty programme using First Data’s Real-Time Rewards solution. More than 310,000 consumers have joined the loyalty programme in its first four months.

The purehmv programme offers a selection of rewards that get you cool stuff money can’t buy, including backstage passes, tickets to live events, movie premières, artist autographed products and unique novelty items. When a customer presents a purehmv card at the point of sale or at purehmv.ca, First Data technology helps HMV keep track of points earned and subsequent rewards provided to loyal customers. The purehmv exclusive rewards are limited in number and always changing, which encourages loyal customers to keep coming back to HMV to redeem their rewards. In addition, HMV offers its members valuable discounts on the products they love.

First Data’s innovative Real-Time Rewards offering helps increase overall revenue potential and boost customer retention by building customer relationships through more valuable and relevant promotions and rewards. Real-Time Rewards enables the delivery of targeted merchant promotions and rewards that increase consumer loyalty and sales. Once the solution is in place, marketers can create and adapt targeted, relevant promotions and rewards programmes, in most cases without any additional development.

“First Data provides the customer loyalty solution that HMV Canada uses to actively engage our loyal consumer base with unique rewards,” said Dave Marien, vice president of Information Technology for HMV. “This partnership helps our marketing dollars go further, in a way that benefits our most loyal customers. First Data understands the importance of client service. They’re investing in loyalty marketing technology, and incorporating customer requirements into the technologies they offer.”

“First Data's Real-time Rewards product puts the control of the loyalty marketing programme directly in the hands of the marketing teams, so HMV Canada can bring new campaigns to market very quickly,” said Kevin Knowles, First Data’s vice president of Loyalty Solutions. “With that degree of flexibility, HMV can execute on innovative marketing programmes to build brand loyalty and retain customers.”