http://ideablob.com/ideas/rss/2230-Centralized-Rewards-Program I don't know about anyone else, but my wallet is sure getting crowded with all those rewards programs from large retail chains to small mom & pop shops. I've got "get buy 10 coffees and your next one is free", "for each $100 spent, get $10 off", "get 10 haircuts, your 11th is free", etc. cards. My idea is to centralize all of these onto one bar-coded card. The retailer would scan your card and your reward would automatically pop up - or your rewards would be appended with your next purchase (say my card has 5 coffees, after I purchase another the clerk scans my card when I purchase my 6th). This would be attached to an account for you you could check on the internet to keep track of all. I don't know about anyone else, but my wallet is sure getting crowded with all those rewards programs from large retail chains to small mom & pop shops. I've got "get buy 10 coffees and your next one is free", "for each $100 spent, get $10 off", "get 10 haircuts, your 11th is free", etc. cards. My idea is to centralize all of these onto one bar-coded card. The retailer would scan your card and your reward would automatically pop up - or your rewards would be appended with your next purchase (say my card has 5 coffees, after I purchase another the clerk scans my card when I purchase my 6th). This would be attached to an account for you you could check on the internet to keep track of all. Fri, 16 May 2008 12:19:28 -0500 comment http://ideablob.com/ideas/rss/2230-Centralized-Rewards-Program#comment7176 http://ideablob.com/ideas/rss/2230-Centralized-Rewards-Program#comment7176 I don't know about anyone else, but my wallet is sure getting crowded with all those rewards programs from large retail chains to small mom & pop shops. I've got "get buy 10 coffees and your next one is free", "for each $100 spent, get $10 off", "get 10 haircuts, your 11th is free", etc. cards. My idea is to centralize all of these onto one bar-coded card. The retailer would scan your card and your reward would automatically pop up - or your rewards would be appended with your next purchase (say my card has 5 coffees, after I purchase another the clerk scans my card when I purchase my 6th). This would be attached to an account for you you could check on the internet to keep track of all. Thu, 15 May 2008 10:35:51 -0500 comment http://ideablob.com/ideas/rss/2230-Centralized-Rewards-Program#comment7153 http://ideablob.com/ideas/rss/2230-Centralized-Rewards-Program#comment7153 The marketing edge here is the fact that you will create repeat business for those who utilize your system. If people know they can get the 11th cup free they will come back for that 11th cup of coffee, the cost basis for that 11th cup is already factored into the 10 previous cups, and the frequency that people actually will actually buy a danish (or something), if they know they are getting their coffee for free that day. Now comes the fun part, how to make the money! Most supermarkets give you a "club saver" or "bonus card" they do this so they can track your purchase habits and tailor their marketing approach. Well, you my friend just invented the way to do it across multiple stores. You can SELL this information once you have it. Companies do it all the time. They don't usually transfer the customers name along with it but what they do sell is marketing habits. Get the capital needed to put them in 2-3 chains across the US and figure out a way to run them across the gift card network because everyone already has the scanners. And this IS possible, you can buy a gift card for lowes or home depot at walmart so it has to be doable. Use the 10k to develop a solid business plan and pitch VC's your going to need a great deal of funding for this. Mon, 12 May 2008 17:57:30 -0500 advice http://ideablob.com/ideas/rss/2230-Centralized-Rewards-Program#advice1892 http://ideablob.com/ideas/rss/2230-Centralized-Rewards-Program#advice1892 I don't know about anyone else, but my wallet is sure getting crowded with all those rewards programs from large retail chains to small mom & pop shops. I've got "get buy 10 coffees and your next one is free", "for each $100 spent, get $10 off", "get 10 haircuts, your 11th is free", etc. cards. My idea is to centralize all of these onto one bar-coded card. The retailer would scan your card and your reward would automatically pop up - or your rewards would be appended with your next purchase (say my card has 5 coffees, after I purchase another the clerk scans my card when I purchase my 6th). This would be attached to an account for you you could check on the internet to keep track of all. Mon, 12 May 2008 17:28:33 -0500 comment http://ideablob.com/ideas/rss/2230-Centralized-Rewards-Program#comment7081 http://ideablob.com/ideas/rss/2230-Centralized-Rewards-Program#comment7081 Could it not work through the same devices they use for credit cards? The network is already present and secure. Mon, 12 May 2008 12:47:11 -0500 advice http://ideablob.com/ideas/rss/2230-Centralized-Rewards-Program#advice1880 http://ideablob.com/ideas/rss/2230-Centralized-Rewards-Program#advice1880 I don't know about anyone else, but my wallet is sure getting crowded with all those rewards programs from large retail chains to small mom & pop shops. I've got "get buy 10 coffees and your next one is free", "for each $100 spent, get $10 off", "get 10 haircuts, your 11th is free", etc. cards. My idea is to centralize all of these onto one bar-coded card. The retailer would scan your card and your reward would automatically pop up - or your rewards would be appended with your next purchase (say my card has 5 coffees, after I purchase another the clerk scans my card when I purchase my 6th). This would be attached to an account for you you could check on the internet to keep track of all. Mon, 12 May 2008 11:46:20 -0500 comment http://ideablob.com/ideas/rss/2230-Centralized-Rewards-Program#comment7065 http://ideablob.com/ideas/rss/2230-Centralized-Rewards-Program#comment7065 Problem is, then all the stores would have to share your personal information to be able to utilize the card. I don't think they will want to do it. Mon, 12 May 2008 10:06:11 -0500 advice http://ideablob.com/ideas/rss/2230-Centralized-Rewards-Program#advice1874 http://ideablob.com/ideas/rss/2230-Centralized-Rewards-Program#advice1874 I don't know about anyone else, but my wallet is sure getting crowded with all those rewards programs from large retail chains to small mom & pop shops. I've got "get buy 10 coffees and your next one is free", "for each $100 spent, get $10 off", "get 10 haircuts, your 11th is free", etc. cards. My idea is to centralize all of these onto one bar-coded card. The retailer would scan your card and your reward would automatically pop up - or your rewards would be appended with your next purchase (say my card has 5 coffees, after I purchase another the clerk scans my card when I purchase my 6th). This would be attached to an account for you you could check on the internet to keep track of all. Mon, 12 May 2008 09:06:57 -0500 comment http://ideablob.com/ideas/rss/2230-Centralized-Rewards-Program#comment7061 http://ideablob.com/ideas/rss/2230-Centralized-Rewards-Program#comment7061 The challenge I can think of is a scanning device or way to integrate a program into a chains current scanning equipment (if they have any). Fri, 09 May 2008 18:18:06 -0500 challenge http://ideablob.com/ideas/rss/2230-Centralized-Rewards-Program#challenge1642 http://ideablob.com/ideas/rss/2230-Centralized-Rewards-Program#challenge1642