/R E P E A T -- What's in it for me? Canadian holiday shoppers want rewards/
Canadian gift-givers more rewards-savvy than their American neighbours according to the AIR MILES® and American Express® Holiday Rewards Survey
TORONTO, Dec. 2 /CNW/ - Jolly or not, Canadian holiday shoppers are serious rewards program users, out-collecting and redeeming their American counterparts. According to the AIR MILES and American Express Holiday Rewards Survey, not only are the vast majority of Canadians collecting and using a loyalty or rewards program significantly more than their American neighbours (91% versus 72%), they are also more than twice as likely to use rewards miles or points to pay for holiday purchases than their American counterparts (18% versus 8%).
"With nearly 80% of Canadians participating in a rewards program, it's clear that this group wants to get the most value for every dollar spent during the holiday season. Earning rewards when holiday gift shopping is certainly a great way to add value to every purchase," says Jennifer Hawkins, Vice President of New Product Development for American Express Canada. "Our survey found that Canadians are miles ahead of their American counterparts in many reward-collecting and redeeming habits."
Making It Count
Canadians and Americans make their holiday purchases quite differently. The majority of Canadians will pull out a debit or credit card (62% and 61% respectively) to make holiday purchases while Americans prefer dealing in cash (60%). Using a rewards credit or debit card to make purchases enables Canadians to earn rewards points and miles with every dollar spent.
"Whether to take advantage of rewards offers, purchase protection, such as that offered by American Express' AIR MILES credit cards, or a combination of many factors, Canadians simply prefer to use credit and debit cards to make their holiday purchases," says Neil Everett, Chief Marketing Officer, AIR MILES Reward Program. "With Canadians spending hundreds of dollars on gifts and groceries alone around the holidays, earning rewards on every purchase is the best way to get the most value out of every transaction. It's easy: use a rewards collector card, take advantage of bonus offers and pay with a rewards credit card - it's like a Triple Play with miles!"
Surfing Santa
Canadians may not shop for holiday gifts online as often as their American counterparts (44% versus 73%), but they are close to three times more likely to head online to shop on a loyalty/rewards site (34% versus 12%).
Shopping online not only helps consumers avoid line-ups and crowds, in some cases it can yield great deals. Online shops that participate in airmilesshops.ca, for example, are offering AIR MILES Collectors 10 times the AIR MILES or free shipping until December 9th. Shoppers simply need to visit the www.airmilesshops.ca site and click to navigate to their favourite store to take advantage of the deals. From Toys R Us, Banana Republic and Sephora to Apple, The Source, Expedia.ca and Chapters, airmilesshops.ca is the ultimate online shopping mall.
Savvy Holiday Shopping Tips
American Express and AIR MILES offer some tips for Canadian Collectors looking to make the most of every gift purchase this holiday season.
- Make a list and check it twice. Many Canadians usually make a budget (more than 63%, in fact), but many of us are guilty of straying. Plan a budget and stick to it!
- Hit the (virtual) mall. Don't shop 'til you drop - get comfy at home! Some of the best rewards can be found online. For example, www.airmilesshops.ca offers AIR MILES Collectors access to favourite online shops while providing special deals such as multiple times the AIR MILES or free shipping.
- Know your shipping dates. Those last-minute shoppers should know the last dates to place an order in time for the holidays.
- Make it count with a triple play. Why not earn rewards three times? Simply by shopping at an AIR MILES sponsor, paying for gifts using an AIR MILES credit card and taking advantage of bonus offers enables Collectors to earn miles at a much faster pace.
- There's an app for that. Mobile apps, such as AIR MILES', are making it easier for shoppers to track their purchases and take advantage of special coupons, reward offers and limited time deals on the fly.
- The price is right. Use online comparison tools to ensure you're spending your dollars wisely. Sign-up for email alerts to be the first to know about specials and bonus offers, such as free shipping. Right now, there are valuable savings at sites trading in American currency due to the strength of the Canadian dollar.
About the AIR MILES and American Express Holiday Rewards Survey
The AIR MILES and American Express Holiday Rewards Survey was conducted in October 2010, leveraging the ICOM, a division of Epsilon Targeting, consumer panel. 1,006 consumers across Canada participated in the survey.
About Epsilon Targeting
Epsilon Targeting aligns the collective resources of ICOM, leader in targeted marketing and manager of North America's largest survey response database, with Epsilon Data Services, manager of the largest and most deliverable composite database and Abacus, the world's original and largest cooperative database, to create the industry's leader in data solutions - connecting you with your best opportunities. We provide a holistic approach to data marketing - providing the depth and breadth of data and insight to make it actionable - creating programs that engage consumers and build loyalty. For more information, visit epsilontargeting.com.
About American Express
American Express in Canada operates as Amex Bank of Canada and Amex Canada Inc. Both are wholly owned subsidiaries of the New York based American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc., the largest operating unit of the American Express Company. Amex Bank of Canada is the issuer of American Express Cards in Canada. Amex Canada Inc. operates the Corporate Travel, Travel Services Network and Travellers Cheques divisions in Canada. American Express opened its first offices in Toronto and Hamilton in 1853 and now employs 3,700 Canadians coast-to-coast.
Visit us on Facebook at Facebook.com/AmericanExpressCanada
About the AIR MILES Reward Program
Founded in 1992, the AIR MILES Reward Program is Canada's premier coalition loyalty program. More than 10 million active Collector accounts, representing approximately two-thirds of all Canadian households, actively participate in the Program. The AIR MILES Reward Program allows Collectors to indulge in leisure, entertainment, merchandise, travel and other lifestyle rewards quickly, simply by doing their everyday shopping for products and services at AIR MILES Sponsors. AIR MILES reward miles can be redeemed for more than 1,200 different rewards, such as movie passes, family attractions, electronic merchandise, sports and recreation, travel and more.
For further information:
For further information, or to arrange an interview with a spokesperson, please contact:
Anne Locke or Carrie Makrigiannis
Environics Communications
416.920.9000
[email protected]
[email protected]
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