Flourish in a Flash: Podcast Edition

In this episode we welcome Dan Farrell, VP at Loop Commerce to discuss how the gift card industry has changed and what additional opportunities exist to maximize the gifting experience. Kristen and Dan will review ho gift cards have changed over the years, what new technologies are helping merchants make them more personal, and why viewing gift cards as a digital currency is important for growth.  

We are thrilled to welcome an esteemed panel of industry leaders including: Pete Kledaras, CEO of Paylitix Deb Merkin, CEO of GiftCard Partners Cameron Krost, Gift Card Manager with Topgolf Laura Parker with Best Buy for an important conversation about the need for data transparency and increasing transparency can move the branded currency industry forward.

This week, Kristen welcomes Mo Chaar, Chief Commercial Officer with Givex, to learn about their new COVID-19 assistance programs available to clients and how these programs continue support the industry's needs during these challenging times.

This week Kristen welcomes Eric Thiegs and Ashley Harris from NGC about their unique experience in shifting operations during COVID-19 and how NGC continued to support the industry's needs. Throughout the conversation Eric and Ashley address shifting trends since COVID, changes to business that needed to be considered, what trends or changes may last, and also preview brand new data focused on B2B gift cards. 

This week Kristen welcomes Jay Klauminzer, CEO of Raise, to discuss how the company has evolved from solely a secondary marketplace to a new loyalty and payments platform. Kristen and Jay also address national trends of shopping local during COVID-19 and what that means for branded payments as well as broader international industry trends. 

Kristen Thiry welcomes Joe Galano with Archway Marketing Services and Jason Sheets with Entelliment to discuss the new ways organizations within the branded payments industry have shifted in response to COVID-19 and discuss what new services are now being offered in or to meet customer needs.

COVID-19 sparked an instant shift in consumer spending and now we're starting to see the data and begin to have an idea of what this may mean for the future of retail.  The Flourish Team discusses current spending trends, the shifting landscape for fighting fraud, and make their own predictions about what trends may turn into lasting consumer habits. 

What will the world of gift card and incentive programs for events and travel look like as the world begins to re-open and we find a new normal? Kristen Thiry welcomes two esteemed guest panelists,  Peter Cannon and Peter Friend to discuss the new landscape of these core industries in post-COVID times. 

This week, Kristen Thiry welcomes three special guest panelists to discuss how COVID-19 has impacted breakage and escheatment as well as possible changes that may occur in a post-COVID world. Learn from: Kimberly DeCarrera with DeCarrera Law, Len Llaguno, with KYROS Insights, and Robert Peters with Duff & Phelps, LLC about what gift card breakage and escheatment may look like in the new future. 

This week the Flourish Team discusses the unique ways retailers can make the most of their gift card offerings to best capture sales during the pivotal Dads and Grads shopping season as consumer trends continue to shift. 

With more employees working from home than ever before, how can companies help keep their teams engaged? In this episode, Flourish co-founder, Kristen Thiry, welcomes special guests Cindy Mielke and Scotty Greenburg with Tango Card as they review brand new research about engagement among newly remote employees. Cindy and Scotty discuss how strategies may change based on both the goal of the company and length of time the employee will be working from home.

As social distancing becomes our daily normal, it is essential that retailers both small and large develop strategies to stay connected to customers. One way to do that is by capturing the power of a loyalty strategy, promotional value, and gift cards. In this week's episode, the Flourish team reviews three retailers with distinctly different strategies that are on brand, tailored for the current climate, and still keep customers engaged. 

If there's one thing that is certain, it's that times are changing. One of the biggest industry shifts seen in recent weeks is that gift cards have suddenly taken the spotlight for both companies and consumers, but are they as beneficial during these times as many reports claim? In this episode, the Flourish team talks about three key things everyone should understand about gift cards as they become a more prevalent strategy for large retailers, small businesses, and consumer use in the changing economic climate. Have you ever wondered what happens to a gift card if it's not redeemed? Are you not sure about the difference between a promo code and a gift card? Should consumers be redeeming gift cards right now? This episode answers these three questions and more.  To learn more visit flourishcon.com

Flourish cofounder Holly Glowaty welcomes special guest, Eirc Thiegs, CRO at NGC to discuss the current trends in B2B and incentive gift card programs as well as what they may mean for future program development and opportunities.  A 20-year industry veteran, Eric addresses the current split between physical and digital gift card use in these programs, trends in mobile and digital use, and how a merchant or partner program can best prepare for success in this sales channel.

Holly and Kristen welcome special guest Todd Tomlin, Managing Director with Consummo Consulting, to discuss trends he has seen first hand in his travels throughout 45 different countries in the last three years. Todd shares highlights he's seen in payments systems in Japan, China, Thailand and more. Todd also shares insights on branded currency and alternative payment trends in the travel and hospitality industry as well as how they may influence the future of branded currency.  Todd will be presenting at The 2020 Flourish Conference. To learn more and register visit www.flourishcon.com

Understanding what is important to gift card recipients is a core piece of data for developing a successful gift card program. Historically, gathering this sort of data proved to be challenging but with new advances in AI brands can now use publicly available data and gain new insights from this specific customer segment. In this episode, Kristen speaks with Derek Huyser and Vina Rathbone Falvey from Scio Motus to learn about the science and theory behind AI-driven social listening and how these insights may influence the future of the gift card industry.  This episode gives listeners a special preview into a topic that will be addressed in-depth at The Flourish Conference. Learn more about The Flourish Conference at www.flourishcon.com

In this episode Holly welcomes Theresa McEndree, VP of Marketing with Blackhawk Network, to review current data about Gen Z payment preferences, how they interact with gift card and branded currency, and what the data means for retailers as Gen Z develops more buying power. 

Have you heard about the newest retail holiday? This week, Kristen Thiry chats with Tracy Tilson, founder of Use Your Gift Card and Kelly Wahl, a consultant on behalf of Use Your Gift Card. Learn what sparked the idea for the holiday, what retailers are doing to support the initiative, and why the third Saturday in January will become increasingly important to any retailer with a gift card program.  Visit useyourgiftcard.com to learn more and remember to use your gift cards on January 18, 2020!

2019 is quickly wrapping up and there have been some major trends and changes in the gift card, loyalty, and branded currency industry. In this episode, the Flourish team reviews trends around industry gift card technology, marketing, promotions, loyalty programs, and laws. Listen to learn how this year's trends can directly impact next year's strategies. 

With a short holiday shopping season, impactful promotions are essential to capture consumer spending. In this episode, the Flourish team reviews three distinct promotions that stood out from the crowd during the important Black Friday-Cyber Monday weekend. Additionally, we review the latest reports about what consumer shopping behaviors looked like during this important weekend and what these trends may mean for the new year. 

While many retailers have their holiday strategies in place, some may be looking for last minute ways to engage additional customers and capture sales. With discounts being a classic tactic, the Flourish team discusses when a retailer may want to utilize a discount style promotion, but also discusses other unique options and why it may not be a conversation just around to discount or not, but something much larger. 

What are the current B2B opportunities available for retailers with gift card programs? What should brands consider when strategizing their B2B program? In this episode, Flourish co-founder Kristen Thiry chats with Hollis Thornton, CPIM with Velocity B2B, a division of Blackhawk Network, to discuss the basics of B2B gift card opportunities, key strategies in this changing climate, and essential fraud considerations retailers need to keep in mind for program management.  Learn more about Velocity B2B at https://www.velocityb2b.com/ Learn more about Flourish at https://www.flourishcon.com

This week Holly welcomes special guest Julia Hochstein Sr. Manager, Affiliate Marketing with Zoro to discuss affiliate marketing. Holly and Julia chat about how to create loyal behaviors with customers that come to merchants through affiliate, common mistakes retailers make when managing strategies with rewards partners, how online retailer Zoro grows organic customer loyalty, and more. This episode is your unique opportunity to gain new insights about how to manage an affiliate program that can engage customers and support your brand.    Learn more at Zoro at https://www.zoro.com Learn more about Flourish at https://www.flourishcon.com

In celebration of K+H Connection's 4 year anniversary, the latest Flourish in a Flash is a special Flourish Flashback where the team takes a look back at how the conference started, and some of unique challenges that came up the very first year. The team also shares some exciting updates about what to expect for Flourish Conference 2020, and why it is the must-attend event for anyone in the gift card, prepaid, and loyalty program space. Registration for Flourish Conference 2020 is now open, including a special merchant rate and opportunities for media partnerships. Be sure to visit flourishcon.com for more information.  

Recorded less than 24 hours after the very first Bloom Digital Summit, the Flourish Team covers highlights from the day including current branded currency trends in digitally native brands, options available to retailers wanting to develop their programs, and key insights into data and fraud. Learn not only why gift card and loyalty programs are under-utilized by internet-based retailers but also fast-action steps to make the most of these opportunities.

In this episode of Flourish in a Flash, learn why it is essential to include a gift card program as part of a larger brand strategy during the holidays.  The team also shares some quick-action tips to make the most of the upcoming holiday season and key components to remember while planning.  To learn more about the K+H Connection team, visit khconnection.com

Gift Card escheatment is a highly complex topic. Regulated at the state level, escheatment laws not only vary state by state but are also constantly changing. In this episode, Holly and Kristen discuss escheatment basics, provide three key action steps every retailer can take to make the escheatment process more clear, and answer some commonly asked questions. 

The Flourish Team had the privilege of attending the 2019 Incentive Marketing Association Summit in Chicago. With three unique perspectives, Holly, Erika, and Dez recap key learnings and themes throughout the conference. The team discusses a number of highlights from sessions about Gen Z, employee incentives and recognition, gift card breakage, fraud, and more.  To learn more about the Incentive Marketing Association visit https://www.incentivemarketing.org/ To learn more about the team behind Flourish, visit https://www.khconnection.com 

Everyone is talking about Facebook's development of their cryptocurrency, Libra. One of the most common questions the Flourish team has heard lately is, "how will this affect retail?" In this special episode, Holly sits down with special guest, Hannah Rosenberg, the managing director of The Blockchain Institute in Chicago to discuss the basics of blockchain and cryptocurrency with a special focus on Libra as well as how Facebook's cryptocurrency development may affect ecommerce and consumer privacy. Learn more about The Blockchain Institute Chicago at https://theblockchaininstitute.org/ Learn more about Flourish and the Flourish Conference at www.flourishcon.com 

Gift card sales tend to slow down during the summer season, but there's no reason they have to. In this episode, the Flourish team chats about methods to not only increase sales but also provides insights about new ways to view program success beyond just topline sales. 

In the latest Flourish in a Flash, Holly and Kristen provide a special recap of Buyatab Beyond, a unique industry event hosted in Montreal. This recap includes insights into industry differences between Canada and the US, current and shifting fraud trends, a different perspective on how gift card can help a brand's marketing efforts, three key B2B trends. For more details, visit khconnection.com/blog

It's the second most wonderful time of the year for the gift card and branded currency industry— Dads and Grads season! In this episode, the K+H Connection team reviews 5 stand out gift card promotions brands are using in the final week leading up to Father's Day. Give this week's episode a listen to find out which brands stood out and why.  To see the promotions discussed and other items mentioned, go to khconnection.com/blog. 

Improving customer retention can have significant impact on a brand's marketing ROI. Although strategies can vary amongst brands, customers have a certain level of expectation with regards to communication and engagement opportunities. This week's episode reviews current trends and insights into how some of the largest brands keep their customers engaged as well as offering three simple steps to refresh your consumer retention strategy that you can test immediately. 

A special episode with guest, Harpreet Chawla, VP of Digital Products and Innovation at Swych.  This week, Flourish co-founders Holly Glowaty and Kristen Thiry welcome Harpreet to discuss the many benefits that come with viewing gift card offerings as a service to the customer and how advances in technology can support the shift in perspective. Learn more about the Swych platform at http://goswych.com/ Learn more about the team behind Flourish in a Flash at khconnection.com

Often thought of as a superfluous or confusing marketing and retention tool, loyalty programs are one of the lowest cost ways to acquire and retain new customers. This week the Flourish team discuss why a loyalty program is an essential piece for brand growth and how to manage one without making it too complicated. For more information visit flourishcon.com and to see Ulta's presentation about their program click through. 

The Flourish team is back after a break from a fun and educational Flourish Conference. This week we're sharing some insights from the Flourish keynote presentation, The State of Branded Currency. We're covering three key industry trends to keep in mind for growth and discussing how gift card can help shift consumer behavior to support larger industry growth in the future.  Learn more about Flourish at flourishcon.com and learn about the team behind the content at khconnection.com

One of the biggest debates in gift card is the idea of digital cards vs. physical cards. This week the Flourish Con team discusses why that may be the wrong perspective to take, with insights from Shoptalk and a large retailer to inspire a new view. With technology growing and consumer expectations continuously shifting, this is just the start of a much larger conversation. If it's one you want to be involved with, it's not too late to register for this year's Flourish Conference. Learn more at flourishcon.com

The Flourish team attended three industry events over the course of six days and it quickly became clear the industry is focused on a few key themes. This week we're discussing highlights from Shoptalk, UKGCVA, and Incentive Live including trends such as experiential marketing, gift card form factor, and how retail is using virtual reality. Whether you attended any of the events and want a different perspective or weren't able to attend and want a quick overview, give this episode a listen.  Pictured: Selfridges promoting gift card front and center as customers enter.

When considering how to offer stored value options, form factor isn't as simple as deciding between a digital or physical gift card given today's technology and consumer behaviors. Whether storing value on a bottle opener or watch band the possibilities are nearly limitless. This week, the K+H Connection team discusses new form factors available to retailers and how to help consumers shift their buying behavior to embrace these new form factors.  Learn more about K+H Connection Learn more and register for The Flourish Conference

This week, the K+H Connection team addresses key elements of fraud that emerging eCommerce retailers need to think about while developing their gift card programs complete with steps you can take today to help your program be secure.  To learn more about how to protect your brand and connect with industry leading experts, register now for The Flourish Conference, happening April 1-3 in Chicago. Visit flourishcon.com for more information. 

For many eCommerce retailers, digital gift cards are viewed as a standard offering, but not given much thought. However, with just a few tweaks, the digital gift card can be turned into an outstanding consumer experience and brand engagement tool. In this episode, the Flourish Conference team talks about new delivery methods and their benefits as well as tackling one of the most common questions we hear: "How many digital designs should I have?" Learn more about: The Flourish Conference Our upcoming webinar with Sales and Marketing Management 

Digital promotions are one of the easiest ways to drive sales, but have you ever wondered if there's a difference in how consumers respond to either percentage offers or dollars-off promotions? This week the Flourish Conference team discuss how utilizing branded currency in your promotions can help drive sales even more and look at some of the psychology behind why.  Learn more about: The Flourish Conference and how branded currency can help your sales grow, visit www.flourishcon.com Branded currency consulting services offered by K+H Connection, visit www.khconnection.com Upcoming webinar 3 Tools to Energize Your Sales Team's Engagement & Performance

The K+H Connection and Flourish Conference team is kicking off a brand new series about how emerging and ecommerce retailers can use digital gift cards to grow their brand. This week, learn why developing a digital card beyond a basic offering is essential and how to start thinking about digital gift cards in a more integrated fashion so you can meet the consumer where they are. To learn more and to register for The Flourish Conference 2019, visit www.flourishcon.com.  

With Holiday 2018 officially in the books, the K+H team is reviewing key branded currency standouts from last year including packaging and loyalty highlights. We're also looking forward to the new year and discussing ways brands can truly capture the power of prepaid to increase sales and enhance the consumer experience.  For more specific predictions about what we expect to see this year in branded currency, check out the most recent Flourish blog: 5 Branded Currency Predictions for 2019   The standout Home Depot packaging Holly mentions in the episode

In this week's special extended edition, the Flourish team is reviewing different ways retailers maximized the opportunities of their gift card program in the essential first days of the holiday shopping season.  For more details, insights, and pictures from some of the brands discussed in this episode, head over to the Flourish Blog and read How Brands are Making Gift Cards the Star this Holiday Season   Check out the First Data Holiday Data Insights dashboard to see the current holiday spend trend.  

In retail and ecommerce, Christmas isn't about the holiday; it's about the days leading up to it. And in the final days of each holiday season, it can feel like there's not much you can do on the fly to drive those last minute sales. But thanks to the flexibility of gift cards and branded currency, there are quick and easy ways retailers can promote their gift cards both in store and online.  Want to learn more about how to maximize your gift card exposure during the last few days of the holiday season with clear action steps, and see how brands like Nordstrom, Kohl's, Panera, and Athleta are promoting their cards? Head over to the >Flourish Blog and get all the details. And, as promised, the 2x branded currency promo from Delta:

In the first ever Flourish in a Flash: Podcast Edition Holly talks about one of the most essential ways to make a branded currency program successful, dropping hints on one of the best parties around and talking about the new Tour de Chicago Companies on April 4th, right after Flourish Conference 2019. For more information about Flourish and to register at the limited time early bird rate, go to https://www.flourishcon.com