Key takeaways:
-
ASICS is using the BLOOMSTRIDE launch to add value for OneASICS members, giving loyalty members early access to the new women-specific running shoe along with benefits such as free standard shipping on qualifying orders, free returns, birthday offers, and access to exclusive products.
-
Chick-fil-A is combining its restaurant network, nonprofit partnerships, and corporate giving to address food insecurity, with its latest Hunger Action Month campaign offering up to $1 million in matching donations while building on a Shared Table program that has already helped create more than 50 million meals.
-
Research suggests that even low-cost, no-strings-attached gifts can encourage customer loyalty and spending, giving small businesses an accessible way to build stronger relationships without investing in expensive giveaways.
ASICS Launches BLOOMSTRIDE Running Shoe with Early Access for OneASICS Loyalty Members
ASICS is expanding its women’s running lineup with the new BLOOMSTRIDE, a $150 neutral running shoe developed around the fit and movement of women’s feet, as Al.com reports. Drawing on data from more than 2-million-foot scans and feedback from the brand’s Move Her Mind initiative, the shoe combines extra room in the toe area with a more secure midfoot fit. It also introduces FF LUXE cushioning for a soft yet responsive ride, along with an engineered woven upper, durable AHAR LO rubber in high-wear areas and reflective detailing. Weighing 7.4 ounces with a 6 mm heel drop, the BLOOMSTRIDE is available in women’s sizes 5–12 and three colorways, with initial access reserved for members of ASICS’ free OneASICS loyalty program.
Learn more here.
Chick-fil-A Expands Hunger Relief Efforts with Up to $1 Million in Matching Donations
Chick-fil-A is expanding its hunger relief efforts during September’s Hunger Action Month through restaurant fundraisers, nonprofit partnerships and up to $1 million in matching donations from Chick-fil-A, Inc. to Feeding America partner food banks, as QSR Magazine reports. The campaign builds on the company’s broader work to address food insecurity, including its Chick-fil-A Shared Table program, which connects surplus food from participating restaurants with local nonprofits that can turn it into meals for people in need. Since the program began in 2012, it has helped create more than 50 million meals and now includes more than 2,700 Chick-fil-A restaurants working with over 1,600 nonprofit organizations. Chick-fil-A will also host a Shared Table Experience in New York City on Sept. 30, donating a meal to The Bowery Mission for each visitor who attends and learns about the initiative.
Learn more here.
Small Customer Gifts Could Deliver Big Benefits for Businesses
Giving customers an unexpected freebie may do more than create a positive moment—it could also encourage loyalty and higher spending. Research published in the Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science found that unconditional gifts, meaning freebies offered without requiring a purchase or personal information, can generate feelings of gratitude and obligation that influence shopping behavior, as CO notes. In one experiment, customers who received a $5 gift spent an average of $42.83 during their shopping trip, compared with $32.53 among those who received nothing. Interestingly, researchers found that even inexpensive gifts could have an impact, suggesting small businesses don’t necessarily need a large budget to try the strategy. Businesses can consider surprising both new and returning customers with low-cost perks while also using purchase-based rewards and loyalty programs as complementary ways to strengthen customer relationships, according to CO.
Learn more here.