6 Ways to Lower Your Stress

Throughout the past few months, it’s safe to say we have all oscillated in feeling a complete variety of ways. One day we might be relishing in our ability to safely stay at home and spend time with our loved ones, and the next day we might feel as though we are itching for the sense of normalcy we felt at the beginning of the year. There is no one right way to feel (we’re leaning into it all!), but we have found it’s important to discover new ways or dive back into old habits in order to keep our stress levels in check. Whether you’re facing decisions about school or a desire to go back in time, try one of these six ways to lower your stress levels below. 

1. Read:

One of the best ways to disconnect is to get lost in a great book. There are plenty of sites to turn to for inspiration if you’re looking to create a reading list or simply find one great read. Try Reese’s Book Club, Read with Jenna, the Bad on Paper Podcast Book Club, and/or this list from Real Simple about the best books from 2020 (so far). The great thing about reading is you can slot in a few moments throughout the day to read a page or two or you can set aside a full block of time to complete a number of chapters. Once you start, we think reading will become a daily habit you look forward to throughout the day!

2. Exercise:

Exercise looks different for everyone. Some people love to get in a spin workout at home on a stationary bike with an app; others like to run, golf, or play tennis; while other people prefer to take a walk. No matter what you choose to do, make sure it’s something that doesn’t feel like a chore. The idea with exercising to lower your stress is to move in ways that bring you joy and boost your mood, rather than spending any time dreading working out as though it’s a to-do you would rather skip over. Before your workout, create a playlist, download a podcast, or purchase an audiobook!

3. Cook:

Whether it’s on our blog or in our app, we love sharing new recipes with you! We find cooking is a great outlet because it combines the process of following steps with an opportunity to be creative. Plus, it’s something that requires focus. Altogether, we find we do feel more relaxed and stress-free when we try cooking or baking a new recipe. The best news? You will (likely!) end up with delicious results to enjoy with your family or share with friends. 

4. Craft:

Similar to cooking, spending time working on a craft also involves working with your hands. Because it’s physical (and clearly creative!), we find our stress starts to dissipate because we have a fun task to focus on. Think about working on a DIY project, making something with your kids (Good Housekeeping has plenty of ideas!), paint, or learn how to sew or stitch. Don’t be surprised when you end up with a number of completed projects and a newfound hobby! 

5. Write:

Oftentimes, things are less stressful than they may seem in our minds once we can stare at them on paper. So, make a list! You might note things you need or want to accomplish, ideas you don’t want to forget, or even specific things that have been adding to your feelings of stress. Journaling or even typing an email to yourself are both known as being great tools to help you process whatever you’re feeling. Once it’s on paper, work to complete the to-dos or try to release your thoughts.

6. Connect:

Sometimes feelings of stress can be magnified when we spend too much time mulling things over within ourselves. So, call a friend or family member and talk! You don’t have to run through all that might be bothering you. Instead, it might be helpful to ask them questions about their lives as a way to turn off your own thought process. Another idea: meet for coffee, a meal, or ice cream together. Sometimes even five minutes spent with another person is enough to fill our wells for quite a while.

It’s safe to say we’re all experiencing stress, albeit for different reasons and in different ways, but it’s important to find ways to cope. So, how do you combat your stress? Let us know on Facebook!

4 examples of effective customer loyalty rewards programs

 

While many businesses tend to focus on new customer acquisition, it’s the loyal, repeat customers who represent long-term profitability. One effective method of retaining customer loyalty is through comprehensive customer loyalty rewards programs. A study by Bond found that 79% of customers agreed that loyalty programs make them more likely to continue doing business with a brand. The study goes on to say that 73% of consumers are more likely to recommend brands with satisfactory loyalty programs, and 71% of consumers find loyalty programs to be a meaningful part of the customer-brand relationship.

The best loyalty programs are those which help companies stay consistently engaged with their customers across multiple retail channels. That is why mobile loyalty programs have been found to be the most popular and effective way to interact with customers. Nearly 75% of shoppers say they would show more engagement with their loyalty programs if they could access them via their mobile devices.

A smartphone app is accessible on-the-go, limits the number of physical cards or coupons a shopper has to carry, and offers a personalized experience. Relevant mobile data can be collected and analyzed by companies to gain valuable insight into buyer behavior, stored in a customer relationship management database, and later used to create highly optimized marketing campaigns.

Below are four key examples of today’s top brands and retailers effectively creating and managing profitable customer loyalty rewards programs.

Sephora’s Beauty Insider Program
Sephora’s mobile app is widely considered one of retail’s best. Customers earn one point for every dollar spent, which can be exchanged for instant rewards or online items. Members can use their points to get immediate savings at checkout ($10 off every 500 points), or they can browse the rewards bazaar and exchange their points for unique gifts.
Loyalty program members also receive exclusive early access to new products, free standard shipping, and VIP entry to members-only events. Members can attend a meet-and-greet with the brand founder, book consultations with skincare gurus, or win trips to see how their favorite products are made.

The app also features AI technology which enables users to give themselves virtual makeovers using selected products, as well as access customized recommendations that match each of their beauty types.

Kraft/Shopkick

 

Kraft® partnered with Shopkick, a popular third-party mobile rewards platform, to boost baking product sales at Walmart locations during the busy holiday season.

Their campaign started with pre-shop branded content that included recipes with the three featured products— Baker’s Chocolate, JET-PUFFED Marshmallows, and Jell-O Instant Chocolate Pudding. Introducing the products before consumers visited the store helped boost purchase consideration, and rewarding shoppers for their at-home engagement built a positive brand-affinity pre-shop. Once consumers were in-store, Shopkick guided them to Kraft’s featured products at-shelf, and provided reward points (“kicks”) for those who scanned the select items’ barcodes, or for making a purchase. They also offered bonus kicks for those who purchased all three products.

Rewarding shoppers for their engagement and purchases builds positive brand affinity, boosts future purchase intent and loyalty, and increases the likelihood of them purchasing from your brand over a competitor.

The campaign resulted in:

  • Over 9 million in-store product engagements nationwide
  • More than 18 million total campaign impressions
  • 27% of scanners converted to purchase
  • 55% of purchases were unplanned
  • Greater than 7:1 ROI
What Makes Shopkick Such an Effective Customer Loyalty Reward Program? Kicks

 

For top retailers like Best Buy and TJ Maxx, shopBeacon technology is an innovative tool that allows large crowds of consumers to each have a personal shopping experience. Beacons welcome each shopper by name and reward them immediately upon entering a partnering retailer. This creates a positive brand affinity early on in the shopping journey, and inspires consumers to keep shopping for additional kicks in-store. This tool links in-store activity with at-home browsing data, filling gaps in the customer shopping journey for our partners.

By eliminating manual check-in, Shopkick makes it easy for consumers to participate in their loyalty program and earn points. Plus, the lack of GPS tracking data helps retailers avoid privacy issues.

 

Kicks 

Brands and retailers who partner with Shopkick can offer rewards for customer loyalty that don’t involve discounts, coupons, or price cuts.

Shopkickers earn kicks (points) by actively engaging with partners in a variety of ways:

  • Walking into select retail locations
  • Scanning the barcodes of select items in-store
  • Going on “treasure hunts” for featured items in-store
  • Watching branded videos
  • Browsing curated lookbooks
  • Purchasing promoted products
  • Linking a credit card and shopping online or in-store
  • Inviting friends to use the app

App users accrue kicks toward gift cards of their choosing. Many Shopkickers earn one or more gift cards every month simply for shopping and engaging with Shopkick partners. Retailers and brands that offer gift cards in the Shopkick rewards store find very profitable returns, as most people typically spend more than the gift cards are worth.

Videos

Videos have been one of the main driving forces behind Shopkick partners’ success. Shopkick’s Discover Tab features short, campaign-exclusive promotional spots, allowing partners to make a quick yet memorable impact with video. Plus, time-strapped shoppers appreciate these visual, to-the-point clips.

Video marketing dominates in 2020, and is expected to continue to reign:

  • 92% of firms deem video important
  • Viewers watch approximately 100 min. of video daily
  • 95% of video budgets will increase

Consumers largely prefer video to text marketing, with 72% of shoppers saying video is a “convenient and effective” way to learn about products of interest.

Most of Shopkick’s campaigns see viewing completion rates of 99% or higher!

 

Nike+

Nike loyalty program members are treated to exceptional perks like free expedited shipping, reward redemption for in-store merchandise, birthday discounts, surprise gifts at checkout, and exclusive product access.

Nike+ members also receive rewards for staying active. Partnerships with Apple, Headspace, and ClassPass—offering the added value of music, guided meditation, and guided workouts—make it easier to reach fitness goals.

  • Nike+ boasts 185 million members
  • Loyalty app users spend 3x as much as non-members
  • Digital business has grown 38% in the past few years
  • ECommerce surpassed $10 billion in Q3 2019

 

Sprint/Amazon Moment

Amazon ventured into the B2C mobile rewards sphere in 2019 with a new program called Amazon Moments, an intuitive, cross-platform applications programming interface (API).

With a Moments marketing campaign, companies set desired actions for consumers to perform that generate specific rewards. Amazon then tracks user engagement and completed actions, and automatically fulfills the rewards. Business partners pay a cost per action (CPA) fee.

Sprint partnered with Amazon Moments for a five-week campaign during the 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup. Customers downloaded the Fútbol Mode Rewards Wallet Pass to complete challenges during each of the five stages of the tournament and accumulated Amazon credits that could be redeemed for over 500,000 choice items. Additional points could be earned by referring friends to the app and uploading videos of themselves engaging with Sprint. Rewards included TAG Heuer watches, Samsung electronics, and Nike soccer gear.

Throughout the different stages of the campaign, Sprint saw:

  • A 3x increase in engagement
  • 74% challenge completion and reward redemption rate
  • 26K influx in website visitors
Whether instant or earned, rewards make customers feel valued and reinforce positive brand associations. However, rewards aren’t the only reason shoppers gravitate toward loyalty apps. A well-orchestrated program personalizes the shopping experience, makes thoughtful product recommendations, and reduces the amount of irrelevant advertising. It will also provide pertinent data that allows brands to track previous purchases, analyze purchase context, and tailor future product attributes based on customer feedback—all of which are effective tactics in building brand equity and driving future loyalty. Brands and retailers can develop their own loyalty apps in-house, rely upon a partnership with an existing third-party shopping app, or strategically make use of a combination of the two. Omnichannel shopping is a key marketing tool that is critical to long-term success in the retail marketplace.

Partner with Shopkick to create an effective customer loyalty rewards program that will deliver an increase in brand awareness and ROI, as well as long-term trust and brand affinity. Read how leading brands like Claritin, Tyson, and Purina benefitted from a partnership with Shopkick or get started on your very own campaign by contacting us today!

Posted in b2b

8 Healthy After School Snacks

No matter if your kids are learning in school or from home as they start the new year, there is one thing we all know for certain: the joy of an after-school snack has not changed! Like you, we’re fans of this ritual because we know students are hungry after a day at school. We also know how an after-school snack can bring families together for at least a few moments of conversation to share about their day so far. In case you’re searching for new recipes to make after-school snacking more fun, delicious, and healthy, we dug into the archives to uncover eight recipes that definitely fit the bill. 

Peach Melba Ice Pops:

It’s still warm in most areas of the country, so a popsicle was a must for our after-school snack list! These popsicles from Women’s Day combine vanilla yogurt, almond extract, peaches, and raspberries together for a cool and healthy treat. 

Chocolate-Dipped Frozen Banana Bites:

Bananas are a go-to healthy after-school snack on their own, and when you mix in the option to add chocolate and freeze them they seem like a must-have! These Chocolate-Dipped Frozen Banana Bites from The Kitchn are simple, and they sound delicious.

Guacamole for One:

Have you ever wondered how to make a single serving of guacamole? Brit + Co has the answer with this recipe! They even suggest serving it in half of an avocado to make your cleanup even more swift. Just add chips! 

Cheddar, Zucchini, and Scallion Muffins:

Sometimes carbs a must after-school, and this Cheddar, Zucchini, and Scallion Muffin recipe combines carbs together with savory flavors. These will be a hit as a snack, and we can also envision serving these at breakfast, lunch, or dinner. They will go fast! 

Parmesan Ranch Snack Mix:

If you’re looking for a new take on a classic snack recipe, take a look at this Parmesan Ranch Snack Mix from Averie Cooks. This snack mix will be ready in minutes because it doesn’t need to bake. Instead, prepare to combine popcorn, pretzels, nuts, ranch seasoning, and parmesan cheese together. We think this will be a frequent request after school!

Smoothie Bowls:

No matter the time of day, Smoothie Bowls are always a great idea! Take a look at this recipe from Women’s Day that pairs raspberries, bananas, yogurt, granola, and coconut together for a hearty and healthy post-school snack. Keep this recipe on hand for breakfast too! 

Pizza Toast:

Have you ever made pizza on toast? You can now give it a try thanks to this recipe from Delish! You will need toast (obviously!), pizza sauce, cheese, favorite toppings, and a touch of parsley. Once you prep your toast, place it in the oven at 350 degrees until the cheese melts. Then, enjoy!

Celery Snails & Caterpillars:

You have likely had celery and peanut butter, but have you ever turned your celery into snails? With a how-to from Women’s Day located within this recipe, you and your kids can make the recipe and complete a craft at the same time. Make sure you have celery, cucumber, fruits, peanut butter and/or cream cheese on hand. Have fun! 

What’s your student’s favorite after-school snack? Chime in on Facebook!

3 CPG digital marketing trends changing how brands reach consumers

3 CPG digital marketing trends changing how brands reach consumers

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The Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) industry has gone digital, allowing retailers to reach consumers early on in the buyer’s journey—sometimes before intent to purchase arises. Shoppers use mobile devices, computers, and other forms of technology as an integral part of their shopping trip, whether it’s to discover new items, plan their shopping trips, bargain hunt, or buy goods directly. 

Technology has made it easier and more convenient to shop, which is something brands can capitalize on when trying to reach new and existing consumers. As we’re halfway through 2020, this year’s prevailing trends indicate the lines between online and offline shopping have blurred. It’s not an “either/or” proposition, but rather a combination of the two. The brands that understand current trends and how to harmoniously integrate different channels will be the leaders.

Below, we’ll discuss CPG digital marketing trends like micro-influencers, ephemeral video, and third-party mobile shopping apps, along with some of the offline trends—like direct-to-consumer and same-day delivery—and how they intersect with the digital marketing landscape. No matter which combination of trends you implement as part of your marketing mix, the goal is to provide a seamless omni-channel experience that delivers the convenience, personalization, and quality customers have come to expect. 

Direct-to-Consumer Subscriptions

Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) brands are products, services, and experiences designed, produced, marketed, and sold by the same company, bypassing the retail channel. More than 40% of brands sell DTC in some capacity. The industry is growing year-over-year, expected to reach $130 billion by 2025.

 

Consumers flock to DTC models for a myriad of reasons. Some customers prize convenience and cost savings, while others appreciate the personalization and discovery aspects. DTC offerings cut out the time and hassle of browsing through retail stores, and generally boast exceptional customer service. Many models incorporate “VIP” services and provide exclusive access to rewards.

The Direct-to-Consumer trend has reshaped customer expectations, thereby affecting how digital marketing is approached. 

  • Pay-Per-Result Marketing: Just as DTC strategies hinge upon quantifiable marketing, digital marketing relies upon securing a return on investment (ROI). The DTC method of performance marketing—paying only when a specific result is achieved—has inspired digital marketers to look at free trials, coupon codes, first-month discounts, and rewarded in-app content as ways of getting a shopper’s foot in the door.
  • Subscription Services: DTC’s focus is not on the short-term sale, but on delivering continuous value. Likewise, digital advertisers for CPG brands are considering how to create and encourage direct subscription services that generate long-term sales. Though the DTC model has struggled with scale and profitability, the wildfire success of Nike, Disney, and Kellogg’s forays into DTC has many CPG brands taking a deeper look at the model. 
  • Personalization: Lastly, shoppers delight in the personalization available with DTC brands. CPG brands would be wise to emphasize similar options on their websites and email correspondences. By using quizzes, custom gamified experiences, and augmented reality (AR), brands are able to tailor their offerings and messages directly to the individual.

Omni-Channel Experiences

Marketers used to fret that “retail is dead,” and that eCommerce would take over the world. We now know that’s simply not true. 

Although online sales increased another 17.9% from 2018 to 2019, shoppers still enjoy in-store experiences. They love to touch and feel items in person, get out of the house, talk to store associates, and experience the instant gratification of purchasing a product and having it immediately available for use. 

Nevertheless, blurring the line between in-store and digital retail is an increasingly important trend. Social commerce and digital ad spend are still being budgeted for, but CPG executives are also investing in new tools like Instagram Shopping posts, mobile apps, artificial intelligence (AI), and AR tech in physical store locations, as well as automated or mobile checkout to remain aligned with future trends. 

Specifically for digital strategies, an emphasis has been placed upon micro-influencers, ephemeral videos, and third-party mobile shopping apps to deliver experiences customers want at home and in-store.

Micro-Influencers

Years of high-profile scandals, frauds, and fakes has brought the macro-influencer industry to its knees. 

Only 4% of people trust what paid social media influencers say. A study by Stackla found that people are 9.8x more likely to make a purchase based on a social media friend’ recommendation, rather than a high-profile influencer. As it turns out, real people have real influence

There are a number of ways CPG brands are engaging micro-influencers. They’re monitoring hashtags, responding to mentions, and using new tools to find, engage, and reward organic advocates and unofficial ambassadors. Some strategies include: 

  • Running inspirational contests and giveaways. 
  • Giving out promotional items and goods like free swag.
  • Offering VIP experiences. 
  • Inviting members to join their communities. 

It may not be as simple as paying a celebrity with millions of followers for a promotion, but the micro-influencer pitch works wonders for increasing authenticity and trust. 

Ephemeral Videos

Content is diversifying in new ways. Long-lasting “evergreen” content used to be the standard, but now consumers have demonstrated a demand for short, fresh, relevant videos.

The word “ephemeral” is an eloquent way of saying “short-lived.” Think Instagram Stories, Snapchat, or TikTok videos, for instance. Engaging visual clips that appear today, but are gone tomorrow, create a sense of urgency and FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out). 

With over 500 million active users in 2019, TikTok is a popular platform (particularly for Gen Z) that attracted CPG brands like Kind, Red Bull, Kool-Aid, Pepsi, and Lay’s.

CPG brands can use these platforms in a more casual, interactive way. They might offer a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the company, ask a live poll, countdown to an upcoming event, or create a contest.

Third-Party Mobile Apps

With 85% of customers using smartphones while shopping in-store, we can safely assume apps are now a staple element in the path to purchase.  

Third-party shopping apps are an easy, accessible, and affordable foray into this burgeoning market. Instead of developing a constant stream of app content, brands only need to create campaigns, which they can test, alter, and change as they please. 

Through Shopkick, clients’ campaigns have delivered noticeable ROI and increases in brand favorability thus far. 

For instance, when Claritin partnered with Shopkick, they achieved a 4:1 ROI on their campaign during the busy allergy season. By the end of the campaign, 28 million impressions were made, and 59% of consumers who went on to purchase the product originally had no plans to.

Same-Day Delivery and BOPIS 

Consumers’ desire for instant gratification is well-known, but now brands have the tools and technologies to facilitate this desire like never before. In a startling move, Amazon announced that their Prime two-day shipping guarantee would soon become a one-day shipping guarantee in 2019. This announcement made waves as retailers sought ways to compete.

Kohl’s, Best Buy, Macy’s, and Target went one step further and made same-day delivery available, while Apple and Walmart went on to offer next-day delivery. Many supermarkets used (and continue to use) Instacart to facilitate immediate order fulfillment or developed their own proprietary system. 

CPG brands should prioritize incorporating Instacart and Shipt into their delivery strategies. They must optimize their photos, product descriptions, titles, and specifications on these platforms with skimmable elements and relevant keywords in order to see peak search performance results. The same holds true when selling in the Amazon Marketplace. CPG brands should also consider implementing tailored promotions designed to move more units or cross-promote.  

Over the past year, we’ve seen a considerable rise in stores offering BOPIS (Buy Online Pick Up In Store). CPG brands have responded by finetuning their supply chains to keep products moving fluidly from the warehouse to the store. 

The coronavirus pandemic placed a high premium on quick delivery, particularly among cleaning supply brands, meat products, and other household staples. CPG brands adapted by reallocating resources from traditional media and other investments to digital eCommerce strategies like grocery delivery and in-store pickup.

It’s never been easier for brands to reach consumers directly than it is in 2020. Marketing mainstays like SEO content, pay-per-click (PPC) ad campaigns, mobile-friendly websites, and targeted social ads are still very much relevant, but some of these budgets are shifting toward the latest CPG digital marketing trends, tools, technologies, and partnerships mentioned above. CPG brands looking to improve their omni-channel experience can count on Shopkick to connect with audiences in a meaningful way, boosting short-term incremental sales as well as long-term loyalty.

Shopkick is a third-party shopping app that partners with CPG brands to deliver incremental sales, ROI, product awareness, and brand affinity. Users spend an average of two hours per month watching partner brand videos, flipping through curated lookbooks, locating products at-shelf, and purchasing campaign items in exchange for reward points (“kicks”). Read a few success stories or contact our team to learn how you can benefit from these new CPG digital marketing trends.

Posted in b2b

10 Summertime Peach Recipes

One of the best parts of summer is definitely the fruit that is in season! As we celebrate August, we have a new fruit season to celebrate too: peach season! This sweet, sometimes tart, and always delicious summertime fruit is wonderful for both sweet and savory meals, desserts, and (of course!) drinks. We love the great variety offered by peaches.

We also love that many pick-your-own farms present you with the fun opportunity to pick your own bounty with your family. During a time when family outings (or outings in general!) feel a little more complicated as we try to keep our social distance, a visit to a farm to pick fruit combined with a recipe challenge offers a fun and memorable way to spend a day, night, or even a full weekend.

Keep reading below for 10 summer recipes you can make with peaches!

10 Summertime Peach Recipes:

Raspberry Peach Lemonade:

Lemonade is a classic summer drink, and Damn Delicious ups the fun with her take on Raspberry Peach Lemonade. Your kids will love this summery drink!

Easy Homemade Peach Jam:

We couldn’t share a post about fruit without finding a great recipe for jam. The reason why we’re intrigued by this Easy Homemade Peach Jam recipe is because Scattered Thoughts of a Crafty Mom makes it without pectin (an ingredient that can sometimes make jam feel complicated to master).

Easy Baked Peaches:

We have talked about grilling peaches in the past, which you can definitely do. But, we also wanted to highlight a great recipe for baking them. I Heart Naptime shared this recipe for Easy Baked Peaches that also introduces cinnamon sugar topping. We definitely recommend following her lead and completing this sweet combo with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream for a wonderful summertime dessert.

Peach Wine Slushies:

To make your glass of wine more fun and summery, turn it into a slushie! Of course, it’s even more delectable when you add peaches. These Peach Wine Slushies from Dessert for Two take minutes to make.

Spicy Peach & Avocado Salad:

We’re fans of summertime salads, and this Spicy Peach & Avocado Salad from Country Living sounds like a great take! It combines peaches together with avocados and a Fresno Chile pepper for a great kick. If you don’t love spicy foods, we think the salad would be equally as tasty sans pepper.

One Skillet Peach Glazed Chicken:

Meals that can be made in a single pot, skillet, or pan are always up our alley. When we spotted this One Skillet Peach Glazed Chicken recipe from The Seasoned Mom we added it to our “to make” list right away! The prep time for this dinner dish is 5 minutes. Need we say more?

Peach Mango Coconut Oil Banana Bread:

Our passion for banana bread continues, and Averie Cooks shared a Peach, Mango, & Coconut Oil Banana Bread recipe that combines three amazing fruits together! The great news is this recipe includes coconut oil for a healthier option.

Turkey, Brie & Peach Panini:

A panini is a wonderful way to make lunch more fun, and Foxes Love Lemons created a Turkey, Brie & Peach Panini! It combines all of the flavors you would think, plus arugula, brie, and Dijon mustard.

Slow-Cooked Peach Salsa:

The summer is meant for salsa, and it’s always fun to create your own. Taste of Home shared a recipe for Slow-Cooked Peach Salsa that makes plenty of servings (11 cups!) after cooking for three hours. This would be excellent for a Mexican themed taco night!

Georgia Peach Homemade Ice Cream:

Rather than purchasing ice cream from the grocery store, why not try your hand at creating your own at home? This Georgia Peach Homemade Ice Cream recipe from All Recipes has over 400 positive reviews, and the results sound incredible.

We can’t wait to hear about the peach recipes you make! Fill us in on Facebook, and make sure to share any peach recipes you love that we have yet to discover.