Toronto, Ontario -- (SBWIRE) -- 10/14/2011 -- Seventy-four percent of American and Canadian consumers said they don't feel they're receiving a benefit from sharing personal information with marketers, according to the latest survey research from LoyaltyOne.

Just 52% said they somewhat or strongly agree with the statement that companies use their personal data "so they can better serve me."

Breaking down the somewhat and strongly agree responders, only 9% said they strongly agree that companies use their information to serve them better.

Hardly more encouraging, 54% said they expect improved customer service in exchange for their data, and 55% said they expect access to exclusive events or offers.

Toronto-based LoyaltyOne, a global provider of loyalty strategies, customer analytics and relationship marketing services, completed online surveys in July 2011 with 1,000 American and 1,000 Canadian respondents. The research was designed to test consumer attitudes about personal data collection and use by marketers.

Findings released today reveal that marketers need to solve an important perception problem about the benefits accruing to the consumer for exchanging personal information.

Underscoring the perception problem -- consumers tallied below 50% in acknowledging several of the basic benefits on the customer side of the personal information exchange equation:

• Tailored offers based on what I buy (49%)

• Advanced information on new products and services (41%)

• Communications based on my preferences (41%)

• Easier buying process (39%)

• Preferential treatment (36%)

• Product assortment improvements based on what they know I buy (36%).

Product discounts, a benefit not necessarily associated with the development of a long-term relationship between customer and company, scored highest (71%) as the offer that consumers expect to receive in exchange for their information.

"The message isn't getting across to the consumer that the primary reason marketers use customer behavior data is to enhance the individual customer experience and build a deeper relationship," LoyaltyOne President Bryan Pearson said.

Pearson directs six global enterprises at LoyaltyOne, including Canada's AIR MILES Reward Program. He has written a book titled The Loyalty Leap: Turning Customer Information into Customer Intimacy, to be published in May 2012 by Penguin Group in both the United States and Canada.

On Nov. 1, 2011, Pearson will lead a 30-minute webinar about responsible data use marketing. The title is Winning Shopper Loyalty in an Age of Privacy Concerns: U.S. and Canadian Research Results. Free registration and information is available at http://loyaltyevents.webex.com.

The LoyaltyOne research also revealed that consumers' actions sometimes speak louder than their words. When asked, what, if anything, have you done in the past 12 months to protect your personal information, 41% of American and Canadian survey takers said they've used cash instead of a credit card to protect their personal information. Respondents who said they have been notified that their personal information had been compromised were more likely to take action to protect themselves. Those who said they have been negatively affected by a compromise of their personal information were even more likely to take action.

Twenty-three percent of respondents said they decided not to make a purchase from a company out of concern about use of their personal information.

Pearson's five basic principles for using data responsibly to create real value for customers are as follows:

1. Be Transparent – Express in straightforward language what you are trying to do, what you're achieving, what's in it for the customer, what's not in it for the customer.

2. Give Consumers a Choice -- In the loyalty program arena, to run a value exchange-based relationship with the consumer you need to gain trust. The best way to gain trust and commitment is by giving customers the opportunity to choose whether they share information. Permission-based or not, responsible marketers can add value for the consumer if data is respected. Problems arise when marketers cross the "creepy" barriers into the ultra-personal areas such as health, finance and sex, and marketing to children.

3. Safeguard Consumer Data – The best precaution is to keep only the data necessary to serve the customer and take proper steps to protect it. Use data only as directed and always, repeat always, destroy data with care.

4. Monitor Frequency of Usage – Don't wear out the consumer's trust. Make sure communications aren't too frequent and are relevant to the customer's needs.

5. Mutuality of Value – Create real value for the customer. It's not about the product exchange, cash, points or coupons. It's about something bigger – relevancy.

Additional details about the LoyaltyOne survey are published in a report titled Challenges that Data-Use Marketers Face in a Privacy-Worried World: A Report on U.S. and Canadian Consumer Attitudes about Responsible Data Collection and Use. The survey is a representative, true random sampling of U.S. and Canadian consumers. Weights were applied by population size to create blended U.S.-Canadian total results.

Statistical significance is calculated at the 95% confidence level. The report is available free of charge at www.loyalty.com/knowledge/articles/privacy-perception-problem.

About LoyaltyOne
LoyaltyOne is a global provider of loyalty strategy and programs, customer analytics and relationship marketing services. Its roster of clients includes leading businesses and brands in multiple sectors such as retail, banking, manufacturing, government, natural resources and utilities. LoyaltyOne businesses include Canada's AIR MILES Reward Program - North America's premiere coalition loyalty program, COLLOQUY, Precima, LoyaltyOne Consulting and Direct Antidote. LoyaltyOne's industry-leading Associates, practical experience and proven capabilities set the benchmark of thought leadership in the loyalty marketplace. Toronto-based LoyaltyOne is an Alliance Data company. For more than 30 years, Alliance Data has helped its clients build more profitable, more loyal relationships with their customers.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Owner of Canada’s AIR MILES Reward Program Exporting Loyalty Marketing Expertise in Growing Consumer Markets

Toronto, Ontario -- (SBWIRE) -- 07/25/2011 -- Toronto-based LoyaltyOne, an Alliance Data business and owner of one of Canada's most admired brands - the AIR MILES Reward Program, has acquired a 26 percent stake in India-based Direxions Marketing Solutions Pvt. Ltd. Direxions is behind some of India's largest loyalty programs in the airline, hospitality and retail sectors and counts among its clients leading companies such as ICICI Bank, Levis, Colgate, Tata Photon, LG and Dominos, among others.

"This venture into India aligns with our global expansion strategy of identifying geographies with significant market opportunities for loyalty initiatives," said Bryan Pearson, president of LoyaltyOne. "We look forward to working with Direxions to take loyalty marketing to new levels of success in India, one of the world's fastest growing consumer markets."

Direxions comprises three businesses: Direxions Marketing Solutions, a full-service agency and India's market leader offering loyalty and relationship marketing solutions; Cartesion Consulting, a precision marketing consultancy, which provides analytic solutions including customer, loyalty, retail, campaign and channel analytics; and Red Box Rewards, which provides full-service rewards, point-based loyalty programs and incentive programs for businesses throughout India.

"By combining Direxions' experience, knowledge and talent pool in Indo-Asia with LoyaltyOne's deep expertise in coalition loyalty programs, analytics and customer relationship marketing, we will be unparalleled leaders in this space," said Brian Almeida, Managing Director, Direxions.

With an estimated total population of 1.3 billion people, India is the second-most populous country globally and the world's 12th largest economy. It has a rapidly growing middle class of more than 50 million people. Global estimates suggest that the middle class is expected to grow ten-fold by 2025.

Similar to LoyaltyOne's approach in Brazil with the October 2010 equity stake in CBSM – Companhia Brasileira De Servicos De Marketing (Dotz) — the company will work closely with Direxions to explore a coalition concept model similar to LoyaltyOne's established and globally-recognized Canadian AIR MILES Reward Program and the quickly expanding and successful dotz program in Brazil. The partnership will also continue to offer leading edge one-to-one multi-channel marketing services for India's consumer-focused companies (retail, financial services, travel and consumer packaged goods) leveraging the combined efforts, knowledge and experience of Direxions and LoyaltyOne.

Leena Basrur, currently non-Executive Chairman of Direxions, is LoyaltyOne's President, India. She is leading the company's business development, client services and day-to-day-operations. As one of the earliest and most experienced loyalty practitioners in India, Basrur has expertise in customer management, analytics and loyalty marketing, having created successful customer strategies for many of India's leading brands.

About LoyaltyOne
LoyaltyOne is a global provider of loyalty strategy and programs, customer analytics and relationship marketing services. Its roster of clients includes leading businesses and brands in multiple sectors such as retail, banking, manufacturing, government, natural resources and utilities. LoyaltyOne businesses include Canada's AIR MILES Reward Program - North America's premier coalition loyalty program, COLLOQUY, Precima, LoyaltyOne Consulting and Direct Antidote. LoyaltyOne's industry-leading associates, practical experience and proven capabilities set the benchmark of thought leadership in the loyalty marketplace. Toronto-based LoyaltyOne is an Alliance Data company. For more information, visit http://www.loyalty.com.

About Direxions Marketing Solutions Pvt. Ltd.
Direxions Marketing Solutions Pvt. Ltd. along with its businesses Cartesian and Red Box offer cutting-edge direct and integrated marketing solutions to companies desiring to acquire, retain and build relationships with customers, distribution and sales channels or employees. Designing, launching and implementing some of the biggest loyalty programs in the airline, hospitality and retail space, today Direxions continues to work with some of India's leading brands in retail, telecom, banking, consumer packaged goods and healthcare.

With a pan-India presence, Direxions has built a strong practice in the Direct Marketing, relationship and loyalty industry in the country. For more information: visit http://www.direxions.com.

For more information:

Emanuela Myers
LoyaltyOne
emyers@loyalty.com
416-552- 2352

Amy Greenshields
Environics Communications
agreenshields@environicspr.com
416-969-2830

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Dotz, Nectar, Microsoft UK and Shell To Present

Toronto, Ontario -- (SBWIRE) -- 10/29/2010 -- LoyaltyOne President Bryan Pearson and COLLOQUY Managing Partner Kelly Hlavinka will chair all three days of the 8th Annual Loyalty World conference, Europe's definitive conference on customer loyalty, on November 15-18 in London at the Royal Garden Hotel.

Now in its eighth year, Loyalty World 2010 is a unique conference designed to assist marketers in understanding the complex elements that go into designing a successful loyalty strategy. The conference will bring together leaders in the field of loyalty marketing to discuss the future of branding, customer engagement and analytics, social media, technology and reward program advancement.

"We are honored to be chairing the 8th Annual Loyalty World conference this year," said Bryan Pearson. "This event will bring together top thought leaders who can provide valuable insight into the necessary tools to develop the ultimate customer strategy."

COLLOQUY's Kelly Hlavinka will present the chairperson's opening remarks and moderate the sessions on November 15 and 18. On November 16 at 2 PM, Hlavinka will present a session titled "Evolution of Reward Programs – What Challenges and Opportunities Does the Future Hold?" In it, she will discuss the trends of customer behavior and the importance of customer insight in defining the right rewards strategy.

LoyaltyOne's Bryan Pearson will present "Loyalty Reach – The Migration of Loyalty into Non-Traditional Sectors" on November 15 at 2:15 PM. The session will look into the migration of loyalty into non-traditional sectors such as government, healthcare and non-profits, sharing case studies from around the globe. Pearson will also present the chairperson's opening remarks at 9 AM on November 16 and moderate the sessions on that day.

Also speaking will be Roberto Chade, CEO of Dotz, one of the largest loyalty businesses in Latin America. Chade's session, "Coalition Programs – assessing the growing trend for driving customer engagement and business growth," begins on November 17 at 2:30 PM.

Visit http://www.terrapinn.com/loyaltyworld for full session descriptions.

Loyalty World is the only strategic customer loyalty event in Europe. The conference attracts participants from some of the world's most reputable and inspirational brands. Past attendees of Loyalty World included American Express, Bentley Motors, Hilton Hotels Corporation and IKEA.

To register for the event, go to http://colloquy.com/event_view.asp?uid=147.

About Terrapinn
Terrapinn is a Business to Business media company whose products are trade exhibitions, conferences, training courses and print publications. For more information, please visit: http://www.terrapinn.com.

About LoyaltyOne
LoyaltyOne is a global provider of loyalty strategy and programs, customer analytics and relationship marketing services. Its roster of clients includes leading businesses and brands in multiple sectors such as retail, banking, manufacturing, government, natural resources and utilities. LoyaltyOne businesses include Canada's AIR MILES Reward Program – North America's premiere coalition loyalty program, COLLOQUY, Precima, LoyaltyOne Consulting and Direct Antidote. LoyaltyOne's industry-leading associates, practical experience and proven capabilities set the benchmark of thought leadership in the loyalty marketplace. Toronto-based LoyaltyOne is an Alliance Data company. For more than 30 years, Alliance Data has helped its clients build more profitable, more loyal relationships with their customers. For more information, visit http://www.loyalty.com.

About COLLOQUY
COLLOQUY® comprises a collection of publishing, education and research resources devoted to the global loyalty-marketing industry. Owned by LoyaltyOne, COLLOQUY has served the loyalty-marketing industry since 1990 with over 40,000 global subscribers to its magazine and www.colloquy.com the most comprehensive loyalty web site in the world. COLLOQUY's research division develops research studies and white papers including industry-specific reports, sizing studies and insights into the drivers of consumer behavior. COLLOQUY also provides educational services through workshops, webinars and speeches at events throughout the world and is an official loyalty-marketing partner of both the Direct Marketing Association and the Canadian Marketing Association and a content provider to the American Marketing Association. COLLOQUY also operates the COLLOQUY Network, a global consortium of practitioners certified in COLLOQUY's proprietary methodology. COLLOQUY magazine subscriptions are available at no cost to qualified persons at http://www.colloquy.com or by calling 513.248.9184.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

COLLOQUY to Host May 17 Retail Panel featuring SCENE LP Cineplex and New York & Company

Toronto, Ontario -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/04/2010 -- Financial services and loyalty expert Andrew Mitchell, Vice President of LoyaltyOne US, will serve as chairman of the Customer Loyalty track at the 22nd Annual Card Forum and Expo May 16 – 18, 2010 at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress in Orlando, Florida.

Mitchell joined LoyaltyOne in 2008 where he builds relationships with current and prospective partners in the financial services sector. A former executive with RBC Royal Bank, Canada's largest bank, Mitchell oversaw the RBC Rewards Program.

Card Forum & Expo, the country's leading conference on credit and debit, customer loyalty and emerging payment technologies, is expected to attract over 500 attendees. This year's event features keynote presentations from MasterCard Worldwide, Barclaycard US, American Express, and Sears Financial Services.

Mitchell will chair the Customer Loyalty portion of Card Forum & Expo, a seven-session track focusing on how financial institutions are working to efficiently manage loyalty and rewards programs that deliver customer value.

COLLOQUY, LoyaltyOne's publishing, education and research division, is serving as a Card Forum & Expo media sponsor and COLLOQUY Partner Kelly Hlavinka will chair a retail panel titled, "A Look at Loyalty in Retailing: Seizing Share of Wallet with Today's New Consumer," from 3:30 – 4:15 PM on May 17th. The panel features Shawn Bloom, General Manager of SCENE LP Cineplex and Raashi Hashija, Manager of CRM Loyalty Programs and Partnerships for New York & Company.

The Card Forum & Expo loyalty track will also feature presentations and case studies from First Data, Wells Fargo, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, Amalgamated Bank of Chicago among others.

In addition to the Customer Loyalty Track, the conference will also feature tracks on "Trends in Credit and Debit" and "Emerging Payments."

Jeff Green, Editorial Director of Source Media Payment Group and Editor-in-Chief of PaymentsSource magazine, noted: "Recession and regulation have fundamentally altered the payments landscape over the past year. But now the time has come to ask - What's Next?

"At this year's Card Forum & Expo, executives from both industries will share insights and compare notes about growth strategies. Payments executives and veterans also will discuss strategies for adapting to regulatory changes, managing past the recession, and refocusing on the customer experience. Speakers will discuss the latest payment and loyalty trends, and how attendees can capitalize on those trends to boost their institutions' operations and bottom lines," Green said.

About Card Forum:
The 22nd Annual Card Forum & Expo, May 16-18, 2010 in Orlando, Florida will gather a powerhouse of payments industry leaders representing card issuers, retailers, networks, analysts and solution providers to address the current state, future trends, forthcoming changes and challenges facing your industry. Register to attend today with promo code: CQY01 and save $200 off the current conference rates. Offer is valid for new registrations only, Source Media cancellation policy applies.

About LoyaltyOne
LoyaltyOne is a global provider of loyalty strategy and programs, customer analytics and relationship marketing services. Its roster of clients includes leading businesses and brands in multiple sectors such as retail, banking, manufacturing, government, natural resources and utilities. LoyaltyOne businesses include Canada's AIR MILES Reward Program - North America's premiere coalition loyalty program, COLLOQUY, Precima, LoyaltyOne Consulting and Direct Antidote. LoyaltyOne's industry-leading Associates, practical experience and proven capabilities set the benchmark of thought leadership in the loyalty marketplace. Toronto-based LoyaltyOne is an Alliance Data company. For more than 30 years, Alliance Data has helped its clients build more profitable, more loyal relationships with their customers. For more information, visit http://www.loyalty.com.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm