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‘Tis the season: How can UK grocers drive up sales as we get closer to Christmas?

6 Minute Read

The ‘golden quarter’ is a critical trading period for grocery retailers. A celebratory time of year, grocers typically get a boost from shoppers socialising more and preparing for Christmas. However, this year has brought a fresh set of challenges as consistently high inflation has put a dampener on consumer confidence and tightened wallets.

With interest rates still high, the cost-of-living crisis has continued to impact purchasing trends. But what does this mean for the grocery market? How will overall grocery sales, and shopper habits, affect grocers Christmas draws ever closer?

Our new grocery spending report is based on spending analysis from over 20 million UK bank accounts, as well as polling of over 2,000 UK adults. It offers insight for retailers as we head into the final stretch of the golden quarter and offers strategies for enhancing customer loyalty at this critical time.

Discount Christmas?

Our research shows that consumers are increasingly turning to discounters and loyalty schemes as they face the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.  In fact, our polling suggests that the average shopper has seen their grocery bills increase by £644 this year.

In response to heightened costs, consumers are seeking discounts: over a quarter have turned to loyalty and reward schemes (28%) and online discount codes (26%), while 22% are browsing price comparison sites and a fifth of consumers are using cashback offers (20%) to manage expenses.

This search for value is also translating to what people are buying and from where. Almost two in five consumers are buying more own-brand supermarket products, and a quarter are switching to cheaper brands and discount chains. As Christmas approaches, 26%plan to cut back on presents, while 22% have curtailed big-ticket purchases.

As we approach Christmas, grocery spend is anticipated to rise as families opt for home-based celebrations, driven by ongoing high living costs.

Harnessing the trend of savvy shoppers, discount grocery retailers have undoubtedly benefited from a reputation for value, as well as a focus on deals and personalised offers. As a result, they’ve grown at a faster rate than the traditional ‘big four’ grocers. Discount grocery stores saw transactions increase by 2% between June and September this year, with consumer spend also increasing by 6%.

The big four supermarkets have seen a 5% increase in spend but a 4% decrease in transactions, signifying a shift to cheaper alternatives.

The run-up to Christmas represents an opportunity for the bigger supermarkets to reverse this movement. But doing so will require them to be smart with the way they market their food and drink. Leveraging the data and insights on customer preferences will be important to entice customers back as they start making bigger ticket purchases for parties and the all-important festive meals with friends and family.

Are you a grocer looking to get customers back through the door this festive period? Cardlytics offers extensive insight and marketing support for retailers, with access to spending data from over 20 million UK bank accounts.

By providing this ‘whole wallet view’ to grocers, you benefit from a deeper understanding of the competitive landscape and implement precise, targeted marketing that delivers tangible results. Heading into the final stretch of the Golden Quarter, we’re helping our customers leverage this data to drive incremental sales growth and retention, as consumers look to find the most value for money with their Christmas spending.

[Video] Lyft x Cardlytics: Using Data-Driven Marketing to Grow Share

VIDEO: Cardlytics recently took the stage with Lyft at eTail East in Boston, MA to explore how marketers can elevate their approach to growth marketing and stay ahead of data deprecation.
6 Minute Read

Cardlytics recently took the stage with Lyft at eTail East in Boston, MA to explore how marketers can elevate their approach to growth marketing and stay ahead of data deprecation. 

Within the ever-changing retail and DTC industry, marketing leaders need to be able to demonstrate the impact that their advertising spend is having on revenue generation and corporate strategy.  Kevin Hsu, Director, Growth Marketing at Lyft and Nate Bucholz, Vice President, Advertising Partnerships at Cardlytics discussed how leveraging a data-drive approach to growth marketing drives measurable revenue for the rideshare leader. 

Watch the full video below!

Looking to explore how Cardlytics Purchase Insights can help you engage customers in a one-of-a-kind native ad platform? Get started.

Make the Holiday Season Sweet: 2023 Holiday Infographic

Cardlytics’ analysis of almost $380B in consumer holiday spend over the last 3 years keeps marketers informed on how to win this holiday season as shopping behaviors change YoY.
6 Minute Read

Sleigh this Holiday Shopping Season

The 2023 holiday season is just around the corner, and this year consumers will be headed to their favorite online and in-store brands earlier than ever! 

As we gear up for the 2023 holiday season, Cardlytics' comprehensive analysis of nearly $380 billion in consumer holiday spending over the past three years equips marketers with essential insights to win more during this critical period. Access our full 2023 Holiday Infographic here

Decoding the 2023 Holiday Analysis

Holiday 2022 witnessed a 3% drop compared to the previous year, attributed to reduced spending per customer, fewer transactions per customer, and slower growth in average transaction size. Given the lingering economic challenges from the previous year, brands need inventive strategies to incentivize consumer spending during this holiday season.

Interestingly, a shift in spending behavior has been observed, with holiday spend moving back to brick-and-mortar retailers from online channels. This contrasts with the Back-to-School analysis by Cardlytics, which saw online spending was up for both B&M.coms and online only brands. This shift underscores the significance of an omni-channel approach, ensuring that brands are present where consumers choose to shop, whether in-store or online.

Early Birds and Mass Merchandisers

An intriguing trend emerging from the analysis is the increasing percentage of spending occurring within the initial three weeks of the holiday season year over year. Consumers are diving into their shopping lists earlier and earlier, demanding that brands engage with them during this period.

When it comes to dominating the holiday market share, Mass Merchandisers are the frontrunners, holding a whopping 58% of the total wallet share. As consumers grow more price-conscious, Mass Merchandisers are poised to leverage this shift in consumer behavior to their advantage. The Apparel category is also gaining momentum, presenting an opportunity for brands to bolster their presence and profits.

Unwrap the secret to success with Cardlytics 

Through strategic partnerships with banks, Cardlytics possesses an extraordinary advantage - access to the transaction data of over 186 million consumers. This invaluable resource empowers brands with a detailed understanding of consumer purchasing patterns, offering a holistic view of when, where, and how people shop.

The holiday season is approaching rapidly, and with it comes the opportunity for retail brands to acquire new customers and grow loyalty with existing shoppers. In this competitive landscape, making informed decisions is crucial to stand out from the crowd. That's where Cardlytics comes into play, providing real insights from real bank customers to support retail brands in navigating the complexities of the upcoming holiday season. Get started today.

Customers squeeze value from holidays with spend up on staycations and budget flights

6 Minute Read
  • The cost-of-living crisis sees the return of the staycation with spend up 20% on domestic holidays
  • Tighter budgets have seen travellers swap to budget airlines with the number of trips for these brands increasing 23% year-on-year
  • Brits have been looking for ways to save with a massive 50% increase in offers and rewards claimed on travel purchases compared to last year

Consumers haven’t cut back on their holidays but are looking for cheaper options and deals as the cost-of-living crisis takes hold, according to new data from advertising platform Cardlytics.

The data, based on transactions from over 20 million UK bank accounts, shows that the number of holidays booked between April and June increased 7% on last year. However, average spend on travel across the board has flatlined. With just a 1% increase in average transaction values year-on-year, it seems that consumers are looking for ways to get away without breaking the bank.

For many this means holidaying closer to home, with staycations on the rise as domestic holiday spend increases 20% year on year. After a boom during the pandemic, UK-based getaways are back on the map with the number of trips up 40% when compared to the first quarter of this year, and up a further 4% on the same time period in 2022.

For those looking to go further afield for less, budget airlines have been the way to go. Average spend at these airlines has increased by 3% compared to last year. Whilst some of this can be attributed to increasing prices, the number of trips people have booked with these brands has followed a similar trajectory, rising a massive 23% compared to 2022. As travelers trade down, long-haul airlines have seen slower growth in the number of bookings at just 2% increase year-on-year. Whilst average spend with these brands has seen an uptick of 6% since last year, the lower number of trips indicates this increase is likely due to fuel increases and inflation leading to increased costs.

Getting the best rewards and discounts is top of mind for consumers looking to save on their summer travel, as cashback redemptions on these purchases see a 50% increase between April and June compared to last year.

Many holidaymakers have turned to package deals for not only value but convenience. Whilst average spend is down 2% year-on-year, the number of package holidays booked is up 13% on last year showing that consumers are still purchasing these deals, but they’re looking for the cheapest options.

Reinforcing that trend, online travel agents have also seen growth, with the number of trips booked up 22% on last year. This is coincided with a 5% rise on average transaction values, with inflation likely the cause behind this.

Hannah Collins at Cardlytics said: “With the summer break well under way, we are now starting to see the real effect the cost-of-living crisis is having on consumer travel spending. Whilst it’s positive that people are still booking getaways, price is becoming an increasingly important differentiator. Travel brands need to show they understand customer needs with tailored discounts and rewards in the channels they use most to encourage spend. This will be key in attracting those seeking a last-minute summer deal or a cheaper Autumn break.”

Methodology

Cardlytics data is based on spending from over 20 million UK bank accounts. This data is based on spending between (unless stated):

  • 30th March – 29th June 2023
  • 31st March – 30th June 2022

About Cardlytics

Cardlytics (NASDAQ: CDLX) is a digital advertising platform. We partner with financial institutions to run their banking rewards programs that promote customer loyalty and deepen banking relationships. In turn, we have a secure view into where and when consumers are spending their money. We use these insights to help marketers identify, reach, and influence likely buyers at scale, as well as measure the true sales impact of marketing campaigns. Headquartered in Atlanta, Cardlytics has offices in Palo Alto, New York, Los Angeles, and London. Learn more at www.cardlytics.com.

New year’s resolutions hike health and fitness subscriptions in January but tighter budgets restrict year-on-year spend

6 Minute Read
  • January saw gym subscriptions increase 14% and balanced meal kits rise by 11% compared to December as consumers look to kick off a healthier new year
  • Gym subscriptions have remained resilient seeing year-on-year spend increase 12%
  • But meal-kits, fruit and vegetable delivery boxes and at-home gym plans have all seen weaker spend compared to January 2022 as consumers cut back on non-essentials

New year’s resolutions drive an increase in spending on health and fitness subscriptions in January, but overall spend is down year-on-year driven by cost-of-living cutbacks, according to new data from digital advertising platform, Cardlytics.

New spend data from over 24 million UK bank accounts revealed that spending on gym subscriptions increased 14%, whilst at home workout plans and healthy meal kits both rose by 11% between December and January.

Traditional gyms have come out on top with continued increases in spend year-on-year, rising 12% from January 2022. But the same can’t be said for all health and fitness related subscriptions as consumers reign in their spending amid the cost-of living crisis.

Despite the expected month-on-month increase in January as people kick off their healthy habits for 2023, tighter budgets mean that demand for at home gym plans has declined when compared to last year, with spending falling 25%.

New year means new members for gyms - but at-home subscriptions face a decline

Fitness goals have long been a part of new year’s resolutions for many, and this year has been no different. Traditional gyms such as David Lloyd and LA Fitness saw a 13% increase in transactions when compared to December which drove an 18% uptick in overall spend.

But whilst gym subscriptions are on the up, at-home fitness subscriptions face a decline. The pandemic drove a boom in sign-ups with transactions increasing 1070% since 20191 however this success has been difficult to maintain and spend this January is down 25% on last year as consumers leave behind their living room workouts.

Meal kits remain convenient for the health conscious

Healthier eating is always top of the agenda in January, and one of the easiest ways for people to switch up their diets is with balanced meal kits - which saw an 11% rise on December. However, compared to last year, balanced meal plans, and grocery delivery boxes are down, as spending on fruit and vegetable boxes fell 16% whilst meal kits fell 9% on January 2022.

Since 2019, meal plan subscriptions such as Hello Fresh, Mindful Chef and Gousto have seen an astronomic growth in popularity with spend rising by 379%2. But this trajectory may have reached its turning point as consumers cut-back on nonessentials with spend declining 9% compared to January last year.

Grocery boxes of fruit and vegetable deliveries have faced similar difficulties when it comes to subscriptions as the cost-of-living crisis drives up the price of produce. Spend fell 20% between December and January and is down 16% on last year.

January typically represents a clean slate for consumers who use the new year as an opportunity to not only set goals but also assess their finances and evaluate areas to cut back.

The convenience of subscriptions allows brands to capitalise on such resolutions but this year’s dampened spending, particularly across the health and fitness space, could provide an indication of what retailers can expect in 2023.

Brands need to recognise and understand changing consumer needs in the face of rising costs, offering tailored promotions, cashback and discounts on the subscriptions that matter most, to help build loyalty in the long term."

Sharina Mutreja, Partnerships Director, UK

About Cardlytics

Cardlytics (NASDAQ: CDLX) is a digital advertising platform. We partner with financial institutions to run their rewards programs that promote customer loyalty and deepen relationships. In turn, we have a secure view into where and when consumers are spending their money. We use these insights to help marketers identify, reach, and influence likely buyers at scale, as well as measure the true sales impact of marketing campaigns. Headquartered in Atlanta, Cardlytics has offices in Palo Alto, Los Angeles, New York and London. Learn more at www.cardlytics.com.

1 Transactions in January 2019 compared to the same period in January 2023

2 Spend in January 2019 compared to the same period in January 2023

Travel industry bucks trend to show increased spend in first quarter

The travel industry has shaken off stagnation, showing growth in the first three months of this year according to new data from digital advertising platform, Cardlytics.
6 Minute Read

The travel industry has shaken off stagnation, showing growth in the first three months of this year according to new data from digital advertising platform, Cardlytics.

New spend data from over 24 million UK bank accounts for the period 1 st January to 31 st March 2023 has revealed that spend on flights and holidays has risen 27% in the first three months of this year compared with 2022, an increase of 40% from pre-pandemic levels.

For airlines, the number of transactions rose by 36% year-on-year between 1 st January and 31 st March 2023, while bookings for package holidays were up by over a quarter (27%) over the same period.

However, as consumers continue to feel the impact of rising inflation, there are signs that people are seeking out budget-friendly options. Low-cost airlines saw spend rising at a faster rate than the rest of the industry, up 42% year-on-year in Q1, compared with a 29% increase for other airlines.

At the same time, the number of people redeeming discounts and offers through their bank accounts for travel purchases rose sharply at 79% year-on-year as customers look for deals and offers to mitigate the impact of rising prices.

Whilst spend is on the rise, average transaction values have grown at a slower rate than inflation, indicating that consumers are seeking out cheaper alternatives for holidays and looking for lower-cost deals. The average amount people spent on standard flights fell by 2% year-on-year to £342.69, while spend on budget airlines grew by 12% to £137.50. Package holidays grew by 7% year-on-year to an average of £538.68 per transaction.

Shifting away from pandemic habits

Last year’s travel disruption has left an impact on consumer purchase habits with cancellations and refund difficulties, leading to the number of travel purchases made through comparison sites falling 12% in 2022. Whilst aggregators have seen a slight recovery in the first quarter of 2023, transactions are still down 2% on pre-pandemic figures.

In contrast, direct bookings through providers have increased compared to pre-pandemic levels, with transactions directly through airlines increasing 50%, while package holidays have seen a 41% growth in transactions since 2020.

The pandemic saw the rise of the domestic holiday – quickly dubbed the ‘staycation’ – and transactions at UK holiday providers such as Parkdean, Centreparcs, Butlins and Haven Holidays peaking last year, with 692,000 transactions in the first three months of 2022. In contrast, this year transactions on such trips fell by 23%. International package holidays grew by 27% over the same period, as people swapped local breaks for more exotic destinations.

Mike Glegg, VP of Sales at Cardlytics, commented:

“The travel industry will be buoyed by strong consumer spend in the first quarter of 2023 following a turbulent few years of lockdowns, cancellations and delays.

“It’s encouraging to see increased confidence in bookings despite tighter budgets and rising prices, but aggregators will now be looking to capitalise on this and win-back trust from their customer base after last summer’s disruption.

“Travel brands will now need to consider how to reward loyal customers and continue winning new segments of the market. Investing in discounts and loyalty programs will be critical to achieving this, demonstrating their value for consumers, particularly as rising prices continue to constrict budgets.”

Cardlytics Announces Timing of Its Third Quarter 2022 Financial Results Conference Call and Webcast

6 Minute Read

Atlanta, GA – October 18, 2022 – Cardlytics, Inc., (NASDAQ: CDLX), an advertising platform in banks’ digital channels, today announced that its third quarter ended September 30, 2022 financial results will be released on Tuesday, November 1, 2022, after market close. The company will host a conference call and webcast at 5:00 PM (ET) / 2:00 PM (PT) to discuss the company’s financial results.

A live audio webcast of the event will be available on the Cardlytics Investor Relations website at http://ir.cardlytics.com/. A live dial-in will be available after registering at this link. Shortly after the conclusion of the call, a replay of this conference call will be available through 8:00 PM ET on November 8, 2022 on the Cardlytics Investor Relations website at http://ir.cardlytics.com/.

About Cardlytics

Cardlytics (NASDAQ: CDLX) is a digital advertising platform. We partner with financial institutions to run their rewards programs that promote customer loyalty and deepen relationships. In turn, we have a secure view into where and when consumers are spending their money. We use these insights to help marketers identify, reach, and influence likely buyers at scale, as well as measure the true sales impact of marketing campaigns. Headquartered in Atlanta, Cardlytics has offices in Palo Alto, Los Angeles, New York, and London.  Learn more at www.cardlytics.com.

Social activities fuel consumer spending in Q1

6 Minute Read

Social activities fuel consumer spending in Q1

Social activities, especially travel and dining, topped the list of consumer spending for Q1, during an otherwise difficult quarter. Overall, consumer spending grew by just 1% year-over-year, continuing the trend of total lower growth in spending over each of the last five quarters.

Not surprisingly, many categories saw dips in spending, such as retail – which experienced a decline of 2% year-over-year. The breakout exceptions were around activities that continue to rebound from the isolation of the pandemic.

Where are consumers willing to spend, despite inflationary pressure? What are the pockets of growth? These are the questions we examined as part of the Q1 2023 Cardlyitcs consumer spending report. Cardlytics powers digital advertising for banks and financial partners, and has insight into one of every two credit card swipes in the U.S. We share this Purchase Intelligence of where, when and how consumers are shopping to help marketers identify opportunities to reach people with relevant ads. Here are some of the most compelling findings from consumer spending in Q1 2023.

Travel is still the ticket

No area was harder hit in the pandemic than travel, and no area continues to rebound as strongly.  Even as travel expenses have increased – including airfares driven up by fuel prices – there is no decrease in demand. In fact, both spend per consumer and trips per consumer have been increasing since their lows at the outset of the pandemic in Q2 2020 (72% for spend per consumer and 71% for trips per consumer). People continue to want to travel. The biggest gainers are in the areas that were hardest hit – airlines are up 17% and cruise lines are up 94%, both year over year.

Helped by inflation, spending on travel now exceeds pre-COVID levels, up 405% from q2 2020. In spite of inflation, the number of trips also continues to rise, up 319% from Q2 2020.  

Restaurants are a mixed bag

Restaurant spending in Q1 was slightly up year-over-year at 5% as a category, and relatively flat from Q4. But the level of service at the restaurant matters. Full-service restaurants showed increases both in spending amount and frequency of visits, outperforming all other forms of food service.  

As many restaurants struggled during the pandemic, full-service restaurant spending fell in Q2 2020, dropping to about equal with food delivery and slightly higher than limited-services restaurants, which includes fast food. Since then, spending on full-service restaurants has increased 85% (Q2 2020 to Q1 2023), compared to just 18% for limited-service restaurants over the same time period, bringing full-service restaurant spending now past pre-pandemic levels.  

As fatigue from the pandemic and isolation lingers, people are willing to spend more, more often, on the social aspect of eating out among other people.

Easing off the gas pedal

Consumers are becoming less thirsty for gas. Fuel spending is down 9% year over year. In Q1, the spend per customer decreased from Q4 by 4%, likely driven by recent decreases in gas prices. The decline in spending began in Q3 of last year, as gas prices rose and hit recent highs last summer. Now as gas prices move lower,, instead of seeing an increase in the number of transactions per consumer, as you might expect with falling prices, there was a decrease per customer in the number of transactions (-6% transactions per customer from Q3).

Consumers are choosing to fill up less frequently, even as gas prices have fallen slightly over the past few quarters. In fact, the proportion of customers shopping for gas decreased from 68% of all consumers in Q3 2022 to 66% in Q4 to 64% in Q1.

How do we know all this?

We have a “whole wallet” view into consumer purchase behavior, with insights into one out of every two credit card swipes in the U.S. Cardlytics offers a brand-safe, fraud-free advertising platform inside our financial institution partners’ digital channels. That means we can predict future shopping preferences using past purchase behavior. Our insights help brands reach people and positively influence their purchase decisions with relevant ads that reward them with cash back, frictionlessly. 

Class Is In-Session: 2023 Back-to-School Infographic

6 Minute Read

Class Is In-Session

Back-to-School continues to be one of the largest shopping events of the year, and once again, Cardlytics is here to inform on the latest consumer trends. Our analysis of over $122B in BTS spend over the last 3 years sheds light on YoY trends, category-level insights, and more. Now more than ever, brands should leverage these insights to create informed, strategic marketing plans and drive long-term customer loyalty.

Back to Basics

While spend is up 3.8% YoY, it is growing at a slower pace than previously observed. Not exactly a surprise given the COVID lockdown, but it seems that the spend bounce back we saw last year has slowed, especially considering the current economic pressures.
The same slow in overall spend can be observed across purchase volume as well, indicating consumers may be consolidating their Back-to-School errands with other shopping trips (e.g. grocery, home, etc.)

DOWNLOAD THE INFOGRAPHIC

Brick and Mortar Shoppers Played Hooky This Season

Online spending is up for both B&M.coms and online only brands, indicating that the shift initially brought on by COVID is likely permanent. Brands should consider an omni-channel approach in order to engage the customer where they are spending.

Mass Merchandisers Pass with Flying Colors

Mass Merch continues to dominate as inflation drives customers to keep price top of mind. While all other subcategory spend is down in 2022, Mass Merchandisers are up 9.2% vs. 2021. In fact, Mass Merch is the only category to have YoY growth across all metrics – spend, trips, and customers – in the last 2 years. Branded retailers should ramp up engagement with existing customers to prevent churn. Get the data.

Cardlytics Helps You Make the Grade

As consumer spend begins to slow, and pressure mounts from competition, it’s never been more important to create value for the consumer, and drive brand loyalty. CDLX’ whole-wallet-view of customer spend can help identify your most relevant target audiences and unlock incremental sales – and we can prove it.

Request the data: 2023 Back to School Infographic

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