Strategic integrated marketing is all about creating a seamless customer experience. Continue reading “Why strategic integrated marketing is the future of brand growth”
Author: Kick Writers
Kick Writers are a crew of loyalty lovers and savvy Shopkickers fueled by caffeine and curiosity. From sharing the best ways to rack up kicks to smart shopping hacks, they’ve covered it all — and they’re on a mission to make earning rewards as fun as it is easy.
Back to School Savings
Although we all may want the long days of summer to last all year, there is one major perk to going back to school: shopping! When I was a student, back to school shopping was such a highlight that I always chose a day during the week, wrote it down in my planner and circled it, and then started my very own countdown.
Before my back to school shopping day, I would review all of the supplies I needed (and every last thing I was convinced I should add), tally up my budget, and plan my day based on which store I wanted to visit first and which store I wanted to save until last. Whether I was prepping to go back to high school or mentally preparing for another year of college, back to school shopping always felt like its very own end of summer holiday.
Though I may not be heading back to class, I still look forward to the season every year because it’s a chance to offer my tried and true back to school shopping tips and tricks! And, they’re even better now thanks to Shopkick! Let’s review a few of my favorite retailers for back to school shopping and what I recommend purchasing below.
eBags
I cannot be the only one who opts to analyze every last feature a backpack has to offer. In high school, that meant determining if the backpack offered enough support for my back and shoulders as I carried books and binders for four classes everyday across two campuses (we didn’t have lockers). In college, I was still concerned about support, but I needed the added feature of a safe, padded spot for my laptop. eBags.com has so many fantastic options for backpacks perfect for high school (JanSport was my go-to!) and those suited for college (North Face was a favorite, but I’ve heard fantastic reviews about Tumi!).
Also, make sure to take a peek at all of the suitcases and duffels available through eBags. They’re wonderful to use when moving onto campus, and a great suitcase will serve you well as you travel home, go on vacation, and even study abroad throughout college.
HSN
If you have yet to peruse HSN for back to school shopping, be warned: you’re going to add so many great pieces to your list! Outside of scheduling classes and making sure I had the correct edition of all of my required books, my computer was always my top concern in college. You can purchase a new laptop or desktop computer through HSN because they carry all of the top brands, like Apple, HP, and Dell. Plus, if you’re in charge of bringing the TV, you can add a new flat screen to your cart too. Outside of electronics, you can also stock up on kitchen supplies for your dorm or apartment (HSN has small appliances, kitchen tools, and even plates, silverware, and glasses at the ready). And, they carry such fun lines of clothing, and they have makeup. It’s like one stop shopping for back to school!
Jet
Can we all agree there is nothing quite like new school supplies? Jet has an amazing selection of every last thing you will need for class – binders, pencils, pens, notebooks, highlighters, and even backpacks. Plus, their team has curated a special section for high school! Even though wandering through the aisles is fun, shopping online with Jet is so much more efficient! Plus, when you use Shopkick, you’re saving money on your supplies. Shopkick and school supplies – it’s a dream combination!
Amazon
I don’t know of anyone who doesn’t shop on Amazon! The deals are incredible (and even better when you shop with Shopkick to earn kicks!), and you cannot beat the variety. Rather than simply adding all of your usual purchases to your cart, I highly suggest pausing to shop their collections from Ella Moon and Mae. The pieces are quality basics, trendy while still feeling classic, and many can be dressed up for a presentation or dressed down for a typical day in class. Anything that can serve double duty is a must in my book!
Also, let’s talk about study breaks. You will 100% need them, and breaks will help increase your productivity and prevent you from burning out. Reading for fun is one of the most underrated hobbies, and I cannot recommend reading a few pages every day from a great author you enjoy on your Kindle. Another option? Audible! Whether you’re riding the bus, train, or subway, driving your car, or walking in between classes, listening to an audio book is a great way to disconnect from schoolwork even if it’s just for a few minutes at a time. Stay refreshed so you can be your best!
Boxed
Let’s talk about food! The best thing I ever did when I was in high school and college was purchase in bulk. My parents and I would review what I planned to bring for lunch and what I wanted to enjoy as a snack once I got home, and then we would shop together to purchase things in bulk (my choices rarely wavered!). That ritual carried over into college, and I would have definitely shopped through Boxed! Rather than visiting stores in person, you can simply shop online and have all of your favorite foods shipped directly to you. Pro tip: get your roommates in on the game so you can all shop together and save by earning kicks through Shopkick!
Where are you shopping for back to school? What’s at the top of your list?
3 apps to make grocery shopping easier so you can have more time to hang with the girls
People love to talk about signs that you’re getting older and adulting, as some like to say. Things like knowing how insurance deductibles work, keeping a clean house, or not staying out super late on the weekends usually make the list of signs you’re getting older for most. For me, however, it’s sadly been that I just don’t have as much time to hang out with my girls as I used to. We used to do happy hour and brunch all the time, practically every week! But now we have partners, kids, and, of course, grocery shopping to worry about.
However, I’ve found ways to get around all that responsibility, especially the last one. What I’m talking about are apps to make grocery shopping easier so you can have more time to hang with the girls. I’ve picked out my three favorites to share with you. The details are different for each, but the end result is that you’ll feel like you’re getting as close to your girls as you were in the old days.
Basically, what I’m here to tell you today is that you can have your girl time and still get your grocery shopping done. All you have to do is download and familiarize yourself with these three great apps!
Apps to Make Grocery Shopping Easier No. 1: Bestie Shopping
The first app on our list is a special one, because of all the apps that make grocery shopping easier, Bestie Shopping combines shopping and hanging out. What a novel concept! It’s basically a social media app for shoppers. You can use it to follow stores you love, view products posted online, and—this is my favorite part—share your favorite items and deals with your friends.
The best thing about Bestie Shopping is that it’s easy to fit into your schedule because it’s online. You don’t have to make extra time to go anywhere different. I’ve been using Bestie Shopping for a while to create that old experience of going to a physical mall with my girls. Plus, I don’t know how many times one of my friends has pointed me in the direction of a great deal that helps me save money, too. Any time an app can help you save money, that’s a win-win!
Apps to Make Grocery Shopping Easier No. 2: Fooducate
Another key part of being an adult is eating as healthy as you can. For me, that means taking the time to read the labels on certain products when I’m out grocery shopping. The more time I spend carefully going over the ingredients, the better I’m able to determine which foods I should eat. The problem is that all that time adds up!
With Fooducate, finding the health information you need while you’re grocery shopping becomes so much easier. The way Fooducate works is simple. Scan the barcodes on certain products in the grocery store and it gives you the highlights of the nutritional values, both good and bad. The app even lets you compare products by giving them both easy-to-understand letter grades. You can even use it find healthier alternatives and it’s quick!
Apps to Make Grocery Shopping Easier No. 3: Shopkick
The first two apps on this list are great, of course, but I think it’s pretty safe to say that this third one is my favorite app to make grocery shopping easier. It’s called Shopkick and how it works is pretty awesome. First, it has this really cool grocery shopping list functionality that makes it so much easier to plan all of your trips to the store. It helps you save money by giving you points for activities you do every time you go shopping anyway, activities like walking into the store, going down aisles browsing products, and making purchases.
You can then trade those points in for gift cards that are as good as cash. That’s right, you get paid to grocery shop. That’s not all, though. There are tons of ways that Shopkickers can earn rewards right from the app—no need to go anywhere. These include kicks for watching videos and instant surprise kicks from going on Easter egg hunts in the app. Users can also get amazing deals where you can earn big points and rewards by shopping on your phone at stores like Amazon, Walmart, and more!
Of all the apps on the list, Shopkick is definitely my favorite, mostly because not only does it make shopping quicker and easier with its list functionality, but because it also manages to save me money, too!
So there you have it, three of my favorite apps to make grocery shopping easier so I can have extra time with my girls. Of all the apps on the list, Shopkick is definitely my favorite, mostly because not only does it make shopping quicker and easier with its list functionality, but because it also manages to save me money, too! That’s a one-two combo of convenience that can’t be beat.
I highly recommend that you give it a try if you haven’t already. One underrated thing about Shopkick is that it’s also a lot of fun. The point system makes every trip to the store feel like a scavenger hunt for savings, and when you’re having fun—like I do each and every time I get to see my girls—the time really flies!
Ready to start taking advantage of the best app to make grocery shopping easier? Well simply download Shopkick and join a community of loyal Shopkickers who’ve already discovered the rewards of shopping with us!
And, if you love using your smartphone to stay up on social media, join us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for daily shopping inspiration.
Image courtesy Rido81
Save money and earn kicks with Seattle’s Best Coffee
If you were to ask someone whose presence is valuable to you why they enjoy their mornings, they will likely relate it to their routine. The quiet found when the world has yet to wake; time spent with their kids relishing in their morning routine; a workout that makes them feel alive; the first sip of their morning coffee. The takeaway: a morning routine can be something you crave. One of the easiest ways to kick start a new routine is by taking one single step. For us, the simplest step to take is to brew a cup of coffee we can’t wait to sip.
One brand of coffee we return to again and again is Seattle’s Best. After all, they truly did win an award in which they were dubbed Seattle’s Best Coffee. The honor stuck with them, and we can taste why.
From medium roasts, like Toasted Hazelnut or Breakfast Blend, to dark roasts, like 6th Avenue Bistro (you had us at “hint of chocolate”!), Henry’s Blend, or Port Alley Blend, Seattle’s Best Coffee procures only the best beans from Latin America in order for us to all experience the most delicious brews. Whether we’re opening a new K-Cup Pod of Seattle’s Best Coffee or we’re adding the last of our ground coffee into our pot to brew our final cup, the flavor never wavers.
So, what easy steps can you take to create a delicious cup every time?
Step 1: Freshness.
This has a surprisingly large impact on flavor. Begin with cold, filtered water and freshly roasted, properly stored coffeeStep 2: Grind. A medium grind (a texture similar to sand) will ensure the most even brewing for drip coffee pots. Most of Seattle’s Best Coffee comes pre-ground or in K-Cups, giving you a leg up on a perfectly brewed cup of coffee.
Step 2: Grind.
A medium grind (a texture similar to sand) will ensure the most even brewing for drip coffee pots. Most of Seattle’s Best Coffee comes pre-ground or in K-Cups, giving you a leg up on a perfectly brewed cup of coffee.
Step 3: Ratio.
One slightly rounded tablespoon of ground coffee for every 6 ounces of water will do the trick.You can always adjust to taste if you prefer your coffee stronger or more mellow.
Step 4: Enjoy.
Add your favorite combo of creamer and sugar or drink it straight and taste the difference!
Seattle’s Best and Shopkick have teamed up to help you stretch your dollar that much further. There’s joy in sipping a smooth cup of coffee, and there’s a sense of satisfaction found in knowing you’re saving because you’re drinking coffee you made at home rather than a cup purchased at a coffee shop. Whether you purchase ground coffee or K-Cup Pods from Seattle’s Best Coffee through Shopkick, you’re devoting your dollars to a budget friendly brand that still keeps flavor and taste at the forefront. Plus, you can save even more at select stores by opening Shopkick, scanning Seattle’s Best Coffee, and submitting your receipt when you purchase your go-to roast.
Don’t have Shopkick yet?
Download the app that makes earning free rewards easy and fun today!
How to get paid to play games: Money-making apps for techies
I’ve been a gamer since the NES days (yes, the original). I’ve played everything from Super Nintendo to PlayStation to today’s high-powered consoles. But lately, I’ve found a new kind of game — one that actually pays me.
It’s not your typical joystick-and-controller deal. These are money-making apps that turn everyday shopping into a game — and if you’re a techie like me, they’re dangerously addictive.
Level Up Your Shopping Game
The best “get paid to play” apps reward you for things you’re doing anyway — walking into a store, browsing products, making purchases. Think treasure hunt meets retail therapy:
- Walk into a store: Earn points instantly
- Scan products: Rack up more
- Upload receipts: Keep the streak alive
- Cash in for gift cards: Amazon, Target, Starbucks — take your pick
Even better? You can score points online, too — shop through the app, view select products, watch videos, and watch your rewards climb.
Why Shopkick Wins
Out of all the shopping apps I’ve tried, Shopkick is my top pick. It’s packed with ways to earn —both in-store and online— and the kicks add up fast. Bonus: Shopkick’s social media is hilarious, so it feels more like being part of a gamer guild than just using an app.
Whether I’m grabbing coffee, stocking up on tech at Best Buy, or snagging something from Amazon, Shopkick makes it feel like unlocking a new achievement every time. And the reward? Gift cards I can spend on my next gaming splurge.
Ready to play IRL? Download Shopkick free, start earning, and join a community of kickers who know shopping can be just as fun as gaming.
Brand Marketing Best Practices for the Digital Age of Shopping
3 effective brand recognition strategies for eCommerce retailers
Today’s eCommerce retailers need to be prepared to go further than simple brand recognition strategies; they must create brand affinity. Continue reading “3 effective brand recognition strategies for eCommerce retailers”
3 money-stretching apps that give cash back
One of the greatest feelings that you can feel happened to me yesterday: I put on a pair of jeans that I hadn’t worn in a long while and I found $20! I squealed so loud that my boys actually put down the video games they were playing in the other room to ask me what happened. After I told them, they asked if they could use the money to go get a new game from Redbox, but that’s beside the point. What I’d like to talk about today are money-stretching apps that give cash back, recreating this wonderful experience of finding money over again.
There really is nothing like finding money when you least expect it, and with the three apps on today’s list, you can get that feeling all the time. They’re all fairly different in nature. However, the one thing these all have in common is that they give you cash back for things you already do on the regular basis. Much like finding some cash in an old pair of pants, you don’t have to go out of your way to boost your budget with these!
I like some more than others, as you’ll see below, but I definitely recommend using them all, integrating them with your normal routines. That way the money will start to roll in without you even thinking about it. Jumping up and squealing like I did when I found that $20 is, of course, totally optional!
Apps That Give Cash Back No. 1: Walmart Savings Catcher App
The Walmart Savings Catcher App is a pretty great way to make sure you get the best possible price that you can when you shop at Walmart. Let’s face it, there are just some things that will be cheaper at Walmart, so if you’re anything like me, you find yourself there often. Once you get there, this app is easy to use. All you have to do is scan your receipt after you check out.
Then when you’re all finished, the app automatically checks the prices you paid against the prices that are currently being offered by other stores in the area. If there’s a case where you could have gotten a lower price somewhere else, Walmart gives you back that difference. Awesome, especially when you use it to shop for groceries!
Apps That Give Cash Back No. 2: App Trailers
App Trailers is free and fun. It’s also an app my boys and I enjoy together because it pays you to watch videos. I like it a lot, too, mostly because many of these videos are about something that’s very near and dear to my boys’ little hearts: video games.
Now, normally when they watch videos about video games with me, they’re calling me over from whatever thing around the house I’m busy with. App Trailers is a game changer because now I get paid for those interruptions. We’ve watched videos about games from EA, Rovio (which makes Angry Birds), and plenty of other companies that my guys know far more about than I do. The more videos you watch, the more points you earn. You can eventually trade those points in and get paid via PayPal or in Amazon gift cards.
Apps That Give Cash Back No. 3: Shopkick
I’ve saved my favorite of these apps that give cash back for last. It’s actually called Shopkick, and how it works is that it gives you money for an activity you do all the time, anyway: shopping. Yes, what Shopkick does is give you points for the things you do while you’re out shopping, things that range from simply walking into the store to going down aisles browsing products, and making purchases. I can then trade those points in for gift cards to all my favorite stores, which are as good as cash!
Another thing that I absolutely love about Shopkick is that it’s not just limited to in-person shopping at brick-and-mortar stores. There are tons of ways that Shopkickers can earn rewards right from the app—no need to go anywhere. These include kicks for watching videos and instant surprise kicks from going on Easter egg hunts in the app. Users can also get amazing deals where you can earn big points and rewards by shopping on your phone at stores like Amazon, Walmart, and more!
Another thing that I absolutely love about Shopkick is that it’s not just limited to in-person shopping at brick-and-mortar stores.
To be honest, these apps have all become such a regular part of my budget and my routine, that I don’t even remember how I used to get by without them. I recommend them all.
As I said above though, the one I like the most is Shopkick. With three growing boys at home, I find myself out shopping all the time. Luckily with apps like Shopkick, I can get a little boost that makes it just a bit easier! If that’s not something to squeal about, I don’t know what is!
Get to know one of the best money-stretching apps that gives cash back, as well as one of the all-around best shopping apps period. Download Shopkick’s free app today and join a community of loyal Shopkickers who’ve already discovered how much you can earn with the help of a shopping sidekick.
And, if you’re on social media catching up with friends, be sure to also join Shopkick on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for a little daily fun and inspiration.
Image courtesy Olivier
Make this summer epic and earn big kicks
Get the most out of this summer! Explore the top activities near you on Groupon, or discover the best hotel for your next getaway on Booking.com with an epic 25 kicks per $1 spent.
Need to beat the heat? Stay cool with up to 15 kicks $1 spent on HSN and Fandango. You can also take advantage of AC in stores while earning kicks when you scan, buy, and submit receipts for select products.
Epic kicks online
Get Outside
25 kicks per $1
Get outside without breaking the bank and earn epic kicks on Groupon and Booking.com. Check out deals on top restaurants, getaways, or summer activities near you.
Beat the Heat
15 kicks per $1
Beat the heat with refreshingly big kicks on Fandango and HSN. Get to the movies to find respite from rising temps or try to stay cool by making your own popsicles or ice cream with the family.
Cool kicks in stores
Snag some AC time while earning kicks near you.
Teavana® Craft Iced Tea
Scan for 20 kicks and submit a receipt for 150 kicks at select stores.
Tyson® Chicken Nuggets or Strips
Scan for 10 kicks and submit a receipt for 100 kicks at Walmart.
Hillshire Farm® Lunch Meats
Scan for 10 kicks and submit a receipt for 100 kicks at Walmart.
Wasa Crispbread or Flatbread
Scan for 20 kicks and submit a receipt for 250 kicks at select stores.
Open the app to check out more kicks in stores near you!
Need to download the app?
Download Shopkick today to start earning your free gift card for the shopping you already do!
Back to School Shopping Habits: Survey Results
It may feel like the school year just ended and that summer is finally in full swing, but the back-to-school shopping season has already crept upon us. Back-to-school is the second largest shopping season of the year, and parents are already prepping. Continue reading “Back to School Shopping Habits: Survey Results”
The best 2018 back to school deals on your smartphone
I don’t know about you, but after a long summer at home with my three boys, I tend to have a whole lot of emotions about back-to-school shopping—both good and bad. I’m excited for them to be advancing into new things: new classes, new teachers, new lessons, new friends, etc. And I’m excited for myself, too, because let’s just say that things are a bit quieter around my house when school is in session. If you have kids, I bet you know exactly what I mean. I’m also excited for the guys to get some spiffy new clothes.
However, what I’m least excited about is all of the money we have to spend each year on new wardrobes plus, the mountain of school supplies that their exciting new classes require us to purchase. In recent years, I’ve found an exciting new way to make that cost a heck of a lot easier by using a shopping app. This helps to make sure I get the best back-to-school deals.
By all means, enjoy your newfound free time that comes with having the kids go back to class. But don’t get too bummed out by all the money you’re going to have to spend. By the time we’re done here today, you’ll have all the know-how and expertise on how to get the best back-to-school deals.
How to Get Back to School Deals on Your Smartphone
When I was a kid, we only got to shop for back-to-school clothes once the prices were discounted. I swear, my mom had an extra sense of knowing when the best back-to-school deals were and once she found them, she would swoop in like a hawk. We didn’t get to go to just any store we wanted—no—we got to go to the one my mom knew had the best prices!
Things are different nowadays, or at least for me, they are. I didn’t inherit my mom’s uncanny abilities to find the best back-to-school deals, but I do have newer technology that can help me generate those deals on my own. The concept I’m talking about is a shopping app that you can use to get rewards and deals for shopping that you do every day. Never heard of it? That’s okay, until recently neither had I. That’s why in the next section I’m going to explain what this concept is and how it works!
What is a Shopping App?
Simply put, a third-party shopping app is an app that you download to your phone and it helps you save money when you’re out shopping. Believe it or not, there’s a pretty wide variety of these apps, and as a result, you’ll have some choices about how you can save money. It really behooves you, though, to find the type that works best for you.
Here are the different types of shopping apps I’ve used in the past:
- Coupon Apps: Coupon apps are basically digital approximations of old-school paper coupons. You either use them at checkout, while you shop online or after making a purchase. There are a lot of different apps, and some of them take money off your bill in advance while others funnel your savings into an account you can cash out later.
- Store-Branded Apps: Store-branded apps are apps offered by big stores like Target, Best Buy or Walmart. Some of them give you points that you can cash in for gift cards, while others alert you to new sales and deals or automatically scan prices in your area to match the lowest.
- Third-Party Shopping Apps: This last category is my favorite. These are special third apps that give you points for the shopping that you do every day, points that you can then trade in later for gift cards. In the next section, I’ll tell you about my personal favorite!
The Best Third-Party Shopping Apps for Back to School Deals
Now that you know about the different ways to get back-to-school deals on your smartphone, as well as what a third-party shopping app is, it’s time to talk about my personal favorite: Shopkick. How it works is super easy. You just go out to do your back-to-school shopping like you normally do, making sure that you’re going to one of the many stores that partner with the app. Then the app gives you rewards—which it calls kicks—for the things you do while you’re out shopping already, things like walking into stores, going down aisles browsing products, and making purchases. Then you trade your points in for gift cards. It’s that easy.
There are tons of ways that Shopkickers can earn rewards right from the app—no need to go anywhere.
But I think my overall favorite thing about Shopkick is you don’t even have to technically go anywhere to use it. In fact, there are tons of ways that Shopkickers can earn rewards right from the app—no need to go anywhere. These include kicks for watching videos and instant surprise kicks from going on Easter egg hunts in the app. Users can also get amazing deals where you can earn big points and rewards by shopping on your phone at stores like Amazon and Walmart. If you’re a modern, online shopper like me, you are going to love Shopkick, both for back-to-school deals and for the shopping you do on the regular basis.
I hope you learned a lot today, especially when it comes to using Shopkick to save money. Back-to-school time is one of my favorite parts of the year. Don’t get me wrong, I love it when my boys are around the house all summer, but it’s nice to see them engaged and excited about something new.
Once you start earning back-to-school deals with an amazing app like Shopkick, trust me, you’ll find yourself enjoying it even more. You’ll go from worrying about your budget to being excited about all the free time that’s headed your own way in the fall.
Looking for a way to earn the best back-to-school deals on your smartphone? Download Shopkick for free and join a community of Shopkickers who love the rewards of shopping with us!
Or join us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and check in every day on your phone, no matter where you are, to learn about the hottest, newest deals.
Image courtesy Rido81
The top 3 retail digital marketing strategies to launch a new CPG product
CPG brands can face significant challenges in launching new products, as these traditional products require decidedly non-traditional retail digital marketing plans to ensure success. Continue reading “The top 3 retail digital marketing strategies to launch a new CPG product”