Chief Marketer Staff, Author at Chief Marketer

New Products and Gift Cards Debut at The Motivation Show

For the takers, The Motivation Show, held last week in Chicago, had plenty to offer and lots of incentives to lure people into exhibit booths including baby kangaroos, back massages, women with water spouting from the tops of their heads and fingertips and 1988 NFL Hall of Famer Mike Ditka, who was on hand to sign autographs on mini footballs. In addition to all the come ons, exhibitors had plenty of new offerings. Here’s a sampling from the show floor.

Agencies

KB Launches Grandparents Rewards Club

To stand out among the cluttered retail environment, KB Toys is rolling out a new rewards program, just for grandparents. Timed in advance of the holiday shopping season, the program dangles a weekly discount for age-specific shoppers.

Agencies

ESPN Taps Sports Fans with First Rewards Card

ESPN is venturing in to the loyalty marketing arena with the launch of its first rewards card that lets consumers earn points to redeem for a slew of sporting events, experiences and merchandise.

Agencies

Hannity, GM Sweeps Draws Fire

A GM sweepstakes that has garnered 45,000 entries so far has come under fire for its ties to syndicated radio talk show host Sean Hannity.

AFLAC Taps Coke Exec for CMO Role

The American Family Life Assurance Co. (AFLAC), known for the quacking white duck that stars in its commercials, has tapped a former Coca-Cola exec to insure the company’s success in marketing.

Agencies

Adding a Twist, Chase Offers Cash or Points for Loyalty

Chase Bank is freeing up the way consumers handle their rewards through a new credit card offering which lets consumers choose points or cash for their loyalty.

Agencies

Best Buy Revamps Reward Zone

Best Buy has revamped its loyalty program Reward Zone, ditching its $10 registration fee, building two reward levels and adding a co-branded MasterCard. Best Buy used shopper feedback to restructure the three-year-old program, which has more than 7 million members.

Agencies

Coors Signs Sponsorship Deal with New Orleans Saints

Coors Brewing Co. has once again expanded its involvement with the National Football League by signing a two-year sponsorship deal with The New Orleans Saints as the team returns to the The Big Easy for its first football season since Hurricane Katrina.

Agencies

Mystic Seaport Joins Ride Share Incentive

NuRide, Inc., an incentive-based ridesharing network, has partnered with Connecticut’s Mystic Seaport, The Museum of America and the Sea, to reward regional commuters who share rides using the company’s service with free admission to the attraction.

News Brief

DIC ENTERTAINMENT: has named Leila Pirnia to