Nectar is a loyalty card scheme in the United Kingdom, run by Aimia. The scheme is the largest in the United Kingdom, and comprises a number of partner companies including The Daily Mail, Sainsbury's and BP. It launched in 2002 with initially four partner companies, and by 2010 had grown to include over 14 companies and over 400 online retailers. Loyalty Management Group established the scheme, replacing the existing schemes of three of the four launch companies, and was purchased by the Canadian Groupe Aeroplan (now Aimia) in 2009.
A separate scheme is operated by Cencosud in Chile through a licensing agreement with Aimia.
Video Nectar loyalty card
History
The Nectar scheme was launched in 2002, merging the existing loyalty programmes of Sainsbury's, BP and Barclaycard, and including Debenhams which did not have an existing scheme. It was run by Loyalty Management Group, then chaired by Sir Keith Mills, the founder of Air Miles. At the time of launch, Nectar confirmed it would be open to more companies to join, excluding rivals of existing members.
By 2010, Nectar claimed that 16.8 million people were part of the scheme, and that it had 14 member companies and over 400 online retailers.
Maps Nectar loyalty card
Collection
Cardholders receive points on purchases made at participating retailers both instore and online, generally beginning at one point per whole pound spent. Points for fuel at BP and Sainsbury's are awarded for each litre purchased. Extra points may be earned when buying certain products or during particular promotions. A number of other online retailers award points when purchases are made on their websites accessed through the main Nectar website.
Nectar receives a payment from each retailer for each point paid to a customer. It then reimburses the retailer when the points are redeemed.
It is one of the few loyalty cards that cannot be used with Android Pay .
Redemption
A number of retailers allow cardholders to redeem points in store for money off their shopping, including Argos and Sainsbury's. In the case of Sainsbury's, a cardholder must have shopped at a particular store within the last 12 months in order to spend points there.
Points can also be redeemed with a number of partners through evouchers, including Eurostar, PizzaExpress and Hertz. Points are lost if a Nectar account is closed. For example, an account may be closed if no points have been earned or redeemed for a continuous period of 12 months. As Nectar points do not normally "expire", it is possible for cardholders to save towards more expensive rewards, such as train tickets and holidays.
Members
Current
Former
- Homebase (membership ended 31 December 2016)
- Vision Express (removed from 1 January 2015)
- Amazon (removed on 1 February 2013)
- Barclaycard (was a launch member, however membership ended on 31 August 2005)
- EDF Energy (stopped issuing Nectar points as of 31 December 2010)
- Debenhams (was a launch member, however membership ended on 15 February 2008)
- ebookers (membership ended on 1 June 2009)
- Ford
- Gala Bingo (membership ended on 1 June 2010)
- Magnet
- TalkTalk (membership ended on 31 August 2009)
- Threshers
- Winemark (Northern Ireland only)
- Dollond & Aitchison
- Brewers Fayre (membership ended on 1 Feb 2011)
- Beefeater (membership ended on 31 January 2011)
- Table Table (left scheme on 31 January 2011)
- British Gas (left scheme on 30 June 2017)
International schemes
Aimia launched Nectar in Italy in 2010, with retailers including Auchan and UniEuro. The Italian scheme ended in February 2016.
Controversy
In August 2017, Nectar announced it was partnering with The Daily Mail. This association with a daily newspaper accused of racism, homophobia and sexism upset many customers, who cancelled their accounts and posted photos of their cut-up loyalty cards online. The company responded, "we know that not all of you will support every partner".
See also
- Tesco Clubcard - Rival supermarket Tesco's loyalty card scheme.
References
External links
- Official website
Source of the article : Wikipedia
0 Comments