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Spring Customers Heat Up Summer Sales

6 Minute Read

Spring is finally in the air. As consumers kick off spring cleaning projects and develop new habits, many are also changing where and how they shop. By analyzing purchase data from our bank partners, Cardlytics found that spring is a critical time for marketers to connect with customers and build loyalty—particularly with the typical summer slowdown looming on the sunny horizon.

The easiest way to win summer sales is from repeat customers

We see marketers place a lot of emphasis on customer acquisition, but the majority of summer sales are driven by customers who are already familiar with a brand. ​Last year, over 62% of summer retail sales were from repeat customers. Retailers looking to hold onto their gains in market share from the spring should quickly re-engage their newly acquired customers as summer heats up.

Returning spring buyers spend more during the summer​

Across most retailers, customers acquired during the spring not only boost spring sales, but they also set the stage for summer success—spending 26% more in the summer months than customers who were acquired within the summer season. The customers who came back during the summer were also significantly more likely to make a repeat purchase during the rest of the year.

Quickly acquire spring customers to grow sales this summer and beyond

These next few months present a key opportunity to engage spring customers and pave the way for a strong summer. With precisely targeted campaigns, Cardlytics is uniquely positioned to help marketers quickly acquire customers and strengthen loyalty for long-term success. Let’s work together now to build momentum with spring customers and beat the summer slowdown.

Meal Kit Delivery Services vs. Grocery Chains

6 Minute Read

Today’s consumer is hyper concerned about the freshness of food, the ingredients, and sustainability, among other factors. But, the shift from processed foods has not changed the craving for convenience. Because of this, meal kit delivery services, like Blue Apron, Plated and Hello Fresh, have gained steam. Cardlytics analyzed consumer spending on meal kit services (MKS) and how those purchases impact spend at traditional and specialty grocery stores, as well as restaurants.

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Does Your Gym Choice Really Matter?

6 Minute Read

Treadmill running or CrossFit? Barre classes or spinning? Low carb or juice cleanse? There are countless ways to get fit, but which are consumers more likely to stick with? Using our data and the power of purchase intelligence, we looked at how consumers are working out and how their spending habits differ by gym choice. 

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2017 Cardlytics Back to School Report

6 Minute Read

The back-to-school shopping season is the second largest shopping event of the year, making it a critical time for retailers. This report looks at the back-to-school spend trends driving sales this season.

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2017 Cardlytics Holiday Spend Report

6 Minute Read

The holiday season is the largest shopping event of the year. Using our proprietary Purchase Intelligence, we analyzed year-over-year spend from 2015 - 2016 to uncover the top spend trends retailers need to know to drive holiday sales this season.

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2018 Cardlytics Holiday Spend Report

Cardlytics shares key spends and actionable insights for merrier marketing.
6 Minute Read

Holiday spend is on the rise as more customers take their shopping online and skip the Black Friday lines. To help retailers keep a pulse on where, when, and how holiday shoppers tackle their gift lists, Cardlytics shares key spends and actionable insights for merrier marketing. 

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2018 Cardlytics Back to School Spend Report

6 Minute Read

The back-to-school shopping season accounts for nearly 20% of the spend that doesn't occur during the winter holiday season, and it continues to be one of the most critical periods for retailers to reach sales goals. Cardlytics breaks down the spend trends and tips retailers need to know to capture share in the back-to-school season.

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How is Grocery Spend Changing Across Meal Kits, Specialty, Delivery, Traditional, & Discount?

6 Minute Read

Grocery shoppers have increasingly differing options for how to get food on the table, and each shopper uses a variety of channels. The consumer is in control and on-demand shopper trends are having an impact on in-store purchases and shopping behavior. Cardlytics took a look at how these changes are shifting food dollars and changing the grocery marketplace.

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How to Drive Sales When New Customers Are Not Enough

6 Minute Read

Restaurant marketers: you’re working hard to bring new diners in the door, but are those efforts leading to increased net sales?

If you answered, “I’m not sure,” you’re not alone. Many restaurants are successfully driving in new guests but are unaware of how quickly their existing base is “leaking” customers that don’t return. This “Leaky Bucket” effect undermines the net impact of marketers’ successful acquisition campaigns.   

By analyzing purchase data from our bank partners, Cardlytics identified key spend trends to help marketers quickly spot and fix a leaky bucket, and ultimately, grow sales.

The Leaky Bucket effect slows growth across restaurant categories

Restaurant brands are bringing in many new customers, but unfortunately, their “bucket” of current customers is leaking as fast, or even faster, than they can fill it. This is a natural industry phenomenon in which customers want choice and variety, and have hundreds of considerations in their immediate area. In the last 12 months, top restaurant brands in key categories faced major headwinds to their own growth:

  • QSR: 50% of guests were new, but 53% lapsed and didn’t return to the same restaurant
  • Casual Dining: 75% of guests were new, but 83% lapsed and didn’t return
  • Upscale Dining: 55% of guests were new, but 57% lapsed and didn’t return

Quickly re-engage customers after their first purchase

The easiest way for restaurants to stop a leaky bucket is to drive a repeat purchase from newly acquired customers. And the sooner the better. Across top restaurants, 50% of customers make a second purchase at the same restaurant within 45 days after their first purchase. After that point, the risk of a customer lapsing significantly increases. Marketers should engage their new customers quickly and consistently to keep them coming back throughout the year.  

Use purchase insights to identify at-risk customers

Lapsed or “about-to-lapse” customers are very difficult to identify and influence. These customers haven’t been to the restaurant in some time, and mass media is not an efficient tool to reach them. At Cardlytics, we can identify and retain at-risk customers and bring back lapsed customers. Through our purchase insights, we not only understand if consumers have made a purchase at your restaurant, we can actually target consumers based on their purchase patterns across your category—driving them to your restaurant for their next dining occasion.

Cardlytics’ pay-for-performance model only charges a fee if that customer makes an actual post-advertising purchase. Forget about paying for likes, shares, impressions, or clicks…  only pay for actual purchases. Let’s work together now to build loyalty with your at-risk customers and drive overall sales.

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