The goods on Canada’s top reward programs
What you get when you sign up for Air Miles, HBC Rewards or Canadian Tire ‘Money’
Among the many rewards programs available to savvy consumers, a select few continue to attract the greatest number of loyalty members. Here, a quick review, according to a recent survey conducted by Canadian market research firm Abacus Data:
Air Miles has more than 240 partners in retail payments, service locations and online, with more than 1,200 rewards to choose from.
“Our main differentiator is the flexibility and choice you can get from Air Miles,” says Rachel MacQueen, vice-president, marketing for Air Miles. “Miles can be used for two types of rewards — Cash and Dream. Dream rewards include flights, merchandise and events. With Air Miles Cash, collectors can use their miles online or in store at participating partners.”
Shoppers Optimum gives Canadians the opportunity to earn and redeem points at Shoppers Drug Mart and Pharmaprix stores.
“It’s the quick and easy way to get free stuff. The more you shop, the more points you earn and can redeem,” says Lana Gogas, manager, communications and corporate affairs at Shoppers Drug Mart.
There are new offers in store each week in addition to promotions such as 20x the points and super redemption days. “By tracking individual customer shopping habits, we can deliver personalized offers that are unique to each customer.”
My Canadian Tire ‘Money’ is the next generation of Canadian Tire’s iconic loyalty program. When shopping in store or online, members use their mobile app, rewards card or key fob, or pay with a Canadian Tire Options MasterCard to collect e-Canadian Tire “money” toward savings on purchases.
“While paper Canadian Tire ‘Money’ won’t be going away, the My Canadian Tire ‘Money’ program allows us to meet the changing needs and behaviour of consumers,” explains Shawn Stewart, vice-president, loy- alty at Canadian Tire. Customers paying with their Canadian Tire Options MasterCard to pay for purchases at Canadian Tire stores, Mark’s, Sport Chek and PartSource, collect 10x the amount of ‘Money’, 4 per cent of their purchases.
Aeroplan has a network of more than 75 partners representing 150 financial, retail and travel brands. In 2014, about 2.7 million rewards were issued, including 1.9 million Air Canada and Star Alliance flights.
“Last year we launched dExclusives, which enables Aeroplan Distinction members to bid, using their Aeroplan Miles, on a wide variety of one-of-a-kind rewards accessible exclusively to them,” Aeroplan spokeswoman Christa Poole adds.
Hudson’s Bay Rewards allow Canadians to collect points on purchases, then conveniently redeem them to use toward anything sold at Hudson’s Bay or Home Outfitters.
Additionally, “cardholders are able to donate their reward points to benefit charities that HBC supports, including the HBC Foundation, Canadian Red Cross, Canadian Athletes with Canadian Olympic Committee and Canadian Paralympic Committee, Beauty Gives Back, the Breast Cancer Research Foundation and Habitat for Humanity Canada,” adds Tiffany Bourré, HBC’s director, external communications.
Petro-Canada’s Petro-Points are earned buying fuel, car washes and convenience items. They’re easily redeemed for fuel savings, car washes, money off in store or with partners including Best Buy e-gift cards, Discount Car and Truck Rentals and itravel2000.com, a Student Price Card with SPC or a CAA membership.
“Members can also donate their points to help support the development of Canadian athletic talent,” says Marc Goodman, director of loy- alty and strategic partnerships, Suncor. “To date, Petro-Points members have donated more than 166 million Petro-Points to help support Canadian Olympic and Paralympic athletes and coaches.”
SCENE is the entertainment rewards program from Cineplex and Scotiabank. Members earn and redeem points at Cineplex, Sport Chek, Swiss Chalet, Harvey’s, Milestones, Montana’s, Kelsey’s, East Side Mario’s, Bier Markt, Fionn MacCool’s and D’Arcy McGee’s. “SCENE members get10 per cent off of concessions on every visit and on Tuesday admissions, plus they can earn points even faster with a Scotiabank SCENE Debit or Visa card,” says Shawn Bloom, SCENE vice-president, operations and partnerships.
CAA Rewards offer CAA members unique discounts, CAA dollars that can be used for products, services and CAA member experiences.
“It is a favourite of our members, because it gives them unique benefits that far exceed the cost of a CAA membership each year,” says CAA Reward spokesman Jeff Walker. “We are committed to giving our members unique value, whether through our hotel partners, our car rental partners, our attraction partners or our retail partners.”
PC Plus™ rewards customers for shopping at Loblaw banner stores by providing them with custom offers and giving them points on the products they like to buy. When combined with a President’s Choice Financial MasterCard, savings rack up quickly.
“Points can be redeemed by using a key tag, a PC Plus™ card or mobile phone,” explains Uwe Stueckmann, Loblaw’s senior vice-president of marketing. “Using the Android or iPhone app, customers can track their points in real time or check their offers on the go.”