Spring is here, and with it comes a fresh wave of energy – the perfect time for retail loyalty pros from across the country to huddle up and swap ideas. That’s exactly what happened at ebbo’s first-ever Leaders in Retail Loyalty Summit, held at the Columbus Zoo & Aquarium in Ohio. The day was designed to ignite ideas and build excitement for the future of customer loyalty, and it did not disappoint.
Building Community & Sharing Insights
The day kicked off with a powerful keynote address by Kelly Mahoney, SVP of Customer & Growth Marketing at Ulta Beauty. Setting the tone for the summit, Mahoney emphasized the importance of fostering a strong brand community alongside results-driven loyalty mechanics.
Following Mahoney’s insights, Bill Hanifin, CEO of The Wise Marketer Group, delved into the “Psychology of Loyalty,” reminding attendees of the critical role customer motivations play in crafting effective programs.
A lively panel discussion on “Current & Future Trends in Customer Loyalty and Engagement” followed. Moderated by Hanifin, the panel featured industry experts and loyalty leaders sharing their perspectives on the evolving retail landscape.
Pushing Boundaries & Embracing Innovation
The morning concluded with a motivating “Marketplace Scan: Loyalty Programs Turned Up to 11,” presented by Carlos Dunlap-Beard, VP of Business Development and Jen Kunz, Director of Strategy at ebbo. This presentation served as an exciting thought-starter for the group, and showcased loyalty programs that “push the boundaries beyond the basics” — from gamified experiences to hyper-personalized rewards,
After a networking lunch and a tour of the zoo, Dr. Yuping Liu-Thompkins took the floor with a compelling keynote on “Loyalty Program Impact.” Ph.D. and Professor of Marketing at Old Dominion University, Dr. Liu-Thompkins shared data-driven insights on the measurable benefits of successful loyalty programs, emphasizing the positive impact on customer lifetime value and brand loyalty.
The summit concluded with a lively interactive idea-sharing session led by Bill Hanifin. This dynamic session allowed attendees to share their own customer experience strategies, discuss data-driven retention techniques, and explore the potential of emerging technologies in the loyalty space.
A Renewed Spirit of Innovation
The Leaders in Retail Loyalty Summit wasn’t just about networking – it was about sparking innovation. Attendees walked away feeling energized and brimming with fresh ideas to take their loyalty programs to the next level. The sense of community and collaboration was strong, making it clear that the future of retail loyalty is indeed bright.
Stay tuned for more events like this one!
We’re committed to fostering a community of passionate retail loyalty leaders. Reach out to us to learn more about upcoming events and industry insights. In the meantime, if you’re interested in seeing how ebbo can help you build a loyalty program that drives results, contact us today.
ebbo
ebbo helps brands achieve their customer loyalty goals with full-service, end-to-end solutions and also creates original educational content straight from the experts to help loyalty marketers stay on the cutting edge of customer engagement.