Non Talbots Credit Card Holders Can Now Earn Loyalty Points
Specialty retailer Talbots, Inc. has expanded its customer loyalty program to allow customers that don’t use its private-label credit card to also earn points toward future purchases.
The program, Talbots Classic Awards, now lets those customers earn points with every in-store, online, or catalog purchase, earning a half point for every $1 spent. Customers who use the Talbots credit card earn 1 point or more for every $1 they spend.
“While the original program has been popular with customers, it was missing an important element—a way to reward and recognize best customers who were not interested in applying for our credit card,” Meredith Paley, a Talbots spokesperson, said.
Talbots expanded the program to be able to include a new group of customers and to “further reward our very best customers with new and innovative incentives,” Lori Wagner, chief marketing officer of Talbots, said in a statement.
Talbots’ Classic Awards program launched in January 2001. Under it, shoppers who open a Talbots charge card automatically earn 1 point for every $1 spent with their card as part of the Classic Awards Platinum option. Classic Awards Black rewards customers who spend $1,000 annually with 1.25 points for every $1 spent using their Talbots charge card.
The new tier, which earns one-half point for every $1 spent, is under Classic Awards Red.
Members also receive a $25 discount from Talbots to use on their next purchase once they earn 500 points, as well as 15% off as a birthday bonus, double points and special offers.
Last week, Talbots announced it planned to cut 370 jobs and close about 20 underperforming stores. The company operates 877 stores of which 594 are under the Talbots brand name and 283 are under the J. Jill brand name.
Online marketing, in-store signage and catalog inserts support the program.
